$105 Million
By Ken Epstein
Oakland Post
By Carla Thomas
NBA All Star and 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, Oakland XChange’s founder Trevor Parham, Boston XChange board member Riz Shah, and NBA icon Jason Kidd at Oakstop in Oakland announcing the creation of XChange Oakland and a commitment to raise $5 billion to empower marginalized communities across the nation. Courtesy of Oakland Xchange.
Mayor Sheng Thao, Councilmembers Nikki Bas and At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan celebrated the signing and the receipt of the first traunch of payments from some of the members of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group to purchase the Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum Complex. Left to right: Jonathan Jones, Alan Dones, C.J.Johnson, John Jones III, Nikki Bas, Ray Bobbitt, Ryan Richardson, Mayor Sheng Thao, Emily Weinreb, Rebecca Kaplan, Shonda Scott, Samantha Wise, Gay Plair Cobb and Paul Cobb. Photo by Kevin Hicks.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Photo: Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced Senatorial Candidate Adam Schiff to the congregants of Allen Temple Baptist Church and to a reception of the California Black Elected Officials organization co-sponsored by BWOPA (Black Women Organized for Political Action). Left to right Wanda Williams, Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff, Keith Carson, Lynette Gibson McElhaney, Angela Andrews.
Photo by Conway Jones, Jr.
Special to The Post
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that Agusto Matias has been charged with multiple felonies as the alleged driver in
deadly
and-run incident, killing a teenage girl and
37,
Chef Wanda Blake Honors
Black Culture Through Food at Black-Eyed Pea Festival
By Daisha Williams
Chef Wanda Blake, a lega-
cy food ambassador for Farms to Grow, Inc., will honor the history of Black farmers and Black cuisine by creating a food altar for this year’s annual Black-Eyed Pea Festival on Sept. 14 at Marston Campbell Park at 17th and West streets.
Blake is a chef who incorporates history and culture into her foods, using her awareness of Black history to enrich both the body and the mind. With this in mind, Blake’s altar will highlight red foods and their significance to the Black community.
Red is associated with the blood shed during slavery and that blackness and pain are often intertwined with one another.
The practice of eating red foods and drinks for Juneteenth and other gatherings was popularized in Texas, which may have been influenced by Yoruba and Congo
cultures. Red symbolizes spiritual power and transformation in both of these cultures.
Blake says that things like “red drink” are examples of the ancestors’ ability to find value in the things around them. “Red drink” was a type of hibiscus tea, sweetened with honey. Hibiscus is now known to be hydrating, and helps with high blood pressure, blood sugar and menstrual cramps.
Like black-eyed peas, watermelon is part of Black history as it was cultivated in Africa. And, according to Wikipedia, red velvet cake — an iconic dessert — may “have origins in 1911 when Rufus Estes, a formerly enslaved person and chef, incorporated a recipe for a sweet velvet cake in his cookbook.”
The color red also has ties to enslaved ancestors beyond food. There are tales of African people being lured to slave ships using red cloth, which was a rarity and highly
prized. such as. Red handkerchiefs were considered powerful objects.
Blake learned to cook the way many Black women do, from her mom, and later from aunties and grandmothers as well. Food, family, and culture are so intertwined with each other, and Blake never forgets that when navigating her career. This explains her strong ties between food and culture.
As she’s taken recipes into her own hands, she has added her own creativity into. For example, at previous Black-Eyed Pea Festivals, she has created many different black-eyed pea dishes, including a hummus-like dip, chili, pies, and hoppin’ john pasta.
Blake is the legacy food ambassador for Farms to Grow Inc. Farms to Grow is a nationwide 501c3 nonprofit organization that works with Black farmers, and other farmers who struggle due to systemic oppression such as Indigenous people, Latinx people and other minority groups. Their goal is to keep underserved farmers able to grow and produce food not just now, but for future generations as well.
Blake holds the title of ‘Legacy Food Ambassador’ for consciously integrating culture into her meals, as well as keeping an awareness about cultural food security. Blake was born in Lewisville, Arkansas, and then moved to San Francisco, first studying at City College of San Francisco.
The 9th Annual Black-Eyed Pea Festival takes place on Sat. Sept. 14 at Marston Campbell Park at 17th and West in West Oakland. Free and family friendly, take BART, the bus or car service and bypass parking. See you there.
California Legislature Clears Cyberbullying Bill
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
On Aug. 29, the California Assembly voted to pass a bill that would require social media platforms to respond to reports of cyberbullying by either removing the content in question or explaining why it is aligned with their platform’s policies.
The bill passed on the Assembly floor with a 71-0 vote.
Titled Cyberbullying Reporting and Accountability, SB 1504,authored by Sen. Henry Stern (D-Calabasas), advanced to Gov. Gavin Newsom desk for his signature or veto.
“Cyberbullying is a deadly and growing crisis. Social media companies must do their part to respond to cyberbullying threats,
like the fight pages that led up to Shaylee Mejia’s death,” Stern said in a statement to California Black Media.
Mejia, 16, died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to a Los Angeles County medical examiner who ruled her death an accident, citing that she fell down a flight of stairs. The family believes her death was caused by a fight at school that was captured on video.
SB 1504 is designed to have social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and others “respond compassionately and predictably” to reports of cyberbullying, Stern said in April.
According to the California Department of Justice (DOJ), Black and Hispanic teens are more likely than their White coun-
terparts to be targets of cyberbullying. In addition, Black teens are about twice as likely as Hispanic or White teens to express that their race or ethnicity made them a target of online mistreatment, according to a 2002 survey by the Pew Research Center.
If signed into law, SB 1504 will not require the Attorney General on behalf of all Californians to bring enforcement actions. Instead, it allows any person who reports cyberbullying and does not receive a timely response to enforce their own rights.
“Schools, students’ and parents’ complaints about cyberbullying often fall on deaf ears with the social media giants. This bill takes the power back,” Stern stated.
Chef Wanda Blake. Courtesy photo.
By Antonio Ray Harvey
Oakland Celebrates Black August: A Month of History, Healing, and Heart
By Daisha Williams
Black August is a month that celebrates everything that Oakland stands for including block parties, movie nights, and other community events.
Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency’s (BOSS) annual Black August Block Party took place on Aug. 31 at Oakland City Hall. Eastside Arts Alliance hosted a movie night with the Oakland chapter of the Malcom X Grassroots Movement on Aug. 30 at their cultural center at 2277 International Blvd.
Black August celebrates Black independence and liberation. The month gained its title because San Quentin prisoner George Jackson and Jonathan P. Jackson were killed in August of 1971 and 1970 respectively. Jonathan Jackson
Participants in BOSS Black August Block Party in 2023. Courtesy photo.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
California Legislature Passes Law to Protect Incarcerated Pregnant Women
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
The California Senate recently approved a package of bills that expand protections for pregnant women who are incarcerated. Those bills are now awaiting final approval in the Assembly before moving to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration.
Among the proposed bills, is Assembly Bill (AB) 2527 law
that bans pregnant women and women up to 12 weeks postpartum from being placed in solitary confinement. However, the exception is if “there is a credible and imminent threat to the safety or security” of the woman. The legislation requires that pregnant women receive daily portions of clean bottled water and meals that meet nutrition guidelines under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, In-
fants, and Children. Another bill requires pregnant women to be referred to a social worker within one week of entering
prison to talk about options for parenting classes. Additionally, the bills would require postpartum mothers to stay at a medical facility as recommended by a medical provider.
State lawmakers also proposed a bill that would reduce the number of empty state prison beds by 2030. The bill was introduced as a cost-effective measure that aims to cut costs and save the state money during a tough budget year. The
bill is pushing for the state to close down more prisons to push back on mass incarceration that disproportionately affects Black people.
Currently, the state has approximately 15,000 empty prison beds costing the state millions annually to maintain the beds. The proposed bills would gradually reduce the number to 2,500 beds in the next six years, paving the way to close state prisons in the future.
Black Workers Depend on Same-Day Pay.
Trying to Restrict It?
OPINION
By Jay King Special to California Black Media Partners
It’s no secret that too many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. What appears to be a secret is that an industry that is casting lifelines to those in need is being blocked by state and federal regulators.
The industry in question is Earned Wage Access (EWA).
EWA is an innovative fintech solution that empowers workers and helps them pay bills on time by accessing wages they’ve already earned. A 2021 study found that EWA services often prevent consumers from missing bill payments and slipping further into debt.
Despite the many benefits and the fact that businesses all across the country, including Paychex, now offer EWA to employees, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently issued guidance that could effectively wipe out this tool and, in the process, let struggling families, already in jeopardy, drown even deeper in debt.
The numbers tell the story. According to a recent study, 66% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck, while 40% report being unable to afford a $400 emergency expense. They face hardship paying bills, covering financial emergencies, and otherwise making ends meet. These aren’t just workers with minimum-wage jobs either; half of those U.S. consumers facing hardship earn more than $100,000 per year.
This dynamic is especially pernicious in the Black community.
According to recent figures, Black Californians currently have the lowest household income of any major racial or ethnic group in the state. Research also indicates that nearly a third of Black families are late paying their debts and 42% use credit cards just for basic living expenses while half do so to send their kids to college.
EWA is ready to support these individuals, yet the CFPB seems to think these services are just loans masquerading as something new. Not only is this wrong, but the agency’s interpretive guidance reverses their previous guidance and contradicts the established language and interpretation of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA).
This change could have a devastating impact on the very peo-
ple it purports to protect. By categorizing EWA as loans, the CFPB would impose unnecessary regulations that stifle innovation and could drive consumers back toward high-cost payday lenders.
As I mentioned, the numbers tell the story, and EWA has an impressive track record. A recent study from Citizens Bank found that seven in 10 middle-market companies currently offer EWAs to employees, with more planning to do so in years to come. As it happens, few states better illustrate the value, and excellent ROI, of EWAs than California. Californians employed by Walgreens, Home Depot, FedEx Office and other businesses have accessed more than $1.67 billion in wages through EWA. Equally promising, more than half of consumers who tap into EWA can now afford a $400
emergency.
EWA services have always proven to serve the greater good, particularly in supporting underserved communities like the Black community, which is disproportionately affected by financial instability. The CFPB should take advantage of this opportunity to make sure they continue to do so, rather than creating obstacles that could undermine their effectiveness.
I urge the CFPB to rethink this misguided guidance. The agency must prioritize fairness and innovation to protect both consumers and the businesses that employ them.
About the Author Jay King is CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce.
iStock.
U.S. DOT Awards California Nearly $150M for EV Charging and Fueling Infrastructure
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
The United States Department of Transportation has awarded $149.7 million to California to build its zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced last week.
“Decarbonizing the transportation and goods movement sectors is essential for fighting the climate crisis and protecting public health in communities along busy corridors,” said Padilla.
The funding includes $100 million for medium and heavy-duty zero emissions vehicles. The funding is being managed by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program under the Federal Highway Administration (FHA).
Several Democratic leaders urged U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to support the zero-emissions project. The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program also aims to deploy electric vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure in publicly accessible locations to help underserved and disadvantaged communities.
“To successfully meet California’s critical climate goals, we need to scale up our charging and fueling infrastructure up and down the state through transformative projects like the West Coast Truck Charging and Fueling Corridor Project,” Padilla added.
Additional government agencies and organizations in California were awarded up to $15 million to invest in sustainable transportation infrastructure. They include the Fort Independence Indian Community, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.
The federal agency was created by the bipartisan infrastructure law to fund development projects. The state’s Department of Transportation will receive $102.4 million for its West Coast Truck Charging and Fueling Corridor Project. The charging and fueling stations will be developed for zero-emissions medium and heavy-duty vehicles along 2,500 miles of key freight corridors in California, Oregon, and Washington. The project aims to transport goods between major ports and freight centers and agricultural regions along the West Coast.
Jay King, President and CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy photo.
San
Diego County Board of Supervisors Backs Reparations Bills
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
The San Diego Board of Supervisors last week voted 4-1 to back State legislation that aims to right historic injustices against the descendants of enslaved Black people.
The State Legislature is working with the California Legislative Black Caucus and reparations taskforce to provide reparations to Black people who were harmed by systemic racism and other inequities. Community leaders and activists praised the county supervisors for supporting the initiative and stated that their endorsement is a significant step forward in correcting past injustices.
With that vote, San Diego will be listed as a formal supporter of the reparations bill package, a series of 14 bills still in progress at various stages in the State Legislature.
Supervisor Joel Anderson, a Republican, was the only County Board member who voted against endorsing the state’s reparations
initiative.
Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, who served on the state’s reparations task force, said that the bills would directly impact San Diego.
“It is no secret that our county carries the stain of historical racism and discrimination against the Black community,” said Steppe.
“As a member of the reparations task force, it’s my obligation to support and uplift policies that address the multifaceted dimensions of this history,” she said.
Ellen Nash, chair of the San Diego Chapter of the Black American Political Association of California, recalled personally experiencing racial injustice and wants to protect future generations from the harmful impact of systemic racism and discriminatory practices.
“This package provides a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of inequity and building a more inclusive future for all,” said Nash.
“There is hope for the next generation,” she said.
Why Californians Must Reject Proposition 36 This November
OPINION
By Eric Harris Special to California Black Media Partners
In November, voters have a crucial opportunity to reject Proposition 36, a misguided effort backed by major law enforcement associations and some players in the corporate retail lobby that will make our communities less safe.
Although the authors of the proposition have euphemistically labeled it “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act,” Prop 36 will increase punishments for people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders without providing any funding for treatment or housing. Prop 36, like policies similar to it in the past that have harmed Black people, will affect a disproportion-
ate number of Black disabled people.
Over the past decade, Californians have voted to reduce our prison population. To achieve that goal, in 2014, we passed Proposition 47, which reclassified many low-level nonviolent offenses, such as drug possession and property crimes, from felonies to misdemeanors. This was an important step to reform our criminal legal system, leading to an overall drop in crime statewide and decreased rates of recidivism. In contrast, Prop 36 would impose longer sentences and harsher punishments for theft and drug-related offenses. Rather than investing in meaningful solutions, Prop 36 relies on expensive bandaids such as “treatment-mandated felonies” for repeated drug possession.
Nationwide, people with dis-
abilities are disproportionately represented in our prison system at staggering rates, with over 40% of people in state prisons having a disability, compared to only 15% of people in the general population. In California, 1 in 3 people in prison have a diagnosed mental illness. This overrepresentation reflects decades of policies that prioritize incarceration over housing affordability and community-based alternatives, especially in Black and Brown communities, and among people experiencing homelessness. By increasing the number of people experiencing incarceration, Prop 36 will exacerbate the number of Californians with disabilities in our prison system, while also disabling new people who enter the system. Beyond being overrepresented, people with disabilities experience inhumane treatment in
prison and jail where they are often denied proper accommodations, medical care, and services. Further, prison and jail conditions often exacerbate people’s existing conditions, meaning people are at risk for leaving incarceration with disabilities they did not have when they entered the system.
Moreover, while special interests have framed Prop 36 as an attempt to address drug use, its mandated treatment model will lead to more people with disabilities facing incarceration, while their substance use disorders remain untreated. Experts agree that mandating drug treatment for individuals convicted of a drug-related offense does not effectively reduce drug use. Further, Prop 36 does not offer any funding for substance use treatment of any kind, let alone evidencebased practices. This will perpetuate the existing system in which people with substance use disorders end up incarcerated, instead of having access to community-based treatment.
Prop 36 will also worsen the socioeconomic conditions at the root of the problems it claims to address. A felony conviction makes it far more difficult to find employment and stable housing post-incarceration, which has a compounding impact for people with disabilities who already are more likely to be facing housing insecurity and unemployment.
Californians should oppose any measures that double down on punishment and incarceration. Instead of Prop 36, we need policies that invest in community-driven solutions for healthier communities.
About the Author Eric Harris is the Associate Executive Director of External Affairs at Disability Rights California.
Monica Montgomery Steppe, SD Board of Supervisors (Courtesy of San Diego County Board of Supervisors)
Bonta Pushes for Gender Equity in Consumer Goods Prices
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert reminding residents to know their rights under Assembly Bill 1287 for Women’s Equality Day on August 26.
State law prohibits businesses from charging different prices for substantially similar goods based on the gender of the product’s target audience. The law protects consumers from the “pink tax,” a label used to describe the practice of charging women higher prices than men for the same or similar goods.
According to consumer data, products marketed to women cost 7% more than those marketed to men. The average cost of personal products is 13% higher for women compared to men. The bill authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) was enacted to prevent genderbased price differences that violate the law.
Bonta condemned the pink tax and encouraged consumers to report businesses that have violated this law.
“The Pink Tax is a sexist practice that is illegal in California. Women, especially Black and Latinx women, are paid less than their White, male counterparts in the same roles, yet have to spend more than men to buy very similar
products,” said Bonta.
“California consumers have the right to shop without fear of discrimination,” he said.
Bauer-Kahan stated that the majority of products are gender -targeted. With this law, the state is working to close the unnecessary and burdensome gaps of gendered pricing to promote gender equality.
“It has been two years since the passage of AB 1287, and it is very exciting to see the work Attorney General Bonta is doing to guarantee consumers rights under California’s Pink Tax Law. Unequal prices for women translate to impacts for their own financial wellbeing as well as that of their families. This also exacerbates the already-existing gender gap in financial inequality,” she said.
The bill is supported by the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls which cosponsored AB 1287. Since the passing of the pink tax law, supporters of the bill argued that unequal pricing translates into unjust and harmful financial impacts for women and girls given the issue of gender pay gaps. The practice of pink tax further widens wealth inequality by disproportionally affecting women of color statewide.
Ethnic Media Awards and Conference ...
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topic areas, including health, politics and culture.
The conference sessions leading up to that event included panel discussions featuring state officials, government agencies, lobbying firms, advocacy organizations and more. It also provided networking opportunities for news media owners and professionals from the Black, Native American, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Eastern European, North African, Caribbean and LGBTQ press.
“Last year, the inaugural convening in the state capital focused on ‘meeting the decision-makers,’” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director of CBM. “This year, the emphasis is on strengthening those connections. Key decisionmakers have expressed their appreciation for our return, recognizing that at a time of deep budget cuts, our community ties and communication skills are more essential than ever for building new, more equitable messaging,” Wilson added.
State leaders who attended the event included Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
In addition to state government officials, business leaders, communications firms, nonprofits, and philanthropic organizations also participated in the conference organized to highlight the crucial role ethnic media play in California’s diverse communities.
“California is home to the largest concentration of multilingual news outlets serving immigrant and ethnic communities in the U.S.,” said Sandy Close, Director of EMS. “This breakthrough public-private partnership to support local journalism brings welcome recognition of the ethnic media sector’s indispensable role in connecting these diverse communities to each other and to the wider public realm.”
Thurmond discussed the ethnic media’s role in reporting on education in the state and why articles from ethnic media outlets have an advantage in reaching targeted audiences in underserved communities.
Thurmond, who is running for the governor of California in 2026, spoke at the opening luncheon where CBM and EMS pre-
sented Communications Champion Awards to key stakeholders representing organizations across the state’s communications infrastructure.
“We can’t get the right information out about education without the ethnic media in our state,” Thurmond said. “We need to get people to understand that if a student is not reading at a third-grade level in the third grade we will lose them, and they could end up in the prison pipeline.”
This year’s conference coincided with the announcement of the historic $172 million publicprivate partnership in California aimed at supporting journalism. That agreement brings together state government and high-tech companies led by Google to support local newsrooms.
The deal, supporters say, serves as a national model for strengthening the traditional role of journalism in providing checks and balances in government and business affairs. At a reception held the first day of the conference, CBM and EMS honored Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) with the “Legislator of the Year” award. The organizations also thanked Wicks for brokering the deal with Google and for her ongoing support for news media.
“We’ve worked long and hard to gain this recognition as a multilingual, multiracial, multimedia sector,” said Wilson. “We extend our deepest thanks to our sponsors, speakers, media partners, and all our attendees for supporting this collective effort.”
Oakland Celebrates Black August ... Continued from page 4
with fewer than 100 people present the first year and around 400 in 2023. This year they expected 400-500 people to attend.
In the second year, BOSS augmented the celebration with a “Black Market.” This is a market exclusively for Black vendors, at no cost to them, to boost economic empowerment in the Black community, one of the fundamental ideals of Black August, according to Satia Frazier-North the organizer of the BOSS Block Party.
“The foundation for Black August is art, culture, political education, and economic empowerment. We think that all of those pieces are important to the healing of the community that we serve,” Satia Frazier-North.
This year, the block party included an artists’ zone, a wellness zone which had free blood pressure screenings, performances by many Oakland musicians, poets, and rappers, as well as a food truck. The first 250 people got free food.
The Oakland branch of the Malcom X Grassroots Movement and Eastside Arts Alliance hosted a screening of the 1980 movie “Attica.” This film tells the story of one of the largest prison riots this country has ever seen which began on Sept. 9, 1971. This movie about resistance was followed by a community discussion.
The Malcom X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) is an or-
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ganization dedicated to protecting the rights of Afrikan people through empowerment and education. Some of their principles include a demand for reparations, opposition to genocide anywhere in the world, and an end to gender and sexual oppression.
More than movie nights and block parties, Black August acknowledges the power that descendents of the African diaspora have shown in the face of oppression.
One notable historical event that occurred during August was the start of the Haitian Revolution on Aug. 14, 1791, brought on by the largest and most successful slave revolt in history. Haiti then became the first country to be governed by previously enslaved peoples.
The Nat Turner Rebellion took place in Virginia on Aug. 21, 1831. After receiving a sign from God, Turner killed his slave master and the slave master’s family. Then he led a group of other enslaved people to kill their oppressors. These acts of violence made it clear to white people that Black people were not timid or docile, that there will be consequences for the ways that they were treated.
Black August observations are not all deadly serious or in the distant past. Most recently the Montgomery Riverfront Brawl in Alabama took place on Aug. 5, 2023. It will likely not be the last of Black August’s notable dates because as long as people are silenced, they will rise up.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the AC Transit Board of Directors invites all interested persons to attend virtual Public Hearings on Monday, September 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.; and hybrid (virtual & in-person) Public Hearings on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at AC Transit’s General Office, 2nd Floor Board Room located at 1600 Franklin Street in Oakland, California 94612 to provide public comment on the service change proposals for the Draft Realign Network Plan as more specifically described below under “PROJECT DESCRIPTION.” No decisions will be made at the Public Hearings.
All Public Hearings may be accessed by teleconference/video conference via Zoom at: Date Time Meeting Location
September 9 6:00pm Virtual: https://actransit.zoom.us/j/88231707039; Phone (669) 219-2599; Webinar ID 882 3170 7039
September 10 9:00am Virtual: https://actransit.zoom.us/j/88231707039; Phone (669) 219-2599; Webinar ID 882 3170 7039
September 11 2:00pm Hybrid: https://actransit.zoom.us/j/98487175063; Phone (669) 900-6833; Webinar ID 984 8717 5063 or 1600 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor Board Room, Oakland, California
September 11 6:00pm Hybrid: https://actransit.zoom.us/j/98487175063; Phone (669) 900-6833; Webinar ID 984 8717 5063 or 1600 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor Board Room, Oakland, California
Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin interpreters will be provided at the hearings. Upon request, a sign language interpreter or interpreter for languages other than those listed in this notice may be provided, but must be requested by calling (510) 891-7201 at least 72 hours in advance of a hearing. For TDD for hearing impaired, call 711, California Relay Service, and specify (510) 891-4700.
PUBLIC COMMENT can be submitted in writing and/or live at a hearing. Due to the potential for long wait times at hearings to provide live comment, the public is encouraged to submit comments in writing. Verbal public comments at the meetings will be restricted to one (1) minute in length to allow as many members of the public who wish to speak the opportunity to do so. Those who have spoken at one of the public hearings will not be permitted to speak again at another hearing and should submit additional comments in writing. Written comments will receive the same attention as verbal comments received at a Public Hearing and may be submitted as follows:
• Email to realign@actransit.org
• U.S. Mail to: AC Transit Board of Directors, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, California, 94612;
• Online comment form (SurveyMonkey) on Project website at actransit.org/realign
• Voicemail: English: (510) 267-5631; Spanish: (510) 267-5632; Mandarin: (510) 267-5633; Cantonese (510) 267-5634.
All comments must be received by the close of the final public hearing on September 11, 2024.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The service proposals represent AC Transit service adjustments developed through the Realign Plan effort under consideration by the Board of Directors. Service changes, if approved, would be implemented as early as March 2025. The Board of Directors is expected to render a final decision in October 2024.
Service Changes: Proposed changes are detailed on the web at actransit.org/realign. Changes are proposed for Local, Transbay, and All-Nighter lines, except no changes are proposed to lines 40, 41, 46L, 57, 90, 95, 97, 98, 800, 802, 840, 851, E, F, FS, G, J, NL, NX, NX3, P, U, and V. New Streets: Service is being proposed on new streets for lines 7, 20, 28, 29, 45, 70, 73, 74, 76, 96, 200, 216, and 805. Details of the specific streets can be found online at actransit.org/ realign.
The service change proposals are detailed on AC Transit’s website at www.actransit.org/ realign and available in printed format at the District’s General Offices, located at 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, California, and at a variety of other locations, including main county and city offices as well as libraries located within the District’s service area. For information on exact locations where the documents are available in your specific area, please visit: actransit.org/realign for a listing of libraries or telephone: (510) 267-5631 (English); (510) 2675632 (Spanish); (510) 267-5633 (Mandarin); or (510) 267-5634 (Cantonese).
Attorney General Rob Bonta (AG Facebook Page).
City Completes Upgrade of Dispatch System ...
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“Public safety is my administration’s highest priority,” she said. “This system improvement builds on the investments we have made to staff up our hardworking dispatcher units. Now we have more people using better tools to deliver for our community.”
The new CAD system is fully functional, highly secure, and makes public safety communications more efficient, using integrated equipment and interagency information sharing capabilities, according to a statement released by the city.
“The launch of our new
PremierOne CAD system provides our Communications Division with a state-of-the-art platform for 9-1-1 dispatch,” said Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell. “CAD provides an enhanced user interface that supports our dispatchers in their daily tasks and seamlessly integrates with other information systems to support a more coordinated and effective response.”
“As the volume of 911 calls climb, our firefighters and medical service units deserve the best tools possible to help with a timely, well-informed response,” said Fire Chief Damon Covington.
“This work represents
contributions from many individuals, and I especially want to recognize those from the Information Technology Department,” said Chief Information Officer Tony Batalla.
The City has increased the percentage of 911 calls answered to within 15 seconds – the industry standard for pickup time. In early 2023, Oakland was meeting that standard for 36% of 911 calls. In August 2024, that percentage had increased to 51%.
The City of Oakland Media relations office is the source of this report.
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International
Both victims were in the crosswalk when the collision occurred.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my office has filed charges against an individual accused of extremely reckless driving that resulted in the tragic loss of a young life,” said District Attorney Pamela Price.
tax structure on big business, established public banking in Oakland, capped allowable rent increases for tenants, and expanded opportunities for young people through the Summer Jobs program.
Five candidates are running against Fife. One of them, Warren Logan, transportation planner and former policy advisor of ex-Mayor Libby Schaaf, has already raised over $100,000 in donations from Schaaf and others, many of them involved in tech and real estate development.
“This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired and reckless driving,” Price said. “It is a preventable crime that destroys lives, devastates families, and places all of our lives in danger unnecessarily. This type of unconscionable behavior will not be tolerated on our city streets.”
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this of-
“I want to extend my condolences to the family. No parent should ever have to bury their child under such avoidable circumstances. Our thoughts are with them during this incredibly difficult time.
fice to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code.
Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Jaylen Brown and Jason Kidd ...
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fluence, Brown has set his intentions in motion jumpstarting a path toward generational wealth and cultivating cultural innovation in underserved and underrepresented communities. Designed to provide opportunities at the intersection of business and culture, Brown says the XChange will use a placebased strategy to drive solutions for better cities, integrating real estate development, business education, technology, and cultural competency to foster economic growth.
Chapters in Boston (BXC) and Oakland (OXC) will serve as organizing hubs, utilizing commercial real estate to empower underserved communities.
Kidd says he was inspired by Brown’s concept and the two have committed millions of dollars from their own fortunes to kick off the venture. Kidd and Brown, both Oakland natives, see a bright future for their hometown.
“We welcome anyone that is willing to make a commitment to the future and health of the community and put it on a path toward
generational sustainability,” said Kidd, during the press conference.
“The racial wealth gap is not limited to Boston -- It’s a national issue, affecting Oakland and cities throughout the country, revealing how some groups are better positioned to make critical investments in their futures that benefit their families and communities,” said Kidd.
Kidd has also made significant philanthropic contributions to his hometown, such as funding the Willie Keyes Recreation Center in West Oakland.
The XChange will create and showcase scalable and repeatable models for shared real estate ownership and impact investments to facilitate asset building for sidelined community members that can be adopted across the country. They will engage professional athletes, business leaders, philanthropists, and influencers who are passionate about solving wealth inequality in the cities they love, using a replicable model that maximizes impact while uplifting
existing organizations working to bridge the wealth gap.
“Using this strategy, The XChange presents an opportunity for individual cities to tailor the model to the unique needs and strengths of their communities, replicating and refining it for optimal impact,” said the Oakland XChange’s founder Trevor Parham.
“Place-based strategies are important for unifying and revitalizing underserved communities and our lived experiences inform market insights and social solutions that help foster sustainable economic development. I’m proud of Oakstop’s track record for community-led social impact and our synergy with the Boston XChange.”
Boston XChange board member Riz Shah was also on hand along with local politicians, Caroll Fife, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), and Lateefah Simon, candidate for U.S Congress. They all shared their excitement for the new venture.
For more information visit: www.oaklandxchange.org
District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife Kicks Off Reelection Campaign
By Ken Epstein
District 3 City Council incum-
bent Carroll Fife recently kicked off her campaign for reelection, speaking to an enthusiastic, standing-room-only crowd at ForTheCulture Oak, 701 Clay St. in West Oakland.
Since she took office in 2021, Fife has been working to move Oakland City Council in a progressive direction, spearheading efforts and working with others on the council and in the community to enact strengthened protections for poor and working people.
Her track record has earned her enthusiastic support from some quarters and stirred the enmity of others, including developers, large landlords, and hedge fund executives, who are already financing campaigns to unseat Fife and other local progressives.
“We are in a moment that they have written history books about,” said Fife at her campaign launch.
“Our opposition is in fear because we are winning. We are winning, not because of me personally, but
(because we are) lifting up the necessity of working cooperatively and thinking about the people who have the least.”
While on the council, Fife has worked for humane policies to reduce homelessness, strengthen public safety, build affordable housing, and foster small business and economic development.
She helped to pilot communityinitiated traffic safety solutions, improve Oakland’s 911 dispatch system, finance safe parking sites for unhoused residents, establish a Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District, and put Oakland on record in support of a ceasefire in Gaza.
She has also backed the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (ASSEG)-sponsored development of the Oakland Coliseum, which potentially can lead to the historic economic development to benefit Oakland residents and especially residents of East Oakland.
Her work also included popular ballot measures that authorized low-rent housing, expanded tenant protections, created a progressive
Formerly, Fife served as executive director of ACCE Oakland, helped found Moms for Housing and passed legislation at the state and local level to build collective power for tenants. She worked to develop a network of Black organizations and was a 2016 and 2020 delegate for Bernie Sanders and has been a member of the 2020 Platform Committee for the Democratic National Committee.
One of Fife’s major opponents will not appear on the ballot. He is Sam Singer, a longtime public relations operative, with deep connections to corporate media organizations, who has represented Chevron for years in its fight to demonize environmentalists.
Singer was also employed by Wedgewood Properties, a billiondollar corporation, helping the company vilify Moms for Housing, which in 2020 received international attention in their fight to purchase a vacant home in Oakland. Fife, a community activist at the time, worked closely with Moms for Housing.
Currently, Singer works with officers in the Oakland Police Department and writes frequently on social media denouncing progressive elected officials. Local observers say Singer’s PR efforts promote racial divisions and encourage support for authoritarian solutions by promoting MAGAtype hysteria of rampant crime.
“We’ve got to be united,” said Fife. “We’ve got to organize like we’ve never organized before,” she said. “Information is easy to come by, but truth is not.”
$105 Million Signing of Coliseum Sale ...
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According to a terms sheet, AASEG is paying the city $15 million in September, $15 million in November, $33 million in January 2025, and $42 million by June 20, 2026. The development is financed by Loop Capital, a Chicago-based investment firm.
Hosting the press conference at the Coliseum on Tuesday, cofounder of the AASEG team, Ray Bobbitt, a longtime Oakland businessman, introduced Mayor Sheng Thao, who he said “drove” this project for the city, along with Councilmember-at-large Rebecca Kaplan.
“This is history in the making,” said Thao, emphasizing the team effort between private investors, city officials, staff, and community that is moving the city forward.
This project is not a short-term financial fix for Oakland but a long-term strategic development that will pay off for the city and its residents for decades, she said.
“This will be a $105 million sale that will lead to a multi-billiondollar investment in Oakland, specifically deep East Oakland,” said Thao.
“This isn’t a temporary band aid for the budget as some naysayers may say,” she continued. “Yes, it helps keep fire stations open, it helps keep our (police) officers, and the (police) academies going. But (more fundamentally), this is a work in process for Oakland’s future.”
The mayor said she was honored to work with the African American business leaders in AASEG and with the African American entrepreneurs in Loop Capital.
“Many thought institutional capital was fleeing Oakland, but that is not the case,” she said. “We were able to be innovative and think outside the box. (We) know what the Coliseum is; this is the
place to be in the Bay Area.”
A number of observers say political opponents of the mayor and much of the city’s leadership are “doom seekers,” continually emphasizing that Oakland is a terrible place to live where nothing good happens, as they seek to justify their attempt to restore power to representatives of the city’s traditional elite.
In her remarks, Kaplan outlined a vision of the redeveloped Coliseum site as a major economic hub for not just East Oakland but the Bay Area, noting that it sits near a BART station, freeway, rail line, and airport.
Ultimately, the AASEG project will be a $5 billion construction venture with housing, entertainment, live sports, hotels, and businesses.
“There is no site better prepared for development than this,” Kaplan said.
AASEG has agreed to create a community benefits plan before the end of the decade with labor agreements, workforce training, and pledges residents around the Coliseum will not be displaced by development.
AASEG has also agreed to ensure 25% of any housing developed at the site is affordable.
Bobbitt, who as a child watched games at the Coliseum from his grandmother’s roof, said the project will serve the entire population of Oakland and the region and especially communities in East Oakland, where African Americans face the highest rates of poverty, unemployment, and homelessness, and as victims of crime, he said.
He said he especially wanted to recognize Paul and Gay Cobb, owners of the Oakland Post newspaper and elders in the community, who inspired him to have a large vision for the Coliseum that
will lead to the development of East Oakland, the entire city, and the region. He credited the Cobbs for coaching the AASEG to get community support for a unanimous City Council and mayoral support. “This is the model that could also bolster Geoffrey’s Inner Circle and his entertainment collective as well as the revival of the Hegenberger corridor, Hilton Hotel site and a Historical Black College plan to prepare for AI-Health Careers and teacher training,” said Cobb.
“We want to acknowledge them and thank them for everything they do for our community. They safeguard us, they protect us, they push us, they urge us, I want you to understand what this newspaper means for our community,” Bobbitt said.
In a statement, Bobbitt said, “The AASEG sees this new stewardship (of the Coliseum) as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the revitalization of Oakland and a profound responsibility to improve the lives of the community members of East Oakland.”
“Thank you to the city, our partners, Sheng Thao, Rebecca Kaplan, Nikki Bas, and everyone else who contributed to this,” he said. Council President Bas said, “There are so many positive things to love about our town, and this is an opportunity, to set aside any differences we have and to work together and make this city as great as it can be.”
Entrepreneur Alan Dones, who is part of AASEG, said, “Our team agrees our main objective here is to serve our community, to make sure this project stands out as a beacon for what can be done when you prioritize community, good jobs, and business opportunities.”
scourt near
Boulevard when he allegedly struck and killed one victim and injured a second victim.
Two supporters, attorney Walter Riley (left) and Pastor Servant B.K. Woodson, stand with Councilmember Carroll Fife at her campaign kickoff, Saturday, Aug. 10 in West Oakland. Photo by Ken Epstein.