Oakland Post, week of September 13 - 19, 2023

Oakland Post

Barbara Lee and Rob Bonta March for Pride Together

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson California Black Media

On Sunday, the California Black Women’s Collective (CBWC), a coalition of women from different professional backgrounds, issued a statement responding to remarks Gov. Gavin Newsom made to NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.”

When asked what he would do if 90-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein were to step down due to her failing health, the Newsom said he would appoint a short-term caretaker to replace her.

“Interim appointment,” Newsom told Todd. “I don’t want to get involved in the primary. It

Continued on page 8

Oakland Celebrates Hiero Day 2023,

the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop

Area.”

The Rise East Project

Part 1 of 8 - Genesis of Oakland’s Black Cultural Zone and Rise East

Rise East is a $100 million privately funded initiative that will rebuild Black neighborhoods in a 40 x 40 block area of East Oakland over 10 years. Project partners are Oakland Thrives, The 40 x 40 Council and Blue Meridian Partners.

Special to The Post

Two members of the Bernie Sanders for President 2020 team have joined Barbara Lee’s campaign for Senate, the Lee campaign announced reently.

Robert Dempsey and Anna Bahr, who served as national states director and deputy national press secretary for the Sanders presidential campaign in 2020, respectively,

are joining the Lee campaign as campaign manager and senior advisor.

“My message in this race is simple: working people deserve a progressive fighter who will fix an economy that is rigged against the middle class and the poor, prioritize climate, racial and economic justice and truly represent the

Continued on page 8

By Post Staff

Thousands of music fans showed up at Oscar Grant Plaza Monday, Sept. 4 to celebrate the 11th annual Hiero Day block party and commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, featuring the Souls of Mischief, Oakland native Kev Choice, Mister F.A.B. and a special guest appearance by Common.

Hosted by the City of Oakland and Mayor Sheng Thao, the free event showcased over 30 live performances on three stages, including legendary, underground and undiscovered performers of hiphop, R&B and other genres.

Souls of Mischief is part of the rap collective Hieroglyphics, which founded Hiero Day and this year celebrated its 30th anniversary.

“HIERO DAY (is) a driving force in the music festival culture in Oakland,” according to event organizers. “The event is widely regarded as a day to celebrate independent hip-hop music and serves as a Labor Day destination being one of the largest hiphop music gatherings in the Bay

The event was held at Jack London Square last year, but this year, it moved to the plaza in front of Oakland City Hall, reflecting its new connection with the Mayor’s Office and the City of Oakland.

“I’m so grateful to be here in Oakland,” said Common said after receiving a “heavyweight champion” belt and proclamation from Mayor Thao. “Y’all inspired us … The music, the culture — Hieroglyphics influenced me.”

Said Mayor Thao: “Oakland is the heart of the Bay Area’s music, art and culture scene, and I am so grateful for all the work our Hiero Day organizers did to celebrate it.”

The City of Oakland this year is hosting three events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, including the collaboration with event organizers of Hiero Day. A special event was held on Sept. 10 to honor “50 years of women rooted in hip-hop,” including Pam the Funkstress, the Conscious Daughters, Traci Bartlow, and Mystic and Black.

By Tanya Dennis

The mission of the Black Panthers 10-point program, envisioned in 1966, germinated in 2000 at the first annual Malcolm Jazz Festival in San Antonio Park, hosted by Eastside Arts Alliance, a collective of multi-racial artists who, like Malcolm X, utilized the public platform to address racial inequities and organize a credible institution to create solutions.

Elena Serrano, an Eastside collective member who serves as its executive director says, “The Black Panthers captured hearts and minds through authentic guerrilla theater, inspiring people by how they presented themselves, dressing the same, on the same message making people believe they could create a society that benefited them.”

For nearly 30 years, Eastside Arts Alliance (EAA) has held down that Black Panther culture at 2277 International Blvd. and recently celebrated its 24th annual Malcolm X Festival.

“We created a Black arts movement in a neighborhood that is Black, Asian and Latinx, a movement where artists’ work and organizers come together to build power,” Serrano says. “We work with teenagers that want to be hip-hop stars, poets, and writers so they address power-building strategies in their music and words.”

The Black Cultural Zone, a strategic partner in the $10 million Rise East initiative credits their genesis to Eastside Arts Alliance. Rise East is a 10year, privately funded initiative to help Black families thrive in a 40-square-block area of East Oakland.

“We connected to the Black Cultural Zone six or seven years ago when the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project was planned for International Boulevard, a project to improve rapid transit,” Serrano says. “BRT publicity was showing beautiful neighborhoods that didn’t even have Black folks

Continued on page 8

Mandela Act Ended Prolonged Solitary Confinement

“Giving Back”

By Richard Johnson

At the California State Capitol on Sept. 6, I had the privilege to advocate for AB-280, the Mandela Act, a bill aimed at putting an end to prolonged solitary confinement.

The following day, I actively participated in the “Day of Action” rally and spoke at the press conference organized by the California Mandela Coalition at California State Capital Park in Sacramento.

During my speech, I shed light on the torture and trauma of enduring solitary confinement for two decades and underscored the critical importance of passing AB-280 Mandela Act.

AB-280 was conceived as a direct response to the suffering en-

dured by men, women, individuals with mental health conditions, the disabled and even children who have been subjected to solitary confinement for days, years, and even decades.

For those unfamiliar with the horrors of solitary confinement, it entails living in a cramped space, without windows but continuous lighting, and enduring extreme temperatures, whether excessively hot or cold.

Sometimes individuals are allowed to leave their cells for as little

as 30 to 90 minutes, or sometimes not at all. It is misguided to assume that such conditions do not have a profound and detrimental impact, as prisons invariably reflect broader societal issues. I can speak to this from my own firsthand experiences which spanned years.

Being a youthful offender held in solitary confinement with nothing but one’s thoughts for solace is a daunting and challenging ordeal. The politics of prison life place everyone, both inside and outside, in constant jeop-

ardy.

The United Nations has explicitly stated that any duration exceeding 15 days in solitary confinement constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Given this fact, one must contemplate the implications of subjecting individuals to decades of such severe treatment, regardless of the circumstances that led them to prison or solitary confinement.

Punishment then becomes torture, a blatant violation of human rights, civil rights, and, most importantly, the moral principles that deem such treatment inhumane and wrong.

Regrettably, for some, life has been reduced to the ‘politrixs’ (ma-

“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18 postnewsgroup.com

Barbara Lee Adds Bernie Sanders Political Staff to Growing Campaign

Dis Elected Officials, Faith Leaders & Thurmond Discuss Antisemitism ... see page

Empowering Black Women in Maternal and Feminine Health ... see page 6

Mothers in Mourning, Moms, Allies Protest Gun Violence in California ... see page 6

Commemorating

Richard Johnson, formerly incarcerated in solitary confinement, now travels the state lecturing on how others can start

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, wearing a pink hat, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta lead the Oakland Pride Parade. Photo by Gene Hazzard.

The Black Cultural Zone is on track to receive $10 million of a $40 million grant to the City of Oakland for infrastructure improvements. Above is the proposed BCZ development on 73rd and MacArthur that will provide a cultural hub, 118 affordable residences plus a manager’s unit, food hall, community pantry, co-working space and roller-skating

Common was honored on Hiero Day by Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Kimberly Mayfield. Photo courtesy of Ariel Nava.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (courtesy photo). and U.S. Sen. Bernie Saunders (courtesy photo).

Richard Johnson, of Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back, spoke at a rally at the state Capitol about his experience in solitary confinement and his support for the Mandela Act.

Photo by JonathanFitnessJones.

Note From New York As Reed’s ‘The Conductor’ Completes Off-Broadway Run

cance of Wilson’s role in the play as a Black woman journalist. Not only does she get to spout the poetic literary lines of Reed, but she also gets to lay out factual information on Black women that makes audiences see her as their champion.

As an actress, Wilson admits she only knew about some of the powerful things she was given in Reed’s writing. She knew about the now deceased writers bell hooks, Ntozake Shange and Toni Morrison. But she also realized how politicized the education system is in America, as to who gets taught what ideas, and what ideas are simply ignored.

Black women, generally, are ignored.

woman about the plight of Dalits, or lower caste “untouchable” women. Wilson always wins the audience back when, after the hearing about the plight of Dalits, Wilson responds, “Being a Black woman is no lottery prize.”

It’s a line that should also win back critics of Reed from years past who saw him as somehow anti-feminist.

“Definitely not this play,” said Wilson, who has already appeared in multiple productions this year, and is scheduled to appear in another play in Philadelphia. After a 14-year respite from acting, she’s been back at it the last six years and hopes to be on Broadway soon.

By Emil Guillermo

Oakland resident Ishmael Reed’s 11th play, “The Conductor,” came to a close last week in New York.

If “The Conductor” never plays again, I will have been privileged to be part of its evolution from Zoom readings from a year ago to two full off-Broadway runs in 2023. That’s six weeks of live shows, 24 shows in all.

But wouldn’t it be nice to have the show satirizing the Bay Area’s race politics actually have a run in the Bay Area?

That would make it a homecoming of sorts for Kenya Wilson, who spent her early years in the Bay Area, the daughter of two members of the Black Panther Party, Walter and Tracy Wilson.

One of the perks of doing the show is being part of such a great group of actors. None of the cast members are household names yet. All are working, paid professional actors still pursuing their dreams.

Wilson was part of a cast that

included Brian Anthony Simmons as Warren Chipp, a fired SF Bay Area columnist; Sri Chilukuri as Shashi Parmar, an Indian American activist in the San Francisco school board recall; Monisha Shiva as Kala Parmar, a lecturer in women’s studies at a local college; Laura Robards and me as conservative television commentators Hedda Duckbill and Gabriel Noitallde.

A play about a diverse America should have a diverse cast, and that includes understudies Joy Renee, Humzah Akbar and Aaron Watkins.

I should note, Reed has cast me, a Filipino American, in all of the white roles (voice over only).

And then there was Wilson, who played reporter Melody Wells, fitting because Reed has subtitled the play, “A Living Newspaper,” after a 1930s WPA project where artists and writers took the subtext of the news into the theater to create informative and provocative works that took its cues from society as it unfolded.

And that adds to the signifi-

“When it comes to Black women, we are on the bottom of the totem pole,” Wilson said. “I feel when we voice our experiences people don’t want to hear it, and they just assume that we’re all just complaining.”

In her one big scene, Wilson is not complaining, but rather making the case for Black women.

“For instance … unintended pregnancies for African American women are 19 times higher than those of white women,” Wilson said. So are chlamydia and gonorrhea infection rates, as well as rates of cervical cancer, and breast cancer. “And all of these things are reproductive and sexual in nature. And it just takes me back to times when my ancestors were enslaved and we were there to breed for more slaves,” Wilson said. “And it’s not a coincidence to me that we have a higher chance of dying in childbirth. None of this is a surprise to me because this is a country that doesn’t care about Black people.”

Wilson’s key scene is a “debate” with an Indian American

But she would definitely welcome a part in the further evolution of “The Conductor.”

Reed’s dubbing the play a “living newspaper,” is instructive. That may be the conceit that keeps “The Conductor” alive, with new iterations written by Reed and performed by a stable cast in real time, telling the story of America’s changing racial politics.

But would that be on some grassroots stage in the Bay Area? Or digitally via podcast or as radio drama?

Oakland resident Ishmael Reed’s “The Conductor” has closed off-Broadway for now, but its future is wide open.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. His one-man theater performance, “Emil Amok, Lost NPR Host: A Phool’s Filipino American History,” runs on Sept. 14 @930pm Eastern in New York this week.

https://www.frigid.nyc/ event/6897:499/.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond organized a virtual roundtable discussion titled “Education to End Hate: Countering Antisemitism” that brought together about 350 attendees, including elected officials and faith leaders, according to the Department of Education (CDE).

The aim of the discussion, which was held Aug. 23, was to address the role of education in combating the recent increase in antisemitism.

Steve Zimmer, deputy superintendent of public instruction, moderated the discussion and cited statistics on the increase of antisemitism and hate crimes in California.

Antisemitism and other hate crimes have surged in California, rising by more than 20% last year. The main targets were Black, LGBTQ+ and Jewish people.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that antisemitic hate crimes had increased by over 40% between 2021 and 2022, especially in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Kern counties.

Thurmond is involved in initiatives related to Holocaust and genocide education, and he aims to utilize education to reduce acts of hate. He is co-chair of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education along with Dr. Anita Friedman, executive director of Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma counties; Sen. Henry Stern (DCalabasas), and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Thurmond has also partnered with the National Equity Project to help implement the $20 million Antibias Education Grant Program to empower educators and students in addressing hate, bigotry, and racism.

“I have pledged that the CDE will intervene whenever we learn about an antisemitic act or other forms of hate at a California public school,” said Thurmond.

He said he would work side-byside with school and district leaders to ensure that teachers have the resources and partnerships needed to address both the immediate crisis and the long-term educational

Whether your car is your style statement or your passport to all the places you want to go, if you want to keep your wheels on the road, you need to pay your unpaid tolls.

until

hold

Mothers in Mourning: Moms, Allies

Protest Gun Violence in California

• Personal narratives to weave a broader tapestry of the Black maternal experience.

For those eager to attend, contribute, or display, registration is now open at:

Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite. com/e/black-maternal-feminine-health-symposium-tickets-706719877177).

Engage with us on Social Media:

Be part of the change. Engage, comment, or extend your support by interacting with our posts on these platforms:

By Aldon Thomas Stiles Califoria Black Media

On Sept. 9, elected officials, community leaders and concerned citizens took to the streets of Watts in South Los Angeles to march against gun violence in California.

Dubbed the “Mothers in Mourning March,” the womenled event was organized by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (DCarson) featured guest speakers and over 34 participating organizations.

Participants marched from Jordan High School to Edwin Markham Middle School and walked back to Jordan in temperatures that hovered up to the high 80s, shouting impassioned chants like “put those guns down,” “stop the killing,” and “start the healing.”

“We are proud to be here at Jordan, and from the housing complexes to the highways we are making our voices known: Let our babies live,” Gipson posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

At a post-march rally, speakers shared personal accounts, some tearful, about their experiences with gun violence.

“For our children we lost, we are their voices, and their voices will continue to be heard here and everywhere around this nation,” Mattie Scott, the California chap-

ter leader of the advocacy organization Mothers in Charge, said. “We will stop the killing and start the healing because this is for all of us or none of us.”

Scott reminded voters that they have power to push anti-Gun policies against the forces across the country that fiercely oppose them — from “our house, to the courthouse, to your house, to the White House.”

As of last year, firearms are the leading cause of death among children in the United States.

While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that California has the 8th lowest death rate by guns and Los Angeles has seen a decrease between 2021 and 2022, Los Angeles County accounts for a majority of California’s gun related deaths, according to Hope and Heal Fund.

African Americans between the ages of 15 and 34 experience gun-related deaths more than any other group in the United States, according to the Center for American Progress.

Overall, Everytown Research & Policy reports, that Black Americans “experience 12 times the gun homicides, 18 times the gun assault injuries, and nearly 3 times the fatal police shootings” as compared to White Americans.

Karren Lane, the Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, stressed the importance of all Californians getting involved in the legislative process to help stem gun violence.

“Our commitment is to prevent that violence,” she said. “We cannot do that as a city without the organized political power of ev-

Empowering Black Women in Maternal and Feminine Health: A Free Symposium

eryday people.”

She went on to speak about how the march might have an impact on those who have a vested interest in the prevention of gun violence.

“This event is so significant because one mother suffering alone feels isolated and silenced,” she said. “But when we come together and organize our voices, we are political power. We are organized power.”

Speakers also focused on explaining anti-gun violence bills that Gov. Newsom has signed and others the Legislature has approved.

Assembly Bill (AB) 28, for example, which has been approved by the Legislature, would impose an 11% tax for sales for firearms and firearm related items like ammunition and other “precursor parts.”

Gov. Newsom signed AB 1621, authored by Gipson, last year. It bans ghost guns, which are “unserialized and untraceable firearm” parts that can be assembled without any form of regulation or oversight.

LA Unified School District board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin, one of the speakers, encouraged Californians to vote to protect their children.

“We have the power to change the world with the kids in our district. We have future presidents, we have future engineers, we have future public safety officers, we have future changemakers right here in our district. But they need to have a future and they have to live into their potential and it’s going to take all of us demanding that,” she said.

Franklin’s voice echoed that of many of the women and allies attending the march who chanted at intervals, “No more silence, end gun violence!”

Special to the Post Beauty Makes Cents LLC and DNNC Steps to Success are partnering to host a pivotal symposium addressing the unique challenges Black women face in maternal and feminine health. This seminal event is set to take place on Sept. 16, from noon to 4 p.m., at the San Leandro Library located at 300 Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro.

The symposium is inspired by Myeshia Jefferson’s own harrowing journey. Encountering challenges like emergency surgeries, internal bleeding, heart failure, fluid in the lungs, and days separated from her newborn due to subpar medical care, she stands as a testament to the urgent need for change. “Black women must be heard. Our lives and our health depend on it,” Jefferson said.

Both Beauty Makes Cents LLC and DNNC Steps to Success share an unwavering commitment to the welfare and empowerment of underserved communities. Their collaborative effort in organizing this free symposium is a robust demonstration of their dedication to

creating an inclusive and equitable healthcare realm for Black women. Swag bags that include beauty and health products will be given to all attendees including a free lunch.

Event highlights include:

• Engaging sessions on topics like maternal mortality, reproductive health, mental wellness, and healthcare disparities from renowned speakers, doctors, nurse practitioners, women CEOs and more.

Just to name a few: enlightening presentations from Dr. Patricia (Satya) Rochette, D.O., a vanguard in Osteopathic Healing, OBGYN Rhoda Nussbum on contraception and reproductive health, and Dr. Carmen McNeil- Clinkscales Psychologist with Period of Empowerment; a support system for parents and community influencers who are committed to strengthening families and empowering teens, and moms, women and fathers with the tools they need to foster confidence and selflove as they experience critical moments in their lives.

• LinkedIn (https://www. linkedin.com/posts/myeshia-jefferson-a8281225_ join-us-for-the-black-maternal-feminine-activity7105661885751955456-0m7p) • Facebook (https://m.facebook. com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbi d023gjKvekFkzWtSeJ9pKEBc FMSVqNy63d5SQVtzHAVobv Ye2SQqCmgSfyyXVQ9JSuzl& id=100063470893480&mibexti d=2JQ9oc) Instagram - (https://www. instagram.com/p/Cw6GqVRPF Mh/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI 2Ng==)

Amplify the message by sharing these posts and using the caption:

“Join us for the Black Maternal & Feminine Health Symposium to raise awareness and empower Black women in their health journey.”

Myeshia Jefferson is also accessible for interviews, podcast participation, and to recount her compelling story. For appointments or further details, please reach out.

About Beauty Makes Cents LLC and DNNC Steps to Success:

Both organizations are frontrunners in advocating for the wellbeing and empowerment of underserved communities. This symposium marks a significant stride in their relentless journey towards a more equitable healthcare experience for Black women.

Writer Marc Spears Honored in Oakland

Bay Area leaders and key notables in the city of Oakland congratulated Marc Spears, NBA writer for Andscape/ESPN for receiving the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award.

The event was held at Hiiiwav, a new location at 2781 Telegraph in Oakland recently purchased by Grammy Award-winner Bosko Kante and his wife Maya Kante. Pictured here, left to right, are Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce President Cathy Adams, Chef David Lawrence, Marc Spears, and Nola Turnage

CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR Frank H. Ogawa Plaza Activation

Contract Amount: $100,000 per year ($200,000.00 total)

Terms: 2 Years

Project Description: The City of Oakland, Economic and Workforce Development Department, seeks one organization to manage ongoing activation of Frank H. Ogawa Plaza during the week, particularly during the lunch hour of noon to 1pm and late afternoon/happy hour.

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Voluntary): Tuesday, September 26, 2023 - 10:00 AM (Pacific)

• Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87110351232

Proposal Submittal Deadline: Proposal Submittal Deadline: Tuesday, October 17, 2023, by 2:00 P.M. via

iSupplier

NOTE: Proposals not received at the above location by the stated deadline will be returned unopened;

Reminders:

• All who wish to participate in this RFP must register (at least 5 days prior to submittal due date) through iSupplier at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/register-with- isupplier) to avoid last minute submittal complications and receive addenda/ updates on this RFP. For additional help registering and submitting your proposal to iSupplier please watch the user guide videos at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/documents/ isupplier-user-guides). Receipt of a confirmation email indicates that a proposal was successfully submitted.

• Did not receive and invitation? Start Early with iSupplier registration. Upon completion of registration, send an email to iSupplier@oaklandca.gov listing “RFP for Frank H. Ogawa Plaza Activation” as the subject and advise of an invitation to the RFP. The Contracts Analyst will add your business to the RFP invitation

• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits

to Questions:

0% L/SLBE

1. For project-related questions contact the Project Manager Greg Minor by phone at 510 238-6370 or via email at gminor@oaklandca.gov

2. For ISupplier related questions after registration contact iSupplier@oaklandca.gov

Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, (Friday, September 15, 2023) The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.

Participants marched from Jordan High School to Edwin Markham Middle School and walked back to Jordan in temperatures that hovered up to the high 80s, shouting impassioned chants like “put those guns down,” “stop the killing,” and “start the healing.” Photo provided by California Black Media.

Myeshia Jefferson in her hospital bed in the ICU at Kaiser Hospital in San Leandro after complications in childbirth including emergency surgeries, internal bleeding, heart failure and fluid in the lungs. Photo by Tonja Fuller Bryant, Aug. 31, 2022.

of Okta, Inc. Photo courtesy of Cathy Adams.

OPINION:

MACRO, Oakland’s Civilian Policing Unit, Is Underutilized.

Why ?

sidelined. The meetings are not open to the public, despite promises.

• There has been no community education and engagement campaign. The community excitement that created MACRO has never been harnessed — indeed it is actively rejected.

• There is no pilot evaluation plan.

The Coalition for Police Accountability hears from residents who associate CPA with the community advocacy and development of MACRO and are disappointed and concerned.

implications.

“My priority is to empower educators and students to confront the hate, bigotry, and racism rising against several communities in the state and nation,” said Thurmond.

Thurmond initiated the “Education to End Hate” series to tackle hate and racism through education. The next event in the series occurred on Sept. 12.

the issue of antisemitism.

On the panel were Rabbi Meyer May, executive director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museums of Tolerance; Dr. Friedman; and Sarah Levin, executive director of Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa.

“It’s a signal, like the canary in the coal mine, that something is not right and needs to be fixed,” Friedman said.

calls so they could focus on highpriority calls and serious crimes. With fanfare and press releases, the City Council passed a resolution to begin a pilot program to demonstrate that this approach could save money by redirecting police resources and providing more effective community support for low-level crises.

We hear from MACRO responders who feel voiceless and frustrated. We hear from City employees who see obstacles unaddressed. We receive calls from people who hope that CPA can help them get an elusive MACRO response to a crisis because the only phone number they can find in connection to MACRO is ours!

Several members of the Jewish Legislative Caucus, Senators Stern, Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and Assemblymembers Laura Friedman (D-Burbank) and Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), gave opening remarks for the roundtable.

The caucus members urged schools to adopt the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, which includes a unit on Jewish American studies, to foster understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and identities.

The panel members discussed the rich history and multifaceted elements of Jewish identity, the rise in antisemitism across the political spectrum, the intersectionality of antisemitism with other forms of oppression, and the specific ways that education can play a role in countering antisemitism throughout the state.

They also identified important resources that teachers can use to address antisemitism and all forms of hate.

The state’s ethnic studies curriculum, which faced strong backlash when it was first released in 2019, was a recurring topic during the discussion.

Wiener said the first draft of the state’s ethnic studies curriculum, had “despicable” and “straight-up antisemitic” language.

He said Jewish groups lobbied to change the final version, but some districts are being pressed to use the old draft, which is illegal. He also said some authors responsible for antisemitic language in the curriculum are shopping their services as “liberated ethnic studies.”

By Millie Cleveland, MARCO Advisory Board Member

In 2018, after Oakland police officers, guns, and cruisers amassed to respond to a “darkskinned” homeless man asleep with a gun nearby, Joshua Pawlik was shot as he stirred. In the aftermath, Oaklanders began advocating for an alternative to police for certain 911 calls.

Many Oaklanders supported the development of the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) with community members who could provide support and de-escalate crises.

At the same time, officers wanted relief from low-level

After 2020, other cities also implemented non-police crisis programs that are now responding to thousands of 911 calls, instead of police. Tragically, MACRO is not.

As the 18-month pilot ends, MACRO is being dispatched to only three or four 911 calls per day!

MACRO responds to approximately 10% of the emergency calls sent to similar programs in other jurisdictions. Why? Here are some of the reasons.

• There is no separate number to request a MACRO response.

• MACRO responders have not received adequate training, support, or supervision.

Oaklanders selected for the MACRO Advisory Board because of their expertise in community resources, referrals, and education have been

Although Oakland politicians highlight MACRO while campaigning or discussing public safety, they have done little to oversee MACRO, require answers to residents’ concerns, or keep campaign promises on specific steps so MACRO succeeds.

We thank city leaders for increasing funding to MACRO in the new budget but to use that money effectively, responsible governance is needed. MACRO is easily fixable if politicians stop treating it as a campaign talking point and instead as a real program that begs for committed attention and problem-solving.

We urge city leadership to:

1. Assign senior-level staff to convene a working group of all city departments involved with MACRO implementation to ensure effective collaboration.

2. Require regular reports to the City Council and the public

“It is no secret if you are Jewish or if you have Jewish friends or interact with Jewish students or folks in the community, the tremendous levels of anxiety that our community is feeling at this moment [is] really unprecedented for my lifetime,” caucus co-chair Gabriel said.

Following the remarks from the Jewish legislators, a panel of Jewish community leaders presented different perspectives on

safety committee including tracking of data and issues, how to increase dispatched referrals, and instituting a meaningful program evaluation.

3. Consider moving MACRO directly under the city administrator for comprehensive management.

4. Make the Community Advisory Board a regular city commission, appointed by the City Council and with public meet-

Rabbi May said that being Jewish means caring for the community and treating others with dignity: “Judaism for me is an all-encompassing experience … I have an equal responsibility every day to treat my fellow persons with human dignity. That should be the core value for every human being: that we treat others with human dignity and understand that everyone has the same basic needs, that they want to support their families, have joy, and pride in their families and perpetuate their culture.”

Friedman said that antisemitism affects not only Jews but American society, more broadly. She warned that it is a sign of something wrong that needs to be fixed.

ings under the Brown Act.

5. Hundreds of Oaklanders worked to develop MACRO and stand ready to help. Currently, they are locked out.

If city leaders engage to ensure MACRO’s success, it can become the program that Oaklanders remain excited and hopeful for.

The Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) Program is designed to provide a more appropriate,

In response to Wiener’s concern, Thurmond said he had sent many letters to districts reminding them of the legal limits of ethnic studies, which should not be antisemitic or use any unapproved version of the curriculum. He also urged anyone who witnessed antisemitism in schools to contact his office.

“We’d like to get that phone call,” Thurmond said.

A full recording of the webinar can be viewed on the CDE Facebook page.

This article was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

non-police response to non-violent/non-felony calls; a model unique to Oakland; a model that Improves OPD response time to urgent calls; a model based on community members helping their own communities; and, a program that can save the City money and lives.

Millie Cleveland is also a member of the Coalition for Police Accountability.

When money is tight, you may feel like you have to choose between buying healthy food and going to the doctor. With Medi-Cal and Cal-Fresh, you don’t have to make that choice. You can get benefits to buy groceries every month, and low cost or free quality healthcare too.

Chances are that if you qualify for one program, you also qualify for the other. Community organizations near you are waiting to help you apply, so reach out today.

Oakland’s Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland Program (MACRO) was intended to relieve OPD officers from necessary but mundane calls that don’t require responses by armed officers. iStock image by N. Nesterenko.

Mayor Sheng Thao, City Leaders Announce New Grant Program to Revitalize Business Along City’s Commercial Corridors

Justice for Jose Alejandro Zavala Aguilar — Family Seeks Justice for Murdered Son

Special to The Post

Jose Alejandro Zavala Aguilar was a vibrant, charismatic 27-yearold. On the evening of Nov. 18, 2020, Jose was brutally murdered in the 5700 block of Trask Street.

By Post Staff

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao joined city leaders and community partners to announce the launch of a new events sponsorship program to increase foot traffic in Oakland’s commercial corridors, support Oakland’s small businesses, and showcase Oakland’s arts and culture community.

Peter Gamez, president and CEO of the city’s tourism center, ‘Visit Oakland,’ was present along with Sofia Navarro, interim director of the Economic and Workforce Development Department.

Called ‘Activate Oakland,’ the program has just under $500,000 to encourage activities downtown to bring together a community and boost local economy that is still recovering from the pandemic.

The funding for ‘Activate Oakland’ will come from the Economy and Workforce Development Department.

Events eligible for funding include games, outdoor karaoke, dance and cooking classes and movie nights.

Grant sizes will be about $10,000 and priority will go to Oakland resi-

Mandela Act ...

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nipulations of politics), where the treatment of one another is dictated by those in positions of power.

It is incumbent upon us, the people, to champion a movement against cruel and unusual punishment, which amounts to torture, and make it a central focus for change and resolution.

While one person may not be able to single-handedly alter the course, a united movement undoubtedly can. It is imperative that we stand up for humanity across all strata of society, rather than allowing past progress to become mere footnotes in history.

The courts, particularly the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, have, to a large extent, failed to recognize solitary confinement as torture, thereby giving tacit approval to treating individuals as less than human.

This court ruling has paved the way for further abuse within prisons. Therefore, it is crucial that citi-

dents and artists, particularly those from marginalized communities, according to a report in The San Francisco Chronicle.

Aware that foot traffic is slow not just because of a slow recovery from the pandemic but a wave of violent crime, Thao told The Chronicle, “When we activate our streets, this is how we keep each other safe.

“Whether it is performances, whether it is shutting down the street to get the community together, we are looking for those ideas so we can come together… as one Oakland,” said Thao, according to The Chronicle.

Gamez also spoke at the press conference, agreeing that the grant money will increase traffic to commercial corridors downtown and in neighborhoods.

Obelisco Restaurant in Fruitvale holds activities and events beyond the basic offerings of a regular eatery, according to The Chronicle report. Owner Leticia Chavez credits these special activities for keeping her business afloat.

Applications for grants are now open through Oct. 12. Apply at activateoakland.com

zens urge their state representatives to implore Gov. Gavin Newsom not to veto AB-280, a bill that unambiguously defines solitary confinement and elucidates its importance as a cornerstone in how we treat everyone, whether in society or confinement.

We must set aside politics and prioritize respect for human decency, and respect for life and the treatment of fellow human beings.

With elections on the horizon, time is of the essence. We must act now before it is too late. Change is inevitable, but it is imperative that we advocate for the right kind of change.

To ignore or show apathy toward this issue would be a grave mistake, as the future hinges on the actions we take today, recognizing that tomorrow is never guaranteed.

Let our state representatives know that we are resolute about fostering change and that we cannot allow this bill to be relegated to the annals of history. Yes, we may have been knocked down, but we are not knocked out or defeated.

His family remembers him as a noble young man, who loved soccer and the Chivas de Guadalajara team, was caring, responsible and always grateful to everyone who touched his life. Studying to be a welder at Chabot College so that he could open a mechanical and welding workshop, his promising life was cut tragically short.

His family said, “The impact of the death of our son left us with a deep feeling of emptiness. Since 18-Nov-2020, all the members of the Zavala Aguilar family have mutilated our souls, causing a lot of sadness, fear, courage and frustration in all emotional, psychological, physical and financial aspects to the point of not wanting to do basic and simple things like eating and sleeping as well as not knowing anything about continuing to work for our desires.”

The Family Support Advo-

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chronically overlooked working people of the Golden State,” said Lee.

“There is a strong progressive movement in California that Sen. Sanders mobilized successfully, and we are building on the grassroots movement he energized to connect with Californians about the issues that matter most to them.”

Dempsey and Bahr join a campaign team that already includes Katie Merrill as general consultant, Jack Lofgren as national

cates join with Jose Alejandro Zavala Aguilar’s grieving family and loved ones in their pursuit of justice.

Anyone in the community with information about Jose’s murder is asked to contact the Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or the TIP LINE at (510) 238-7950. CrimeStoppers of Oakland is offering a reward for an arrest in this case. #JusticeforJose.

FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCACY TASK FORCE

The mission of the Family Support Advocacy Task Force, a committee of the Violence Prevention Coalition, is to advocate for local, state and federal policies and legislation to enhance and expand support to families and friends of those who experienced violence; for more compassionate and transparent communication between law enforcement and the district attorney with the family of homicide victims and to push for the elimination of all violence, but particularly gun violence and homicides.

finance director, David GrahamCaso as communications director, Julianna Ridgeway as digital director, Sean Dugar as political director, Chris Keosian as scheduling director, Julio Esperias as Los Angeles organizer and Denisha DeLane as faith community outreach director.

The campaign team also includes media consultants Raghu Devaguptapu and Orrin Evans at Left Hook Consulting, as well as a polling and research team made up of Dave Metz of FM3, Shakari Byerly of Evitarus, and Terrance Woodbury of HIT Strategies.

The ‘Barbara Lee Speaks for Me’ Senate campaign is the source of this report.

Bill to Create Amsterdam-Style Cannabis Cafes Heads to Gov. Newsom’s Desk

By Bay City News

A bill by a state legislator from San Francisco to allow Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in California has been approved by the Legislature and is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.

Assembly Bill 374, authored by state Assemblymember Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, passed the Assembly with a 66-9 vote Monday after previously being approved by

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would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (DCA-12) is running for U.S. Senate to replace Feinstein against two other Democratic contenders: U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff (DCA-30) and Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA-47).

In 2021, when Newsom appointed Sen. Alex Padilla to replace former Sen. Kamala Harris, he promised to appoint a Black woman to the U.S. Senate.

Kellie Todd Griffin, founding convener of CBWC, said she expected Newsom to keep his promise.

“I fully expected that he will keep his word. We ran a respectful campaign, “Keep the Seat,” that highlighted the need for a Black woman to be appointed as well as provided two highly qualified options with Hon. Karen Bass and Hon. Barbara Lee. He appointed Senator Padilla instead,” said Griffin.

“His commitment after that act was clear and a promise to appoint a Black woman if there was another opportunity to appoint to the U.S. Senate arises. The notion of a caretaker is not what was promised nor is it expected to be acceptable,” Griffin continued. “Appointing a caretaker has not happened since the 1930s in California history.”

Lee, who is the only Black woman in the race, said in a statement, “Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table. I am troubled by the governor’s remarks.”

Last week, Lee also made headlines when she led mem-

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in the picture. A concerned group, OSNI (Oakland Sustainable Neighborhood Initiative), pushed back saying they would love development, but development without displacement.”

EAA later joined that fight, urging that people need to have power over policy and jobs.

bers of the California Congressional Delegation in writing a letter to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) urging a swift investigation into the allegations of violations of federal labor law by the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point and related entities.

On Labor Day, the members urged NLRB to investigate the hotel’s use of automated management practices — together with the company Instawork — to punish workers who participate in strikes or honor picket lines, as well as look into incidents of violence and property destruction against striking workers.

Both sets of issues are subject to pending unfair labor practice charges

“The conduct alleged above is profoundly troubling and raises serious concerns about the ability of workers at this property to exercise their core labor rights,” said Lee in the letter. “We ask that the NLRB investigate these issues thoroughly and prosecute the companies involved for all violations of the National Labor Relations Act.”

This is the second time Lee has written a letter concerning the Laguna Cliffs Marriott. In July, a letter was sent “regarding reports of racial exclusion and problematic employment practices.”

The most recent letter was signed by Lee and Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA43), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Mike Levin (DCA-49), Lou Correa (D-CA46), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34).

On Sept. 4, President Biden announced that he intends to nominate Lee to serve as a United States Representative at the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, scheduled to take place in New York City from Sept. 18-26.

ed to the Black Cultural Zone about purchasing the Safeway building located at 5701 International Blvd. (East 14th Street at the time), with the intent to develop a large campus, ROOTS Community Health Center, as a part of the collaborative’s 40 blocks by 40 blocks project, a geographical area they wanted to focus on.

the state Senate.

The legislation would allow local jurisdictions to authorize cannabis retailers to prepare and serve non-cannabis food and beverages and to sell tickets to live performances.

Haney’s office in a statement said the bill “will allow struggling cannabis businesses to diversify away from the marijuana-only ‘dispensary’ model and will bring much-needed tourist dollars into empty downtowns.”

Haney said, “To be clear, we’re not saying that coffee shops should be allowed to sell cannabis. We’re saying that cannabis shops should be allowed to sell coffee. It shouldn’t be illegal for an existing cannabis business to move away from only selling marijuana and instead have the opportunity to grow and create jobs by offering coffee or live jazz.”

If signed by Newsom, the bill would take effect at the start of 2024, when local governments could then create regulations for the cafes. According to Haney’s office, West Hollywood has already passed legislation to create such a licensing system, while San Francisco legislators are currently working on a similar system.

“We put forth the neighborhood concept of cultural centers and space where neighborhoods come together to build power and decide how they can use their power with a cultural space where they can dream and plan, and that’s how the cultural zone got started.”

Carolyn Johnson, director of the Black Cultural Zone, was working for the Northern California Community Fund as a lender during the dot.com boom in San Francisco and Silicon Valley the late 1990s. Awash in venture capital, high-salaried workers were looking for places to live.

Able to afford more in a competitive market, dot.commers’ need for housing drove up rent prices and home prices in the East Bay. Johnson observed the impact of that boom with people coming over to Oakland to buy up property, setting off gentrification that would result in Black people displacement.

When BRT was approved in 2008, Johnson, aware of the history of infrastructure projects that gentrify and displace Black people, bought a building on a commercial corridor, acknowledging the need for a Black Cultural Zone in Oakland.

From 2010 thru 2014, Roots, another Rise East member, talk-

The building purchase did not pan out, but the beginning of a coalition that brought Allen Temple Baptist Church, the East Oakland Collective, Just Cities, East Oakland Building Healthy Communities into the mix to develop the 10-year program that started in 2013.

The California Endowment funded many of the organizations in the collaborative from 2014-16, driven by the need to help the collaborative secure real estate, address Black health and wellness, provide quality education, Black arts and culture, establish economic placekeeping, build a strong Black economy, and increase the quality of life for Black folks.

“Our initiative came to national attention while we were calling on local private funders to make strategic investments in the 40 by 40 project, an investment to restore the community that Blacks were redlined into for 40 years,” Johnson says.

“Generally, the way that capital is being distributed, what we’re hearing is that it’s time for us to leave, and we’re saying no! We’re appreciative that Rise East will help catalyze our determination to stay deeply rooted in Oakland.”

The Rise East Project

Barbara Lee Adds Bernie Sanders Political Staff

Barbara Lee and Rob Bonta ...

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao opens remarks at a press conference in Latham Square at 15th and Broadway announcing funding for the city’s artists and others to provide activities along main thoroughfares.

Photo by JonathanFitnessJones.

Jose Alejandro Zavala Aguilar. Courtesy photo.