Oakland Post, week of July 31, 2024 - August 6, 2024
Mayor, AASEG Sign Coliseum Sale Terms
By Magaly Muñoz
Oakland has taken a big step towards securing funds that will save the city from major budget cuts by signing a term of agreement for the sale of the Coliseum stadium.
Mayor Sheng Thao and City
Administrator Jestin Johnson signed the term agreement with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) on Tuesday morning. The agreement lays out the plan for the sale including payment scheduling and deed
restrictions.
“What we’ve done today is we’ve changed for the better, because what we’re doing is we’re investing not just in today, but we are investing in an Oakland for tomorrow,” Thao said at a Tuesday morn-
ing press conference.
The sale of Oakland’s half-ownership of the stadium to AASEG was announced in late May and was painted as a way to help save the city from the large deficit they battled with for weeks in June.
The City Council passed a budget dependent on the sale, avoiding cuts across all departments, particularly to departments responsible for public safety like the police and
fire departments. Had the sale fallen through, cuts would’ve needed to be immediately made in September to bridge the
Oakland Post
By Ken Epstein
A new grassroots coalition has formed in response to what it calls a major conservative threat to voters’ rights in Oakland and Alameda County, bluntly calling itself: “Respect Our Vote – No Recalls.”
“We already voted! We shouldn’t have to pay for another expensive election because a handful of multimillionaires from Piedmont and San Francisco, along with a few billionaires across the country, don’t like the results of the election we
already had,” said longtime Oakland activist Mariano Contreras, reflecting a sentiment of some politically aware residents from many groups and neighborhoods across Oakland.
While outside monied interests are paying for the recalls, other recall backers include supporters of those who lost the last election and those who are opposed to progressive reforms, according to anti-recall organizers.
“I can disagree with some ac-
Special to The Post
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that Alameda resident Sarah Lynn New, 45, has been charged with three felony counts of embezzlement in violation of Penal Code Section 503.
If convicted and sentenced on the three felony charges, Ms. New faces nine years in prison. The complaint alleges that on or about April 1, April 17, and April 18, Ms. New withdrew thousands of dollars from the bank account of the non-profit Alameda Gators Swim Team.
Ms. New became the president of the team in the City of Alameda in September 2023. Investigators believe that she unlawfully embezzled thousands of dollars from the team during her presidency.
The investigation into her alleged criminal activity is continuing, and Price did not rule out the possibility of additional charges.
“As the lead fiduciary of a community program, Ms. New’s alleged conduct is a shocking betrayal of the trust of the parents and children participating in this worthwhile activity. These kinds of programs are essential to building a safe and harmonious community, and therefore, the impact of the alleged conduct can be extremely harmful.
“Anytime an adult betrays trust, and it involves children, that is remarkable. We want to teach our children to be responsible civic-minded members of our community,” Price said.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s office is the source of this report.
By Carla Thomas Monee
Brown has dedicated her life to cyber security and keeping children safe. Through her company, Knot Our Kidz, an initiative dedicated to promoting online safety among youth, Brown has generated a movement in the community as a staunch advocate against human trafficking.
A retired deputy probation officer in Alameda County, Brown lists the many ways children are vulnerable and how parents and guardians sometimes unassumingly create pathways that predators may take advantage of.
Brown, who is based in Oakland, says she witnessed first-hand the alarming trend of youth being solicited and groomed through their cell phones unbeknownst to their parents.
to Know.”
“It’s crucial to educate parents and anyone who has an instrumental role in a child’s life, be it an aunt, grandparents, an uncle, or godparents. These books provide practical tools and engaging narratives that empower children and parents alike to navigate the digital world safely.”
Brown says when children are given digital devices, parents typically don’t know what they are engaging in beyond schoolwork.
“Computers could also expose a child to engaging with strangers and potential predators online. For parents that don’t want their child on the computer, what are the alternatives? Are the students monitored online? What are the precautions taken to protect youth from encountering predators online?
By Ken Epstein
Robert L. Allen, historian scholar, and civil rights activist, died on July 10 at 82. One of his important works, “The Port Chicago Mutiny,” played a significant role in the struggle that ultimately led to the exoneration this month of the African American sailors who were convicted of mutiny during World War II for going on strike following a deadly munitions explosion that claimed the lives of hundreds.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on
May 29, 1942, Allen learned at an early age about social responsibility from his parents, who were community activists, developing a lifelong commitment to social justice. Allen was 13 when Emmett Till, who was 14 when he was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. “This is when I realized that the white people were not only dangerous, but they were dangerous to all of us, including me, because he was my age,” Allen said in an interview quoted in the New York Times.
Special to The Post
Hasheem Bason, 35, was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison following a no-contest plea to second-degree murder for the Aug. 21, 2022, deadly shooting of Dr. Lili Xu.
The investigation of the case revealed that Xu’s murder was orchestrated by her romantic partner, Nelson Chia. The month before she was killed, Xu discovered that Chia was involved in multiple acts of infidelity while he was simultaneously trying to take control of her sizable assets. Further investigation uncovered evidence of Chia openly discussing how he could capitalize on Xu’s death.
After the murder, video evidence showed Chia held a banquet
in Xu’s honor and attempted to raise money for his own foundation, playing the role of the grieving partner while being the mastermind of a murder-for-hire scheme responsible for her death.
Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Hasheem Bason as one of the participants in Chia’s scheme to murder Xu. The investigation also revealed that Chia had allegedly established an inappropriate exploitative relationship with Bason when Bason was a vulnerable youth.
Years later, Chia allegedly tracked Bason down and threatened to reveal the secrets of his youth unless Bason assisted him in the plot to murder Xu. Investiga-
“Oftentimes parents were unaware of online predators, hadn’t informed their kids of the dos and don’ts of the internet, and weren’t actively monitoring their children’s devices,” she said. “This experience inspired me to create resources to help bridge this gap in knowledge and safety.”
With over 22 years of experience in law enforcement and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Brown says she is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and has written three books to highlight the dangers of online predators.
Her book, “Ready, Set, Game,” highlights the dangers of online gaming. “Operation Don’t Chat Back,” exposes the risks of chatting with strangers online.
Her guide for parents on protecting their children from online predators is entitled “Cyber Pimp: What Every Parent Needs
According to Brown, although it may be innocent, sharing information about children on social media easily exposes youth to potential predators.
“When proud parents post pictures on social media of their child’s graduation from middle school, this exposes the child to thousands of people online, because each person has about 500 friends on social media, she says.
“If the proud parents post a Cash App to bless a child financially, a predator could use this gift as an act to gain a child’s attention, build trust, and further entice the child.”
Brown says she welcomes organizations and individuals willing to join her in combating predators who target children away and fighting for more protections for children in the cyber world.
For more information visit: www.knotourkidz.com
Alameda resident Sarah Lynn New has been charged with three felony cuonts of Embezzlement. Photo: abc7news on X.
Robert L. Allen. Courtesy of U.S. Naval Institute
Left to right: Ray Lankford, CEO of Oakland Private Industry Council; Ray Bobbitt, AASEG Founder; Samantha Wise, AASEG board member; Mayor Sheng Thao; Jonathan Jones, chair of AASEG Finance Committee; Richard Johnson, founder of Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back organization; and Oakland City Council President Nikki Bas. Photo by Paul Cobb.
The Mayor announced that the City of Oakland, including the City Attorney, had verified the financial capability and proof of funds of the AASEG and Loop Capital’s ability to complete the Coliseum purchase.
Photo by Magaly Munoz.
AASEG Founder Ray Bobbitt signs Coliseum Purchase Term Sheet while Mayor Sheng Thao and City Administrator Jestin Johnson witness the signing. Photo by Magaly Munoz.
Author, speaker, advocate and founder of Knot Our Kidz, Monee Brown. Photo courtesy of Knot Our Kidz.
By Daisha Williams
Acta Non Verba, a youth urban farm project fighting food insecurity and diet-related health issues in Oakland, recently lost its city funding despite protests by community members and other local organizations such as the Sugar Freedom Project last month.
ANV, which has two farms, one in West Oakland and one in East Oakland, was backed by the 2017 tax on sugar-sweetened beverages of 1 cent per fluid ounce.
The intended beneficiaries of this tax were programs like ANV’s that are helping combat the intake of sugary processed foods and dietrelated health issues.
ANV farms serve a further purpose in that the produce from their farms is used to create Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) bags which they freely distribute to community members who need them.
During the Oakland City Council meeting on July 18 the city stood firm on its decision despite pushback from the community.
Cutting these funds negatively affects parents, children, and unhoused individuals.
Rachel Parker, the CSA manager and one of the full-time workers at the West Oakland farm said, “The soda tax was a perfect oppor-
tunity for the city to do right by its citizens and they failed to deliver.” She and many other people left that meeting feeling both frustrated and infuriated at the city failing to keep its word.
The cut in funding has detrimental effects on the community because there are many neighborhoods in Oakland that are considered food deserts. A food desert is defined as a neighborhood where at least a third of the population lives more than half a mile from the nearest grocery store. African American and low-income households tend to make up these neighborhoods.
In 2021, 900 neighborhoods in the Bay Area had limited access to food. With the prices of produce continuing to increase, even when distance isn’t a problem, for many people fresh produce is simply out of their budget.
One of the workers prefers the term “food apartheid.” A desert is something that occurs naturally but the fact that certain neighborhoods cannot access healthy food is intentional.
A lack of access to healthy foods leads to an increased consumption of processed foods which tend to be higher in sodium, and artificial sugars. These diets can lead to many negative health effects, the most common being diabetes. About 10% of the adult
By Post Staff
The Alzheimer’s Association is presenting a free play and a free concert at the Odell Johnson Performing Arts Center at Laney College in Oakland the weekend of Aug. 9-10 to raise awareness about the debilitating brain disorder.
On Aug. 9, the association will host the premier of “Unforgettable,” a free community concert featuring saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield, who performed and recorded with Prince and the New Power Generation.
The next day, on Aug. 10, a free play of the same name “Unforgettable” will be staged at the same location. The musical stage play delves into the profound effects of Alzheimer’s disease on the African American community. Since July 2022, “Unforgettable” has toured nationwide, reaching more than 10,000 people. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit www.unforgettableplay.com.
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis, disproportionately impacting communities of color, with the Bay Area reflect-
ing these national disparities. The African American community is disproportionately impacted, with studies showing over 20% of African Americans aged 70 and older are living with the disease, a rate twice as high as non-Hispanic whites.
“There is a lack of culturally appropriate and tailored programming that resonates with disproportionately affected and underserved audiences as it relates to Alzheimer’s disease care and support. This community theater gives us the opportunity to deliver important information in a fun and entertaining way,” said Dr. Carl V. Hill, chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We want audiences to come away with a better understanding of the resources and support that are available to help families who are affected,” added Hill.
Black Americans are also likely to receive a diagnosis much later in the disease, when their medical needs are greater.
Data from the California De-
population has diabetes. In 2018, African American people were twice as likely to die from diabetes than white people.
These effects are just a fraction of the things that ANV is trying to remedy with their work. ANV wants to continue supplying the community with fresh, organically grown produce but cannot do so without the proper funding. They are accepting donations and have created a “pay it forward” campaign in order to help them continue to serve the community.
In addition to the farms, ANV has programs catered toward youth, the biggest being Camp ANV, a six-week overnight camp where kids are able to get out of an urban environment, connect with nature, learn how to use food as medicine, develop cooking skills as well as gain skill in archery. They also have an adult camp held each fall to fundraise for their youth camp called Camp for Grown Folx.
ANV turns no child away from the camp due to lack of funds because they believe that this is an experience that every kid should be able to have.
They use the produce from these farms to put together CSA bags that they distribute at no cost to community members who need them.
California Civil Rights Council Pushes to Regulate AI in Job Recruitment
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
The California Civil Rights Council proposed rules that prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during the job recruitment process last week.
The amendments to FEHA were proposed early this year to regulate employment practices carried out by businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. The council held a hearing during an official meeting at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
The proposed amendments would make it a violation of state law to use automated systems to make hiring decisions in a discriminatory way.
Supporters say rules under the proposed Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) law would protect employees from experiencing harassment or discrimina-
tion from their employer using AI software.
In recent years, AI has been used in every stage of the hiring process, stated tech experts at a council hearing on algorithms and bias.
The experts acknowledged that AI systems were used in recruitment, screening, analyzing, and making recommendations based on applicant interviews, even as far as during employment.
“The Council has determined that the proposed amendments are not inconsistent or incompatible with existing regulations,” the council stated in defense of the proposed rules.
“Currently, there are no regulations expressly addressing the use of automated decision systems to make or assist in making hiring or other employment decisions,” the council added.
Under this proposal, employers are prohibited from using AI sys-
tems that screen out, rank, or prioritize applicants based on their religion, disability, and medical conditions. The law also prevents employers from using automated systems that make decisions based on voice, facial expressions, and other physical characteristics including gender, race, and nationality.
State legislators are still evaluating Assembly Bill (AB) 2930, another law similar to FEHA that requires employers to notify applicants that automated systems are being used to make decisions in the recruitment process.
The use of AI systems can result in discrimination against minority groups and worsen systemic inequality in the job market, the council stated. With these new AI bills, civil rights groups are advocating for equal opportunity and fair employment practices in the workforce.
partment of Public Health indicates that African Americans and Hispanics in the Bay Area experience higher rates of Alzheimer’s related hospitalizations and emergency room visits. This underscores the urgent need for tailored outreach and support in these communities.
For both events, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so early arrival is recommended.
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call 800272-3900 for more information.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are several factors that contribute to the increased risk of Alzheimer’s among people of color:
• Health disparities: Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are more prevalent in communities of color
• Access to Healthcare: Limited access delays diagnosis and treatment and
• Socioeconomic Factors: Lower socioeconomic status correlates with reduced access to resources.
The leadership of the Alzheimer’s Association says public awareness events are essential for spreading knowledge about the disease, its symptoms, and the importance of early diagnosis.
The
Unforgettable Play
iStock photo.
A view of Acta Non Verba’s urban farm in West Oakland. Photo by Daisha Williams.
The National Touring Cast of the play “Unforgettable.” Image Credit Merrick Ward.
Presented
OPINION: Kamala Harris: The DownTicket Savior California Needed
By Jasmyne Cannick Special to California Black Media Partners
President Joe Biden not seeking re-election isn’t just good for
Before Biden’s announcement, it was reported that millions of Democratic voters were planning to sit out the November election altogether.
This unexpected, but much needed, turn of events has generated a wave of reactions across the nation, but one thing is clear: Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry into the presidential race is going to provide a significant boost to down-ticket races for the Democratic Party.
Before Biden’s delayed departure from the election, the Democratic Party was doing an excellent job at ignoring the increasing number of voters of all ages who were not willing to compromise their morals or values in November and vote for Biden.
From the administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War, immigration, the economy, and more — these Democrats were OK with dealing with the consequences of Biden losing, understanding that their voices would still go unheard, and they would struggle whether Republicans or Democrats win the White House.
Biden staying on the ticket wasn’t just going to hurt our chances to keep The White House and democracy alive in the U.S., but it was going to hurt all the local and state candidates and propositions on the November ballot had Democratic voters sat this one out.
Whether you like her or not, for millions of Democrats, Kamala Harris represents a new era of leadership, one that is more inclusive and reflective of America’s diverse population. Within hours, her candidacy galvanized a broad coalition of voters, including women, people of color, and
young people. This renewed enthusiasm at the top of the ticket is going to have a ripple effect, energizing the base and increasing voter turnout, which is crucial for down-ticket candidates.
For states like California, this is a game changer.
Californians have 10 ballot propositions on their November ballot. Among them, a controversial ballot proposition to repeal parts of Proposition 47 (Prop 47) and increase drug crime and theft penalties and allow a new class of crime to be called treatment-mandated felonies, which would require offenders to either participate in drug or mental health treatment or both.
Prop 47 was a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014 that made some non-violent property crimes, where the value does not exceed $950, into misdemeanors. It also made some simple drug possession offenses into misdemeanors and provided for
past convictions for these charges to be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court.
Low Democratic voter turnout could work in favor of this conservative-backed proposition.
Harris’s historic candidacy as the first Black and South Asian woman on a major party’s presidential ticket holds immense symbolic value.
Facts. Harris’s candidacy has energized the base, already mobilized key voter demographics, and strengthened the party’s overall electoral chances. Harris is going to be a powerful catalyst for important down-ticket races. She was just the lifesaving move that had to happen in order to bring the Democratic Party back to life. Now, on to November.
About the Author
Democrats looking to stave off a second Donald Trump presidency, but it’s good news for the other candidates (and propositions) on the ballot.
Jasmyne Cannick is a Democratic strategist and was elected delegate to the LA County Democratic Party.
Jasmyne Cannick. Courtesy photo.
Mills Grove Christian Church is in search of A Musician /Director for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays. Contact Dennis Ward @510 459-4667.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
Manly Film Festival: With BHERC, Oakland Event Raises Funds for Tech Exchange
crisis.
Filmmaker Gianfranco Fernandez-Ruiz moved audiences to tears as his 15-minute film “Jerome” showcased the intense feelings of a young man suffering from the absence of a father in his life. Inspired by his own life, FernandezRuiz says creating the film was therapeutic.
“Initially I made the film for myself, but once completed the film is a gift to the audience. It’s all theirs for interpretation, reaction, and emotion,” he says. After watching the film, some audience members suggested that it could be a great tool for men’s healing groups and those raised by single mothers.
“These films introduce people to engineering, ethics, and the beauty of intergenerational relationships between grandparents and children,” said Manly, who produced the film “Passage,” highlighting an uprising of captured Africans who fought back on a ship during the slave trade era.
“Passage,” was directed by David Massey, the first African American in the history of the Academy Awards to be nominated for an Oscar in the Live-Action Short Film category.
By Carla Thomas
On July 13, the 30th annual S.E. Manly African American Film Festival was hosted at the Regal Jack London Theater in Oakland.
The event served as a fundraiser for Tech Exchange (formerly known as OTXWest), an organization that provides green tech solutions aimed at closing the digital divide.
Produced by BHERC, the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center based in Los Angeles, the full-day festival screened 19 films, including “Locks,” a stu-
dent project by Oakland’s own Ryan Coogler, set in Oakland.
Also showing was “Sulê and the Case of the Tiny Sparks,” an animated story by sisters Shawnee Gibbs and Shawnelle Gibbs from Oakland. Their film, part of the festival’s “Youth Block,” encouraged audiences with the message that even small actions can yield big results.
While the majority of films shown were shorts, “A Rising Tide,” was the only 90-minute, feature-length film that delved into Oakland’s complex homelessness
“The Bond,” written and directed by Jahmil Eady, shared the plight of an incarcerated woman giving birth while shackled to a bed, a standard in half of U.S. prisons. The film, Eady says, exhibits the inhumanity, danger, and humiliation of the practice.
“This is my own mother’s story of birthing me,” said Eady.
As advocates for more humane treatment of pregnant women in prison, Eady and her mother speak to audiences around the country.
BHERC was founded in 1996 by Sandra Evers-Manly to advance the mission of Black filmmakers and highlight the diverse contributions of Black film and television artists who bring dignity and professionalism to even the most menial of roles, according to the organization.
Tech Exchange was founded by Bruce Buckelew, a pioneer in addressing the digital divide through green technology solutions. After retiring from IBM, Buckelew began volunteering at Oakland Technical High School. For nearly three decades, Tech Exchange has provided free and low-cost refurbished computers, digital literacy training, low-cost internet navigation, and multilingual tech support to low-income communities.
“We appreciate elevating the importance of digital equity and how that is all interrelated in film, arts, and technology,” Buckelew said.
“The base of filmmaking is digital now and making technology accessible through the arts will give rise to the next generation of creators,” said Mackey, who is responsible for connecting the three organizations.
For more information visit: bherc.org and techexchange.org.
By Kenneth Miller Special to California Black Media Partners
In a few weeks at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the world will be watching history unfold as Kamala Harris steps into her own as Standard Bearer of the Party.
Somewhere amid all of the blowing horns, balloons and wacky outfits will be California’s own political powerbroker and “Master Queen” Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), arguably the most powerful Black elected official in America right now.
For more than 40 years — 33 of them serving in the United States
House of Representatives — “Auntie Maxine” has proved her might and mettle.
She has successfully advocated for $10 billion in funding for Section 8 housing and secured $50 million in funding for Youth Fair Chance, $400 million for Minority HIV/AIDS Funding and $6 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization.
She is always at the forefront fighting for what is best for the communities she serves.
In our divided political universe today, many of us are constantly presented with the argument that our system of governance is fixed and failing us, and
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43). File photo.
Tech Exchange Executive Director Bruce Buckelew, Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) founder Sandra Evers-Manly and Tech Exchange board member Cynthia Mackey pose on the red carpet at the 30th annual S.E. Manly African American Film Festival hosted at the Regal Jack London Theater in downtown Oakland. Photo
By Carla Thomas.
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm Sez
Some say you march to a different drummer.
You follow the music you hear in your soul, blazing your own path while the rest of the world watches. You’re the best companion you know for yourself. You know who you are, and that’s all that matters.
In “The Outsider Advantage” by Ciera Rogers, founder, and CEO of Babes, you’ll see what you can do with your “you-niqueness.”
There was once a time when Rogers lived in her mother’s Jeep. She was a teenager then, and though her mother tried to keep a roof over their heads, a handful of low-paying jobs just didn’t cut it. They were constantly moving, and Rogers switched schools often, which forced her to learn how to fit in quickly and get by.
That resourcefulness was key to her survival later in life. As the first in her family to attend college, Rogers earned a degree, but she was unable to take an unpaid intern position, which were all that were available a decade or so ago, she says. This hurt her job chances, but she knew she would survive. She was bold and smart.
One afternoon, broke and un-
employed, she thought about her mother’s small boutique in Houston, launched with few resources and less money. Rogers knew how to thrift. She could make videos. She could sell clothing online, eventually creating one-of-akind outfits, mixing and matching, catching the attention of celebrities and moviemakers becoming a million-dollar business started literally on scraps.
“Remember,” she says, “most big things start with a tiny idea.”
You don’t have to have piles of cash or big inheritances to start a business. Look for free help or free platforms that can move your enterprise along. Make do with what you have at first. Stop procrastinating and don’t miss any opportunities. Know what you stand for. Know that you are not alone, either in your uniqueness or your situation.
“There’s a box where everyone else is,” says Rogers. “Get out of it. Be different.”
So, you don’t have any money. You don’t even have bootstraps to pull yourself up. But if you can read, you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, says Rogers.
“You only need to take that first confident step.”
As you start this book, though, you may wonder why anyone would think it’s for entrepreneurs. What Rogers has to offer is, indeed, more memoir than advice, though there are nuggets to capture on nearly every page and end-ofchapter takeaways embedded in a lively, fun sort of treasure hunt. Rogers’ entire life on the edge shows readers that being a little bit (or a whole lot) unique isn’t a hurdle. Unconventionality is not a deal-breaker; in fact, it can help you break into success.
This book inspires — especially for readers whose dreams are burning with ideas but not a lot of coin.
“The Outsider Advantage” is for when the drum beat of entrepreneurship is just too irresistible.
More Than 1,300 California Black Women Pen an Open Letter Supporting Kamala Harris for President
By California Black Women’s Collective PAC
Dear Vice President Kamala
Harris:
From Charlotta Bass to Rosa Parks to Shirley Chisolm, Black women have never been afraid of a righteous fight. All three of these women have stood in the gap for Black Americans and in the process changed history. Today is no different. Our very own California born-and-raised, Vice President Kamala Harris has taken the baton to be the first woman to be elected as President of the United States of America in the 2024 election.
As California Black women, we commit our unwavering support for your historic candidacy. Your leadership, vision, and commitment to justice and equity resonate across the Golden State and beyond.
As the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman to hold the office of Vice President, you have not only broken historical barriers. You have also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless individuals who see themselves
CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON OPEN LABOR CONTRACTS
Contract Amount: TBD
Contract Terms: Up to two (2) years, with an option to extend for an additional year
Project Description: The City of Oakland, Human Resource Management Department is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to conduct negotiations on all open labor contracts.
The contract is for a two-year period which may be extended for an additional year at the discretion of the City. The contract will be awarded to the most qualified individual(s) or firm(s) who demonstrate(s) success in all aspects associated with negotiating open labor contracts. Proposals shall describe how respondent’s expertise, experience, qualifications and management will guarantee the most responsive service.
Instructions: Pre-Proposal Meeting (Voluntary): Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Topic: Negotiator for the City’s Open Labor Contracts
Time: August 8, 2024 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
One tap mobile +16694449171,,84964359596# US +16699006833,,84964359596# US (San Jose)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbBzmxIkzG
Proposal Submittal Deadline: Friday, August 23, 2024, by 2:00 P.M. via iSupplier.
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-userguides). 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 CITYWIDE COMPENSATION STUDY ” as the subject and request an invitation to the RFP. The Contract Analyst will add your business to the RFP invitation.
• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits • 0% L/SLBE • Living Wage • Campaign Reform Act • Professional Services Local Hire • Prompt Payment • Arizona Boycott • Dispute Disclosure • Border Wall Prohibition • Sanctuary City Contracting and Investment Ordinance.
Answers to Questions:
For project-related questions, the following city staffs are available to answer questions regarding this RFP:
2. Contract Compliance Officer: Sophany Hang at Shang@Oaklandca.gov or (510) 2383723
Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, (Friday, June 7, 2024) The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.
Maxine Waters Is Master Queen ... Continued from page 6
our elected officials are out of touch and, therefore, there is no reason to vote. Buying into this notion plays into the hands of powerful political interests, some of whom are the philosophical heirs of those who denied Blacks voting rights to begin with.
That is why leadership is paramount – real leadership, trusted, courageous and reliable, that is demonstrated by the actions and deeds of those we elect to serve.
Such was the case when Waters learned California Gov. Gavin Newsom released his state budget without any funding for the Martin Luther King Community Hospital (MLKCH) in South Los Angeles which was on the brink of closing yet again.
reflected in your journey.
Madame Vice President, your steadfast dedication to addressing systemic inequities, championing comprehensive healthcare, and advocating for criminal justice reflect the values we need in a leader right now.
Throughout your tenure as Vice President, you have been relentless in your efforts to advance policies that directly impact our communities.
From your advocacy for maternal health and reproductive rights to your focus on economic empowerment and voting rights protection, you have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by Black women, Black families and the Black community, resulting in creating meaningful change.
Our endorsement is not merely inspired by your accomplishments, but it is also an acknowledgment of the potential we see in your continued leadership. We believe that your presidency will
Fuming, Waters confronted Newsom at an event about the MLKCH dilemma. In a letter sent to Newsom, Waters appealed; “I call on you as the Governor of the Great State of California to reverse your decision of 2022 and immediately support legislation that will adjust MLKCH’s supplemental funding methodology to include outpatient services, including the approximately 125,000 ED services provided by the hospital every year. This will cost an estimated $25 million per year. More importantly, it will
usher in an era of progress, unity, and opportunity for all Americans, with a special emphasis on those who have been historically marginalized.
In supporting your campaign, the California Black Women’s Collective PAC, made up of Black women throughout the state, pledges to mobilize our network, engage our communities, and amplify your vision for a more just and equitable nation, Madame Vice President.
save countless lives.” Newsom had previously vetoed legislation authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Assembly Bill (AB) 2426, which aimed to expand MLKCH’s supplemental funding in order to cover hospital-based outpatient services provided in the emergency department.
The bill provided MLKCH approximately $25-$30 million in additional funds annually.
Not long after Waters sent a letter to Newsom on June 14, Newsom reversed course and signed off the legislation to fund MLKCH.
It was a ‘gangsta’ move as we say in the ’hood, and copied on the letter was a list of critical community stakeholders which included pastors, elected officials and civil rights leaders.
“This unique hospital serves some of the poorest and sickest people in the State of California and perhaps the entire country. Our community depends on MLKCH, and we cannot allow it to close,” Waters wrote.
We can always count on Waters to be in the middle of the fight. She’s like Mike Tyson in his heyday, always menacing and moving towards the opponent intent on securing victory by any means necessary.
About the Author
Ken Miller is publisher of the South Bay Black Journal.
We are confident that your leadership will inspire a new generation of activists, leaders, and changemakers who will carry forward the torch of progress.
The signatures below demonstrate the solidarity of a community within California that is committed to putting the work in to take this historic campaign over the finish line.
Robert L. Allen, 82 ...
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He graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1963, where he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He earned a Ph.D. in sociology in 1983 from the University of California. His doctoral research on racial dynamics within labor movements laid the basis of some his later work.
Dr. Allen served as a professor and chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at Mills College in Oakland. In 1994, he was hired as a professor of ethnic studies and African American studies at UC Berkeley.
Allen’s book, “The Port Chicago Mutiny” was published in 1989, thoroughly researching the 1944 explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in the San Francisco Bay Area, which killed 320 men, most of whom were African American. The book documented the strike of the surviving African American sailors against hazardous and segregated working conditions, and the Navy’s subsequent harsh punishment of the sailors, exposing racial discrimination in the military and society at large.
Allen brought to light this buried history and advocated for justice for the Port Chicago 50, who after 80 years were finally exonerated by the Secretary of the Navy on July 17, shortly after Allen died.
His research focused on the systemic roots of oppression and examined the interconnected struggles of marginalized communities. His books included:
“Black Awakening in Capitalist America: An Analytic History” (1969), which examines the rise of Black Power movements and the economic conditions that impacted
them;
“Reluctant Reformers: Racism and Social Reform Movements in the United States” (1974), which analyzes the history of social reform movements in the U.S. and their contradictory approach to racial justice;
“Brotherman: The Odyssey of Black Men in America” (1996).
Co-authored with Herb Boyd, these are essays and stories exploring the experiences faced by African American men throughout history. The book delves into various aspects of the Black male experience in America.
“The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters: C.L. Dellums and the Fight for Fair Treatment and Civil Right.” This book delves into the history of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the role of C.L. Dellums in the fight for civil rights and labor equality.
Dr. Allen was also senior editor and writer for The Black Scholar journal and co-founded the small press, Wild Trees Press, with Alice Walker, with whom he was in a relationship at the time.
Allen is survived by his wife Zelia Bora; son, Casey Allen; sisters, Damaris Kirschhofer, Teresa Coughanour, and Rebecca Allen; and three grandchildren.
Yulie Padmore, executive director of a group called the Port Chicago Alliance, gave Allen credit for his steadfast work for justice for the Black sailors.
“Without his work, we wouldn’t know what we know today,” she said in an interview with the New York Times. “We wouldn’t be here without him talking to the men and hearing what they wanted to say all along.”
Mayor AAESG Sign Coliseum Sale ...
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shortfall, but this new agreement brings a sense of security and victory for officials who would’ve needed to make the hard decisions.
With the funds, the city can maintain 678 sworn officers on the streets, fund crime reduction teams, graduate three police academies and keep all fire stations operational.
About $60 million from AASEG will be paid out to the city over the 2024-25 fiscal year. A deposit of $5 million is due within five days of signing the purchase agreement.
Following the deposit, the group will pay $10 million by Sept. 1, $15 million by Nov. 1, and $33 million by Jan. 15, 2025.
The remaining $42 million is due no later than June 30, 2026.
“We will always stick forward, and we will move this process forward because our families, our community, depends on it and so we’re here. We’re committed to it,” Ray Bobbitt, founder of AASEG, said on Tuesday.
Bobbitt, an Oakland native, assured his commitment to the city and bringing new opportunities to the area. He added that the investment into public safety, the biggest concern for residents, is equally as important to address during this process.
The other half of the ownership for the Coliseum is held by the Oakland A’s baseball team, who are playing their last season at the ball-
park before temporarily moving to Sacramento while the team builds a stadium in Las Vegas. They bought this half from Alameda County.
Bobbit said AASEG is “very much in constant communication” with the A’s to purchase their half of the stadium, but no further details were offered on when a deal will be officially on the table.
The A’s and the city went through a lengthy battle to get the team to stay when their lease for the stadium was finishing up, but Oakland could not convince the baseball team to stay. The fallout has led to bitterness and upset amongst the community who has long supported the team and is on their third professional sports team loss.
Council President Nikki Fortunato-Bas said at the Tuesday City Council meeting that Oakland had previously tried to negotiate with Alameda County to not sell, but they ultimately went through with their own deal.
“This is an investment in Oakland and the region today. It’s also an investment in the future, and like you heard from Mr. Bobbitt, it is also an investment in public safety,” Fortunato-Bas said.
“Today is the start of a boom loop here in Oakland!”
Hasheem Bason Receives 15 Years to Life ...
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“The shooting death of popular dentist Lili Xu traumatized our entire community. In this case, we learned extreme mitigating circumstances that had to be considered in resolving the case against Mr. Bason,” said Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price.
Respect Our Vote
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tions of an elected official, but I want them to serve out their term and carry out the programs they ran on. I can vote for someone else next time if I don’t like what they are doing,” said Servant BK Woodson.
“Time is short, and it is important to mobilize now to defend our rights to pick the leaders of our choice. Early voting starts in less than 70 days, and Election Day is Nov. 5,” said Pamela Drake.
“Our opponents are well funded, they utilize MAGA talking points, and have no respect for the truth. They are backed by corporate media. We have to make ourselves aware of what is really going on and mobilize with people power,” said attorney Walter Riley.
Among those throwing their energies into the coalition are representatives of labor unions, the faith community, nonprofit organizations, local Democratic clubs, African American community organizations, Asian and Pacific Islander organizations, teachers, and others.
“Respect Our Vote – No Recalls” is holding a meeting at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Boulevard, Oakland, on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m.
For more information contact WalterRiley@rrrandw.com
Tenants With Disabilities Must Be Provided Safe Elevator Access, City Says
By Aditi Praveen Kariyanahalli Bay City News
For disabled tenants who rely on an elevator to access their apartment or home, a broken one can cause serious inconveniences and prevent them from moving independently.
To address this longstanding concern, the Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to adopt an ordinance to ensure that tenants with mobility disabilities have equal access to housing.
Under previous laws, landlords in Oakland were not required to compensate or provide recourse to tenants with mobility disabilities -- even if elevator access was prevented.
But under the new Elevator Maintenance Ordinance, Oakland landlords are legally required to maintain safe elevators. And, if unable to do so for a period greater than 24 hours, they must either secure alternative housing for residents with mobility disabilities or reimburse residents who choose to secure their own alternative housing, $250 a night.
The elevator ordinance was developed alongside the mayor’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities and allows tenants with mobility disabilities to sue building operators who fail to comply.
When the ordinance officially takes effect Dec. 15, building owners who are found to be noncompliant can be sued for injunctive relief, actual damages and statutory damages by tenants.
“Everyone deserves to be able to freely come in and out of their building or home. For people with mobility impairments, a functioning elevator in a residential building is absolutely essential,” council president and ordinance cosponsor Nikki Fortunato Bas said in a statement.
Community Struggles to Get City of Berkeley to Honor Commitment to Black Repertory Group
“Redline disinvestment has been the practice in the Black, indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) institutions in the City of Berkeley,” says former Councilmember Cheryl Davila
Special to the Berkeley Post
Berkeley’s Black Repertory Group (BBRG), the only Blackowned-and-operated theater in the East Bay, is pushing for the City of Berkeley to provide the financial backing for the theater that is required by local law.
At issue is whether the City of Berkeley will contribute legally required funding to support Black theater, similar to what the city does for other performing arts and cultural institutions in the city or whether it will continue to promote gentrification and forced displacement through longtime practices that undermine this historic venue, some say.
Founded in 1964, the theater is located at 3201 Adeline St. in Berkeley, a cultural arts center that houses the Birel L. Vaughn Theater.
“We are not asking for handouts. The city should just pay what it legally owes us and also stop using city officials to harass us,” said a member of the board of the Black Rep.
Former Councilmember Cheryl Davila forcefully argues that Berkeley officials are undermining the theater as part of the city’s continued gentrification and ongoing elimination of local institutions and neighborhoods of African Americans and other People of Color.
“The City of Berkeley has continued the colonization as reflected in disparities documented in the Health Status
Report, the Center for Police Equity (CPE) Report and Mason Tillman Report,” Davila said.
“The Tillman report revealed bids are awarded to white men only,” she continued. “The CPE report demonstrated the bias in policing and the Health Status Report, health disparities due to racism. The (city) has not fairly distributed funding or support for organizations that are located within the red lines.
“Redline disinvestment has been the practice in the Black, indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) institutions in the City of Berkeley. It’s crystal clear, the city, which has invested in Caucasian institutions, outside the red lines, providing emergency and other funding passed on the consent calendar with no opposition, nor illegal break-ins for building inspections, or harassment, unlike the Black Repertory Group,” she said.
“Now, these same redlined communities are recognized as “prime” real estate, so the fines, inspections, and eviction process began some time ago and continues to eliminate “Blacks” from our communities. The attempts to confiscate the historical institutions that were never given the full support to live and thrive in a city (that upholds) a façade of being “progressive.”
Dr. Omowale Fowles, a former Berkeley health commissioner, said: “Today, in the 21st century post-Jim Crow America, a socalled ‘progressive’ Berkeley
City Council has continued to perpetuate the unfair, unjust and inequitable funding practice that drove the Black Repertory Theater out of the South!
“Berkeley has not lived up to its contractual agreements to provide an annual baseline of economic support for the BBRG, nor has the city responded, in a timely manner, if at all, to BBRG's requests for consistent maintenance sanitation, and renovations interventions,” said Fowles.
However, the Berkeley City Council has managed to award several other theaters in Berkeley tens of thousands of dollars to enable their theaters to stay alive and thrive, specifically, the Berkeley Repertory Theater in downtown and the Shotgun Players' Theater is South Berkeley, he said.
“Such malevolent behaviors (are what we have come to expect) from a government entity that prides itself on its quasiliberal and progressive beliefs particularly toward the arts music heritage of Berkeley,” he said.
Lady AfiTiombe A. Kambon, a longtime Berkeleyan elder who is an oral historian and actor, traced the roots of the Black Rep to historic resistance to violent racism and the KKK.
“The Berkeley Black Repertory Group Theater (BBRG) escaped Vicksburg, Mississippi, from the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) for holding artistic storytelling events for Black people in the 1940s. The Black Rep fled from hatred and the threat of lynching to a city known to practice humanity and democracy,” she said.
“Now, the theater continues to be under attack from city officials and Neighborhood Watch organized to eliminate the Black community,” Kambon said.
The Berkeley Equity Summit Alliance urges all Citizens throughout the City of Berkeley and beyond to support the Black Repertory Group and ensure that the City of Berkeley treats all the theaters equally and equitably distributing services and funding. For more information, reach out to tiombe47@gmail.com or Dallascowboy52@yahoo.com
“Although Hasheem Bason was not the person who made the plan to take the life of Lili Xu, he did, in fact, pull the trigger of the gun that killed her, and for that, he will go to prison for 15 years to life.”
Hasheem Bason will return to Wiley E. Manual Courthouse for final sentencing on Aug. 20.
“The public should know that the person who truly deserves the maximum punishment under the law is Nelson Chia, the mastermind of this horrible crime. Unfortunately, when the true facts were discovered, Chia, who was arrested for the crime, took his own life to avoid facing justice for his role in these acts of evil.
Many advocacy groups also called the ordinance a landmark win for people with disabilities across Oakland. Navneet Grewal, litigation counsel for Disability Rights California, said this decision could lead to improvements across the Bay Area.
“A broken elevator can make a person a prisoner in their own home and functioning elevators are simply necessary to ensure that everyone has the same ability to come and go as they please,” Grewal said. “We are glad to see that the city of Oakland’s elevator ordinance recognizes that prompt maintenance and accommodations are necessary to make sure that disabled people can live safely in their homes and hope that it can be a model for others.”
Summer youth theater camp 2022 at Berkeley Black Repertory Theater. Photo by Pamela Spikes.
