Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Lee Bring $Billions to Bay Area By Post Staff At a joint press conference on Wednesday, Bay Area Congresswomen Barbara Lee and Nancy Pelosi touted the impact the recently passed infrastructure bill will have on the Bay Area. “For decades, underinvestment in our physical and social infrastructure has widened the economic gap, put communities at risk, and exacerbated ra-
cial and economic inequality,” Lee said. “And it’s not just a lack of investment. Too often, the infrastructure that we built created more inequality. This infrastructure law now advances equality, equity, and environmental justice unlike any law we have ever seen before.” In regard to environmental justice, Lee points out that billions of dollars will be dedicated to building low-to-no
emissions buses and expanding access to EV charging network. “These are critical investments for communities in my district that have suffered from higher levels of air pollution and childhood asthma rates,” she said. The law will also provide internet access to low-income families across the state. “During the pandemic, we have Continued on Page 12
Meg-Anne Pryor, Apprenticeship Coordinator for Operating Engineers Local 3 speaking as Congresswomen Barbara Lee. and Nancy Pelosi listen attentively.
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18 Weekly Edition: Nov. 24-30, 2021
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The Multi-Cultural Chamber of Commerce received a check for $100,000 from Wells Fargo. Present were (left to right): Rick Da Silva Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce; Jessica Chen, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce; Chuck Baker, Wells Fargo; Cathy Adams, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce; Ken Maxey, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce; Erica Trejo, Wells Fargo; Oakland Councilmember Loren Taylor and Joe Partida, Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Auintard Henderson.
58th Year, No. 23
AASEG Helps Support 25th Annual Turkey Drive In East Oakland
Left to right: AASEG co-founder Karim Muhammad, Community Giving Foundation founder Marlon McWilson, State Assembly Member (AD-18) Mia Bonta, Johnathan Jones, Oakland Post Ambassador. The African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG) came out to support the 25th annual Community Giving Foundation Turkey
drive at Verdese Carter Park in East Oakland. Hosted by founder and orga-
Multi-Cultural Chambers of Commerce, Wells Fargo Bank Coach Oakland Business Owners on Getting Access to Capital Happy Thanksgiving, and By Post Staff
The Multi-Cultural Chambers of Commerce collaborated with Wells Fargo bank to give business owners information and access to capital at an event was held November18 at Higher Ground Community Center, 2010 Mandela Parkway, Oakland, California. Banking professionals and representatives from Community De-
velopment Financial Institutions shared their knowledge en masse in the morning, then, following lunchbreak speakers, were available for one-on-one networking. “We are excited to have hosted an informative workshop with representatives from Working Solutions and KIVA,” said Cathy Adams, president of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce. “Our businesses have
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suffered in so many ways during this pandemic and we need to take advantage of each opportunity to
access capital for our businesses to increase revenue sales. “I am equally proud to have Wells Fargo as a partner with the Multi-Cultural Chambers of Commerce to unite our efforts to support our businesses in Oakland. The grant in the amount of $ 100,000 will assist each Chamber to do similar workshops starting Continued on Page 12
Coliseum Job Fair Expo December 2 By Post Staff
The Oakland Private Industry Council (PIC) will hold a Job Fair and Expo at the Oakland Coliseum Dec. 2, 2021. The Job Fair is co-sponsored by the Alameda County Social Services Agency, the Oakland Housing Authority, Roots Community Health Center, and Ring Central Coliseum. PIC board members Ray Bobbitt and Alan Dones, who are both members of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), which was recently awarded the exclusive negotiating rights to rebuild the Coliseum area communities, are urging East Oakland residents to at-
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tend the Job Fair/Expo. “Finding jobs that pay a fair and livable wage is a top goal for AASEG,” Bobbitt said. Councilmembers Treva Reid and Noel Gallo are also urging all Oakland residents to attend a sign-up for employment opportunities. PIC staff coordinator Germaine Davis said 52 companies will be offering jobs at the up-
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coming fair. Alameda County Supervisor Dave Brown said he thanks and appreciates all the companies and non-profit organizations and encourages job seekers to take part in this job fair expo. Nate Miley, who serves as vice president of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and as chair of the Alameda County Coliseum Authority,
thanked PIC, county agencies, and the Roots Community Health Center for offering opportunity and hope for East Oakland residents. Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan, who also serves as a member of the Coliseum Authority, said the PIC’s leadership on the job fair should be continuously repeated to augment the goals of AASEG. PIC Interim CEO Ray Lankford announced that his organization will be promoting corporate partnerships and investments in ventures that to hire the re-entry population. “Livable wage jobs are one of the most effective ways to Continued on Page 12
As Planned Robberies and Thefts Increase, Oakland Officials Grapple for Solutions By Post Staff
Police and city officials are struggling to deal with a wave of organized smash-and-grab robberies, shootouts, home invasions, random drive-by shootings and muggings that swept across Bay Area cites over last weekend. Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong called the violent crime wave “unprecedented” and said his police force needs the help of elected officials to meet the challenge. Armstrong said, “We will have tactical teams deployed
Robbers caught in action in San Francisco.
throughout the city,” to increase safety over the holiday weekend Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, the police chief’s boss,
has been silent about how her office will step up. In a video interview, Armstrong said, “What we’ve seen in Oakland is not much differ-
ent than a lot of cities have seen in this Northern California region: roving robbery caravans, homicides and shootings.” “We’re not going to tolerate this kind of activity in the City of Oakland. We are going to respond,” to be ready to deal with these roving gangs in the upcoming weekend, he said. “These individuals who come to the city have been heavily armed, from all throughout the Bay Area,” Armstrong continued. “They are not just people from OakContinued on Page 12
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Please Get Vaccinated
By Supt. Kyla Johnson-Trammell,
Commentary
Dear Oakland Unified Community, As we now begin the Thanksgiving break, I must give thanks for being part of such a wonderful community, with brilliant and beautiful children, caring and supportive families, and amazingly dedicated staff. It has always been clear to me that here in Oakland, we watch out for each other and take care of each other, especially in the most challenging times. Last week, my family went to our doctor’s office to get our flu and COVID vaccines. Getting my family vaccinated has given me so much relief and hope as we plan to gather with grandparents and other family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday. Our staff and partners are
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Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell
working tirelessly to make sure all OUSD families have access to the COVID vaccine across the city. I am so proud of the amazing efforts of our staff to reach out to our most vulnerable populations and help them get vaccinated. Continued on Page 12
Culturally Deprived or Entitled By Gary Reeves, Give to Change Foundation
These are questions that we must ask ourselves as a country, city, state and community. We all have become victims of one or the other’s perspective. As a people, the current social climate has stripped away our core values and sensitivities to address life’s differences. Life itself would have no spice, if it was all constructed with the same images, narratives, hopes, challenges, geography or gender. God’s presence would lose its purpose, behind our definition of socialcultural equalities. Everything can not be the same, but the differences can be properly acknowledged to be an equal
Opinion
Gary Reeves part of the collective whole. Maybe our real issues are living inside of ourselves, as we look outside of ourselves to find our social and emotional purpose. Culturally, we often Continued on Page 12