Gus Newport: A Soldier for Justice
Kathryn Kasch
years old and wheelchair-bound because he had lost a leg in 2021, but my husband remained as active as I had always known him, forever engaged in civil rights and community develop.m.ent work, just as he had been as mayor of Berkeley from 1979 to 1986.
Gus had a busy week ahead of him: on June 16 he was going to be interviewed for a film about his friendship with Malcolm X; on the
following day he was scheduled to fly to Atlanta for a weekend board meeting.
Within a half hour of leaving the house, a San Francisco Fire Department ambulance was called to 8th and Harrison streets because Gus was unconscious. When they arrived at San Francisco General Hospital, Gus’s cell phone, wheelchair and tote bag had all gone miss-
Oakland Students Find Learning and Classroom Disparities in New Report
By Magaly Muñoz
The Oakland-based student program, Energy Convertors, released their yearly report on learning proficiency and classroom management for the 2023-2024 school year. Fellows in the program found that students in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) believed they were proficient in English and math curriculum, when in fact they were not.
Energy Converters fellows sur-
veyed 353 OUSD high school students (1% of all OUSD students) asking questions based on how they felt they were doing in their classes, how teachers were conveying proficiency goals to them, and whether teachers were keeping a conducive classroom environment.
The report, titled “Demanding Proficiency over Pageantry,” found that 3 out of 4 students surveyed believed that they were reading on
By Chanae Pickett
As a natural order of the human condition, we cannot escape death.
Akin to life and living, death and dying are a part of our journey as spiritual beings having a human experience here on Earth. One thing we know for certain is that we will all lose someone we love or someone who loves us. And, yet still, as natural as death is, the pain and sorrow we endure when losing loved ones is beyond compare and often ridden with heaviness, regret, despair, confusion, guilt, and selfblame.
And when our loved ones are taken from us before their predestined time as a result of excessive use of police force, gun violence, homicide, suicide, among other unanticipated traumatic encounters,
our shock, bereavement, and grief reactions become compounded, exacerbated and challenging to weather.
Is it possible to heal from the suffering that comes with grief and loss, which often feels endless, cyclical, and labyrinthine? Is there a way out? A way through grief?
While serving as a Psychiatric and Psychological Care Specialist in the United States Air Force, I evaluated, counseled, and intervened with patients at the Travis Air Force Base who were deemed a danger to themselves and others. These experiences profoundly shaped my understanding of mental health.
Despite my background as a Mental Health Technician, the sudden loss of my younger brother to suicide following our father’s unjustified killing by police while unarmed with his hands up in a church parking lot left me with feelings of professional failure and personal shame. These tragedies forced me to reevaluate my priorities, leading me to focus more on making a genuine difference in grief processing, community building, and communal healing.
Driven by my brother Immanuel aka Apollo’s artistic legacy, ances-
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on 80th Anniversary of D-Day
Washington, D.C. – Representative Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
“80 years ago, one of the largest invasions in historical warfare—and the start to the end of World War II—took place. Today, we look back to the over 2,400 American lives lost on the beaches of Normandy, remember their stories, and honor their immense bravery.
“My father, Lt. Col. Garvin A. Tutt, was a Buffalo soldier in
the 92nd infantry, a racially segregated and Black-only division that was instrumental in the success of Normandy and the Allied advance. Today and every day, I think of him and all of the brave servicemembers who sacrificed for our country, even when our country didn’t love them back.
“D-Day will forever live on in history. May we honor their lives and all who have served by investing in veterans’ health care, economic security, and opportunity when they return home.”
Juneteenth ‘Round the Bay
By Post Staff
Juneteenth is upon us, and it seems that since it achieved status as a federal holiday, the celebration is being held in different places, and where it’s been well established, activities have expanded from one day in length to two or three. Below are just few of the places that will be celebrating. Take your pick!
Oakland:
Established by Hella Creative, the Oakland Museum of California is hosting Hella Juneteenth: The
Cookout. This year’s theme, the cookout, was chosen because of the significance “the cookout” holds in Black culture. Tickets are $10 for people over 12 and you can prepurchase a cookout plate for $25 on the OMCA website.
Day: Wed., June 19
Time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak St.
Price: $10
For more info, go to https://mu-
By Post Staff
The Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) will hold a meeting to announce a faithbased expansion of overnight safe car parking for unhoused families on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. at Williams Chapel Baptist Church located at 1410 10th Avenue in Oakland.
The ICAC President, Rev. Ken Chambers, announced that Williams Chapel, pastored by Rev. Kenneth Anderson, and members of ICAC, has also planned to open an overnight safe car parking program and day center to provide unhoused neighbors and families with wrap-around services.
Rev. Chambers said additional support for the program will also come from Bishop Bob Jackson, Pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church and Pastor Phyllis Scott, head of the Oakland Police Chaplaincy Program.
Chambers said, “ICAC’s goal is to just serve Oakland by helping to make the community surrounding 10th Avenue and International Boulevard both welcoming and safe.”
David Longhurst, a member of Oakland Temple LDS Church and an ICAC board member, said
“We can make the city of Oakland safer, one block at a time, by connecting our community and neighbors.”
Chambers said ICAC has a $450,000 grant commitment from the City of Oakland and a $2.5M grant request has been presented to Nate Miley, President of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors President Nate Miley to cover and expand ICAC’s Safe Car Park Program located at West Side Missionary Baptist Church to additional locations including Center Street Baptist Church, Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church, Corinthians Baptist Church, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Acts Full Gospel Church, and other congregations.
Dr. Ken Chambers said he and ICAC are assisting congregations on how to receive a one-time $5,000 grant. “ICAC has plans for several tiny homes with kitchens, living space and bathrooms that we hope will become available this fall in partnership with the State, County and City of Oakland.”
Chambers is appealing to the public to help with transitioning the unhoused populations into tiny homes or affordable housing. “If you or anyone you know is living out of a car and needs a safe place to park overnight, visit interfaithAC.org, call 510-2396881, or stop by the ICAC hub at 732 Willow Street, Oakland, CA 94607 between the hours of 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.”
ICAC Invites Community to Benefit from Safe Car Park Program Grieving & Growing: A Healing Garden in West Oakland is Helping Bereaved Loved Ones Glow Again
St. en route to the festival grounds at Nicholl Park. Richmond Standard
Lt. Col.
mission is to ‘just serve’ the unhoused and communities in need.” Photo courtesy ICAC. Rev. Chambers says, “ICAC’s mission is to ‘just serve’ the unhoused and communities in need.” Photo courtesy ICAC.
The 2022 Richmond Juneteenth Parade passes through the Juneteenth Freedom Underpass Mural at S. 37th
photo.
Garvin A. Tutt was a Buffalo soldier in the 92nd infantry. Photo courtessy Congresswoman Barbara Lee. iStock image. Rev. Chambers says, “ICAC’s
Continued on page 8 Continued on page 8 Continued on page 8 Continued on page 8 “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18 postnewsgroup.com 61st Year, No. 23 Weekly Edition. June 5 - 11, 2024 Oakland Post DisSan Leandro Interim Police Chief Appointed to Permanent Role ... see page 2 More Segregated Than Deep South: ACLU Releases Report on Calif. Public Schools ... see page 2 Think Beyond the Tie: Five Fun Father’s Day Gift Ideas ... see page 6 OPINION: Will Verdicts Help Black Voters See the Truth? ... see page 7
Courtesy of Chanae Pickett
One year ago, on June 12, 2023, my husband of 35 years was picked up by a van at our house in Oakland.
San Francisco VA Medical Center
new hearing aid.
Newport
88
Kathryn Kasch and Gus Newport. Courtesy photo.
By
It was the last time I saw him alive. The van was owned by Owl Transport, a company used by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It was to take my husband to the
to see about getting a
Eugene “Gus”
was
Think Beyond the Tie: Five Fun Father’s Day Gift Ideas
By StatePoint
Father’s Day is just around the corner and if you’ve given Dad one too many ties in previous years, let this cool and creative gift guide inspire you to think a bit differently this time around:
1. Better Coffee: Is Dad’s coffee or tea always either too hot or too cold? Give him a perpetual Goldilocks “just right” effect with Nextmug, a temperaturecontrolled, self-heating mug that he can use at home or in the workplace. Perfect for busy people, it maintains the contents of the 14-ounce mug to the user’s specified temperature setting, whether that’s warm, (130 degrees F) hot, (140 degrees F) or piping, (150 degrees F).
The Nextmug comes with a docking coaster for easy charging and a spill-resistant lid. The stylish and ergonomically designed mug is available in colors ranging from burgundy to sage to black, so you’ll be
sure to find an option that suits your dad’s style. Visit https:// nextmug.com for more information.
2. Campfires On-the-Go: If Dad loves the great outdoors, ghost stories or s’mores, a portable campfire may be just the thing for him. This totable firepit is made from recycled soy wax and paper for sustainability and is easy to light and put out. Involving a lot less mess and smoke than a traditional campfire, it’s a great addition to any tailgate, backpacking trip or beach or backyard sing-a-long.
3. Pampering: It’s not always acknowledged, but men deserve to be pampered, too. Consider gifting Dad a personal care kit full of top-notch beard oils, colognes, and shaving cream. Not sure where to start? Opt for a subscription box this year. This will allow him to try out different brands and products over time. Then, next year, you can
craft a gift basket based on his favorite selections.
4. Just for Fun: If you opt for an entirely useless object, make sure that it’s one-of-a-kind. Upload your favorite picture of your dad to mycustombobbleheads.com and they’ll deliver a pint-sized, bobblehead version of him to your doorstep. Making hilarious décor for a bookshelf or desk, your dad will be both flattered and amused by this quirky gift.
5. Lifelong Learning: Is Dad a lifelong learner? Support his quest for knowledge with membership to an online education subscription platform. From soft skills like leadership and poetic thinking to hard skills like web development and photography, your dad will have a world of information straight from the experts in the palm of his hands.
L.A. Pilot Program Addressing Asian American Hate Could Be California Model
By McKenzie Jackson California Black Media
Californians who are Asian American or Pacific Islanders (AAPI) were the targets of an escalated number of hate crimes and hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many AAPI people, particularly the elderly, reported being too scared to leave their homes. Others experienced firsthand hateful incidents stemming from deeprooted prejudices and stereotypes — such as verbal or physical assaults in public. Yet, too many of them were hesitant to voice their emotions, according to Yu Wang, an associate marriage and family therapist at the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center in Los Angeles.
“A space for healing is critically needed,” Wang said, also noting that some Asian cultures don’t put a heavy emphasis on sharing feelings and vulnerabilities. “It makes it difficult to talk about experiences related to racism. Also, many of us lack to the language to express emotions, which exacerbates feelings of isolation and fear.”
The Asian/Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Equity Alliance in collaboration with other Asian American community groups recently
Legislature Announces Counter Proposal ... Continued from page 2
housing access and sustaining public services,” said Rivas.
The Democratic Party Budget Committee reviewed the governor’s proposed spending plan to remove various programs and reduce funding for agencies statewide. Newsom’s proposed cuts to public schools across California prompted teachers’ unions to push back with advertisements pressuring the governor to reconsider his budget plans.
The California Teachers
launched the Healing Our People through Engagement (HOPE) pilot program in Los Angeles County geared at healing racial trauma experienced by Asian American community members by providing healing spaces and reducing isolation. Based on the successes of the initiative, supporters and organizers believe the “culturally centered” program could become a model for other cities around the state.
Ethnic Media Services hosted an hourlong Zoom press conference on the last day of May, which was AAPI Heritage Month, to allow HOPE program facilitators and allies the opportunity to provide details of the initiative to the media.
HOPE is a healing space for five distinct Asian American communities — Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Korean — created to make sense of their experiences with racism and recent surges in hate crimes. The psychology of the program is radical healing, a framework that has aided Black people in dealing with years of prejudice-caused trauma. HOPE is funded by a grant from the California Department of Social Services.
More than 11,000 stories of hate
Association argued that public schools could lose billions in the next few years resulting in a loss of teachers and resources in the state.
“This agreement is sound and makes the necessary tough decisions meeting the needs of this critical time, all while maintaining our commitment to strong public schools, investing in desperately needed resources in homelessness and workforce housing, health care access, resources to keep our communities fire safe, key climate investments and more,” said McGuire.
H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance, said that Gov. Newsom agreed to a temporary arrangement with the teachers’ union
Releases Multi-Year Outlook: Modest Budget Deficits to Persist
By California Black Media
The state budget deficit is projected to increase, which will require the Governor and Legislature to make more budget cuts over the next few years, California’s non-partisan Legislature Analyst’s Office (LAO) stated in a report last week.
According to the LAO’s multiyear budget report that makes forecasts about the state’s general fund through the 2027-28 fiscal year, the state’s budget problem is $7 billion higher than expected due to lower revenue and spending estimates.
“Under our office’s revenue and spending projections, and assuming
have been reported to the California-based online resource, Stop AAPI Hate, since 2020.
AAPI Managing Director of Programs Michelle Sewrathan Wong called HOPE vital and said Asian Americans endured episodes of brutality on a scale not seen in generations.
“They were scapegoated by politicians for transmission of COVID-19, targeted for violent physical attacks, made to feel unsafe and unwelcome in their own communities and bullied and ridiculed by neighbors and strangers,” she stated.
HOPE opened healing spaces in Los Angeles County that offer six two-hour sessions conducted in groups by facilitators, who are staff from partner community organizations.
DePaul University Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Anne Saw said the radical healing framework promotes healing over coping.
“Healing may be lifelong because racism is ongoing, yet a program like ours reminds people of the cultural, community, family, and individual strengths they have to resist racism,” Saw said. We believe that healing in a group can be more powerful than an individual engaging in healing on their own because of the support they receive.”
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
to delay spending cuts. The parties agreed to suspend Proposition 98, a law that guarantees an annual minimum amount of funding for public schools.
“The result of that is an agreement we can both support, and that advances two shared goals: avoid multi-billiondollar cuts to schools in the near term and provide greater predictability for school budgets in the long term,” said Palmer.
The State Senate held budget hearings this week to finalize the plan due by June 15. By state law, once the budget plan is passed, the Governor will have to finalize it by July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
be as high as $73 billion, requiring the Legislature to consider harsh budget buts that can help the state economy recover long-term. However, the LAO’s spending estimates are lower than that of the state’s Department of Finance.
“The main reason that our estimates of the state’s operating deficits are slightly smaller than the administration’s is that our estimate of General Fund spending is lower than the administration’s estimates,” stated the LAO in the multiyear budget report.
the Governor’s May Revision policies are adopted, the budget problem for this year is $7 billion larger,” the report reads. “Put another way, the Legislature would need to take $7 billion in additional budget actions to balance the budget.”
This shortfall requires the Governor to reduce government spending by an additional $7 billion to balance the state’s deficit. However, if the legislature does approve the governor’s May Revisions the budget problems will carry over into the 2025-2026 fiscal year, increasing the existing budget deficit by nearly $10 billion.
California’s budget deficit could
The LAO’s estimates exclude spending on schools and community colleges, and lower estimated expenditures for Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Based on the LAO’s estimates, Health programs grow annually by an average of 5.1 percent compared to the Newsom Administration’s estimated 8 percent.
“Our office has little insight into the components of, or assumptions underlying, the administration’s projections in HHS. As a result, we cannot identify the precise source of these differences—or the comparative reliability of our respective estimates — with confidence,” the LAO report stated. Given the projections, the LAO recommends that the Legislature maintain an overall structure similar to the Governor’s May revisions in the final budget package.
postnewsgroup.com THE POST, June 5 - 11, 2024 Page 6
LAO
Shutterstock iStock
This Father’s Day, bring a smile to Dad’s face with gifts that will make his life easier, and more relaxed, interesting, and fun. Prostock-Studio.
Verdicts
Voters
By Emil Guillermo
The news of Trump’s historic 34 guilty verdicts are about a week old.
Has it sunk in that the man who insists on being the Republican nominee for president the former president can now be officially known as CFDT34. If the name sounds like a dangerous radioactive isotope, it is — to our democracy.
CFDT34 is my coinage of a new acronym that we all should adopt. It’s shorthand for “Convicted Felon Donald Trump,” with 34 being the number of criminal counts of guilt.
We need to say CFDT34 aloud as a constant reminder. Too many Americans are in denial. Or just lying.
Especially, CFDT34 himself.
Trump insists it’s all a “fascist” witch hunt, but the verdicts were based on an avalanche of evidence. The defense failed to refute the statements of the National Enquirer’s David Pecker who admitted his role in the Trump campaign to catch, then kill, stories that threatened Trump’s candidacy.
The defense didn’t even at-
tempt to explain Hope Hicks, an ally who delivered the damning testimony that Trump knew about the arrangement to pay off Daniels. Hicks was in tears telling the truth. The defense never countered.
And then there were the checks and invoices and ledger entries, that spelled out the whole scheme. The payments were lies, called “lawyer fees” but they really were reimbursements to attorney Michael Cohen who had used his own money to pay off Daniels.
Minor stuff? Not when done with the intent to violate election law. The payoff was intended to influence the election and it became an illegal campaign contribution as well.
And the hero is New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the African American man who led the prosecution. Bragg got justice for all voters denied the truth in 2016.
Contrast Bragg with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla). the key African Americans lying for CFDT34. Scott and Donalds lack the courage to honor the rule of law. Rigged case, they say. Never should have been prosecuted.
Where was the crime?
All of it baloney.
Prior to the historic verdicts, there was some historic polling.
Black voters were seen as abandoning Democrats, with Biden scoring just 70% of the vote. Four years ago, Biden was at 81%.
CNN called the pre-verdict polling the best results for the GOP among Black voters since Nixon.
The age breakdown is more telling. Black voters ages 50 and up were about 85% for Biden. Those who recalled civil rights battles were holding steady for Democrats.
By California Black Media Staff
By California Black Media
As growing numbers of Insurance companies announce plans to exit California’s insurance market — or cancel customers’ policies — Gov. Gavin Newsom says his administration is taking steps to reverse the trend. Speaking during a news briefing on May 31, Newsom highlighted the plan, which was unveiled as part of a trailer bill on May 28.
Truth? Public Policy Inst. of California Releases Data on Hate Crimes
By California Black Media
Hate crimes against minorities have increased statewide over the last decade with a spike in violent crimes between 2020 and 2022, states a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report.
The recent increase in violent hate crimes is backed by data revealing that victims were targeted based on personal characteristics, including race, ethnicity, and gender. Those violent hate crimes disproportionately affected Black, Latino, and Asian individuals. Incidents of violent hate crimes including assault grew by 791. The number of property-related hate crimes, including vandalism, increased by 314 incidents. In all the incidents reported, 25% of the
Making Progress in Fentanyl Fight ...
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CalGuard Major General Matthew Beevers worked alongside law enforcement partners to tackle the fentanyl crisis in the state.
“The volume of seizures we’re enabling and supporting demonstrates our commitment to denying operating capital to drug cartels and making California safer,” said Beevers.
hate crimes included the use of weapons including knives, handguns, and clubs.
The report stated that violent hate crimes remain underreported. The California Department of Justice is working on plans to invest more money in facilitating the reporting of hate crimes and supporting communities affected most by these incidents.
According to the report between 2019 and 2022, hate crimes targeting Black people tripled, while incidents against Latinos doubled, and attacks against Asians more than tripled in recent years.
“These increases are overwhelmingly driven by violent rather than property crimes,” the report stated.
Before the Senate’s package of bills passed, Gov. Newsom compiled a master plan designed to tackle the growing fentanyl and opioid crisis in California. The master plan provided a framework that addresses drug trafficking, supports overdose prevention efforts, and holds the pharmaceutical industry accountable.
“Illegal fentanyl has no place in our neighborhoods. California is tackling this problem headon by holding drug traffickers ac-
Among Black voters under age 50, a new divide was revealed. A reported average of polls showed young Blacks were 27% for Trump, with Biden at 64%.
Nearly a third of young Blacks were for Trump prior to the verdicts. But what would young Blacks think now? Would they back a person like Trump, a man who comes with racist baggage like the Central Park 5 saga, and is now a convicted felon?
I haven’t seen new data yet. But with Biden and Harris stepping up their attention on the Black community, talking about economics and pocketbook issues, I’d expect a turnaround when young Blacks hear the lies and the overall hypocrisy among the GOP.
About the Author
Emil Guillermo, an awardwinning journalist, and commentator has covered race and politics in Hawaii, California, and Washington, DC. He has worked in newspapers, TV and on radio was host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
In 2022, approximately 75% of all reported hate crimes included violent attacks against Black, Latino, or Asian people.
The state has since passed bills to address current and emerging issues related to hate crimes. The Legislature passed AB 485 in 2020, requiring local law enforcement agencies to post monthly updates of hate crimes online. Legislators passed AB 449 in 2023, a law that requires local law enforcement agencies to report suspected hate crimes and provide information that helps report hate crimes to the state attorney general.
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the “CA vs Hate” campaign, an educational awareness campaign that includes a hotline and online resources for reporting hate crimes. The campaign also provided funds to community-based organizations supporting victims of hate crimes.
“This potential change in reporting behavior, along with increased media attention to the problem, may be partially responsible for the recent uptick in the number of incidents we report on here,” the report stated.
countable and increasing seizures, while at the same time expanding access to substance abuse treatment options and providing lifesaving, affordable reversal medicine to Californians statewide,” said Newsom.
The Newsom administration has also launched an online resource and tools for residents seeking help with prevention and treatment methods for fentanyl and opioid-related substance abuse at Opioids.Ca. Gov
Newsom said the proposal speeds up approvals for rate increases and addresses rising costs resulting from incidents like wildfires. Newsom said, under his plan, the Department of Insurance will be required to decide and respond to rate increase requests within 120 days. The plan also calls for streamlining the process for filing for increases; builds in two 330-deay extensions for finalizing rate changes; and provides room for insurers to appeal decisions.
“We need to stabilize this market,” Newsom said. “We need to
send the right signals.
Proponents, mainly insurance industry representatives like the Personal Insurance Federation of California, are praising the Governor’s actions while consumer advocates warn that the plan is a threat to public intervention rights California’s Prop 103, a 1988 state law adopted to protect state residents from “arbitrary insurance rates and practices.”
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara thanked Newsom for backing his office’s plan.
“To safeguard the integrity of the insurance market – composed of consumers, homeowners, and
Biden Makes Historic Strides in Diversifying Federal Judiciary Newsom Admin Takes Steps to Stabilize
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
President Joe Biden has set a historic precedent by appointing more non-white and female judges to the federal judiciary than any other president in U.S. history, a significant achievement in his first three and a half years in office. According to a published analysis of self-reported data from the Federal Judicial Center, only 13 percent of Biden’s Senate-confirmed judicial appointments are white men.
“I’m particularly proud that these judges reflect the diversity that is our country’s strength, Biden said in February following the confirmation of his 175th judge.
As of mid-May, Biden remains the only president to have appointed more women than men to the federal bench, with over 60 percent of his judges being female. This surpasses the previous record set by former President Barack Obama, who appointed 138 women judges during his eight-year presidency. Biden is on track to surpass this figure as he nears the end of his first term.
The Senate is set to confirm more of Biden’s judicial nominees this week, including Seth Aframe of New Hampshire, who will serve as a Circuit Court Judge on the First Circuit. “This is a big deal,” White House Deputy Communications Director Herbie Ziskend asserted. “These highly qualified individuals have diverse professional backgrounds: they’ve been labor lawyers, civil rights lawyers, public defenders, served in the U.S. military, and more,” Ziskend continued, noting that over 60 percent of women and 60 percent of individuals of color have been
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liver high-quality news coverage that bolsters government, the assessment of new business models; and coverage of the State Capitol dominated the five-hour event.
“It is nothing short of tragic I would say to see what is happening to the journalism industry,” said Tim Foster, Capitol Weekly’s executive director. “I’ve been in and around journalism since 1995 and what we are seeing today with the closing of the journalism industry is unprecedented in my lifetime.”
Glazer spoke for 45 minutes about the future of democracy and the role journalism plays in it. However, the Legislature’s failure to advance SB 1327 and why he
included in Biden’s appointments.
“These men and women will rule on issues critical to fundamental freedoms: reproductive healthcare, the freedom to cast ballots, whether workers have the freedom to unionize, whether children have the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water,” Ziskend declared.
Aframe’s confirmation will mark the 198th judge confirmed under Biden. “This week, the Senate will confirm more of President Biden’s outstanding judicial nominees for lifetime appointments to the federal bench, and we will hit a major milestone along the way,”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated. “Later, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Aframe.”
Schumer praised Aframe as an exceptional addition to the First Circuit, highlighting his unanimous “well-qualified” rating by the American Bar Association and extensive experience in the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Hampshire.
“I expect that the Senate will reach the significant milestone of 200 judges under Senate Democrats and President Biden,” Schumer continued. “That is a figure we can all be proud of and shows how intensely focused we are on filling the bench with jurists who will make our democracy stronger and uphold the rule of law.”
Despite being locked out of a Supreme Court majority, Biden, with the support of the Democratic-majority Senate, has made substantial changes to the federal courts by emphasizing diversity.
The absence of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) due to his corruption
pulled the bill was the main subject.
If SB 1327 should reemerge and be passed as law, fees collected would provide $500 million in employment tax credits to news organizations across California. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to pass the bill with a 4-2 vote on May 16, but Glazer still needed a pathway for two-thirds of the votes required to make it off the Senate floor.
Glazer cited several reasons for why SB 1327 is facing opposition from digital tech giants like Google, Meta, Amazon, and publishers. These include concerns about increased advertising, the perceived threat of government influence, discrimination against larger publishers, a fear that the
business owners – we must fix a system suffering from decades of deferral and delay,” said Lara in a statement. “This measure is one of several parts of a comprehensive plan to enact long-overdue regulatory reforms. The Legislature can do its part to support my reforms by giving this proposal a fair and full consideration, including public input. By enacting this important part of our strategy in statute, the Legislature can help us meet the urgency of the moment. Lara is working on a longer-term strategy to shore up the insurance market that is expected to be released in December.
trial and the opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who has pledged to support only nominees with bipartisan backing, poses challenges for Schumer in advancing more controversial judges. Notably, Biden’s appointments have generally garnered bipartisan support. Many have received voice votes, and some have the support of moderate Republicans like Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who backed a procedural vote on Aframe’s nomination.
The racial and ethnic breakdown of Biden’s judicial appointments reveals a diverse slate: 36 percent white, 27 percent Black, 16 percent Hispanic, 14 percent Asian, 5 percent multi-racial, 1 percent Native American, and 1 percent Middle Eastern.
In contrast, 65 percent of Trump’s judicial appointments were white men. Biden has appointed 125 non-white judges compared to Trump’s 37 and Obama’s 120.
As Biden aims to match Trump’s record of 237 federal judicial appointments, including three Supreme Court justices, his administration will require significant Senate cooperation in the coming months. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022 was a prime example of the conservative influence that Trump’s administration and a Republican-controlled Senate had on the judiciary.
Reflecting on the importance of judicial diversity, Schumer concluded, “We are intensely focused on filling the bench with jurists who will make our democracy stronger and uphold the rule of law.”
mitigation fee could trickle down to smaller news outlets as they expand, and nonprofit newsrooms that don’t pay taxes getting a share.
“Opponents will always sell the ghost in the closet,” Glazers said of entities that oppose the bill. “The news business is facing an existential threat, and they are fighting with each other over who will be the last passenger on the Death Star.”
California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) vice chair Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) said on May 16 at the State Capitol that his biggest concern about SB 1327 was whether it would benefit Ethnic Media, including Black media platforms. “They’re usually left and still need more assistance,” Bradford said.
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iStock photo.
iStock photo.
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iStock
Will
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Fallen Heroes, Rising Stars: A Juneteenth Celebration Through Dance is hosted by the Grown Women Dance Collective in Old Oakland. The Dance Collective will also host community classes from Thursday June 20 through Saturday June 22
Day: Sat. June 22
Time: 3 p.m.
Place: Ninth and Washington streets FREE!
For more info, go to https://www. grownwomendance.org/juneteenth-2022-1
Oakland’s 17th Annual Juneteenth Street Festival will have gospel, rap, R&B, jazz performances, a martial arts demonstration, motorcycle club display, exhibits and more
Day: June 22
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: 3233 Market Street FREE!
Berkeley
The 37th Annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival will feature The Dynamic Miss Faye Carroll, Samba Funk! And Boss Tootie among others.
Day: Sat. June 16
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Place: 3271-3299 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA 94703 FREE!
For more info, go to: https://berkeleyjuneteenth.org/ Vallejo
Vallejo’s 34th Annual Juneteenth Festival and Parade, sponsored by African American Family Reunion Committee, features a Pop-Up Paint Party and art contest for school-aged youth from grades TK to 12 and more. The festival, including entertainment, wares for sale by vendors and information from community resources follows the parade.
Day: Sat. June 15
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Barbara Kodylis Waterfront Green 301 Mare Island Way in Vallejo. FREE!
For more information, go to VallejoJuneteeth.com
Richmond
Enjoy live music, dance performances, cultural displays, local vendors, delicious food, and family-friendly activities throughout the day at the Juneteenth Parade and Festival.
Day: Sat. June 22
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Nicholl Park in Richmond, CA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 3230 Macdonald Ave, Richmond
For more information, go to https:// www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4665/ Richmond-Juneteenth-Festival
San Francisco
San Francisco will hold its ‘Decades’ Juneteenth Festival, marking 48 years of holding the celebration. For eight blocks in the historic Fillmore District, something will be going on, from food, to music to fun!
Day: Sat. June 15
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: On Fillmore Street from Geary Boulevard to Fulton Street. FREE For more info, go to https://juneteenth-sf.org/
Marin: Marin City will hold its Eighth Annual Juneteenth Festival. This year’s theme is Umoja wa Jumuiy,
meaning ‘Communities United. According to the web site, the festival “highlights local vendors and small businesses who come together in an African Marketplace.”
Supervised childcare is provided in a gated playground. A jumping tent, face painting, arts and crafts, and horse rides.
Date: Sat. June 22
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Rocky Graham Park, 830 Drake Ave., Marin City, 94965 FREE! VIP tickets are available for meal voucher, waited service & valet parking, go to https://juneteenthcommunityfestival.info/ola/ services/vip-ticket-to-the-festival.
For more info, call 415-299-7571, or go to https://juneteenthcommunityfestival.info/
San Rafael’s first Juneteenth will be hosted by Christ Presbyterian Church. The church “invites Marin County to celebrate and remember the contributions of African Americans who advanced the development of Marin County.”
Day: Sat., June 15
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Christ Presbyterian Church 620 Del Ganado Road San Rafael, CA FREE!
For more information, go to https://www.cpcinterralinda.org/ juneteenth
Mill Valley will hold a Juneteenth featuring, food, music, and fun including a basketball tournament.
Day: Sat. June 15
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Mount Tamalpais High School
700 Miller Ave. Mill Valley FREE!
For more info, go to: https://www. cityofmillvalley.org/Calendar.asp x?EID=2464&month=6&year=2
024&day=1&calType=0 South County
Hayward
Hayward’s Juneteenth will feature a Blues Festival!
Day: Sat. June 22
Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Hayward Heritage Plaza 835 C St., Hayward
For more info, go to https://www. juneteenthhayward.com/ San Leandro
Join us for a Juneteenth Holiday celebration with a presentation by Chef Wanda Blake, of Wanda’s Cooking. Delve into the rich culinary traditions tied to this meaningful holiday while enjoying light refreshments. Discover the stories behind the flavors and celebrate the spirit of Juneteenth!
Day: Tues. June 18
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Place: San Leandro Public Library
300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro
For more info, https://www. sanleandro.org/CivicAlerts. aspx?AID=215
Stockton
The San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation will hold its 48th annual event with the theme: Love, Respect, Honor. It will feature community awards, health, education, and history expos; free Father’s Day photos; small business assistance; food and merchant vendors, food and exercise demonstrations.
Day: Sat. June 15
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Weber Point Events Center
221 North Center St. Stockton 95202 FREE! Reserve a spot at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/san-joaquin-juneteenth-foundation-incpresents-2024-stockton-juneteenth-tickets-907998837967
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tral guidance, and our shared grief, my family and I founded the Long Live Love Foundation in West Oakland’s “Ghost Town” on June 13, 2020, to honor our dearly departed.
For, the love we hold for our ancestors lives long and for all time. Using my brother’s music and message of love as guiding principles, our missions are to offer a safe supportive communal healing space for those coping with loss and to empower survivors through indigenous, holistic and alternative restorative tribal ministry practices and vital resources.
One of our cornerstone projects is our Long Live Love Healing Garden. A sanctuary for healing, this serene space hosts wellness weekends, drum circles, yoga, and various events, offering solace and respite for those navigating grief and celebrating life.
This year I’ll be the Master of Ceremonies for our much-anticipated 5th Annual Apollo Carter
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ing. An enterprising social worker Googled Gus and found a phone number for his daughter in Atlanta; she called her brother in Oakland, and he immediately called me.
The next morning, I called Owl; they said they were investigating and had notified the VA, but the VA never called the family. I was able to reach Gus’s VA doctor, who works primarily at UCSF, and she told me to call the Patient Advocate number, but they never called me back.
The doctors at the hospital determined that Gus had suffered a severe neck and spinal injury and that if he ever regained consciousness, he would be a permanent quadriplegic. On June 17, we decided to let him go. The VA doctor helped me convince the San Francisco Medical Examiner to carry out an autopsy, which was finally done on June 30, and it confirmed that Gus’s injuries were the result of somehow falling backward in the van.
Three weeks after the accident, someone finally called me from the Veterans Transportation Service office in San Francisco — but he would not tell me anything about what they thought happened in the van, though he said they were working to make sure this never happens again. They had never looked for a second phone number to reach the family and continued to call Gus’s missing cell phone after he died.
In July 2023 the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Owl in San Francisco Superior Court, and we are waiting for a trial date to be set. In December 2023, the Chronicle ran an investigative article about the poor billing system for the SFFD ambulances, and sure enough, when I asked our lawyers if they had seen a bill, they showed me an invoice “addressed” to “Eugene Doe, Homeless, San Francisco, CA 94107” — adding insult to injury, even though the driver had Gus’s name and address on his log sheet since he had just picked him up.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee made some inquiries to the VA on our behalf, and in February, eight months after the accident, an undersecretary of the VA called me — but only to offer me his condolences. He still said nothing about what their investigation had revealed. After I asked him some questions, he said they are still using Owl because they have not been able to find another company to serve the Oakland area — more discouraging news.
And in September 2023 our attorney filed a claim for wrongful death with the VA, but when he called the Office of the General Counsel in February, he learned that the claim had been received but had never been downloaded into their system, let alone assigned to a claim agent!
Gus was drafted into the Army in 1956 and was sent from his hometown of Rochester, NY, to
Legacy Weekend on June 8 and 9 in which performers and artists from all walks of life unite for a celebratory weekend overflowing with music, poetry, spoken word, song, dance, and other performing arts. Our Open Mic Stage is a magnet for talented artists eager to express themselves, their hearts, and their spirits, beckoning them to dazzle the community with their unique gifts.
RonKat Spearman of Parliament Funkadelic will be blessing our stage on Sunday, June 9th, as well as other local bands. We’ll be spreading the joy further by gifting the community with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables courtesy of Oasis Community Farm. It’s a celebration of talent, community, and wholesome goodness! To buy a ticket, sign up to perform, donate, join us in our mission, and learn more about our work and how you can support our cause, visit us at longlivelovefoundation.com.
About the Author Chanae Pickett is co-founder of the Long Live Love Foundation in West Oakland.
Fort Knox, KY, giving him his first exposure to racist Jim Crow rules in Indiana and Kentucky. From there he was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, where he worked in intelligence and logistics and played football for the base team, injuring his right knee — “playing football for my country,” he said. He also uncovered corruption among American officers who were skimming money from payments to German civilian workers. He threatened to go to the Stars and Stripes newspaper and was abruptly discharged and put on a plane back to the U.S.
Gus was a civil rights and peace activist all his life, starting with protesting police violence against Blacks in Rochester in the 1960s. He came to Berkeley in the 1970s and in the spring of 1979 was drafted by Berkeley Citizens Action to run for mayor. He won that election and was re-elected in 1982 by the biggest plurality in Berkeley history. He challenged unnecessary wars and budget priorities that consistently fund excessive Pentagon spending instead of our domestic needs and security. He supported sanctuary for refugees from Central America, divested from apartheid South Africa, and pioneered in providing domestic benefits for unwed partners.
Countless times in his life, Gus stepped up when his voice was needed. On April 5, 1977, his birthday, a group of protesters in San Francisco began the longest occupation of a federal building in U.S. history, and Gus showed up to support the dozens of disabled activists who were demanding their civil rights. Specifically, they called for implementation of Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which was designed to help returning Vietnam veterans and included language stipulating that no person should be discriminated against on the basis of disability in any program receiving federal assistance — from schools to transportation and public buildings. After 25 days the “504 occupation” succeeded.
When Gus was elected mayor, his administration created the Mayor’s Task Force on Persons with Disabilities, passed ordinances to ensure access to all public meetings and non-discrimination in City hiring and provided funding for programs serving people with disabilities.
Now we are still faced with the task of uncovering the truth of what happened to Gus in the Owl van and seeking justice for our loss. Unfortunately, except for the one doctor, the Veterans Administration has done nothing to answer our questions or help with our plight.
Years ago, I remember Gus’s granddaughter had just learned the Pledge of Allegiance in kindergarten. She was declaiming some of it in the back seat of our car — “with liberty and justice for all” — and she paused. She asked us, “What’s justice?”
Kathryn Kasch is a retired housing planner who was born and raised in Oakland. For more information, go to gusnewport.com.
Disparities
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grade-level and 3 out of 5 students believed they were meeting the grade-level standard in math.
Nearly 75% of those surveyed also said that a teacher has not discussed whether they were reading or understanding math proficiently.
A study conducted by Families in Action (FIA) Oakland showed that in the 2021-22 school year only 36% of students were at grade-level reading proficiency and 26% were proficient in math.
The FIA study also showed that Black and Latino students had the lowest proficiencies in these areas at 12% and 15% respectively.
MarQuis Evans, program manager of Energy Converters, told the Post that their annual reports are based on the experiences and topics that their fellows are encountering at their schools. The students are asked to share how they feel about a particular situation, in this case how well they are doing in the classroom, and then tasked with researching the effects of those subjects in relation to Oakland students.
“A lot of students were voicing that they passed a class but they don’t necessarily know if they understand [the subject],” Evans said.
A goal of Energy Convertors is making sure the kids know that they have to be their biggest advocates in school. Teachers deal with many students over the course of their day so knowing how to ask the right questions about their educational needs is imperative.
Charles Cole, founder of Energy Convertors, said he’s pushing this responsibility onto students and their parents because they are ultimately the ones who have to deal with the consequences if they’re not staying on top of their work.
“No one is coming to save you,” Cole said.
Another finding in the report was that many students, 80% who took the survey, said they were not aware that they were chronically absent. To be considered chroni-
cally absent, a student has to miss 10% of the total school days in the year, which could mean anytime over 18 missing days.
Vulnerable groups in California such as students with disabilities, English-learners, and students of color all have high absentee rates ranging from 25% to 37%, according to the CA School Dashboard. The report recommends that schools should use incentives, like rewards, to push kids into attending their classes. It also states that students should be communicating why they are missing from their classes and what support they might need in order to attend more frequently.
Michelle Coleman, former OUSD administrator and current principal in West Contra Costa, said it’s important for students to be able to express their concerns about their education.
Coleman explained that in her experience it helped to keep all stakeholders informed about what was going on. For example, the school would notify parents after a certain amount of absences and would offer support in cases where resources might help get the student to attend school more often.
She shared that she wished students understood that as much as they are having struggles, teachers are also trying their best to keep kids in line and help them achieve grade-level goals, but it’s hard for them to care more about their education than the student actually cares for.
“I have high expectations, but it’s because I believe in you, and I know you can do it, and I will help you get there, but I need you to help yourself first,” Coleman said.
Coleman stressed that the most important aspect in all this is that the students feel like they are succeeding and the people around them are rooting for them to do so. Educators are setting these kids up to be functioning members of society and to give back to the community the same way they were given opportunities and chances because it ultimately takes a village to raise these students.
postnewsgroup.com THE POST, June 5 - 11, 2024, Page 8
Help Change OPD The Police Commission gives the community the power to change OPD Police Commissioners are community members not police officers or politicians We need you We need committed people to apply to be on the Police Commission The role of Police Commissioner is challenging and rewarding You must be over 18 and live in Oakland and cannot be a police officer or City employee You do not need to have a high school diploma or work history Formerly incarcerated individuals are encouraged to apply Candidates with all levels of experience are encouraged to apply Get Involved To apply go to www oaklandca gov/policecommission Applications are due June 14, 2024 Learn More For more information visit www oaklandca gov/policecommission You can watch videos of past meetings, find out about upcoming meetings, and read Oakland City Code, section 604 (the law that defines the Commission's powers and duties) Questions? Please contact Felicia Verdin City of Oakland at (510) 238-3128 or (510) 593-5616 or via email at fverdin@oaklandca gov Accepting Applications for the Oakland Police Commission Now!
Oakland’s Chef Wanda Blake will host a cooking demonstration on legacy foods at the San Leandro Library on June 19. Courtesy photo.
By Bay City News
By California Black Media
By California Black Media
