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San Francisco Concert in Honor of Women ... see page 8
Annual Black Caucus MLK Jr. Breakfast Uplifts Haircare Heiress Cheryl Morrow Leads Fight to King’s Legacy ... see page 2 Defend Industry Against Lawsuit ... see page 4
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Educational Journey: From Childhood to College ... see page 7
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
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61st Year, No. 3
Weekly Edition. Edition. January 17 - 23, 2024
Anti-Recall Rally Outside City Hall Supports Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao
City Council Commits to Adopting Policies to Protect and Enhance Geoffrey’s Inner Circle and the Black Arts District Photo: iStock photo image.
Geoffrey Pete, owner of Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, at Oakland City Hall. Photo by Jonathan ‘Fitness’ Jones. By Ken Epstein
The Oakland City Council adopted a motion this week potentially resolving the ongoing fight between the many backers of Geoffrey’s Inner Circle and San Francisco-based Tidewater Capital’s proposed 40-story luxury apartment tower, which city planning staff greenlighted to be built inches away from the Geoffrey’s venue in what has been designated the downtown Black Arts Movement and Business District. Proposed by Councilmember Carroll Fife and seconded by Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, the city council unanimously approved a scheduling motion to place the matter on the Feb. 27 meeting agenda of the council’s Community and Economic Development (CED) committee, pledging to write new policies to strengthen the Black Arts district and ensure the longterm viability of Geoffrey’s Inner
Circle, named after its owner, Geoffrey Pete. Speaking at Tuesday meeting, Mr. Pete withdrew his appeal challenging the planning commission’s approval of the Tidewater project and thanked his many community backers for their tenacious and vocal support. “We have entered into an agreement with the City of Oakland in which we have decided to withdraw our appeal,” he said. “This was an unprecedented appeal … against the unjust decision by the city planners and the planning commission of the City of Oakland.” Cautiously optimistic, he said “It is our sincere hope (that) making good on this agreement … your supportive efforts will not be in vain.” He emphasized this resolution could not have been achieved without the many community members who raised their voices to support him and his club.
“Thank you for your seemingly undying support,” he said. “You have revitalized our community in one fell swoop … I never knew you could have the kind of impact you’ve had on this situation.” Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he said, “A man is a fool if he doesn’t realize that his wealth is a part of the commonwealth. No matter where you are, somebody helped you get there. Thank you for helping us get there.” Councilmember Fife introduced the scheduling motion, which was worked out in discussions with community members prior to the meeting. “Thank you, Mr. Pete. You’ve had an amazing amount of patience and also been a teacher and a leader throughout this entire endeavor,” she said, emphasizing that she has pledged to do what it takes to strengthen the Black Arts district. Continued on page 8
Oakland Will Revive ‘Ceasefire’ Program After Audit Reports Oakland civil rights attorney Walter Riley addresses the press at anti-recall rally with supporters of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Show Slowing the outside Oakland City Hall. Photo by Carla Thomas. tor of Pathways to Peace says $4.5 By Carla Thomas Violence million “to recall the mayor is ab-
By Magaly Muñoz
Oakland City Council held a meeting Tuesday evening to discuss an audit report of an abandoned city program that helped lower gun violence and is now being reinstated. The program, called Ceasefire, was implemented in 2012. During the years that followed, it was credited for a 42% drop in murders in the city, from 2012 to 2017. In 2020, however, it was disbanded after the COVID-19 pandemic began, and homicides started to rise. Mayor Sheng Thao requested the audit in 2023 to assess Ceasefire’s impact on the city. “Operation Ceasefire is a critical component of my comprehensive community safety strategy. Ceasefire is an evidence-based strategy that achieved success in reducing shootings, homicides, recidivism and victimization for those at highest risk,” Thao said in a statement. The report gave numerous recomContinued on page 8
Bearing “Defend Democracy” signs on the steps of Oakland’s City Hall, about 40 people convened Tuesday in support of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. The group responded in opposition to a growing movement to recall her. The mayor has been under considerable scrutiny after firing the city’s police chief, LeRonne Armstrong, and forfeiting millions of dollars in grant funding for the city by missing deadlines in 2023. Thao is also being blamed for the rise in theft and vandalism plaguing small businesses, leading many business owners to flee Oakland for safer locations or closing all together. The recall is projected to cost the City of Oakland $4.5 million, an amount many feel would impact the city’s ability to fund much needed services. Saabir Lockett, executive direc-
surd — $4.5 million should be reinvested in our people. “We are in a budget crisis already,” Lockett continued. “We need to continue the work that has been done; public safety support, enhancements to the 911 system, and tech investments.” According to him, the recall efforts against Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price will cost the region $10 million. “We are going to lose money. This is ridiculous. This takes money and resources away from the people that really need it,” Lockett said. Lockett also led rally supporters in chanting, “Stop using our pain for political gain.” According to one Thao supporter, the mayor inherited many of the issues Oakland faces from the previous administration and Continued on page 8
Republican Votes Are Threatening American Democracy Photo: iStock photo image.
2024 Primary Election Candidates for Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 5
Dr. Rodney Smith and Rabbi Mark Bloom. Photos courtesy of FAME Oakland.
FAME Oakland Observes Fire Disaster Anniversary with Photo: iStock photo image. know that white Americans By Magaly Muñoz Ben Bartlett is a current memCOMMENTARY world absolutely love Donald Trump. No ber of the Berkeley City Council Gospel Artist Zacardi Cortez By Emil Guillermo Nine candidates have filed to ifs, ands or buts. representing District 3, which
By Post Staff
Photo Caption: Dr. Rodney Smith and Rabbi Mark Bloom. Photos courtesy of FAME Oakland. A year after a fire destroyed its edifice, First AME Church of Oakland (FAME) will commemorate that tragic event with a three-day weekend of praise and worship. FAME, the East Bay’s oldest operating Black Church, will honor its 150-year history and officially launch the church’s vision for the future. Themed “Up From the Ashes,” the commemoration will be a three-day celebration of service, praise and gratefulness from Feb. 17 to 19. “I have always believed that this
was an opportunity to build back bigger and better, and to embrace FAME’s rich legacy of service and spiritual empowerment in Oakland,” said the Rev. Dr. Rodney Smith, Senior Pastor of FAME. I am overwhelmingly proud of FAME’s resilience and steadfastness to lean on God in this season.” On Feb. 17, FAME will host a health-focused Community Day at Prescott Elementary featuring award-winning actor Delroy Lindo, local radio personality Cuzzin Dre and other special guests. On Sunday, Feb.18, there will be a commemorative worship service featuring guest preacher Rev. Greg Hunter (Olivet Oakland) to mark the last service before the fire. At 7 p.m., the weekend will conContinued on page 8
In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We needed to know the blunt truth. The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real. And to save it will require all hands on deck. It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a selfcancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening. That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the
No man is above the law? To the majority of his supporters, it seems Trump is. It’s an anti-democracy loyalty that has spread like a political virus. No matter what he does, Trump’s their guy. Trump received 51% of caucus-goers votes to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 21.2%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who got 19.1%. The Asian flash in the pan Vivek Ramaswamy finished way behind and dropped out. Perhaps to get in the VP line. Don’t count on it. According to CNN’s entrance polls, when caucus-goers were asked if they were a part of the “MAGA movement,” nearly half — 46% — said yes. More revealing: “Do you think Biden legitimately won in 2020?” Continued on page 8
run for the Alameda County District 5 Board of Supervisors seat in the March 2024 primary election race to replace current chair Keith Carson who announced his retirement in December. Carson has held the Board position for over 30 years and initially intended to run for re-election but later expressed in a statement that it was time for him to move on from the job. It didn’t take long for candidates to announce their interest in the D5 seat representing Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and West Oakland, North Oakland, Rockridge, Grand Lake, and portions of the Fruitvale, Manzanita and Dimond District neighborhoods. Here are the candidates for Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 5:
mainly includes South Berkeley. He was first elected in 2016 and won a second term in 2020. Bartlett states on his campaign website that his priorities will be leading the way on affordable housing, compassionate solutions for homelessness, mental healthcare, gun violence reduction, climate action, and community investment. Nikki Fortunato-Bas is the current Oakland City Council President representing District 2, which includes Eastlake, Grand Lake, San Antonio, Chinatown and Jack London. She was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. While serving on the council, Fortunato-Bas passed the state’s strongest city-level COVID-19 eviction moratorium Continued on page 8