Dis California Unveils Historic Monument Honoring Native American History ... see page 2
Do You Know Your Voter Status? ... see page 2
The Legendary Ethel Waters Was an Iconic Trailblazer ... see page 4
For Veterans Day, Rep. Barbara Lee Stresses Health Care ... see page 4
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
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Weekly Edition. Edition. November 15 - 21, 2023
Thao and Lee Disheartened by Baseball Owners’ Decision to Move Oakland A’s Damon Covington (third from right) had been interim fire chief since June. Photo: Jonathan Fitness Jones. firmly believe that commuCity of Oakland Swears in New nity“Iengagement and proactive fire prevention efforts are integral in Fire Chief Damon Covington reducing fire incidents and ensur-
By Michael Hunt Mayor Sheng Thao and Rep. Barbara Lee. File photos. By Post Staff Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee both expressed disappointment with Major League Baseball owners’ unanimous decision to allow the Oakland A’s to move to Las Vegas. Holding out some hope, Thao said “We all know there is a long way to go before shovels in the ground and that there are a number of unresolved issues surrounding
this move. Baseball has a home in Oakland even if the A’s ownership relocates.” Lee also pointed out the significance of losing the team. “It’s incredibly disappointing, but not surprising that a group of billionaire owners supported another billionaire owner’s efforts to line his own pockets at the expense of a passionate community and fan base,” Lee said.
Claudine Wong, Cheryl Fabio, Mia Bonta, and Carrol Fife. At the panel discussion following the screening of “A Rising Tide.” Photo by Magaly Muñoz
Damon Covington, an Oakland firefighter who rose through the ranks to become chief of the Oakland Fire Department was sworn in by Mayor Sheng Thao on Monday. His selection was announced last week when it was decided he would continue the position vacated by former Chief Reginald Freeman who retired in June. “I am thrilled that Chief Covington has accepted this important appointment to become the next Chief of our proud Oakland Fire Department,” said Thao. “Damon Covington has a distinguished professional resume from his 24 years of experience in the fire service, and his personal commitment to the safety of Oaklanders is unparalleled.” After remarks before a small crowd on a grassy area near the ferry terminal in Jack London Square, Covington revealed that a primary concern in leading the 443 Oakland firefighters was to secure their mental health needs which were exacerbated by the 2020 pandemic lockdown. They “didn’t have a pandemic off — we came to work every day as if everything was normal,” the Mercury News reported.
Prior to this appointment, Covington served in an array of capacities over his 24-year career with Oakland Fire, including, firefighter-paramedic, fire engineer, lieutenant of fire, captain of fire, captain of training, battalion chief, special operations chief, deputy fire chief, and most recently interim fire chief. “Chief Covington is a highly experienced, enthusiastic leader, with a deep understanding of the complex public safety needs and emergency preparedness challenges in Oakland,” said City Administrator Jestin Johnson. “His professional experience, vision for the department, and commitment to Oakland aligns perfectly with the qualities we sought in the next fire chief. Mayor Thao and I are eager to work alongside him to create a safer, more resilient city.” Covington’s educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Sonoma State University and a master’s degree in Executive Public Administration from Golden Gate University. He told the Mercury News that when a dream of joining the NBA after completing college dissipated, a voice in his head told him to join the OFD.
ing the well-being of all Oakland residents, businesses and visitors,” said Covington. “As fire chief, I will work tirelessly to protect and enhance the health and safety of our dedicated members, ensure we always have the tools and resources needed to fulfill the mission, and develop data-driven solutions to address the specific safety needs within Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods.” Covington was the president of the Oakland Black Firefighters Association from 2016-2022, and previously served as the chair of the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District, respectively. Additionally, he currently serves as an adjunct professor for Merritt College where he lectures in the undergraduate Fire Science program. Covington moved to the East Bay during his early childhood, graduated from Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland. His son, LaMarr Covington, present at the ceremony, pinned the chief’s badge on him in a touching moment. Michael Hunt is the public information officer for the Oakland Fire Department. The Mercury News is a secondary source for this story.
Special Screening of ‘A Rising Both Sides of Recall Movement Speak Out Tide’ Documentary at Grand Lake Theatre Featured Panel Discussion Including Oakland Elected Officials
By Magaly Muñoz Post Staff
The Grand Lake Theatre hosted a special screening of the homelessness and housing documentary “A Rising Tide,” directed by filmmaker Cheryl Fabio. The Nov. 6 screening was followed by a panel discussion featuring Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) and Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife (District 3). The documentary provides an in-depth look into the experiences and challenging discussions around homelessness and affordable housing in the Bay Area, focusing particularly on Oakland. It
features the perspectives of both experts and families from Alameda County. The film features Ericka Neely, a single mother of two girls, who talks about her struggle with homelessness, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to having her daughters, Ericka had been in and out of foster care and ultimately ended up on the streets where she resorted to selling her body for survival. In the film, Neely recounted her sadness at watching her daughters become shut off from her due to their unstable living conditions. She shares the educational strugContinued on page 8
Under attack, Oakland teachers’ union overwhelmingly upholds position calling for immediate ceasefire Several hundred people, includ-
ing teachers, school staff, students,
parents and community activists showed up at the Oakland Unified School District board meeting on Nov. 8, most of them calling on
the board to pass a resolution to support an immediate ceasefire in
Gaza and end the killing of civil-
Campaign Team Lambastes County for Trying to Undercut Voters’ Choice
Price Campaign Team
The recent efforts to overturn the November 2022 election through the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Charter Ordinance are a blatant undemocratic attack on the voters of Alameda County. This endeavor is primarily funded by individuals who do not reside in our community and who are wealthy real estate developers and tech investors. It is evident that the proponents of the recall did not conduct thorough research, as the Alameda County charter, which can only be amended by the voters, has clear provisions in place to safeguard the integrity of our elections and votes. At a time when ians, when school board President election denial extends as high up as the PresidenMike Hutchinson refused to let tial election, every and all efforts must be taken to them speak and abruptly shut down protect the integrity of our election due processes the meeting as they demanded to be at all times. heard. “The safety of everyone in Alameda County At the start of the meeting, is of paramount importance to DA Pamela Price. Hutchinson announced that a reso- Not yet a year in office, she’s already charged over lution proposed by Boardmember 7,000 cases and nearly 60 murders. These recallers Valarie Bachelor, “Calling for a have built a doom loop narrative based on making Continued on page 8 Continued on page 8
School Board President Shuts Down Meeting Trying to Silence Gaza Ceasefire Protesters
By Ken Epstein
Left, campaign poster for Pamela Price. Right, screenshot from Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) press conference with leader Carl Chan outside of County Administrators Building during an Alameda County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Board of Supervisors Votes Against Change in Recall Election Rules
By Magaly Muñoz Post Staff
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors rejected, by a 3-2 vote, the proposal to place a measure on the March 2024 ballot to change the county’s recall process to match that of the state’s. In October, the board introduced the amendment after Alameda County Counsel Donna Zieglar brought forward that the existing charter is outdated and needs to align with California’s current recall process. The supervisors had originally planned to vote on the matter at their final October meeting but postponed the conversation when it became clear that there was too much confusion about the implications of the measure. They recommended that the county counsel develop a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQ) section about the charter amendment to answer questions that were being raised by the public. The FAQ featured answers to questions about timelines before and after petitions are signed, signature amounts, and an alternate proposal recommendation on who could be subject to a recall. The original item that the board discussed and Continued on page 8
60th Year, No. 44
NCAA May Owe College Athletes up to $1.4 Billion
Judge Claudia Wilken, a senior district judge in the Northern District of California. By Brandon Patterson A federal court ruling by an Oakland-based judge on Nov. 3 could put the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) on the hook for billions of dollars in damages that a lawsuit argues is owed to current and former college athletes for massive profits earned using their names and images. Judge Claudia Wilken, a senior district judge in the Northern District of California, and based in the Oakland Courthouse, granted class-action status in the damages portion of a lawsuit filed against the NCAA and major college sports conferences by three current and former athletes seeking money they argue they are owed. The decision to allow classaction proceedings means that the court will treat all current and former college athletes with circumstances like the three main plaintiffs as a “class” that will also be entitled to damages from the NCAA if the plaintiffs’ lawsuit is successful. Nearly 6,300 football and men’s basketball players, 850 women’s basketball players, and another 7,400 athletes in other sports could consequently be entitled to more than $1.4 billion in damages, according to USA Today. In 2021, after years of advocacy by college athletes, the NCAA lifted a ban that barred players from cashing in on their own fames. The current lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s remaining restrictions on the issue and seeks damages from the NCAA for money the plaintiffs argue they could have earned previously had the original ban not been in place – including seeking a share of the televisionrights money and social media earnings that the NCAA brought in, according to the lawsuit. If the lawsuit is successful, most of the money would be shared between football and men’s and women’s basketball players who received a full athletic scholarship and who play or have played in games for a Power Five conference school since June 2016, according to USA Today. The NCAA and major sports conference would also have to share with college players the profits they Continued on page 8