Oakland Post, week of April 19 - 25, 2023

Oakland Post

“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18 postnewsgroup.com

No. 16 Weekly Edition. April 19 - 25, 2023

City Blocks Holy Names Development Plan: Saying it Does Not Fit General Zoning

By Ken Epstein

Prospects are looking better for saving the Holy Names University campus as a center for higher education in Oakland.

At one point, it seemed highly likely that HNU’s leaders would sell the nearly 60-acre campus to a developer of high-end residential housing when the university closes in May. They clearly stated their goal was to earn top dollar for the

property.

The HNU Board of Trustees told the public they had reached out to other post-secondary institutions but found no interest in coming to Oakland. They also said that they were saddled with $50 million debt, and their creditor was aggressively forcing them into the sale.

Now, however, several educational institutions have come

Town Parade Celebrates Oakland High and Oakland Tech Basketball Champions

Story inside on page 3

forward with proposals to establish programs at the site; HNU’s creditor says it is committed to work with Oakland to help save the property as a home for higher education; and students, faculty, community, and city leaders are mobilizing to save the campus.

Additionally, HNU’s plan for exclusive housing in the Oakland Hills has hit a roadblock with the

Continued on page 10

Oakland Teachers Take Strike Vote, Accuse OUSD of Unfair Labor Practices

and LDS Church Working in Unity:

We Can Make a Difference”

The NAACP and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints together hosted a convening of San Francisco leaders in the Black community.

Two dozen of these leaders spent two days, April 14 and 15, 2023, in a collaborative endeavor to begin to identify gaps in services available to the Black community and to identify both the resources that are available, and the additional resources needed. The theme was: Together We Can Make a Difference and the group looks forward to including additional community leaders in further collaboration.

(NAACP) and the Church provided logistics and financial support.

The Filoli staff of the National Trust for Historic Preservation provided the meeting space on the Filoli grounds in Woodside, California. Attendees loved visiting the mansion and the extensive gardens. See www.filoli.org

and lasting bridges.

next Monday evening.

Armendariz asked members to authorize the unfair labor practic-

es walkout “when it’s necessary.”

“OUSD’s bargaining team has negotiated in bad faith,” he said. “They cancel sessions and give unserious proposals. Unfortunately, this behavior is continuing, and we can’t trust OUSD to come with serious proposals to settle a contract.”

“Our members deserve a livable wage,” he continued. “Our

Continued on page 10

OAACC and PNC Bank Give Keys to Acquiring Business Loans

The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce in alliance with Sponsor PNC bank hosted a workshop for the public on Safeguarding Your Business at the recently opened African American-owned lounge Kinfolz Coffee and Wine Bar located at 1951 Telegraph Ave. in downtown Oakland.

PNC Bank’s Executive Management staff held a roundtable discussion and engaged in direct dialogue with the attendees. The PNC managers shared some of the finance industry’s best practices on how to increase one’s credit scores for loans applications. The roundtable forum was moderated by OAACC board member Chadwick Spell

The invitation list and the agenda for the convening came from the San Francisco Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Facilitators for the work accomplished were Veronica Shepard and Dr. Jonathan Butler from the NAACP and Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt from the Church. Reverend Dr. Amos Brown pre-recorded his welcoming remarks and Elder Gerrit Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles joined the group for dinner on Friday and spoke to the convening about each of us having a story in our family history and how each of us is writing our own story today as we build strong

Afterward, Elder Corbitt shared how much he appreciated meeting with this amazing group of leaders from San Francisco’s Black community. He was impressed with the spirit he felt and the commitment to future collaboration to address the trauma and challenges of Blacks in the area. “It is a joy to be working with dedicated and wise community leaders from the NAACP and the larger Black community in San Francisco. This is a very meaningful and lasting friendship.”

Everyone agreed that the group made significant progress. More progress is needed. The NAACP, the Church, and the agencies represented at the convening look forward to the next steps of progress – Together We Can Make a Difference.

Some members of Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (l-r):

Guns Don’t Kill People, But People Pull the Triggers

By Richard Johnson

When I heard that the Oakland Post was publishing a notice of a rally for D.A. Pamela Price at the Alameda County Courthouse Sunday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m. I told the publisher that I would invite some members of our newly formed organization, “Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back,” to attend the rally to show that we want to help rebuild trust and repair some of the harm that we caused

to crime victims.

I plan to speak to as many people as possible that it is time for us to tell others, especially our youth, to lay down their guns and roll up their sleeves to work for positive change.

Given the recent upsurge in gun violence and random shootings, I have written this column for us to understand the dangers and costs associated with the proliferation of guns and why we must do some-

thing about it.

“Guns don’t kill people; people kill people,” is a slogan by the National Rifle Association. This statement seems self-serving for those who wish to pass the buck and not deal with reality: Guns are the tools that kill people, but it’s people who pull the triggers.

People kill for various reasons: mental health, hatred, gangs, drugs, or domestic violence, but

Continued on page 10

Aerial shot of Holy Names University campus. File photo.

Pictured l-r: Cathy Adams President OAACC, Christian Dean Business Mgr., Dhaval Shah Business Banking Mgr, Megan Schoettmer Regional President

NAACP

“Together

Oakland Education Association (OEA) bargaining team members at recent teacher rally. Photo by Ken Epstein.

Photo by JonathanFitnessJones

Lorenzo Dadisi Benton, Terry Samaki Benton, Crystal Makini Owens, Elmo Hamin Dill, Rafiki, Minister KingX, Richard Wembe Johnson, Sun Ra, and Paul Sangu Jones is seated.

Photo by Jonathan ‘Fitness’ Jones.

Nonprofit Marketing... Page 2

Sandré Swanson... Page 3

Pamela Price Rally... Page 3

Honoring Jack Chandra Naidu.. Page 10

OCCUR & The SF Foundation FAITHS Program Present: Essentials of Nonprofit Marketing & Communications

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, OCCUR & The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program present the third training in the A Model Built On Faith 2023 Impact Series: Essentials of Nonprofit and Faith-based Marketing and Communications - How to Boost Your Organization’s Profile, Impact, & Funding Prospects.

This training is being held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST via Zoom.

“It is not unusual for people who are responsible for the success of nonprofits and faith-based orga-

nizations to sometimes overlook marketing and communications,” says presenter Lori Shepherd, award-winning communications and public relations strategist and owner of 25SecondsPR. “But the fact is that using marketing and communication tools will be a game changer for communicating more effectively because storytelling is a vital strategy.”

Shepherd explains that developing relevant narratives through storytelling is crucial for organizations and nonprofits to be un-

Gov. Newsom and Advocates at Impasse Over Funding for Black Students’ Education

derstood and effective, especially if the goal is to highlight their impacts to funders, customers, and the community. This training offers an opportunity for leaders to learn what storytelling is, provide ways to identify their organization’s stories, and create a dynamic, relevant narrative that grabs the attention of people who need their services, organizations who want to partner with them, and funders ready to invest in their good work.

Participants will also learn how effectively to use powerful tools,

such as their website, social media, blogs, ChatGPT, newsletters, and vivid images to increase awareness of an organization’s impact.

“There’s a story being told about who you are and what you do,”

Shepherd says, “The question is, ‘Who’s telling your story?’ This is the essence of this important workshop. All leaders who work within a nonprofit or faith-based organization — you’ll definitely want to attend!”

Learning objectives:

• The importance of telling your own story

Strategies for using the right platforms

• What a website says about your organization (its priorities and impact)

• How to identify the right social media to communicate with key stakeholders

• How blogging can attract collaborative partners and funders

• and more!

Date: April 27, 2023

Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. PST

Location: Virtual training, Zoom

Meeting ID: 861 4945 3331

To Register for the Event: Visit AModelBuiltOnFaith.org

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media

Last week, at the invitation of the Black in School Coalition (BISC), over 2,500 K-12 students, parents, education advocates, and civil rights leaders marched to the California State Capitol to demand increased funding for Black students in the state’s public schools.

BISC is a statewide advocacy association consisting of 17 organizations from all parts of the education community, including teachers, administrators, local school districts and county board of education trustees, parents, civil rights, and faith groups.

The BISC marchers were calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature to not move forward with the “Equity Multiplier” proposed in the governor’s Education Budget, which is supposed to be a substitute for Assembly Bill (AB) 2774 authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D – La Mesa).

AB 2774 would have guaranteed funding for California’s lowest performing group, Black students, but advocates say, Newsom’s proposal falls short of that goal.

Because Newsom raised concerns that targeting funds to a specific group of students would violate Prop 209, which prevents preferential treatment based on race, Weber withdrew AB 2774. In exchange, Newsom agreed to increase funding for Black students under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in the 2023 budget.

The LCFF is a state law that provides funding to local school districts based on the needs of their students. California’s highest-needs student populations receiving supplemental funding for additional support are English Language Learners, low-income students, and children in foster care or homeless youth. However, despite chronic underperformance, Black students are not identified as a high-needs population for funding.

According to state data, in the 2021-22 academic year, 30% of California’s Black students met English standards and 15% met

math standards, compared to 61% and 48% of White students meeting reading and math standards, respectively.

The equity multiplier proposal provides $300 million in ongoing Proposition 98 funding to the LCFF to accelerate gains in closing opportunity and outcome gaps. The funds are allocated to school districts with schools serving high concentrations of students eligible for free meals.

The equity multiplier is part of Newsom’s plan to overhaul how the state can hold districts and schools accountable for student performance, with particular at-

low-income schools, BISC has developed an alternative plan to the Equity Multiplier. It proposes additional funding for any group not already funded that scores below the state average on any two metrics on the California School Dashboard. Based on this year’s dashboard results, Black and Native American students would qualify. Because students who have received LCFF funding have shown progress and improved outcomes due to concentrated resources aimed at their improvement, BISC’s funding alternative intentionally provides Black students

By McKenzie Jackson California Black Media

Californians enrolled in MediCal should keep an eye out for a yellow envelope in their mailbox over the next 14 months.

The Medi-Cal eligibility of over 15.4 million Golden State residents is under review for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

If a Medi-Cal beneficiary does receive the yellow envelope, they must provide their current contact information to health care officials as soon as possible to retain their Medi-Cal coverage, noted California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Assistant Deputy Director Yingjia Huang.

“It is critical that they do it by the due date that is on the packet that will come,” she said. “If that is not completed by the due date, there is a possibility that you will lose your coverage from MediCal.”

by their states’ health department.

According to DHCS figures, 1,066,215 African Americans in California have Medi-Cal. Over 2.6 million whites are enrolled in the program, as are 7.4 million Latinos. Over 2.8 million people who did not provide a race or ethnicity are insured by Medi-Cal and the number of Asian/Pacific Islanders enrolled is over 1.4 million. By ethnicity, people of American Indian/Alaskan Native descent account for the lowest number of enrollees at 55,851.

Children’s Partnership Executive Director Mayra Alvarez said during the online call that it is important for Medi-Cal eligible families to keep coverage.

after getting the packet in the mail.

For example, packets mailed this month have a June 30 due date and packets sent in May must be returned by July 31. The Medi-Cal account holders can provide that info by mail, online, or by calling their county’s Medi-Cal office.

“The easiest way to actually do this is online,” Huang remarked. Medi-Cal members all have different medical renewal months. Around 30% will be automatically renewed. Those people will get a letter in the mail acknowledging that.

tention to racial disparities. According to Newsom’s office, 95% of Black students in California will be impacted because they are enrolled in districts potentially facing new accountability requirements due to low performance.

Dr. Margaret Fortune, president and CEO of the charter school organization Fortune School of Education and the lead voice for BISC says Newsom’s proposal sounds good but does not reflect the intentions of Weber’s bill.

According to an analysis conducted by EdSource, the funding from Newsom’s proposal would benefit about 6% of Black students statewide and they would be receiving an estimated $18 million out of $300 million proposed. Overall, the proposal targets just 5% of students in the state in about 800 schools and the students reached in those schools are mostly Latino.

To address this disparity in funding for Black students not in

the additional support that has benefited high-needs student groups.

Prior to their march on the Capitol, members of the BISC and students provided public comments at the State Assembly’s education budget committee hearing in support of their alternative budget proposal.

Fortune suggested to the committee that the $300 million in the governor’s equity multiplier proposal be directed to student groups who perform below the state average on two or more state indicators on the California school dashboard. This would increase per-student funding from $713 under the governor’s proposal to $3,318 for students in California with the greatest academic needs.

Under the BISC alternative plan, an additional 81,617 Black students and 8,807 Native American students would be eligible for this funding, compared to an additional 22,699 Black students and

Continued on page 9

Huang was one of several speakers featured during an April 12 online media briefing held to notify Medi-Cal members of the health coverage eligibility check, which began on April 1. The media teleconference was organized by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services in partnership with DHCS.

Medi-Cal is California’s version of Medicaid, the federal government-funded health insurance program. Administered in conjunction with states, Medicaid is designed for people with limited incomes. The insurance covers services such as dental care, prescriptions, and medical and preventive care.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, enacted in 2020, directed Medicaid programs nationally to keep everyone enrolled during the pandemic. The annual redetermination process was suspended due to the severity of the worldwide health emergency. However, federal agencies declared the emergency over last month. So now, 80 million Americans are in the process of having their Medicaid eligibility checked

“As we come out of this public health emergency, health insurance coverage and access to care is essential for everyone to be healthy and thrive,” she explained. “Particularly during this pandemic, which has also exacerbated mental health issues for children and youth across the state.”

Alvarez said most of MediCal enrollees are people of color, and nearly 70% of the 5.7 million children that use the service are minorities.

“It is a lifeline for so many in our communities, and it’s a program that continues to be available for the millions enrolled,” she stated. “Even before the pandemic, long standing, structurally racist policies and practices have created an environment wherein families of color experience significantly greater degrees of instability. Instability in employment; instability in income; instability in housing. These economic and housing conditions actually heighten the risk of disruptions in health coverage and in doing so, eliminates the security that comes with having health insurance coverage.”

The packets inside the yellow envelopes Medi-Cal members will receive ask for personal information, including their current phone number, email address, and street address. Recipients must reply by the deadline, which is typically between 45 to 60 days

Also, addressed during the briefing were the steps involved in redetermining a person’s eligibility and how to get information in 19 different languages.

Between two million to three million Californians will lose the health service, while others will become eligible for the first time.

Workers hired to jobs that provide health benefits and people who earn enough income to be shifted from the health coverage to Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange, are among those predicted to lose Medi-Cal.

Huang said the switch from Medi-Cal to Covered California can be automatic.

“It all goes back to the member must have the most updated information with the county Medi-Cal office for that process to happen,” she said.

The Medi-Cal packets are sent to the last known address of beneficiaries. Recipients whose name, phone number, email address or mailing address have changed in the last three years need to update that information at Covered California, BenefitsCal, or My Benefits CalWIN.

Medi-Cal coverage, Alvarez said, can continue for everyone who is eligible.

“Now is the time to make sure we are taking the necessary steps to keep our coverage,” she noted.

“This is especially important for people of color, who are more likely to rely on Medi-Cal for coverage and who are more likely to be at risk of losing that coverage.”

Action Required: Medi-Cal Renewal Process Is Underway Across California

The Black in School Coalition, Fortune School, Elite Public Schools, educators, civil rights leaders and Black Students of California United led the march around the State Capitol in Sacramento. The groups say the Governor’s “Equity Multiplier” fails Black students. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

Lori Shepard, courtesy 25SecondsPR

Funding from Newsom’s alternative would target 5% of students in the state. The students reached would be mostly Latino, while including about 6% of Black students statewide. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

Town Parade Celebrates Oakland High and Oakland Tech Basketball Champions

By Carla Thomas

Oakland’s pride was at an all-time high on Sunday afternoon as the basketball state champions of Oakland High and Oakland Tech paraded from Children’s Fairyland to downtown City Hall at Oscar Grant Plaza April 16. The parade celebrated the girls’ basketball team of Oakland Tech, winners of the state championship for 3 years in a row and Oakland High making history by taking the state championship for the first time.

On a double decker bus, team members danced and waved as they were transported through the city circling Lake Merritt. Onlookers honked and clapped in support as team cheerleaders waved pom poms. Once arriving at Oakland City Hall, the students were greeted with a decorated plaza of arching balloons of white, purple and gold for the Oakland Tech “Lady” Bulldogs and blue and white for the Oakland High Wildcats.

The festivities unfolded in full force on the steps of Oakland City Hall as confetti blew through the air and photographers and videographers captured the excitement and happiness of the students.

Special guest MC’s featured Dr. Delores Thomp-

son, a proud Oakland High graduate who said she also attended summer school at Oakland Tech, and Jonathan Piper II of King Makers of Oakland.

Nancy Skinner said, “I’m especially proud of the Wildcats and Lady Bulldogs. “Will celebrate your success at the state Capitol.”

Mia Bonta led audience with a cheer: “Hold up wait a minute, let us put some O. High in it. Hold up wait a minute, let us put some Oakland Tech in it. Hold up wait a minute, let us put some Oakland in it.”

Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Kyla Johnson Trammell, a self-proclaimed ’80s baby from Oakland expressed her appreciation for the students.

“Congrats to the dynasty at Tech and a dynasty emerging at Oakland High,” said Trammell. “Our students are scholarly athletes and role models on the court and off.”

Oakland Unified School District Board of Education president Mike Hutchinson encouraged the winning team members to reflect and embrace their contributions to Oakland’s legacy. “Thanks for all your hard work,” he said.

Bart Board Director and Congressional seat can-

Former Oakland Assemblymember Sandré Swanson authorized his campaign committee’s filing of paperwork to open his account to run for the new California Senate 7th District.

Following the state’s scheduled 10-year redrawing of election districts, the new California 7th Senate District now includes the cities of Oakland, Alameda, Piedmont, Emeryville, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, East Richmond Heights, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Tara Hills, Pinole, Rodeo, and Hercules and there will be no incumbent.

Asked why he is running for the State Senate, Swanson said,

“I am running for the California State Senate 7th District because I have a record of demonstrated success in improving the quality of life for the people of our district.

“So, I am passionately offering my candidacy because I am qualified to serve my years of experience and ability to pursue my legislative priorities, to maximize resources for the education of our children, to ensure accessible Healthcare, support affordable

didate Lateefah Simon spoke of the state champions as “the best in the state. The very best in the Bay Area … I’m so proud, thankful and humbled to be in the presence of young geniuses and the best ballers in the state,” she said.

Representatives of Oakland City Council addressed the teams at the rally.

District 3 City Councilmember Carroll Fife said, “Today you are my heroes, and you are an example of what Oakland truly is. You are exactly what we all need more of in our city.”

District 4 City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran said, “We need to learn from you and the lessons of teamwork and resilience.”

District 7 Councilmember Treva Reid said she proudly represents deep East Oakland. “Thank you for putting some respect on Oakland, we got your back,” she said.

District 2 City Councilmember Nikki FortunatoBas all congratulated the teams. “When you fight and practice, you win,” she said.

District 1 City Councilmember Dan Kalb was proud that the Oakland Tech Bulldogs were in his district.

Housing, advocate for small business growth and pursue strategies for a clean and safe environment.”

Swanson served in the State Assembly from 2006 to 2012 and represented the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and Piedmont. Swanson continued, saying “I have already represented half of the voters in this new district very successfully for three terms as a member of the Assembly.”

Swanson served as chair of the Labor and Employment Committee in the Assembly and commented, “I never compromised my principles during the hard fights, and sponsored laws that improved the quality of life in our community. I sponsored laws for workplace safety and wage protection. I led efforts to protect pensions for retirement security and have always

District 5 Councilmember Noel Gallo said his three daughters graduated from Oakland High and went on to Stanford University and UC Berkeley. “At one time Oakland was the 5th largest market for athletes in the U.S., so I know these teams will go on to do great things,” he said. “Congrats on your accomplishments.”

Medals & certificates of honor were presented to each team member by California Assemblymember Mia Bonta, California State Senator Nancy Skinner and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. Each athlete posed for a group photo with the elected officials and were cheered on as they returned to their seat.

“You are special on and off the court, and we love you,” said Thao.

Thao also gave a special shout out to event organizer, Oakland Tech Parent Teacher Student Association Vice President Dunia Wilder and the “unsung heroes” behind the scenes. “Thank you Dunia, Myra, Brooklyn, and Vice Mayor Kimberly for making this event happen.”

supported our ongoing equal pay for equal work campaign.”

As a member of the Assembly, Swanson led the Legislature in the passing of critical laws to protect our children from human traffickers.

“I felt it was very important to rescue our children from being victims of this criminal enterprise that is funding crime in our community,” Swanson said. “I would like to continue our work for the safety of our children.”

Swanson stood nearly alone against leadership’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment monies from cities like Oakland and Richmond. Swanson said “It was important for the inner city to fight to keep redevelopment programs for affordable housing, Senior housing and to fight homelessness. I

warned my colleagues in real-time that the elimination of redevelopment funds would lead to more homeless and a growing housing crisis.”

Swanson concluded by saying “History has shown that my hardfought opposition to the elimination of redevelopment funds was right. I would like an opportunity in the Senate to fix our current housing and homeless problems. It is a moral imperative that we solve the growing homeless crisis in our California cities and regional parks.”

More information about the Swanson for State Senate campaign can be found by visiting www.sandreswanson.net

This story courtesy of Sandré Swanson’s campaign committee.

Former Assemblymember Sandré Swanson

Photos by JonathanFitnessJones

Tobacco pollution lays waste to equity and justice.

While California has achieved one of the lowest tobacco use rates in the nation, we still remain Big Tobacco’s largest market in the US. Roughly 12 billion cigarettes out of the six trillion made annually worldwide are sold in California. So, what happens to these products after they’ve been sold?

Unsurprisingly, Big Tobacco claims no responsibility for the tobacco pollution its products generate. They desperately want us to believe that cigarette butts and vapes found on the ground are simply a litter problem caused by the people who use their products, and the solution is as simple as ashcans and beach cleanups.

Because Big Tobacco intentionally and aggressively targets low-income communities and communities of color, a higher number of stores in these areas sell tobacco than in other places. And the more stores that sell tobacco, the higher the level of tobacco pollutionexposure for residents. Tobacco waste particularly builds up around where these products are sold and used.

As more research reveals how Big Tobacco pollutes our environment with its toxic products, it becomes a more urgent and serious community threat. All Californians are harmed by tobacco pollution — whether they use tobacco or not — much like toxic secondhand smoke exposure. And many of those most impacted can’t control the environment they live in, like children, who are especially vulnerable to exposure. Tobacco pollution is associated with elevated levels of lead in children’s blood. It may also load certain neighborhoods with unacceptably high levels of nicotine, benzene, and heavy metals. And these devastating

impacts can last for decades after tobacco products have been sold.

“My dad worked in the fields when he came from Mexico. He has that instinct of … working alongside the land, and I think that’s why I was so inclined towards environmentalism, because it’s really a part of us,” said Alma Leonar-Sanchez, a student intern from the environmental nonprofit Watsonville Wetlands Watch. “When I think about how we are so often targeted [by Big Tobacco], I think, ‘Who is really to blame?’ My dad is a heavy smoker … I think about how it’s not his fault. We are constantly, perpetually under stress and trauma in this society. I don’t blame him.”

Research also shows that tobacco pollution builds up around high schools at different levels depending on the socio-economic makeup of the students at the school. There are a higher number of vape shops closer to schools in communities with more Asian and African American/Black students. Vapes have all the same environmental problems as cigarette butts — plastic pollution and toxic chemicals leaking into the environment — plus, because they’re electronic devices, they leave behind electronic waste, which is notoriously difficult and costly to dispose of.

Communities of color and low-income communities bear an unreasonable burden of health impacts from pollution of all kinds — from substandard housing containing lead and asbestos to industrial pollution and air pollution. Tobacco waste adds to already unacceptable levels of pollution. Bottom line: No one, and no place, is safe from Big Tobacco.

“When I think about how we are so often targeted [by Big Tobacco], I think, ‘Who is really to blame?’ My dad is a heavy smoker… I think about how it’s not his fault. We are constantly, perpetually under stress and trauma in this society. I don’t blame him.”

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APRIL 24-28, 2023

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Youth Leaders Gather for Local My Brother’s Keeper Summit

By Carla Thomas

The My Brother’s Keeper Bay Area Alliance held its inaugural ‘A3- Awareness, Advocacy, and Action’ Youth Summit, on Saturday, March 25, at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara.

“With a commitment to amplifying the voices of our youth, this event provides students with a seat at the table,” said MBK Bay Area Alliance Executive Director Darryl Richardson.

The A3 Youth Summit brought together nearly 400 leaders and future leaders ages 13-21 from four Bay Area counties and Sacra-

mento. Young people took part in a full day of workshops to identify opportunities and challenges they face and prioritize the core outcome areas of the national MBK initiative. A youth-led regional listening session provided space for youth to reimagine and discuss barriers they face in their respective communities.

Breakout sessions focused on leadership development, college career exploration, financial literacy, mental health, and healing.

During the plenary session, the California Deputy State Controller Hasib Emron spoke, express-

ing support for MBK Bay Area Alliance and its positive impact on youth of color. NFL Alumni Donald Strickland was among featured special guests who actively took part in a live, student-led podcast.

A special performance by rapper StunnaMan02 closed the event. Students danced, sang along, and a few joined the entertainer on stage.

MBK Bay Area Alliance serves as the MBK “backbone” organization to advance the mission of My Brother’s Keeper affiliates in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, and Solano County.

Guests at the MBK summit included MBK student panelist Hesten Parrish, California Deputy State Controller Hasib Emran, MBK student panelist Esperanza Oden, MBK student panelist Ubadi Egeonu, 49er Alumni Donald Strickland. Photo by Eileen Gazaway.

Black Students Education...

Continued from page 2

1,806 Native American students under Newsom’s proposal.

Christina Laster, Western Regional Education Director of the National Action Network, stated that not many Black students attend the low-income schools targeted by the governor’s equity multiplier. Instead, she recommends focusing on student groups who perform below the state average on two or more state indicators on the California school dashboard. This would target student groups in the most academic need based on their performance, not their race.

Dr. Ramona Bishop, CEO of ELITE Public Schools, urged the Legislators to consider the BISC alternative proposal for the equity multiplier, which would address the needs of the students who stood behind her as she spoke. She emphasized that all Black students in the state deserve care, attention, and the best efforts of those in power.

Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for the governor said, “We share

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the ultimate goal of the Black in School Coalition to eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps for Black students. However, we continue to believe that our more comprehensive and legally sound proposal is a better option than AB 2774 and its related alternative proposal. We are not alone in that belief — as I believe you have seen, we have the support of members of the CLBC (California Black Legislative Caucus including Weber), CAAASA (California Association of African American Superintendents), the Superintendent of Public Instruction (Tony Thurmond) and many others.”

So BISC and Newsom are at an impasse at what is the best way to direct state funding for educating Black students in the public schools.

BISC wants funding targeting Black students based on their need for support due to poor academic performance, while Newsom’s Equity Multiplier focuses on schools with high concentrations of poverty, impacting about 6% of the state’s Black students.

Newsom is concerned about the legal implications of funding aimed at specific racial groups

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and aims to reform the LCFF to address underperforming racial groups. BISC, on the other hand, is focused solely on Black student funding and not on reforming LCFF.

But the California Department of Justice (DOJ) in a preliminary report it wrote for the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans recommended funding Black students through the state’s funding formula, suggesting that Newsom should not be so concerned about violating Prop 209.

A recent report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office complicates the debate by noting that high-poverty schools already receive targeted funding and recommending that the Legislature not approve funding for the Equity Multiplier.

Until a solution to the impasse is achieved, the state must persist in its efforts to identify and implement the appropriate policy to assist its Black students in improving their academic performance, based on their individual needs rather than their race.

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR MEMORIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

PROJECT NO. 2020.3040 , BID NO. 22-23.009

1. BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for Memorial Park Improvements Project, Project No. 2020.3040 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14th Street, 2nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on May 18, 2023 at which time they will be publicly opened and read.

2. WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of improvements in Memorial Park and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

3. OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at: https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Engineering and Transportation Department at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website. A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive. Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book at the East Bay Blueprint and Supply Co. Contact: (510) 261-2990; https://www.eastbayblueprint.com. Search the public projects planroom to find the subject project.

4. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: All bidders are strongly encouraged to attend mandatory one of two virtual pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. Pre-bid conferences will be held as follows:

Pre-bid meetings will be held via zoom. Pre-bid conferences will be held for this project as follows:

• April 25, 2023, at 10:00 am. This meeting will be cast on Zoom: the virtual meeting can be accessed by internet as follows:

Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 10:00 am

Zoom Meeting ID: 838 1030 2795

Passcode: 773867

Zoomlink: https://sanleandroorg.zoom.us/j/83810302795?pwd=VlhLa29vUks1TzdLYlBnZUIy

WjlBUT09

• April 26, 2023, at 3:00 pm. This meeting will be cast on Zoom: the virtual meeting can be accessed by internet as follows:

Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 3:00 pm

Zoom Meeting ID: 810 3376 2574

Passcode: 144273

Zoomlink: https://sanleandroorg.zoom.us/j/81033762574?pwd=RVZEV3BZY0pyWUZUK2JBY

nlxVjBQdz09

A bidder who fails to attend one of two pre-bid conference will be held responsible for any information that could have been reasonably deduced from said attendance. Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.

5. SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License

6. SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.

Dated: April 6, 2023______________________ Kelly B. Clancy City Clerk

by

Brashears

departed, thanks to professional make-up and lighting. For an hour of her time, Magnolia would earn more money than she would in a month at the gas station.

It was an easy job. Cotton didn’t charge her rent for living in the home. For once in her life, Magnolia had money. She also had ghosts from the past, nudging her for her sins...

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

The role is yours, if you want it.

You can play the part on a stage or in a film, but there are a few requirements: you have to be able to sing and dance and speak with an accent. Can you convince an audience that you’re someone you’re not? As in the new book, “House of Cotton” by Monica Brashears, can you play dead?

Mama Brown wouldn’t have liked all the praying and singing, not at all. Nineteen-year-old Magnolia knew that for sure. Also, for sure, Mama’s funeral was the last time Magnolia would go to church. Wasn’t anything there for her anymore.

No, she’d just go to her overnight job at People’s Gas Station, and try to avoid her landlord, Sugar Foot, who offered to trade sex for rent. She’d try to keep homeless “Cigarette”

Sammy from eating out of trash barrels. She’d swipe on Tinder and, using a pseudonym, she’d sleep with random men.

She’d try to forget that she was pregnant and alone.

And then one night, a welldressed man came to the gas station and told Magnolia that she could be a model. Was it a come-on, a cliche that every almost-pretty girl hears? She couldn’t afford to ignore his offer and so she walked across Knoxville, walked across town, to a funeral home where her new job was ready for her.

Cotton was the man’s name; he said he was a seer and he’d inherited the business from his uncle. Under his ownership, the funeral home was offering a new feature: for a fee, mourners who didn’t have closure over a loss could talk to Magnolia, who was made to look like their dearly

Sitting somewhere between fairy tales and a suspense novel, hovering around both an erotic tale and a humorous story, it’s pretty safe to say that “House of Cotton” is unlike any other novel you’ve ever read. It’s weird, and it’s heartbreakingly beautiful.

Author Monica Brashears’ main character, Magnolia, is someone you want to reach into the pages and hug — if you weren’t sure she’d push you away for it. She’s just learning how to be an adult, and not liking it; she’s smart, but innocent yet and that’s a bad combination in this great story.

Once she finds a job with Cotton and his Aunt Eden, then, the book takes a dark, ominous turn, like a modern-day old-fashioned Gothic novel.

Readers shouldn’t be one bit surprised if they become nervous by then. It’s for good reason.

“House of Cotton” will surprise you. It’s not what you think it might be, and more; it’s a vacation read here for the packing, if you want it.

California Black Media Political Playback: Black Candidates Are Queuing Up for Intense Political Battles Ahead

and Los Angeles County, after Assemblymember Eloise Reyes announced she will be running for State Senator in 2024 the 29th District.

Former Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson has announced that he is running to replace Sen. Nancy Skinner in Senate District 7, which covers Oakland and surrounding communities.

Heather Hutt Is Sworn in To Replace Mark Ridley Thomas on L.A. City Council Los Angeles’s embattled city council has a new member.

With an 11 to 1 vote last week — and to rounds of applause — councilmembers in California’s largest city decided to appoint Heather Hutt to serve the remainder of former councilmember Mark Ridley Thomas’s term instead of holding a special election. Ridley Thomas lost his seat representing the city’s 10th district after he was convicted on federal corruption charges last month.

Shortly after, Hutt, who was district director to Vice President Kamala Harris when she was U.S. Senator, was sworn into office.

“It is an honor for me to serve the people of the 10th District.

Tanu Henry

California Black Media

Your roundup of stories you might have missed last week.

California Black Candidates

Are Queuing Up for Intense Political Battles Ahead

The 2024 general election is over a year away but candidates across California have begun throwing their hats in the ring to run for state office. Several Black candidates with experience, passion and solid connections to the state’s political inner circles are entering the fray.

Last week, Darryn Harris, former chief of staff to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass while she served in the United States Congress, announced that he is vying in the state’s 35th Senatorial District to replace Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), who terms out next year. Others are expected to enter this race.

After Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) announced that she is running in the election next year to replace State Senate pro Tempore Toni Atkins

(D-San Diego), LaShae Sharp

Collins, former district director for former Assemblymember and current Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber announced her candidacy. Her announcement states that she is a long-time resident of the 79th Assembly District in the greater San Diego area, a mother and foster parent with years of service in education and non-profit work. Colin Parent, vice mayor of the city La Mesa, has also announced that he is running for this seat.

CBM sources have also been told that civil rights leader, the Rev. Shane Harris is expected to enter the race. Harris is president and founder of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates.

In Senate District 5 former Tracy City Councilwoman Rhodesia Ransom announced last month that she will be running to replace Sen. Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) when her term ends in 2024.

In the Inland Empire, African American candidate Dejonae Shaw, a nurse and union leader, announced she is running for the 50th District Assembly Seat, representing parts of San Bernardino

I just want to take a moment to

thank my colleagues, council president and my friends and family, my staff and the constituents of the 10th District,” said Hutt after her swearing-in ceremony.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass commended Hutt for her outstanding service, highlighting her “exemplary record.”

“I look forward to continuing to work with Councilmember Hutt to confront the critical issues facing Los Angeles like homeless-

“House of Cotton”

Monica

c.2023, Flatiron Books, $27.99, 304 pages

Monica Brashears. Photo: Beowulf Sheehan

Top to bottom: Rhodesia Ransom, Dejonae Shaw, LaShae Collins and Darryn Harris

The additional 70 residential step-down beds will provide clients with transitional recovery housing for up to two years following completion of their residential treatment for substance use disorder.

Department of Public Health Opens 70 New Behavioral Health Beds as Part of Expansion to Treat People with Serious Mental Health and Substance Use Issues

The new program is part of larger strategy to increase capacity for behavioral health care in the city

City of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed and the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) today announced the opening of a new 70-bed residential step-down program in Treasure Island. The addition of these new beds represents significant progress toward the City’s goal to provide new health care and treatment programs for people with mental health and substance use challenges.

“This new residential stepdown program will help people with substance use disorder receive the follow-up care they need after receiving treatment,” said Mayor London Breed. “The program is part of our larger efforts to provide comprehensive substance use treatment for San Franciscans

Continued from page 1

students deserve the services they need to be successful. (The district has not) come to the table to bargain special education, have not brought proposals around our safety,” (nor) responded to union proposals to enhance benefits to families and the community.

Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, OEA second vice president, said in a Facebook statement:

“OUSD is not only bargaining in bad faith, but their proposals are racist and create a separate and unequal salary schedule.” She also said the district has “ignored (its) legal obligation to bargain the impacts of closing special education classrooms with five weeks left in the school year.”

Prior to this week’s vote, OEA surveyed members to test their readiness to strike. Of the 80% of Oakland teachers who were polled, 90% said they were willing to strike.

Already ramping up strike preparations, the union has scheduled “merchant walks” on several weekends to reach out to the community, “art builds” to make picket signs at the OEA office and called a mass “fair contract” rally for next Wednesday.

On its website, OEA compares starting salaries of Oakland teacher with other major districts.

treatment for substance use disorder. During their stay, these individuals will receive support while they participate in outpatient treatment and seek employment.

“We are making it easier for people to access care by increasing the number of beds and providing a range of options for care for substance use disorders,” said Director of Health, Dr. Grant Colfax. “Opening these beds is part of our department’s critical work to provide care for people during their journey to wellness and recovery.”

SFDPH is partnering with HealthRIGHT 360 to operate the new program at Treasure Island; the organization has already started accepting clients and the beds will be utilized over the course of the next several months.

need to overcome their struggles and resume their everyday lives.”

Increasing the number of behavioral health beds is a data driven plan based upon the City’s Behavioral Health Bed Optimization Report released in 2020, the City’s utilization data from ongoing data collection at findtreatment-sf, and identified services gaps. SFDPH opened the 20-bed SoMa RISE Drug Sobering Center and the 75-bed Minna Project last year. Updates on San Francisco’s expansion of behavioral health beds is available at https://sf.gov/ residential-care-and-treatment.

Danielle Slaton a U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team member from 2000-2005, earning a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games and a bronze at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Slaton played professionally in the Women’s United Soccer Association and also for Olympique Lyonnais in France. (Allison+Partners via Bay City News)

New Women’s Pro Soccer Team Coming to Bay Area

while also addressing conditions on our streets. We need to have resources across the entire spectrum of care, from engaging with people directly on the street to having these long-term beds to help people who have done the hard work through inpatient care.”

San Francisco has a robust network of behavioral health services. Adding these new beds to the City’s existing 2,200 behavioral health beds is part of SFDPH’s commitment to care for and treat people who struggle with mental health and substance use. Over the past two years, SFDPH has opened 250 additional residential care and treatment beds.

The additional 70 residential step-down beds will provide clients with transitional recovery housing for up to two years following completion of their residential

First year teachers’ salaries are second to last in Oakland, earning $52,325 annually, while top-paying San Jose Unified has a beginning salary of $68,396.

The last contract between the district and OEA expired in October 2022. The district has been cutting the budget and is suggesting the possibility of closing, merging or consolidating schools to offer salary increases to teachers and other employees.

In a statement, the district said, ““Because OUSD has finite resources for ongoing costs and must operate within a balanced budget, we are unable to do everything proposed by OEA. At the table, OUSD has expressed its desire to prioritize increasing compensation to improve educator retention and improving student outcomes.”

This week, the Los Angeles teachers’ union (UTLA), which often works cooperatively with the OEA, announced a tentative agreement with their district.

UTLA won a 21% salary increase for all members, overall class size reduction by two students across all grade levels, increased staffing and pay for counselors, psychologists and others, and more support staff and enforceable class size limits for special education.

“Step-down programs are a vital component of substance use disorder treatment for people who enter treatment without safe or stable housing,” said Dr. Vitka Eisen, CEO of HealthRIGHT 360. “Having the ability to complete residential treatment and go to a step-down program for outpatient care helps further stabilize clients with substance use disorder so they can build on a solid foundation of health and wellness. We are excited to partner with the City to offer this critical program.”

“I know firsthand the importance of having a supportive and stable environment during the recovery process, and that’s one of the reasons why I strongly support these new step-down beds on Treasure Island,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “These beds will provide a crucial bridge between inpatient care and returning to the community, offering a safe and structured environment where people can continue to receive the help and support they

Continued from page 1

City of Oakland, when city staff recently told the university that the city’s general plan allowed for educational institutions, not residential development at the site, especially considering the fire danger in the hills, the Oakland Post learned this week.

According to a letter from the city, the HNU property is not zoned for residential development.

“Given the ‘Institutional’ General Plan designation, single-family and multifamily housing projects would not be allowed at the Campus Property unless the City Council approved a General Plan Amendment for the Campus Property to remove the ‘Institutional’ designation in favor of a General Plan designation permitting a housing project,” the letter said.

There also appears to be significant interest in developing institutional uses for the site. Several educational institutions have expressed interest in creating “a comprehensive education campus,” at HNU, including:

• Undergraduate programs run by Lincoln University in partnership with HBCUs;

Graduate and credential programs for teachers run by Alder GSE in partnership with HBCUs; Raskob School for neurodiverse students operated by Alameda County Office of Education;

Yu Ming Charter School, which operates a PK-8, Mandarin bilingual immersion school;

•East Bay Innovation Academy, a project-based middle and secondary charter school.

Creating opportunities for those who want to retain educational opportunities in Oakland, HNU’s creditor, Preston Hollow Community Capital (PHCC), says it is strongly committed to explor-

“These beds represent a new chapter for people suffering from mental health and substance use disorders who have been unable to secure long term placements in supportive, recovery focused environments,” said District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “I hope the opening of this program will be a down payment on much larger expansions of long-term behavioral health placements at the local, regional, and state level.”

“If we’re going to successfully address the crisis on our streets, we need to fund wrap-around services that serve people on each step of their journey towards health and wellness,” said District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “These 70 beds represent our city’s commitment to caring for San Franciscans suffering from severe mental health and substance use disorders and brings us closer to a fully functioning Mental Health SF.”

SFDPH provides a daily update of its available mental health and substance use treatment beds, which may be found here: www. findtreatmentsf.org.

ing ways to preserve the campus rather than foreclosing on the property.

In a letter, dated April 18, 2023, to Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan, PHCC, wrote:

“From the outset of HNU’s announcement that it would cease operations at the end of the Spring 2023 semester, PHCC has consistently maintained its position that transferring the campus to an educational user represented the ‘highest and best’ recovery scenario for HNU, that PHCC was willing to help facilitate a successful marketing and sales process targeted exclusively at educational users (colleges, universities, charter schools, etc.), and that it is not PHCC’s goal to take title to the property through foreclosure unless forced to do so.”

“PHCC has always been willing to temporarily postpone and/ or forbear from enforcing its contractual foreclosure remedies with respect to the HNU campus to the extent HNU was able to produce a contract with one or more financially viable educational institutions interested in acquiring the subject property,” the letter said.

Further, the community-wide demand to save HNU is growing stronger and more organized.

A new coalition, “Reclaim Holy Names,” was scheduled to hold an online town hall meeting Thursday evening “to hear from HNU students, faculty alumni, as well as elected leaders about the impact of the school’s closure – and what needs to happen to stop the HNU Board or Trustees from doing more harm to the HNU community.”

Those involved in the “reclaim” town hall included SEIU 1021, Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan, City Councilmember Carroll Fife, and members of the HNU community.

By Bay City News

doing it?” Osborne said the women were asking themselves as the group got to work to bring a team to the Bay Area.

The new team’s majority investor is Sixth Street, an investment firm with stakes in European soccer clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona as well as the pro basketball team the San Antonio Spurs.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) logo. (NWSL via Bay City News)

A new professional women’s soccer team is coming to the Bay Area.

Former U.S. Women’s National Team players Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner announced Tuesday that the National Women’s Soccer League has awarded ex-

Chastain, who scored an iconic game-winning goal in the 1999 Women’s World Cup final for the U.S. over China, said “it is a differ-

Brandi Chastain, retired soccer player who was on teams winning two World Cups, two Olympic Golds, one Olympic Silver and the inaugural WUSA Championship. Chastain recorded 192 caps in her international career.

(Allison+Partners via Bay City

pansion rights to their group. The team, which has not yet announced a name or home stadium, will start playing in the league in 2024.

The four soccer stars, who all have Bay Area ties including each hailing from Santa Clara University, spoke Tuesday about their efforts to bring a pro women’s team to the region starting nearly three years ago following the announcement of another NWSL expansion team, Angel City Football Club in Los Angeles.

“LA is doing this, why aren’t we

...People Pull the Triggers...

Continued from page 1

when you remove the guns, the death toll drops significantly.

Furthermore, restricting gun access doesn’t eliminate the people’s Second Amendment constitutional right to keep and bear arms -- on the contrary, what it can do is curb access to high-powered guns capable of mass murder, making it very hard for these guns to fall in the hands of people determined to kill people.

When you curb access, you minimize potential senseless killing by people with guns. Even though people have a right to arm and protect themselves, they also are expected to regulate their behavior and be responsible lawabiding citizens.

I firmly believe that those who stand in opposition to safer streets with fewer guns on them are catering to big business and politicians with ulterior motives.

The increased media attention is revealing to us that almost daily some people tend to snap, which often ends with some form of violence.

In the many countries where guns aren’t as easily obtained as they are here in the U.S. are not free of violence -- it demonstrates that guns aren’t the main weapons used to inflict harm.

Leslie Osborne had 62 caps for the USWNTand played in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China where the U.S. took third place in the tournament. Osborne played professionally for nine seasons and was team captain on all of her professional teams in the WPS and NWSL. (Allison+Partners via Bay City News)

ent time” now in women’s sports compared to her playing days, citing the high ratings and interest for the recent NCAA women’s college basketball championship. She said the Bay Area is the perfect place to help the sport grow even more.

“We here in the Bay Area are innovators, we’re thinkers, we’re creators,” Chastain said. “The Bay is where champions come to play, that is our call to action.”

Other members of the team’s board include Sheryl Sandberg, tech executive and founder of LeanIn.org, Rick Welts, who most recently served as president of the Golden State Warriors, and Staci Slaughter, former executive vice president for the San Francisco Giants.

More details about the team can be found on its website at https:// nwsltothebay.com/.

Our country has gunrunners importing and exporting weapons regularly. (I recently heard that a woman purchased more than 50 guns for a street gang she had ties to; chances are this isn’t an anomaly.)

Just like drugs, when you remove certain guns or make it harder to purchase deadly weapons, chances are fewer people will die by guns.

The proliferation of weapons capable of mass murder keeps our prisons, hospitals, graveyards, funeral homes, courts, probation, parole workloads, and much more filled to capacity.

When I saw that Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old boy who went to the wrong address in Kansas City, Mo., to pick up his younger siblings and was shot for ringing a doorbell, I thought of my son and the children of mothers and fathers of all races who worry for their safety.

Let’s remember the messages of the singer Freda Payne “Bring the boys home, bring them back alive, it’s time to turn this ship (of state) around, lay your weapons down ....Can’t you see them trying to get home?”

Oakland Teachers Take Strike Vote...

City Blocks Development...

Visitation services for Mr. Naidu will be held on Friday, April 28, 2023, from 4:00PM - 8:00PM, at Holy Sepulchre, 1051 Harder Road, Hayward, CA 94542.

JACK CHANDRA NAIDU