Declaring a Fiscal Emergency is Unnecessary, Say City Leaders
By Ken Epstein
The Oakland City Council has identified proposals for stronger fiscal solutions and will be able to avoid declaring a fiscal emergency in Oakland, according to ViceMayor and Councilmember-at Large Rebecca Kaplan.
“The Oakland City Council is prioritizing community safety, housing security, essential services to keep our city safe, healthy and vibrant, and collecting outstanding revenue that are owed – as well as
transparency in making fiscally sound decisions based on real financial data,” Kaplan said in a written statement to the Oakland Post discussing the City Council budget.
With a new report brought to Council at its Dec. 9 special budget meeting, there are now several important improvements. The recommendation for declaring a fiscal emergency has been removed, clarifying that Oakland is NOT at risk of insolvency, she said.
Additionally, extra funds from special fund sources and enterprise funds, have been identified that are available to be used to ensure fiscal solvency.
“Yesterday, the City Council discussed a ‘Back to Basics’ approach to our budget and city services,” said Council President Nikki Fortunato-Bas.
“While our financial situation requires action, the Council has previously provided direction to the City Administrator through the contingency budget, and we
discussed the City Administrator’s further proposals for how to rebalance our Midcycle Budget to close our current fiscal year projected deficit.”
“Importantly, we are ensuring our reserve is at the required level, and we do not need to declare a fiscal emergency under our Consolidated Fiscal Policy,” she said.
Kaplan said, “It is vital to protect core public services and the long-term fiscal solvency of our
Oakland Post
City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library
The Main Library has been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades
By Oakland Post Staff
The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library, located at 125 14th St., after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library's facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.
Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.
"This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. "Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible."
“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when
the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”
“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secure
the necessary grant funds for this work.”
"I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget," said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. "The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library's future."
“Dec. 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library
Post News Group Hosts Second Virtual Town Hall on Racism
By Post Staff
Post News Group Global Features Journalist Carla Thomas recently hosted a second Virtual Town Hall on Racism, with guests including community builders Trevor Parham of Oakstop and Chien Nguyen of Oakland Trybe.
Thomas opened the town hall by paying homage to the ancestral losses of the African diaspora, and to the Indigenous tribes, the enslaved, the freed, and the trailblazers of the Civil Rights Movement, Black Lives Matter Movement, and those more recently victimized by police brutality.
After thanking Bay Area nonprofits for their work, Thomas led
a thoughtful discussion on the importance of acknowledging racism as the first form of hate that built America.
“While our society tends to rebrand over the decades, we find hate as the new word, broadening its arch of issues in society,” she said.
“However, the very first form of hate, which is racism, built this country,” she said.
“Nazi Germany found America’s treatment of Blacks so inhumane and denigrating that they (decided) it would actually be the perfect ingredient to undermine another group of people,” said Parham. “So, they essentially borrowed from what Americans did to Black people.”
Thomas pivoted the discussion
“That act of othering, creating a narrative that made African people, indigenous people, and ultimately melanated people, labeled as less than human justified the colonizers act of subjugating our ancestors to inhumane, incomprehensible treatment for over 400 years,” said Thomas. Parham of Oakstop, located at 1721 Broadway, explained that Nazi Germany patterned its mistreatment and extinction of Jews in the Holocaust after chattel slavery in America and the Jim Crow apartheid system that followed it.
Advocates Concerned After CARE Court Launches in Alameda County
By Magaly Muñoz
Alameda County Superior Court and Alameda County Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) launched CARE Court last week in an effort to help individuals with particular mental health diagnoses or substance abuse disorders receive a range of support services.
CARE Court, or the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, is a civil court process that provides a 12-month treatment plan involving clinically prescribed, individualized interventions as well as supportive services, medication, and housing options.
Juan Taizan, director of Forensic Diversion and Reentry Servic-
es at ACBHD, said the program is intended to target the county’s most vulnerable communities.
It is also designed to divert individuals away from conservatorship or incarceration, he added.
To be eligible, individuals must meet the following criteria:
• 18 years of age or older • Diagnosed with schizophrenia or other associated psychotic disorders and currently experiencing symptoms
Not clinically stabilized in ongoing treatment
The individual’s mental health is substantially deteriorating, and they are unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision and/or need services and support to prevent relapse and deteriora-
Vice-Mayor and Councilmember-at Large Rebecca Kaplan. File photo.
On hand to celebrate the completion of improvements to Oakland’s Main Library were (L to R)- Jamie Turbak, director of Library Services; LaTonda Simmons, asssitant city administrator; Nikki Bas, president, Oakland City Council; Shen Thao, mayor of Oakland; Carroll Fife, Oakland city councilmember District 3; Harold Duffey, assistant city administrator; Sean Maher, communications director for the City Administrator’s Office. Photo by Kevin Hicks.
Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, Tarshel Beards Community Relations Manager of Oakland Public Library, Gay Plair Cobb, Commissioner of Oakland Public Libraries, Kimberly Mayfield, Deputy Mayor, City of Oakland. Photo by Kevin Hicks.
Photo courtesy of Post News Group
By Stacy M. Brown Washington Informer
President Joe Biden’s commitment to diversifying the federal judiciary has culminated in a historic achievement: appointing 40 Black women to lifetime judgeships, the most of any president in U.S. history. Biden has appointed 62 Black judges, cementing his presidency as one focused on promoting equity and representation on the federal bench.
His record surpasses previous efforts by his predecessors. President Jimmy Carter appointed 37 Black judges, including seven Black women. In stark contrast, Donald Trump’s first term resulted in only two Black women appointed out of 234 lifetime judicial nominations.
The White House said Biden’s efforts show a broader commitment to racial equity and justice.
Meanwhile, Trump has vowed to dismantle key civil rights protections, including the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“Having the Black woman’s
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
experience on the federal bench is extremely important because there is a different kind of voice that can come from the Black female from the bench,” Delores Jones-Brown, professor emeritus at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told reporters.
Lena Zwarensteyn of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights told reporters that these district court judges are often the first and sometimes the final arbiters in cases affecting healthcare access, education equity, fair hiring practices, and voting rights.
“Those decisions are often the very final decisions because very few cases actually get heard by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Zwarensteyn explained.
Biden’s nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court further reflects his commitment to judicial diversity. Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.
Continued on page 9
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) made history on Dec. 2. For the first time, most of its members are women. Nine out of its 12 current members are Black women, the highest number in the organization’s 57-year-history.
During the last legislative session, five out of 12 CLBC members were women.
For the 2025-26 Legislative session, three CLBC women members are serving in the State Senate and six in the State Assembly.
Sen. Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood) and Sen. Akilah Weber (D-LaMesa) were sworn in on the first official day of the 2025-26
Regular Session in the chambers of the State Senate by the Hon. Patricia Guerrero, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.
“Yesterday, I was sworn in as Senator of the 39th Senate District! I am so honored to do this work and excited to get started, Weber posted on her Facebook page Dec. 3. “I introduced my first bill on my first day, SB 32 to address maternity ward closures in the state.”
Before winning her Senate seat, Weber had served in the State Assembly for three years representing the 79th District in San Diego County.
She was also sworn in as Chair of the CLBC on Dec. 2.
Weber and Richardson are joining CLBC member Sen. Lola
Continued on page 9
Frontline Doulas provides African American families non-medical professional perinatal services at no cost.
This includes physical, emotional, informational, psychosocial and advocacy support during the pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. Women of all ages — with all forms of insurance — are accepted and encouraged to apply for services.
California Black Media (CBM) spoke with co-founder Khefri Riley. She reflected on Frontline’s accomplishments this year and the organization’s goals moving forward.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Looking back at 2024, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why?
In 2024, we are humbled to have been awarded the contract for the Los Angeles County Medical Doula Hub, which means that we are charged with creating a hub of connectivity and support for generating training and helping to create the new doula workforce for the medical doula benefit that went
live in California on Jan. 1, 2023.
How did your leadership and investments contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians?
We believe that the revolution begins in the womb. What we mean by that is we have the potentiality and the ability to create intentional generational healing from the moment before a child was conceived, when a child was conceived, during this gestational time and when a child is born.
And there’s a traditional saying in indigenous communities where what we do now affects future generations going forward. So, the work that we do with birthing families, in particular Black birthing families, is to create powerful and healthy outcomes for the new generation so that we don’t have to replicate pain, fear, discrimination, or racism.
What frustrated you the most over the last year?
Working in reproductive justice often creates a heavy burden on the organization and the caregivers that deliver the services most needed to the communities. So, oftentimes, we’re advocating for those
Continued on page 9
Assemblymembers LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), and Senators Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) and Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood) join hands in unity at the Black Queens Reception on December 6 in Sacramento, showcasing their commitment to leadership and representation.
Khefri Riley, co-founder of Frontline Doulas. Facebook photo.
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By Emil Guillermo
In our polarized country, half of America can’t wait, while many of us still wonder, “where’s Kamala?”
I hope President-elect Trump— who famously said during the campaign that he’d be a dictator on day one — eats his words.
Dictators aren’t doing so well these days.
Last weekend, the dictator Bashar al-Assad was run out of Syria and sought exile with his puppet master/dictator Vladimir Putin Russia. In just about two weeks, a coalition of rebels applied enough pressure to end a family regime in Syria that lasted 50 years.
al-Assad’s wealthy family dictatorship plundered Syria and ruled in terror.
Will a Dictator’s Loss Change Trump’s Tune?
It sounds all too familiar to Filipino Americans, many of whom came to the U.S. fleeing the Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
al-Assad’s end was different from the Filipinos who forged a peaceful People Power movement that chased the Marcos family to Hawaii where they sought refuge from their U.S. puppet handlers.
But as in Manila, there was cheering on the streets of Syria. Men, women, and children. Christian, Muslims, different sects and ethnicities, all united against alAssad.
al-Assad has been described as a genocidal narco-trafficking tyrant, whose friends were America’s biggest enemies, Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, said Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, on CNN.
Moustafa said it was amazing that there would be no more Rus-
sian airstrikes, no more al-Assad gulags torturing civilians. “To see good triumph over evil is an amazing thing,” he added.
But last weekend has some trickle down.
Consider that we are talking about al-Assad, the one Tulsi Gabbard consorted with and hyped to her colleagues when she was in Congress. Now Assad has been shamed into exile with his puppet master Russia, and Gabbard wants to be the U.S. director of national security? Given her wrongheaded judgment on al-Assad, can she be trusted with any national secrets?
It’s still not over in Syria, as now there will be a scramble to see what kind of governing democracy emerges.
Predictably, Donald Trump has said, “The United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved.”
Nouveau isolationism?
What’s happened in Syria has the potential of reshaping the politics of the entire Middle East. The U.S. can’t afford to sit back and do nothing. Now is the time to exert peaceful, diplomatic influence on how Syria maintains stability and goes forward with a new democracy.
Overall, the ouster of the dictator should give Trump pause.
If by nominating MAGA loyalists like Gabbard, Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel, Trump’s testing the evolution to strongman rule in
PROJECT ENGINEER
the U.S., he should consider what happened before last weekend.
In South Korea, a weak president tried to declare martial law and was voted down by Parliament. That’s a faux strongman. Let’s hope Trump learns a lesson from the week’s news. The next president sets the tone for a politics that’s already toxic. He needs to remember the joy in Syria this week when an autocrat was dumped in the name of freedom and democracy.
About the Author Emil Guillermo is an awardwinning Bay Area journalist. His commentaries are on YouTube. com/@emilamok1. Or join him at www.patreon.com/emilamok
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Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
2024 IN REVIEW:
7
Questions for Outgoing Black Caucus
Vice Chair Sen. Steven Bradford
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
When Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) was sworn into the California Legislature in 2009 as an Assemblymember, he brought with him a long and faceted record of accomplishments in both the private and public sectors.
From his experiences as a Fortune 500 corporate executive at IBM and Southern California Edison to earning his chops as the first Black Gardena City Councilmember, Bradford excelled in various roles before being elected State Senator in 2016.
In the State Senate, Bradford secured millions of dollars to support projects, programs, and institutions in his district.
Earlier this year, he announced that he is running for Lieutenant Governor.
Bradford, who served as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) until this month, says he continues to pursue and enact policies geared toward equity and fairness.
California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Bradford recently. He reflected on his current goals, his many accomplishments, disappointments, and lessons learned over the course of the last year.
Responses have been edited
for clarity and length.
Looking back at 2024, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why?
The fact that we got substantive legislation on reparations through both houses with very little opposition, despite the fact that one of those bills was vetoed and two, were not brought up on the floor for a vote.
I still think that’s a major success. We were also able to secure $12 million in the budget, especially during a deficit year, to fund reparations initiatives.
How did your leadership contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians?
I think my career overall has been about moving the agenda for not only African Americans, but those who’ve been most disenfranchised, not only by the State, but also by this country. I think my record speaks for itself when you look at the Ebony Alert law, the Bruce’s Beach settlement, or NIL legislation, that not only directly impacted people of color, specifically African Americans, but also helped all people with the challenges they face here. Also, a firsttime low-income funding for internet and public housing$30 million for that.
We secured $40 million
NOTICE AND DIGEST
for Allensworth, the historic Black-majority city, now state park, that was founded by Colonel Allensworth.
What frustrated you the most over the last year?
The veto of my bill, SB 1050, and the fact that 1403 and 1331, two other reparations bills, didn’t even have a vote on the Assembly Floor, despite the fact that those bills made it through both houses with little or no opposition.
What inspired you the most over the last year?
The fact that we’re resilient. You have to keep hope.
What is one lesson you learned in 2024 that will inform your decision-making next year?
Always be prepared for the double cross. I was told that almost 30 years ago by my mentor, the late Mervyn Dymally, former State Senator, former Assemblyman, Lieutenant Governor, Congressman. He says always expect the double cross because it will happen.
In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?
Unity. We are, in many ways, moving forward but in a very fragmented way.
What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2025?
To keep being a voice for positive change.
AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 15.80 TO THE OAKLAND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISH CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCERELATED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENTS WITH AT LEAST 100 RESIDENTIAL UNITS OR 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW FLOOR AREA; AND MAKING APPROPRIATE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS.
This Ordinance amends the Oakland Municipal Code to establish requirements that the developer of development projects with at least 100 residential units or 100,000 square feet of new floor area report to the City information regarding the construction workforce employed or contracted for the project. The reporting information includes, not exclusively, the percentage of the workforce who are Oakland residents, the use of apprentices, whether the workforce receives area standard wages and health care benefits, whether the workforce is required to provide their own tools, demographic information, and whether contractors are qualified under the City of Oakland Local and Small Local Business Enterprise Program. Reporting information must be provided prior to a certificate of occupancy being issued to the project. The City may also adopt appropriate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) findings in support of these amendments.
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday evening December 3, 2024, and passed to print 5 Ayes; 3 Excused, Bas, Jenkins, And Ramachandran. Final adoption has been scheduled for the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 3:30 P.M., at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California and via Teleconference.
Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California.
ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, December 13, 2024. (One Time)
2024 IN REVIEW:
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
The California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) is a group of educational leaders from across the state. The organization is committed to identifying critical issues in public education related to the performance of African American students and addressing them through education reform initiatives.
Its membership includes school superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors, and administrators. CAAASA has a long-standing history of hosting institutes, meetings, conferences, and various special events focused on education.
Serving as an informational resource to the California Department of Education (CDE), CAAASA makes recommendations on several of the department’s priorities, including curriculum and instruction, staff development, parent involvement, funding, and gender specific issues.
CAAASA has submitted testimony to the Speaker of the Assembly aimed at improving the status of African American males relative to their overrepresentation in the penal system and underrepresentation in the nation’s colleges and universities.
Additionally, CAAASA has worked in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) to sponsor events and programs that have been successful in addressing the needs of African American students.
This year, the organization sponsored a statewide conference in Sacramento titled,
“Education is a Civil Right.”
Recently, California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Dr. Adam Clark, the President of CAAASA, about the organization’s successes, disappointments, lessons learned and future plans heading into the new year.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
What was your most important achievement in 2024 and why?
The most important achievement was organizing our statewide professional development summit to mark the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. We focused on research and strategies to improve education for African American and other students of color. Afterward, we partnered with the National Coalition of Educational Equity to host a convening in Washington D.C., continuing our efforts to drive progress.
How did your leadership and investments improve the lives of Black Californians?
We launched two new Leadership Academies for aspiring administrators and superintendents. These programs help build a pipeline of future administrators committed to improving education for all students, especially students of color. By focusing on closing opportunity gaps, we’re ensuring Black Californians have the support and resources they need to succeed in the education system.
What frustrated you the most over the last year?
The ongoing inequities Black students face are the most frustrating. Despite our progress, challenges still exist. What inspired you the most over the last year?
NOTICE AND DIGEST
I was inspired by the collaboration and energy at our national conference in Washington D.C., where leaders from across the country united to focus on educational equity. Seeing so many passionate advocates gave me hope that real, lasting change is possible when we work together.
What lesson did you learn in 2024 that will guide your decisions next year?
I learned the importance of collective action. Building coalitions of educators, lawmakers, and civil rights leaders is essential to addressing the root causes of inequity in our schools.
What is the biggest challenge Black Californians face in one word?
Inequity.
What is your main goal for 2025?
My main goal is to speed up the implementation of evidence-based strategies that improve Black student achievement. Through partnerships, policy work, and professional development, I want to ensure our schools are equipped to meet the needs of Black students and help every learner succeed.
AN ORDINANCE, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THAT: (1) AMENDS THE OAKLAND PLANNING CODE TO UPDATE CHAPTER 17.101B D-OTN, OAK-TO-NINTH DISTRICT ZONE REGULATIONS, TO: (A) UPDATE THE CHAPTER TITLE FROM PLANNED WATERFRONT ZONING DISTRICT (PWD-4) TO D-OTN, OAKTO-NINTH DISTRICT ZONE; AND (B) MAKE CLERICAL UPDATES TO THE CHAPTER TO ENSURE THE INTENT OF THE CHAPTER IS IMPLEMENTED; AND 2) MAKES APPROPRIATE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS
This Ordinance makes Planning Code and Zoning text amendments to Chapter 17.101B that will replace the Planning Code text adopted on May 16, 2023, and Chapter 17.101B D-OTN Oak To Ninth District Regulations updated on January 12, 2016. The miscellaneous changes proposed will bring Chapter 17.101B in conformance with the rest of the Planning Code. The Ordinance also includes appropriate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) findings related to the above actions.
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday evening December 3, 2024, and passed to print 7 Ayes; 1 Excused, Ramachandran. Final adoption has been scheduled for the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 3:30 P.M. at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California and via Teleconference.
Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California.
ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, December 13, 2024. (One Time)
Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), right, abstains from voting on SB 1327 while Sen. Bill Dodd, left, who was critical of the bill, votes to approve it. SB 1327, which proposed imposing taxes on major tech companies to fund local newsrooms, never received a hearing in the Assembly. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Dr. Adam Clark, president of the California Association of African American Administrators and Superintendents Association. Courtesy photo.
By Anka Lee Post Intern
San Francisco has outdone itself again with the return of
Let’s Glow SF, an abstract digital artwork projected brilliantly on various landmark buildings downtown for the holiday season.
Produced by the partnership of Downtown SF Partnership and A3 Visual, SF Glow began in 2021 with the intent to bring life back to downtown after the COVID-19 outbreak left its streets desolate.
Accompanied by different genres of music, the largest holiday projection arts festival in the U.S. is described on its web site as “a stunning journey of light” and “a striking marriage of art and technology…that elevates the city’s art scene.”
The ‘canvases’ for Let’s Glow
‘Paints’ Holiday-Themed Light Shows on Landmark Buildings in Downtown San Francisco
SF, which began on Dec. 6 and continues through Dec. 13, include 101 California St., Annie Alley, the Crossings at East Cut, the Ferry Building, One Bush Plaza, Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, Salesforce Tower, and the PG&E Substation.
‘Painting’ the light installations onto buildings starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.
At the Ferry Building on Dec. 7, the animated light display featured art by Spectre Lab, Maxin10sity, and Ryan Uzilevsky of Light Harvest Studio. Across from the Embarcadero, plastic chairs were put out for front-row seating to the upcoming projection.
Families dressed in matching sweaters chatted animatedly among themselves, couples cuddled up against the bitter wind, and the ringing of the
California Respects the Power of Your Vote
the results for this year’s election on Dec. 13, we have taken a number of steps to ensure that every vote is counted. We have also made sure that our ballot counting process is credible and free from interference.
protects everyone’s votes.
By Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State
Californians can confidently claim this: California has made more significant reforms to our election laws and expanded voting rights than any other state. The relevance of this accomplishment deepens as we prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act next year. This landmark legislation began to undo our country’s long history of voter suppression, intimidation, and disenfranchisement that far too many Americans experienced at the polls for decades.
My own parents, who were sharecroppers, were denied their right to vote in the Jim Crow era South. Before moving to Los Angeles from Hope, Arkansas, my parents, David and Mildred Nash, could not vote. My father was an adult with six children before he registered to vote and was only able to exercise that constitutional right for the first time here in California.
As California Secretary of State, I do not take the progress we have made over the years lightly. My staff and I hold sacred the obligation to ensure that our elections are safe, free, fair, and accessible to all. Therefore, before certifying
To meet that deadline without a hitch, California requires elections officials in all 58 counties to turn in their official results by a certain date. This year, that date was Dec. 6. By law, every eligible voter in our state receives a voteby-mail ballot. This ensures all registered voters can exercise their right to vote.
Whether you placed your ballot in a designated drop-off box, voted by mail, or cast your ballot at a polling center, votes are safe and secure. And we allow voters to sign up to receive text message, email, or voice call notifications about the status of their own ballots by using the Where’s My Ballot? tool. To learn more or to sign up, paste this URL in your web browser: https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/ The ballots of Californians who voted by mail are also protected. The United States Postal Service partners with the State to make sure ballots are delivered on time. All mailed-in ballots are sent by First Class mail with a postage paid envelope provided to every eligible registered voter.
Election Security is our No. 1 priority. That’s why my office designed and implemented a program to back up that commitment. For more information, visit this URL: https:// www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ election-cybersecurity.
Additionally, California takes preventive actions to make sure our voting technology keeps our elections safe and
NOTICE AND DIGEST
For example, county voting systems are not connected to the internet, which protects them from cyberthreats. The State also performs regular and rigorous testing to make sure the voting systems are working optimally, and only authorized personnel are granted access.
Staff members are also given phishing and cybersecurity training.
VoteCal, the state’s centralized voter registration system, is also key. The system is regularly updated, and it is used as a resource for counties to verify voter signatures.
California also provides security at all counting locations and makes sure ballot drop-off boxes are secured and monitored.
And all election processes are open to observation during specified hours.
In my role as Secretary of State of California, there is nothing more important to me than defending our democracy.
I am committed to safeguarding voting rights, and to leading our state in upholding the highest democratic standards by implementing policies and practices that Californians and all Americans can trust and look to for instruction and hope.
You can contact the California Office of the Secretary of State at 1-800-345-Vote or elections@sos.ca.gov with inquiries or to report suspected incidents or irregularities. Additional information can be found at www.sos.ca.gov and the office’s social media platforms: Instagram: @californiasos_ Facebook: Facebook.com/ CaliforniaSOS X: @CASOSVote
ORDINANCE (1) AMENDING THE RENT ADJUSTMENT ORDINANCE TO (A) LIMIT BANKING OF CPI RENT INCREASES TO EXPIRE AFTER FOUR YEARS AND AFTER TRANSFER OF PROPERTY; (B) PROHIBIT RENT INCREASES FOR OWNERS DELINQUENT ON BUSINESS TAXES; (C) EXTEND TENANT PETITION DEADLINE FROM 90 DAYS TO 180 DAYS AND (2) AMENDING THE JUST CAUSE FOR EVICTION ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT NO FAULT EVICTIONS FOR OWNERS DELINQUENT ON BUSINESS TAXES.
This ordinance (1) amends the Rent Adjustment Ordinance to (A) limit banking of CPI rent increases to expire after four years and after transfer of property; (B) prohibit rent increases for owners delinquent on business taxes; (C) extend tenant petition deadline from 90 days to 180 days and (2) amends the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance to prohibit no fault evictions for owners delinquent on business taxes.
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday evening December 3, 2024, and passed to print 5 Ayes, Fife, Kalb, Kaplan, Bas, And Thao; 1 Absent, Gallo; 1 Excused Ramachandran; And 1 Abstained, Reid; 1 No Jenkins. Final adoption has been scheduled for the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 3:30 P.M. at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California and via Teleconference. Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California.
ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, December 13, 2024. (One Time)
trolley’s distant approach all served to brighten the street. Holiday-special drinks like hot chocolate and themed cocktails were sold and participating eateries like Avotoasty and Barcha Restaurant came together to bring America’s largest annual Christmas projection event to San Francisco.
The eight-day event will close on Dec. 13, with “Glow on Front: A Neon Block Party” from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 240 Front St.
Ervin, one of the Block by Block Downtown SF Partnership safety workers for the event, said he’s “looking at a record amount this year,” nearing around half a million attendees in total. But that evening, a lively community evolved from the original trickle of people waiting for the art show to start.
Vendors set up displays and sold jewelry, notebooks, and handmade hairbands. Seats filled up as the day’s light faded, the chill of the air increasing with the flow of people. The excitement among the crowd was palpable and contagious. It was a welcome feeling, electrifying the ever-growing holiday cheer. Chatter quieted and adventurous music blasted from speakers that were behind the seating area. A projection by Spectre Lab shone directly at the Ferry Building, the abstract graphics of candlelight, lanterns, and disco balls ‘dancing’ to the beat of the music that transformed the clock tower into something alive. The illusory animation spun and stretched the tower with enthusiasm—this writer was in awe.
Alice Parker: The Innovator Behind the Modern Gas Furnace
In 1919, Alice Parker patented the design for a gas-powered central heating system, a groundbreaking invention. Image courtesy of U.S. Patent Office.
By Tamara Shiloh
Alice Parker was a trailblazing African American inventor whose innovative ideas forever changed how we heat our homes.
Born in Morristown, New Jersey, in 1895, Parker lived during a time when women, especially African American women, faced significant social and systemic barriers. Despite these challenges, her contributions to home heating technology have had a lasting impact.
Parker grew up in New Jersey, where winters could be brutally cold. Although little is documented about her personal
life, her education played a crucial role in shaping her inventive spirit. She attended Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C., where she may have developed her interest in practical solutions to everyday challenges.
Before Parker’s invention, most homes were heated using wood or coal-burning stoves. These methods were labor-intensive, inefficient, and posed fire hazards. Furthermore, they failed to provide even heating throughout a home, leaving many rooms cold while others were uncomfortably warm.
Parker recognized the inefficiency of these heating methods and imagined a solution that would make homes more comfortable and energy-efficient during winter.
In 1919, she patented her design for a gas-powered central heating system, a groundbreaking invention. Her design used natural gas as a fuel source to distribute heat throughout a building, replacing the need for wood or coal. The system allowed for thermostatic control, enabling homeowners to regulate the temperature in their homes efficiently.
What made her invention particularly innovative was its use of ductwork, which channeled warm air to different parts
NOTICE AND DIGEST
of the house. This concept is a precursor to the modern central heating systems we use today. While Parker’s design was never fully developed or massproduced during her lifetime, her idea laid the groundwork for modern central heating systems. Her invention was ahead of its time and highlighted the potential of natural gas as a cleaner, more efficient alternative to traditional heating methods.
Parker’s patent is remarkable not only for its technical innovation but also because it was granted at a time when African Americans and women faced severe limitations in accessing patent protections and recognition for their work. Her success as an inventor during this period is a testament to her ingenuity and determination.
Parker’s legacy lives on in numerous awards and grantsmost noticeably in the annual Alice H. Parker Women Leaders in Innovation Award. That distinction is given out by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce to celebrate outstanding women innovators in Parker’s home state.
The details of Parker’s later years are as sketchy as the ones about her early life. The specific date of her death, along with the cause, are also largely unknown.
ORDINANCE APPROVING A REZONING AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE ZONE CLASSIFICATION OF 5212 BROADWAY FROM MIXED HOUSING RESIDENTIAL – 4 ZONE (RM-4), HEIGHT AREA 35 AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL – 1 ZONE (CN-1), HEIGHT AREA 95 TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL – 2 ZONE (CC2), HEIGHT AREA 95 IN CONNECTION WITH THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT; AND MAKING APPPROPRIATE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS.
An Ordinance approving a zoning amendment to change the zoning of 5212 Broadway (Assessor’s Parcel Number 014-124-300-101) (Parcel) from RM-4 and CN-1 to CC-2 Height Zone 95. The rezoning to the CC-2 Zone with Height Area 95 will increase the Parcel capacity from 209 units to a maximum development potential of 520 units. The land use activities and the proposed density and other development standards allowed in the CC-2 Zone would comply with the General Plan Land Use and Transportation Element (LUTE) “Community Commercial” Land Use Designation and with the General Plan Housing Element Housing Opportunity Site designation. The Ordinance also makes California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) findings consistent with the findings made as part of the City’s approval of the project entitlements for the California College of Arts Redevelopment Project. Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday evening December 3, 2024, and passed to print 6 Ayes; 1 Absent, Gallo; 1 Excused, Ramachandran. Final adoption has been scheduled for the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024 3:30 P.M., at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California and via Teleconference.
Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California.
ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, December 13, 2024.
Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State. Courtesy of California Secretary of State Office.
The clock tower of the Ferry Building lights up with digital art projection. Photo by Anka Lee.
In ‘Affrilachia:
Testimonies,’ Puts Blacks in Appalacia on the Map
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm Sez
An average oak tree is bigger around than two people, together, can reach.
That mighty tree starts out with an acorn the size of a nickel, ultimately growing to some 80 feet tall, with a canopy of a hundred feet or more across.
And like the new book, “Affrilachia” by Chris Aluka Berry (with Kelly Elaine Navies and Maia A. Surdam), its roots spread wide and wider.
Affriclachia is a term a Kentucky poet coined in the 1990s referring to the Black communities in Appalachia who are similarly referred to as Affrilachians.
In 2016, “on a foggy Sunday morning in March,” Berry visited Affrilachia for the first time by going the Mount Zion AME Zion Church in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The congregation was tiny; just a handful of people were there that day, but a pair of siblings stood out to him.
Ann Rogers and Mae Louise Allen lived on opposite sides of town, says Berry, and neither had a driver’s license. He surmised that church was the only time the elderly sisters were together then, but their devotion to one another was clear.
As the service ended, he asked Allen if he could visit her. Was she willing to talk about her life in the Appalachians, her parents, her town?
She was, and arrangements were made but before Barry could get back to Cullowhee, he learned that Allen had died. Saddened, he wondered how many stories are lost each day in mountain communities where African Americans have lived for more than a century.
“I couldn’t make photographs of the past,” he says, “but I could document the people and places living now.”
In doing so he also offers photographs that he collected from people he met in ‘Affrila-
chia,’ in North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, at a rustic “camp” that was likely created by enslaved people, at churches, and in modest houses along highways.
The people he interviewed recalled family tales and community stories of support, hardship, and home.
Says coauthor Navies, “These images shout without making a sound.”
If it’s true what they say about a picture being worth 1,000 words, then “Affrilachia,” as packed with photos as it is, is worth a million.
With that in mind, there’s not a lot of narrative inside this book, just a few poems, a small number of very brief interviews, a handful of memories passed down, and some background stories from author Berry and his coauthors. The tales are interesting, but scant.
For most readers, though, that lack of narrative isn’t going to matter much. The photographs are the reason why you’d have this book.
Here, there are pictures of life as it was 50 years or a century ago, group photos, pictures taken of proud moments, worn pews, and happy children.
Some of the modern pictures may make you wonder why they’re included, but they set a tone and tell a tale.
This is the kind of book you’ll take off the shelf, and notice something different every time you do. “Affrilachia” doesn’t contain a lot of words, but it’s a good choice when it’s time to branch out in your reading.
“Affrilachia: Testimonies,” by Chris Aluka Berry with Kelly Elaine Navies and Maia A. Surdam
c.2024, University of Kentucky Press, $50.00.
NOTICE AND DIGEST
L-R: BWOPA State Executive Director LaNiece Jones; State Asm. Mia Bonta; BWOPA 2024 Man of The Year / Urban League SFBA CEO Ken Maxey; BWOPA State President Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones; State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas; Rowena Brown, Oakland Councilmember AtLarge, Elect; BWOPA State Regional Director Vashone Huff.
BWOPA Honors Black Leadership and Legacy at 2024 Ella Hill Hutch Awards Dinner
By Oakland Post Staff
Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.
On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.
At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.
The evening was hosted by Dr. Shawna Charles, founder of The Charles Communications Group (CCG) headquartered in Los Angeles Charles served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
With a track record of elevating voices and empowering communities, Charles’ leadership and insight brought a certain dynamism to the celebration.
“Each year, this event not only celebrates the enduring legacy of our beloved BWOPA founding member, Ella Hill Hutch, but also reaffirms and amplifies our unwavering commitment to building and sustaining Black political power across California,” said Dezie Woods Jones, BWOPA Founding Member and State President.
“Ella Hill Hutch’s trailblazing leadership continues to inspire us as we forge ahead, empowering Black women to lead, advocate, and shape a more equitable future for all,” added Woods Jones.
This year’s event introduced the DWJ Rising Star Award, honoring young leaders like Solano County Board Supervisors-elect Cassandra James, Danielle Motley-Lewis, Naomi Waters and newly elected State Assemblymember Elect Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).
According to organizers, the awardees all exemplify “the next generation of changemakers.”
Other awardees included:
ORDINANCE REPEALING THE EVICTION FOR NUISANCE AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
ORDINANCE (OAKLAND MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8.23) IN ITS ENTIRETY
Adoption of this Ordinance would repeal Oakland’s Eviction for Nuisance and Illegal Activity Ordinance, Oakland Municipal Code 8.23, which provides that the City may require Landlords to evict tenants for specified illegal activity. The Ordinance is no longer enforceable due to changes in state law. Effective January 1, 2024, the Ordinance is preempted by Government Code 53165.1.
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday evening December 3, 2024, and passed to print 6 Ayes; 1 Absent, Gallo; 1 Excused Ramachandran. Final adoption has been scheduled for the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024
3:30 P.M., at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California and via Teleconference.
ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, December 13, 2024. (One Time)
Books for Ghana
By Min. Rauna Thurston Chief Mpuntuhene Afua Ewusiwa I
• Lifetime Achievement Awardees: U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (DCA-12) and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson.
Man of the Year: Kenneth Maxey, CEO of the Greater SF Bay Area Urban League
• President’s Corporate Award: Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente
• In the Spirit of Ella State and Chapter Awards: Dr. Carolyn Greene, Dr. Marcella K. Smith, Dr. Carolyn Drake, Tinisch Hollins, Jackie Jones, Gloria Burgess Johnson, Tamika L’Ecluse, Ellen Nash, Betty Reid Soskin, and Ay’Anna Moody.
BWOPA also celebrated local champions across its chapters, including leaders in voter education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and community advocacy.
In a statement, BWOPA said, “Honoring Ella Hill Hutch’s legacy, BWOPA recognizes her pioneering efforts as the first Black woman elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her tireless work amplifying underrepresented voices continues to inspire BWOPA’s mission to build Black political power across California.’
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, partners and allies who believe in BWOPA’s vision to invest in building power for Black women’s leadership,” said LaNiece Jones, BWOPA State Executive Director. “Your support ensures that Black women have a voice at decision-making tables locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, advancing diversity and equity in leadership spaces.”
My travels to Afrika began in June 2022, on a tour led by Prof. Manu Ampim, Director of the organization Advancing The Research. I was scheduled to become an ordained Minister by Wo’se Community of the Sacred African Way. It was vital that my feet touch the soil of Kemet and my spirit connect with the people of the continent before ordination.
Since 2022, I’ve made six trips to Afrika. During my travels, I became a benefactor to Abeadze State College (ASC) in Abeadze Dominase, Ghana, originally founded by Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, Paramount Chief of Abeadze Traditional Area and now run by the government. The students there were having trouble with English courses, which are mandatory. The Ghanaian Minister of Education endorsed a novel written by 18-year-old female Ghanaian first-time writer, Nhyira Esaaba Essel, titled Black Queen Sceptre. The idea was that if the students had something more interesting to read, it would evoke a passion for reading; this seemed reasonable to me. Offer students something exciting and imaginative, combined with instructors committed to their success and this could work.
The challenge, how to acquire 800 books?!
I was finishing another project for ASC, so my cash was thin and I was devoid of time to apply for annual grants. I sat on my porch in West Oakland, as I often do, when I’m feeling for and connecting to my ancestors. On quiet nights, I reminisce about the neighborhood I grew up in. Across the street from my house was the house that my Godfather, Baba Dr. Wade Nobles and family lived in, which later became The Institute for the Advanced Study of Black Family Life & Culture (IASBFLC).
NOTICE AND DIGEST
Then, it came to me…ancestors invited me to reach out to The Association of Black Psychologists - Bay Area Chapter (ABPsi-Bay Area)! It was a long shot but worth it!
I was granted an audience with the local ABPsi Board, who ultimately approved funding for the book project with a stipulation that the Board read the book and a request to subsequently offer input as to how the book would be implemented at ASC. In this moment, my memory jet set to my first ABPsi convention around 2002, while working for IASBFLC. Returning to the present, I thought, “They like to think because it feels good, and then, they talk about what to do about what they think about.” I’m doomed.
However, I came to understand why reading the book and offering suggestions for implementation were essential. In short: ABPsi is an organization that operates from the aspirational principles of Ma’at with aims of liberating the Afrikan Mind, empowering the Afrikan character, and enlivening: illuminating the Afrikan spirit. Their request resulted in a roll out of 400 books in a pair share system. Students checked out books in pairs, thereby reducing our bottom line to half of the original cost because we purchased 50% fewer units. This nuance promoted an environment of Ujima (collective work & responsibility) and traditional Afrikan principles of cooperation and interdependence. The student’s collaborative approach encouraged shared responsibility, not only for the physical book but for each other’s success. This concept was Dr. Lawford Goddard’s, approved by the Board, with Dr. Patricia “Karabo” Nunley at the helm.
We effectively facilitated cross continent community building! We met the call and provided 400 books for ASC’s students at the call of the Minister of Education. We supported the work of a new African writer whose breakout novel is an action-packed depiction of the life of a young woman steeped in Ghanaian culture, who travels to the USA for college all the while experiencing the twists, turns, and uncertainties that life brings. (A collectable novel for all ages). A proposed future phase of this collaborative project is for ASC students to exchange reflective essays on Black Queen Sceptre with ABPsi Bay Area members.
Continued on page 9
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTER AT OAKLAND, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, DBA UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OAKLAND, OF THE 8.4ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 101 ADMIRAL ROBERT TONEY WAY AT THE FORMER OAKLAND ARMY BASE FOR A TEMPORARY HELIPAD/HELISTOP FOR EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR AN APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEAR TERM WITH RENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 PER MONTH DURING THE PRECONSTRUCTION PHASE AND $20,691 PER MONTH THEREAFTER; AND ADOPTING CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT FINDINGS.
This is an Ordinance authorizing the City Administrator to negotiate and execute a Lease between the City of Oakland and Children’s Hospital & Research Center at Oakland, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, dba UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, of property located at 101 Admiral Robert Toney Way on the former Oakland Army Base, for a term of approximately four (4) years with rent of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) per month during the pre-construction phase and Twenty Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-One Dollars ($20,691) per month commencing on commencement of construction with three percent (3%) annual increases for the remaining term; and adopting California Environmental Quality Act findings.
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday evening December 3, 2024, and passed to print 5 Ayes; 3 Excused Bas, Jenkins, And Ramachandran. Final adoption has been scheduled for the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 3:30 P.M., at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California and via Teleconference.
Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California.
ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, December 13, 2024. (One Time)
Min. Rauna Thurston.
“Affrilachia: Testimonies” by Chris Aluka Berry with Kelly Elaine Navies and Maia A. Surdam. Courtessy photo.
California Legislative Black Caucus Celebrates Historic Milestone ...
Continued from page 2
Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights), who had previously been the only Black woman serving in the State Senate. Smallwood-Cuevas was elected in 2022.
“This has been a long journey,” said Smallwood-Cuevas. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you coming together and standing up and supporting this effort to ensure that Black women have a voice here in Sacramento, representing the communities we all care about.”
New CLBC lawmakers in the Assembly — Assemblymembers Sade Elhawary (D-South Los Angeles), Rhodesia Ransom (DStockton) and LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego) — were also sworn in on Dec. 2 on the Assembly floor.
Elhawary, Ransom, and SharpCollins and are joining Richardson as the newest members of CLBC. However, Richardson previously served in the Assembly before being elected to Congress in 2007.
Returning CLBC members in the State Assembly are: immedi-
Front Line Doulas ...
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whose voices are silenced and erased, and you really have to be a warrior to stand strong and firm.
What inspired you the most over the last year?
My great-grandmother. My father was his grandmother’s midwife assistant when he was a young boy. I grew up with their medicine stories — the ways that they healed the community and were present to the community, even amidst Jim Crow.
What is one lesson you learned in 2024 that will inform your decision-making next year?
I find that you have to really reach for your highest vision, and you have to stand firm in your value.. You have to raise your voice, speak up and demand, and know
‘Let’s Glow SF’ ...
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A newcomer to Let’s Glow SF thought it was really cool how it “utilizes space that we have and…adds something new…for us to enjoy.”
One family only learned about the lights show on their way home after arriving by ferry, and “[they’d] seen it on the billboard with all the artists…. It’s a very positive thing for San Francisco after everything that’s
ate past CLBC Chair, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), and Assemblymembers Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Issac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) and Mike Gipson (D-Carson).
Outgoing CLBC members include Sen. Steve Bradford (DInglewood), who was termed out and is running for Lieutenant Governor. Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), and Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) also left. McCarty did not seek reelection to the Assembly to run for mayor of Sacramento, a race he won. Holden and JonesSawyer were termed out.
The CLBC was established in 1967 by Black members of the California Legislature to address the concerns of African Americans and other citizens of color.
The new members of the CLBC say there are inspired, motivated and ready to start working on behalf of their constituents.
Sharp Collins stated. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and our Assembly leadership to better the 79th District and the State as a whole.”
“There is so much work to be done,” she said.
your intrinsic value.
In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?
Amplification. We cannot allow our voices to be silent.
What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2025?
I really would like to see a reduction in infant mortality and maternal mortality within our communities and witness this new birth worker force be supported and integrated into systems. So, that way, we fulfill our goal of healthy, unlimited birth in the Black community, and indeed in all birthing communities in Los Angeles and California.
gone on [with COVID].”
Attend the Let’s Glow SF projection event today through Dec.13 for free, at any of their eight locations: 101 California St., Annie Alley, the Crossings at East Cut, the Ferry Building, One Bush Plaza, Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, Salesforce Tower, and PG&E Substation. Food and drink are sold at different participating businesses respective to each projection location. For more information, visit downtownsf.org.
Nikki Giovanni, Iconic Poet and Voice of the Black Arts Movement, Dies at 81
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
Nikki Giovanni, the groundbreaking poet, author, and professor whose work embodied the spirit of the Black Arts Movement and beyond, died on Monday in Blacksburg, Virginia. She was 81. Her wife, Virginia C. Fowler, confirmed the cause was complications from lung cancer.
Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni spent her formative years in Cincinnati, Ohio, but returned to Knoxville every summer with her sister to visit their grandparents. These visits helped shape her sense of identity and belonging, themes that would become central to her work.
She graduated with honors in history from Fisk University, a historically Black college in Nashville and her grandfather’s alma mater. While at Fisk, Giovanni’s defiant spirit and intellect were evident. Expelled briefly due to issues with authority, she returned after a period of reflection and was readmitted with the help of a supportive Dean of Women. This early experience of rebellion and reconciliation laid the groundwork for her unapologetic approach to life and art.
A Voice of Rebellion and Resilience Giovanni rose to prominence during the 1960s as a fierce voice in the Black Arts Movement, alongside literary giants such as Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, Ntozake Shange, and Sonia Sanchez. Her early works, including “Black Feeling, Black Talk” (1968) and “Black Judgement” (1968), were steadfast in their militancy and pride. Her poetry grappled with the injustices faced by Black Americans, including the brutal murder of Emmett Till and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which killed four Black girls.
At a time when mainstream publishers showed little interest in the work of a young Black woman writing what they labeled “militant” poetry, Giovanni took matters into her own hands. She self-published her work, founding a company to distribute her collections. “No one was much interested in a Black girl writing what was called ‘militant’ poetry,” she once wrote. “I thought of it as good poetry.”
Her boldness paid off. In 1972, at just 29 years old, she sold out Alice Tully Hall at Lin-
1111 Broadway, Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 208-7400 • www.alamedactc.org
Request for Proposals (RFP) for Human Resources Consulting and Support Services (RFP No. R25-0003)
The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is seeking proposals for a contract to commence services on July 1, 2025, or as indicated in the RFP and/or appropriate addenda.
Key Dates:
• Optional Online Pre-Proposal Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT)
• Proposal due date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, BEFORE 3:00 p.m. PT
Proposals are subject to Alameda CTC’s Local Business Contract Equity Program. The Program goals for professional services are 70% for Local Business Enterprise (LBE) and 30% for Small LBE. For Program requirements and forms, visit Alameda CTC’s website. Any contract resulting from this RFP will be awarded without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or national origin.
All RFP documents are available Procurement Portal at https://alamedactc. bonfirehub.com. All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted via the Procurement Portal, no later than 3:00 p.m. PT on January 8, 2025.
Submittals must be made in accordance with the instructions in the RFP. Any contract awarded must be in compliance with the local, state, and/or federal requirements.
coln Center, reading her poetry to a crowd of more than 1,000 alongside the New York Community Choir. The following year, for her 30th birthday, she filled the 3,000-seat Philharmonic Hall, where the choir joined her again, along with Melba Moore and Wilson Pickett. The audience erupted joyfully when she recited her now-iconic poem, “Ego-Tripping.” The piece, a celebration of Black female strength, begins with the lines:
“I was born in the congo I walked to the fertile crescent and built the sphinx...”
And concludes triumphantly: “I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal I cannot be comprehended except by my permission I mean...I...can fly
Like a bird in the sky...”
A Prolific Career
In addition to her poetry, Giovanni wrote children’s books, essays, and a memoir, “Gemini: An Extended Autobiographical Statement on My First Twenty-Five Years of Being a Black Poet (1971).” She was known for her candid reflections on race, gender, and identity, blending the personal with the political in provocative and deeply human ways.
Giovanni’s interview with James Baldwin on the television program Soul! in 1971 remains a touchstone in American cultural history. Their two-hour conversation, filmed in London, explored the intersections of race, gender, and societal expectations. At one point, she posed a raw question about the cycle of violence affecting Black families: “What do you do about a man who is mistreated in the world and comes home and brutalizes his wife? Where does that leave his daughter?” Baldwin’s response: “Sweetheart. Our ancestors taught us how to do that.”
An Educator and Mentor
In 1987, Giovanni joined the faculty at Virginia Tech, where she became a University Distinguished Professor. She remained there for 35 years, influencing generations of students with her wit, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to truth.
Even in academia, her rebellious spirit shone through. Giovanni famously supported her student, Seung-Hui Cho, before he committed the tragic mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007. She had him removed from her class when she sensed his troubling nature.
Giovanni earned seven NAACP Image Awards, a
Biden’s Legacy Secured
...
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Patrick McNeil, spokesperson for the Leadership Conference, pointed out that over half of Biden’s Black female judicial appointees have backgrounds as civil rights attorneys and public defenders, experience advocates consider essential for a balanced judiciary.
Meanwhile, Congress remains divided over the expansion of federal judgeships. Legislation to add 66 new judgeships—approved unanimously by the Sen-
Books for Ghana ...
Continued from page 8
We got into good trouble. To order Black Queen Sceptre, email esselewurama14@gmail. com.
Grammy nomination, and the distinction of having three of her books listed as New York Times and Los Angeles Times Best Sellers—a rare feat for a poet. Giovanni described herself as a dreamer. “My dream was not to publish or to even be a writer,” she remarked. “My dream was to discover something no one else had thought of. I guess that’s why I’m a poet. We put things together in ways no one else does.”
A Legacy of Dreams and Defiance
Giovanni’s poetry was a lifeline for many, especially young Black women who saw their power and potential reflected in her verses. She wasn’t just a poet but a cultural force who celebrated Blackness, womanhood, and the art of dreaming. “I’m a writer. I’m happy,” she demanded.
Nikki Giovanni leaves behind her son, Thomas, and her granddaughter. Her father, mother, sister, and aunt preceded her in death.
ate in August—stalled in the GOP-controlled House until after the election. House Republicans proposed distributing the new judgeships over the next decade, giving three administrations a say in appointments. President Biden, however, signaled he would veto the bill if it reached his desk. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., argued the delay was a strategic move to benefit Trump’s potential return to office. “Donald Trump has made clear that he intends to expand the power of the presidency and giving him 25 new judges to appoint gives him one more tool at his disposal,” Nadler said.
I became an ordained Minister upon returning from my initial pilgrimage to Afrika. Who would have imagined that my travels to Afrika would culminate in me becoming a citizen of Sierra Leone and recently being named a Chief Mpuntuhene under Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, Paramount Chief of Abeadze Traditional Area in Ghana, where I envision continued collaborations.
NOTICE AND DIGEST
Min. Rauna/Chief Mpuntuhene is a member of ABPsi Bay Area, a healing resource committed to providing the Post Newspaper readership with monthly discussions about critical issues in Black Mental Health, Wealth & Wellness. Readers are welcome to join us at our monthly chapter meetings every 3rd Saturday via Zoom and contact us at bayareaabpsi@ gmail.com.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING OAKLAND’S LOCAL AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (L/SLBE) PROGRAM (ORDINANCE NO. 13814 C.M.S.) TO AMEND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF OAKLAND’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO (1) REMOVAL OF HEADQUARTER REQUIREMENTS; (2) MODIFICATION OF THE DEFINITION OF “SUBSTANTIAL PRESENCE”; AND (3) CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT 1 ATTACHED HERETO.
This ordinance will amend Ordinance No. 13814 C.M.S., which amended Oakland’s Local and Small Local Business Enterprise (L/SLBE) program, in response to concerns from Oakland’s local business community. The proposed substantive amendments will modify the certification criteria and requirements for Oakland business entities by (1) removing the “Headquarter” requirements from the SLBE, VSLBE, NFP/SLBE, and SBA-LBE certification categories; (2) amending the definition of “substantial presence”; and (3) clarifying standards for the commercial office and home-based office requirements. Additionally, the proposed amendments will provide clarity to help the efficiency of program administration, including removal of language no longer applicable to the program for the COVID emergency, updating outdated language regarding the legislative history of the program, removing references to outdated contracting requirements and forms, and authorizing the City Administrator or designee to adopt rules and regulations consistent with and necessary for the implementation of the program..
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday evening December 3, 2024, and passed to print 5 Ayes; 3 Excused, Bas, Jenkins, Ramachandran. Final adoption has been scheduled for the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024 3:30 P.M., at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California and via Teleconference.
Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California. ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, December 13, 2024. (One Time)
Nikki Giovanni. Photo by Mark Mahoney, Dream in Color Photo.
Declaring a Fiscal Emergency is Unnecessary ...
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city.”
Continuing, Kaplan says, “I am honored that extra available funds I had previously identified have been confirmed and are being incorporated into budget strategies, allowing Oakland to reduce cuts and restore reserves.”
In addition, she said, important public-serving and revenuegenerating functions are being strengthened, including to reduce blight and provide safer, cleaner streets.”
Councilmember Carroll Fife said she appreciated the leadership of Bas’s new budget team who worked with the City Administrator and the Finance Department “to get us on the right track through exploration of all available options for fiscal stability.
“No doubt we are facing challenges, but I am confident that the decisions we are making will set us up for long-term success,” Fife said. “I am particularly grateful for the institutional memory and fiscal acumen of Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, who weeks ago suggested some of the steps now being taken that averts the crisis previously communicated to the public. This is a better deal for Oakland.”
‘The safety of the community is front-of-mind,” said Kaplan. “It is vital to protect the public from dangerous hazards, including crime and violence, fires, traffic dangers, and more.”
This new balanced and comprehensive approach protects and strengthens these vital investments in our safety, she said. The Fire Department, which had been preserved from cuts in July, was able to rapidly stop the Keller Fire from growing out of control, preventing a repeat of the horrific loss of life and loss of homes that took place during the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire.
Investments in the Oakland Police Department and the Department of Violence Prevention have yielded the fastest and most dramatic reduction in homicides in our city’s history, with levels now far below those of the prior several years, said Kaplan.
“The City’s deep investments
in public safety over the past year continue to pay off, with homicides down 34% year-to-date and overall crime down by 33% since last year,” she said.
“Our Public Safety Leadership team is very strong with OPD Chief Floyd Mitchell, Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) Chief Dr. Holly Joshi, OFD Chief Damon Covington, and their deputy chiefs having over a century of collective experience in Oakland,” Bas said.
The budget proposals preserve Oakland’s Ceasefire violence intervention strategy, prioritize OPD patrol and investigations, and continue services to improve 911 response times, with currently 71% of calls answered within 15 seconds or less - a dramatic improvement over the prior year, Kaplan added.
“Oakland’s investments in sidewalk repair, street paving, clearing abandoned autos, and safer conditions on our roadways are improving both safety and quality of life,” she said. “The proposals restore funding for important and needed bicycle and pedestrian safety projects, street paving, parking enforcement, and more.”
Along with budget balancing actions in the immediate term, city leaders continue to urge the County to act on the Coliseum land sale, which will strengthen development and bring in revenue to support both City and County needs, she said.
Bas said that over 90 speakers at the budget meeting spoke passionately about the city’s cultural arts, senior services, safety, parks and recreation, wage theft enforcement, community well-being, as well as calling on the County to move forward on Coliseum development.
Speakers also offered appreciation for the thousands of dedicated city workers – including those who made recommendations for a more sustainable budget, identifying efficient and effective strategies.
CARE Court Launches in Alameda County ...
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CARE Plan is the least restrictive alternative, and individuals who enroll are likely to benefit from participation
• A pending criminal action does not disqualify the person from CARE Court California has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in addressing mental illness, substance abuse, and its relation to homelessness over the years. Earlier this year, the governor backed a multi-billion-dollar bond that will help build on the work of behavioral health services at the local level.
surrounding housing, or lack thereof.
“I think people in the disability community have just felt really attacked and don’t feel like these reforms are actually meeting their needs,” Jain said.
Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library ...
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Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”
The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.
The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library's Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch
$4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.
The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on Feb. 22, 2025, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
About the Oakland Public Library
The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org
Council of Islamic Relations
Applauds Alameda County
Decision to Divest $32M from Caterpillar
Special to The Post
‘Donald Trump Is Not a God’: Rep. Bennie Thompson Blasts Trump’s Call to Jail Him
By Post staff
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he is not intimidated by President-elect Donald Trump, who, during an interview on “Meet the Press,” called for the congressman to be jailed for his role as chairman of the special congressional committee investigating Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021 mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“Donald Trump is not a god,” Thompson told the Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.
bipartisan Jan. 6 Select Committee — which referred Trump for criminal prosecution — were exercising their constitutional and legislative duties.
“When someone disagrees with you, that doesn’t make it illegal; that doesn’t even make it wrong,” Thompson said. “The greatness of this country is that everyone can have their own opinion about any subject, and so for an incoming president who disagrees with the work of Congress to say ‘because I disagree, I want them jailed,’ is absolutely unbelievable.”
The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, this week welcomed the Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ decision to divest $32 million in public funds from Caterpillar and unanimously commit to adopting an ethical investment policy.
The Board’s decision follows months of advocacy by Bay Area Divest!, a coalition of community organizations calling for accountability in public investments.
The divestment from Caterpillar, a company criticized for its human rights abuses globally— including the destruction of Palestinian homes, infrastructure, and agriculture, as well as in the U.S. prison-industrial complex, border militarization, and immigration detention centers—is a significant step in ensuring that Alameda County’s financial resources do not perpetuate harm.
In November, CAIR welcomed the reported freeze on the delivery of bulldozers to Israel as an “implicit admission” by the Biden Administration that the far-right Netanyahu government is using that equipment in the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
CAIR-SFBA Policy Coordinator Musa Tariq said:
“This is a historic moment for Alameda County, demonstrating the power of community advocacy and the County’s leadership in ethical governance. The decision to divest from Caterpillar sends a clear message that public funds should not support corporations complicit in human rights violations.”
In addition to divesting from Caterpillar, the Board voted to move forward with developing a comprehensive Ethical Investment Policy, recommended by District 5 Supervisor Keith Carson.
This policy will include criteria to exclude “investments in industries, corporations, or governments that perpetuate harm to communities and the planet,” such as fossil fuel extraction, weapons production, and entities involved in war crimes, apartheid, and other severe human rights violations.
Alameda County has a proud legacy of socially responsible investment. In 1985, the County divested from South Africa to protest apartheid, and in 1996, it barred investments in companies doing business with Burma due to human rights abuses.
“This forward-thinking policy positions Alameda County as a leader in socially responsible investing,” added Tariq. “By committing to craft the policy within 90 days and implement it within six months, the County has set an ambitious and commendable timeline.”
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Second Virtual Town Hall on Racism ...
Continued from page 1 to the limitations placed on Black America’s generational wealth through policies of red-lining, redevelopment, and title deeds to this day, based on the idea that no Black or indigenous person is allowed to purchase property or land.
“For this reason, there continue to be impoverished Black communities throughout the nation,” she said.
Yet, advocates insist progress is too slow and more needs to be done.
Samuel Jain, senior attorney at Disability Rights California, told the Post that the CARE program is subjecting people with disabilities to a “coercive process” and threatens conservatorship if someone does not complete their plan in the intended 12 to 24 months.
According to Taizan, the program is completely voluntary.
Even if loved ones or outside emergency services and legal professionals recommend someone to CARE Court, that person can refuse participation.
Jain said that the state has scapegoated people with mental health problems for the problems
He added that people who fall directly under the umbrella of the CARE Court criteria should have a voice in decisions that are being made about them.
Jain suggested that instead of funneling money into a lengthy and unnecessary legal process, the state should focus on prioritizing the building of more affordable housing, providing more resources for voluntary mental health services, and a quicker system for people to receive muchneeded support.
Taizan told the Post that Alameda County has learned from other counties that have already implemented the CARE court program: San Francisco, Orange, San Diego and Riverside Counties.
The process has been extremely difficult, as it’s intended to serve the highest needs population, he said.
Taizan said that not many people have graduated from the CARE program in the last year, but a learning curve is expected, and “our major takeaway is that this will take time” and “a lot of collaboration.”
“He can’t prove it, nor has there been any other proof offered, which tells me that he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said the 76-year-old lawmaker, who maintained that he and the
When asked by the Grio if he is concerned about his physical safety amid continued public ridicule from Trump, whose supporters have already proven to be violent, Rep. Thompson said, “I think every member of Congress here has to have some degree of concern, because you just never know.”
This story is based on report from the Grio. tion.
Former City Council Staffer Renia
Webb
to Run in Mayoral Election
By Kiley Russell Bay City News
Renia Webb, a former staffer for ousted Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, has filed papers with the city about her intention to run in the election to replace her.
Webb filed the paperwork in November and Monday released a statement announcing her candidacy.
“My Oakland roots run deep, with family ties in this area for more than 100 years. I love my hometown and am driven to serve our community,” Webb said. “I’ve raised four amazing children here and their safety, well-being, and overall quality of life fuels me everyday. Like my children’s potential, the potential of Oakland is limitless. And I look forward to making our city a top destination for families, businesses, tourists, and more.”
Webb served as Thao’s chief of staff while Thao was a member of the City Council and currently
works as an educator at Crocker Highlands Elementary School, according to her LinkedIn profile.
A gun safety advocate, Webb works with the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America at the state level to push for gun safety legislation.
She says her priorities include public health, safety, affordable housing, education, economic revitalization and fiscal responsibility.
The election to replace Thao is expected to be held on April 15.
She was on the losing end of a Nov. 5 recall election, with 60.62% of voters marking ballots in favor of her removal.
In addition to Webb, six other people have thrown their hat into the mayoral election ring so far, according to the city’s election website, including former Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor, Tyron Jordan, Mindy Pechenuk, Fabian Robinson, Elizabeth Swaney and Larry Lionel Young Jr.
“The structures of racism from red-lining to lack of access to capital continue to restrict Black (people) in America; this structural racism kind of finishes you before you even start,” added Parham. “The lack of generational wealth has left our communities at a disadvantage because with generational wealth we’d have the resources to police our own communities and build further.”
Nguyen, Clinton Park site director for Oakland Trybe, spoke about his parents’ journey as immigrants from Vietnam, the challenges of being teased in school, and how his troubled brother was murdered.
Nguyen has turned his personal tragedies into triumph, pivoting from a career as an eight-year business owner in the Little Saigon community of East Oakland, to now a non-profit leader transforming and reclaiming the community’s Clinton Park at International Boulevard and Sixth Street.
“A park represents community, and between the pandemic, illegal activities, and homelessness, the park needed to be re-established, and we now offer programming for the youth and extended community,” he said.
Throughout the conversation, Parham referred to a press conference hosted at Oakstop in August where NBA icons Jason Kidd and Jaylen Brown pledged to raise $5 billion for Black businesses in the nation.
“Inspired by Black Wall Street, Jaylen began with Boston and created the Boston Xchange because he became aware of a statistic noting that white households in Boston average $250,000 and Black households averaged a mere $8 in wealth,” Parham said.
In Oakland, he established the Oakland Xchange to expand the movement right at Oakstop, he said.
Thomas encouraged viewers to connect with her guests and tap into the dozens of organizations making a change. “I encourage you to join your chambers of commerce, your community-based organizations, non-profits, and churches to uplift and rebuild the community,” she said.
Thomas also suggested that the NAACP as a great start. “The Oakland chapter’s resolution developed around racism was adopted by the national NAACP, and at the Afrotech Conference, national NAACP leader Derrick Johnson announced a $200 million fund to support Black funders.”
Thomas informed viewers of the California vs. Hate initiative, a non-emergency hate incident and hate-crime reporting system to support individuals and communities targeted for hate.
“Your reports inform the state of where to designate resources and extra support,” said Thomas. For more information, visit PostNewsGroup.com, CAvsHATE.ORG or call 1-833-8-NO-HATE.
“Between Oakstop’s business model of purchasing commercial properties and transforming them into beautiful spaces for community ownership, business space, and special event hubs, and Oakland Trybe’s ability to transform public spaces central to a community and empower our communities, we have solutions,” Thomas said.
CAIR-SFBA Policy Coordinator Musa Tariq.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the special congressional committee investigating President-Elect Donald Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021 mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.
