Oakland Post, week of May 8 - 14, 2024

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

reestablishing accountability and prioritizing public safety throughout the county.

“The office we found was literally running on fumes with broken lines of accountability and communication with understaffing chronically over the previous period of time,” Price said.

The district attorney’s office (DAO) had concentrated on three main goals in Price’s first year: ensuring public safety, uplifting the office and community engagement.

By Magaly Muñoz

The Alameda District Attorney’s office held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to share data from its 2023 annual report highlighting

their work since DA Pamela Price took office last year. According to Price, the reforms introduced in 2023 were driven by feedback provided by residents in the previous year, with a focus on

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the quantity of reports from local law enforcement agencies has declined. In 2023, the DAO received 19,047 reports, but only took action on 11,977, rejecting 6,591 reports.

Data in 2019 shows that law enforcement submitted nearly 27,000 reports, accepting almost 18,000. Although the number of reports re-

By Carla Thomas

Pastor Smokie Norful kicked off Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ’s 40th anniversary in Oakland at the church campus on Wednesday night, May 8. Norful, a beloved music recording artist and entrepreneur preached the word and sang his hit songs such as, “I Need You Now,” “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus,” “I’m a Soldier in the Army of the Lord,” and “I Still Have You.”

Norful encouraged the audience members to join the witness protection in the Lord by sharing

PART 2

By Magaly Muñoz

(Summary of Part 1: As California and local municipalities look to address the housing and homelessness crisis in the state, one Alameda County shelter is showing how prioritizing healthcare and housing can alleviate the stress vulnerable communities are facing.)

Alameda County announced in

February that they obtained federal and state grants to transform Oak Days into permanent housing. Of the 140 units that will be available to those experiencing chronic homelessness, 60 units will be set aside specifically for those with medical needs.

“It’s very hard for someone to be well if they don’t have a safe place to be and they don’t have a home. So I think the more that we start to

By Carla Thomas

He brought you “New Jack City.” He brought you “Panther.” And then he brought you “Posse,” co-starring the beautiful Salli Richardson.

He's Mario Van Peebles, son of the late Melvin Van Peebles, who continues to blaze the trail his father began in independent filmmaking.

While he considers himself a multi-culturally inclusive person, the ‘unapologetically Black’ Van

Peebles created very strong and beautiful female characters in his latest film to prove it in “Outlaw Posse.” Van Peebles intentionally created his second Western with a new consciousness. “When I created ‘Posse,’ I had no children, and my dad was living and co-starred with me. So, my sons got to see their dad and granddad as cowboys," explained Van Peebles. But while they were on a trip

think of housing as a health care need, the more successful we’re going to be,” Colleen Budenholzer, Alameda Housing Portfolio Manager, said.

Budenholzer manages sites like Oak Days through the county’s Office of Homeless Care and Coordination. She previously worked for the Coordinated Entry Program, which refers people to resources

to Disneyland, Van Peebles was stopped in his tracks when his daughter expressed the desire to be white. “When I asked my daughter why, she responded that if she were white, she could be ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘Snow White,’ or ‘Cinderella,’” he said. That wakeup call led Van Peebles to give more depth to the women characters in in his new film.

With Whoopi Goldberg starring as Stagecoach Mary, an entrepreneur and African American mail carrier who was the first Black woman to be employed as a ‘star route ‘postwoman in the United States, Van Peebles cast the strength of Black women. The ‘star route’ contract she had was from Cascade to Saint Peter's Mission in Montana. Van Peebles' co-star, Scytorya Rhodes, portrayed a woman whose house was burned down by racist whites, reflecting the Tulsa, Oklahoma, massascre. Rhodes said

PART 1

By Paul Cobb

Reparations is a concept that provokes and stimulates a prodigious amount of emotional, spiritual and political reaction amongst all Americans, especially African Americans and white Americans.

Menhuam Ayele of Oakland has written about this weighty subject matter in an understandable question and answer format that leads the reader to grasp how and when slavery started, why the civil war was fought to free the slaves and how we arrived in the northern and western states.

Ayele said, “there needs to be some clarity and understanding as to why Black Americans need to rekindle our commitment to bring our families to the forefront because it would be a disservice to our people to get caught up in a

chase for money and land.”

“We need to give attention to our roots and family ancestry and the spiritual significance to communal cultural Black towns, and/ or dedicated Black sections of existing cities as one of the ways to foster cultural, educational and economic sustainability as a way to combat the forces of gentrification,” said Ayele.

Ayele says reparations, repairing our nation and bringing about restitution can be achieved more meaningfully for Black people if they also revive and celebrate their belief in God.

The basic questions of a) who will pay the reparations to Black people and b) who should receive reparations and c) is there a role for cities, counties and states to help the federal government to respond or expand Ayele’s 10-point short

list.

Ayele hopes his book will spark spirited and positive discussions and debates of his proposed short list: 1) Money, 2) Land, 3) Free Health Care, 4) Free Education, 5) End Police brutality, 6) Free Political Prisoners, 7) Repatriation, 8) Public Memorials, 9) Rewriting History, and 10) Building Modern Day Africa Towns.

“Got Reparations 21 Questions 21 Answers” can be purchased on BookBaby.com, Amazon and Thrift books, as well as requested for order at Marcus Bookstore in Oakland. Questions or responses can be sent to Ayele at Ujamaavillages@yahoo.com.

Part 2 will appear in the Post next week.

Bishop Bob Jackson at Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ’s 40th Anniversary Celebration. File Photo.

61st Year, No. 19

Filmmaker-actor Mario Van Peebles (left) with Oakland International Film Festival co-founder David Roach at the “Outlaw Posse” film screening at the Grand Lake Theatre last week. Photo by Carla Thomas.

Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series Marks Brown v. Board 70th Anniversary with Stage Play on

Senior Pastor Dr. Doris Limbrick and First Lady Barbara Jackson, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce President Cathy Adams, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, Oakland Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield-Lynch and Kensley Taylor at Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ 40th Anniversary Celebration. Photo by Carla Thomas.

Oak Days shelter, once a Days Hotel, resides in the Hegenberger corridor of Oakland. It is used as a temporary home to 60 residents who have experienced chronic homelessness or are medically vulnerable. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

California Sees Population Increase for First Time in Three Years California

By California Black Media

The California Department of Justice announced on April 19 that it is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Tobacco Grant Program.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the program aims to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco products. The state will provide approximately $28.5 million in grants to eligible local agencies.

Grant recipients are required to use the funding to help enforce state and local laws related to the illegal sale and marketing of tobacco products such as selling e-cigarettes to minors.

“Together with local law enforcement, we’re successfully collaborating and coordinating efforts to put a halt to the dangers of illicit tobacco products,” Bonta said.

We must continue to enforce California’s laws around tobacco products, and this funding will allow our communities to do just that, and hold those who violate the law accountable,” he said.

The 2016 California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act, Proposition 56, has

helped fund the program. The state has allotted approximately $285 million in grant funds to 406 local agencies through the program.

The grant program is committed to reducing childhood addiction to tobacco products by supporting local partners who:

1. Enforce the statewide retail flavor ban and similar local retail flavor ordinances.

2. Prosecute and penalize retailers who sell or market tobacco products to youth under the age of 21, including over the internet.

3. Educate and inform tobacco retailers on state and local tobacco laws.

4. Investigate and inspect retailer licensing compliance.

A 2023 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that nearly 90% of youth who used e-cigarettes preferred flavored products. National data showed that companies produced and marketed tobacco products with various flavors to appeal to young people.

To submit an application, visit the Office of the Attorney General’s website.

By California Black Media

California, the country’s most populous state, saw an increase of state residents in 2023, reversing a declining trend over the past three years.

The state’s population grew by over 67,000 people, according to the California Department of Finance (DOF). Currently, the state has a population of 39.1 million people.

The most notable population increases happened in 31 counties, with the most significant growth occurring in the Bay Area, Central Valley and the Inland Empire.

Gov. Gavin Newsom attributed the population growth to an increase in immigrants relocating to California and a slower mortality rate following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the improvement of federal legal immigration processing backlogs, rebounding legal immigration levels — not including people seeking asylum at the border — and mortality rates returning to long-term trends, a stable

foundation for continued growth has returned,” the governor’s office stated.

“From the Inland Empire to the Bay Area, regions throughout California are growing — strengthening local communities and boosting our state’s future,” Newsom’s statement continued.

Recent state data indicated that the number of people moving out of state decreased since 2021 when many people migrated to other states during the pandemic.

The Department of Finance showed that housing production in cities such as Emeryville in the Bay Area helped drive population growth.

Before the recent surge in population, California experienced a record-low growth rate caused by the pandemic and deadly wildfires, the report states.

Thousands of people lost their homes, jobs and in worse cases, their lives. As the nation’s fifthlargest economy, The Department of Finance estimates that California will continue to experience positive population growth.

By Edward Henderson California Black Media

Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, is currently transforming to expand coverage for unhoused and at-risk individuals across the state.

The rollout for these changes began on Jan. 1, 2022.

New programs include rental and deposit aid, recuperative housing, rehabilitation and sobering centers during the day and the provision of street medicine: mobile units that bring care to unhoused individuals.

To be eligible, individuals must be enrolled in the Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan and are currently experiencing or deemed at risk of homelessness.

Medi-Cal covers the cost of clinical care and other approved healthcare expenses for people with limited income and resources.

“Our unhoused population have inadequate access to shelters, lack of food and care,” said Glenn Tsang, policy advisor for the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). “They tend to have extensive medical and behavioral health needs that are difficult to address in an unstable living environment.”

Tsang was speaking at a news briefing focused on Medi-Cal expansion hosted by Ethnic Media Services.

According to the DHCS, new services Medi-Cal is offering to unhoused Californians and other state residents experiencing housing instability are:

• Lead Care Managers will assist members to build relationships with members and direct them to the services they need most. There are 14 housing services under the community support program with six of them directly focused on the unhoused population, according to the DHCS.

• Housing transition navigation services guide individuals through the process of identifying stable housing. It aids with housing searches, applications, contacting landlords, and housing deposits for security deposits and other upfront costs,

• Housing sustaining services help members maintain their new residence with landlord mediation, budgeting assistance and connections to other community services. Short-term post-hospitalization and recuperative care offers housing options for individuals who have just been discharged from the hospital without a home to go to to recover.

• Day habilitation

Fearlessness.

ALISON BUCHANAN ROBERT SIMS DANIEL LOCKERT Soprano Baritone Pianist

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 3:30 PM

St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave., Berkeley

Program: Songs by African -American composers and African-American Spirituals

THIS IS A FREE CONCERT, BUT TICKETS ARE REQUIRED.

For tickets, Call 510-845-4444 Or go to www.fsarts.org/2024-founders-concert/

It’s not easy to accept that memory loss that disrupts daily life could be a sign of Alzheimer’s. Or that nearly two-thirds of people diagnosed are women, including Black women.

But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk, like monitoring Type 2 diabetes and lowering blood pressure.

Because you have what it takes to take on Alzheimer’s.

Talk to your health care provider about signs, screening and early detection.

iStock photo.

Photo: iStock photo image.

BOOK REVIEW:

Mothers and Motherhood by Various Authors

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Everybody’s had one at least once in their lives.

Some people get two or more, while others don’t currently have any. Whatever your situation, this is a good time to read about mothers and being somebody’s Mom, so why not try one of these great books.

These days, science has a lot to do with being a mother and “I Cannot Control Everything Forever” by Emily C. Bloom (St. Martin’s Press, $29.00) takes things a bit farther. When Bloom wanted to become pregnant, she had to rely on science and when her daughter was born with congenital deafness and was later diagnosed with other maladies, she relied on science again. This is a beautiful book, perfect for mothers who’ve been “there.”

Sometimes, just trying to be someone’s Mom isn’t easy. In “Inconceivable” by Valerie Bauman (Union Square, $27.99), you’ll read about the author’s encounters with the sperm donor market, the costs both physically and economically, and what the experts say about this unregulated industry.

On the flip side, anyone who’s taking a different, alternative route to motherhood may like “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood” by Gretchen Sisson (St. Martin’s Press, $29.00). It’s a look at the women who give birth but must let go of their children, and what it’s like from that side of the adoption.

To understand motherhood in America today, read “Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services” by Jessica Pryce (Amistad, $28.99). This book is an investigation into what the author says is a biased system that “disproportionately” targets mothers of color in America and that wreaks havoc on Black families, including separation. It’s an eye-opening tale that will chill the blood of any parent, anywhere.

On a totally lighter note, if you grew up reading about evil stepmothers in fairy tales, then you should look for “The Book of Mothers” by Carrie Mullins (St. Martin’s Press, $29.00). This interesting book takes a look at 15 classic novels featuring maternal figures you’ll recognize. From Austin to Alcott, Woolf to Walker and 11 other authors in between, this is a fun book but also a serious peek at what literature has had to say about mothers and how it’s shaped American motherhood.

And finally, if you’ve had one of those weeks and you need to laugh, look for “Momma Cusses” by TikTok’er Gwenna Laithland (St. Martin’s Essentials, $20.00). It’s a funny, sardonic, but deadon look at being a mother, from a point of view of someone who has kids and knows how to raise them — sometimes, with patience. Bonus: some of the advice is serious stuff that you’ll ultimately be glad you’ve read.

And if this isn’t enough for you or the mom or mother-to-be you know, then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian. They know what you’ll need, whether it’s advice for getting pregnant, staying pregnant, or exploring pregnancy; words of wisdom for the mom of a newborn or a new adult; or just good reads for relaxing because you deserve it.

Every mother does.

By Emil Guillermo

If you’re a Black or Latino voter thinking about going for Trump this time, I hope you were watching the historic Trump criminal trial this week.

All those watching the trial should ask, if you knew what you know now from his testimony under oath, would you have still voted for Trump in 2016?

On May 7, Donald Trump, the former president on trial for felony criminal charges, was in a New York courtroom attentively looking at a screen like he was watching porn. And he sort of was.

His own trial.

The screen gave Trump an unobstructed view of porn star Stormy Daniels testifying under oath about a 2006 encounter in a Lake Tahoe hotel room between Trump and Daniels. The testimony canceled all of Trump’s denials about the two and made the salacious details of their tryst.

I don’t doubt her credibility.

Of course, that’s exactly what Trump was trying to avoid in 2016, when he is alleged to have been part of a scheme to silence Daniels from sharing the story in the media ahead of that year’s election.

Could the unveiling of infidelity with a porn star while his wife Melania was home with an infant son sink his campaign for good?

That’s what prosecutors allege was the basis for the hush money payment of $130,000 to Daniels later that month.

At the trial on May 6, a Trump accountant detailed how the payments, falsely disguised as legal fees to then attorney/fixer Michael Cohen, were made with explanations on notes, and checks signed by Trump himself.

The falsifying of documents is the crime.

Earlier in the trial, National Enquirer publisher David Pecker established that the effort to “catch and kill” negative stories about Trump, paying women like Daniels with a story to tell, was a standard way to help the Trump campaign. The Enquirer and the campaign were linked.

And then there was last week, when former Trump communications director Hope Hicks cried from the witness stand as she confirmed Trump’s knowledge of the payments.

With Daniels’ testimony, the record now shows what Trump was trying to hide from the electorate. He thought it would cost him votes.

So, let’s go back to that time.

In 2016, Asian Americans were about 69% for Hillary Clinton, according to national surveys.

The most Trumpy Asians were

Chinese (35%), Vietnamese (34%), and Filipino (28%).

Ask your friends if Daniels’ testimony under oath, negating all the denials from Trump about the affair, would have made a difference back then?

It may not have changed things from a strict AAPI numbers perspective. But nationwide, who knows what could have happened?

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote overwhelmingly but lost the electoral college vote 306-232. Trump won by winning Florida by 2%.

He won Pennsylvania by a hair despite both candidates polling 48% of the vote.

Same with Wisconsin and Michigan, both states had the candidates deadlocked at 47% of the vote. But in the end, Trump eked out the electoral college win in both. Could it have gone the other way with more damning information on Trump?

That’s the significance of Stormy Daniels’ testimony.

But that’s the past. Look to November. As the Trump trial unfolds, be your own best citizen/juror.

Is a second Trump term really in the nation’s best interests?

All you Black and Latino voters, mostly male, considering Trump, think of that consequence.

Is that what’s best for all of us?

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. His micro-talk show is at YouTube.com/@emilamok1.

iStock photo.

Faith Ringgold in her studio 1999 and the cover art for her book “Tar Beach.” Wikipedia and Britannica photos respectively.

Public Notices, Classifieds & Business

to where they need to go.

• Transitional rent is currently not covered by Medi-Cal. However, an application is available to access this program. It will potentially cover up to six months of rent for people transitioning from hospitals and jails to help prevent common pathways to homelessness.

• Street medicine programs will provide direct medical assistance to individuals living on the street. This alleviates barriers to care associated with transportation to hospitals and healthcare providers by bringing care directly to members.

Amber Middleton, director of

the Hope Program at the Shasta Community Health Center, spoke at the EMS virtual news briefing about how organizations like hers plan to integrate those services for the unhoused community.

“Our goal is to make sure there are access points in all areas where there might be someone who needs care. The whole focus is going to the population and not waiting for things to get so bad that they’re having to seek out services.”

As of Jan. 1, adults ages 26-40 qualify for full-scope medical care through the program regardless of their immigration status. As MediCal continues to expand their services visit the DCHS website to learn more about what is provided and how individuals can get involved.

Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series Marks Brown v. Board 70th Anniversary with Stage Play on May 18

By Oakland Post Staff

Members of the cast of “Words That Made the Difference: Brown v. Board of Education” by Dr. Cindy Acker, to be presented Saturday, May 18, at the Valley Center for the Performing Arts in Oakland as part of the popular and visionary Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series. Photo courtesy of Dr. Cindy Acker.

In observation of the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the popular Barba-

ra Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series presents one performance only of Dr. Cindy Acker’s stage play, “Words That Made the Difference: Brown v. Board of Education.”

The play is based on transcripts of the famous school desegregation trials in 1954 and features a cast of 20. The performance will be held Saturday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at the Valley Center for the Performing Arts (formerly Holy Names University), 3500 Mountain Blvd. in Oakland.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM – PHASE B AT-GRADE CROSSING IMPROVEMENT SERVICES (RFP NO. R24-0007)

The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is seeking proposals for a contract to commence services on December 13, 2024, or as indicated in the RFP and/or appropriate addenda.

Please

Key Dates: - Mandatory Online Pre-proposal Conference: May 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time

- Proposal due date: June 11, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. PT

This RFP has a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contract goal of 21.0%. All RFP documents are available Procurement Portal at https://alamedactc.bonfirehub.com. All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted via the Procurement Portal, no later than 3:00 p.m. PT on May 23, 2024.

Submittals must be made in accordance with the instructions in the RFP. Any contract awarded must be in compliance with the local, state, and/or federal requirements.

The Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series is co-presented by the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Peralta

Community College District. Admission is free with reservations by calling the Martin Luther

Courtessy photo.

NICOTINE BRAIN POISON

Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris

Lecture Series ... Continued from page 6

King Jr. Freedom Center at (510) 434-3988.

“Brown v. Board of Education was one step closer to establishing a more perfect union, equality, justice and democracy for African Americans,” says Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12).

“Now, 70 years later, there are still attempts to turn the clock back to the days of Jim Crow and undo progress that has been made. The fight for justice continues and we must not stop now. Every generation must fight to protect the rights of those marginalized, discriminated against, and whose history is being erased by white supremacy,” Lee continued.

Brown v. Board of Education was signed into law May 17, 1954, setting a precedent for desegregation struggles of our time.

Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, former governor of California, issued the unanimous decision that changed history forever. At a time when segregation in covert forms is still pervasive, “Words That Made the Difference” uses the courageous words of plaintiffs, witnesses, attorneys and Justice Warren to highlight the need to follow their legacy to

protect and promote democracy.

“Segregation in many forms continues in spite of the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling,” says Dr. Roy D. Wilson, Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Producer of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series. “The Lecture Series is a longstanding public forum that invites civic leaders from all sectors to respond to Dr. King’s stillpressing question, ‘Where do we go from here: chaos or community?’ It is hard to imagine a more relevant and vital prompt for our time than the one that resonates in the story embodied in ‘Words That Made the Difference.’ While 2024 is the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, it is also a year featuring one of the most significant elections our nation has experienced. Robust and equitable learning and civic engagement and voting are two vital avenues toward constructing a stronger democracy.”

Acker observes, “We have seen the power of this play to inform and change points of view and educate people who understand the struggle and value of desegregation and the deep significance of what Black and Brown people endured to simply have an education.”

Fantastic Negrito Coming

to Friday Nights at Oakland Museum

Special to The Post

Friday Night’s at OMCA presents an electrifying evening with Oakland’s own Fantastic Negrito & Friends as he takes the stage on Friday May 10, alongside some of his favorite musicians in the Bay Area.

The free, immersive performance from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at 1000 Oak St. will play with the boundaries between funk, rock, soul, and blues to produce a unique and captivating experience. More boundaries are broken as Let’s Lab with KD the Poet! makes the mundane fantastic, centering everyday life in his blend of soulful lyricism and tempered production.

The night will be further filled with the groovy blend of rap, soul, R&B, and Afrobeats emanating from Bay Area DJ Mani Draper, all excellent energy to intercut with engaging discussion facilitated by the Gallery Chats taking place in the museum’s special exhibition, ”Por el Pueblo: The Legacy and Influence of Malaquías Montoya.”

Program Schedule:

5-9 p.m. Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5:30-6:30 p.m. Let’s Lab with KD the Poet! | Core Gallery

6-8 pm Gallery Chats | The Great Hall

6:30-7:30 p.m. Fantastic Negrito & Friends | The Garden Stage

6:45-8:45 pm Mani Draper | Amphitheater

About Friday Nights:

Gather with family, friends, and community every Friday at 5 p.m. for free live music and hands-on activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and late night access to our galleries and special exhibitions, with a Museum ticket.

Bring your own or grab dinner from any one of the eight Off the Grid food trucks on 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets. Beer, wine, mixed and non-alcoholic drinks are available for sale. After grabbing a meal from a wide and weekly changing menu of culinary creations, head to the OMCA Garden where you’ll find picnic tables and blankets to enjoy your local eats. Play lawn and table games, enjoy weekly rotating Museum programming, and create new memories at one of the Town’s most treasured spaces right in the heart of Oakland. No outside alcohol permitted. Performances are subject to change. Limited $10 flat rate parking for Friday Nights is available in the OMCA Garage until 10 p.m..

Renowned Quilting Artist, Faith Ringgold, 93

By Reshawn Goods Special to The Post

Faith Ringgold, a Black, multimedia artist, activist, performer, and author born into the rich culture of the Harlem Renaissance in 1930, passed away in April 2024 at the age of 93.

Growing up in Harlem in the 1940s forged her lifelong endeavor to express the lives of Black people and women as she experienced it.

From childhood, she showed artistic ability, applying to City College of New York after high school intending to be an art major but was forced to seek a degree in Art Education because of quotas for women. There she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees, having been classically trained in both painting and sculpture.

She married in 1950, had two children, and, after separating from her husband, made a trip to Europe, visiting galleries and museums.

Harlem, her love for her family and the trip to Europe galvanized her young vision. Through the 1960s and 1970s, she responded to political issues presented during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. She was known as the first woman to get a commission to create a painting on the walls of the women’s section of the Riker’s Island prison, leading to a movement to bring art to prisons.

She broadened her work from painting — a largely European expression of art and aesthetic — to fiber works, learning from African artists’ use of cloth, first as frames and then as quilts.

Ringgold would become an advocate of bringing the work of Black people and women’s art into museums and galleries.

She became especially renowned for her quilts, bold expressions of life, especially Black life, as she saw and experienced it. The stories of her enslaved ancestors, shared with her by her mother, Willi Posey Jones, who was a fashion designer and seamstress, were also instrumental: as they stitched and drew together.

I was introduced to Faith Ringgold through “Reading Rainbow,” a show I watched daily on PBS as a child. This episode aired in 1992 and I watched along with the children I cared for in my home day care that I owned and operated at the tender age of 22.

I loved to read and what I loved even more was sharing my favorite books and stories with children. We went to the library to look for this book, “Tar Beach” and it was a lovely daydream for me.

The themes of her work made me envision myself on some balmy night in Harlem with my

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media

make-believe happy family enjoying ourselves, looking at stars, eating good food and laughing as we flew around the city.

Faith Ringgold is important to the world because her work represents Black people, in real time. We get to see ourselves in these magical stories, our aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers with themes we can relate to fully.

Faith is not just an artist, she is also an activist who fought for women to be seen in major galleries and won. Before her, women like her would never be considered for an exhibition.

She didn’t wait around to be included either, she found her own way to be recognized and eventually she didn’t have to ask to have exhibitions she was invited to show her work.

Faith received over 100 awards for her art, she left us 20 different books for us to read and share and a life of purpose and perseverance to keep us inspired going forward. We now have a powerful ancestor who used painted words to create liberation and inclusion. She used her stories to open doors for artists who look like me. She is a reminder of how faith and understanding of yourself will give you access to the world through your art.

Faith Ringgold 1930-2024 “Love Black Life” 1969

DR. MAURICE

Posted by Staff

In recent weeks, California’s mostly tranquil college quads have erupted into epicenters of pro-Palestine and anti-Israel activism. At Stanford’s White Plaza, dozens of tents have sprung up, while UCLA’s Royce Hall was tagged with the graffiti message “Free Gaza.” Students are demanding divestment from companies linked to Israel and calling for a U.S. government-brokered ceasefire in the ongoing IsraeliHamas conflict.

A Groundswell of Support, But Tensions Rise

This wave of protests and student encampments reflects a surge of support for Palestinian civilians in Gaza which has ignited tensions on campuses. As the protesters try to stand their ground, daily disruptions to campus routines including affecting graduation ceremonies, clashes involving students with and against nonstudent agitators, trespassing and acts of vandalism underscore the issue’s complexity and its profound impact on university communities.

Balancing Act for University Leaders

The student protests have posed a formidable challenge for administrators who must balance respecting free speech and the right to protest with maintaining safe and stable conditions on cam-

pus for students to pursue their studies, while also ensuring staff can perform their jobs effectively. These challenges require university leaders to tread carefully to navigate the tensions and uphold core university values. Their decisions shape not only campus life but also the broader discourse on democracy and civil rights.

A New Era of Activism

While echoing the spirit of past student movements, today’s student protests differ from those of the 1960s and 1970s, which focused on broader social and political affairs, encompassing issues like civil rights, the Vietnam War and campus culture. These protests align more with the 1980s’ anti-apartheid protests, sharing a focus on specific global issues, collective action for institutional change and campus-based activism.

A key difference is today’s use of social media as an organizing tool.

The Challenge of Antisemitism

The current wave of protests risk tipping into intolerance by conflating criticism of Israel with prejudice against Jewish students. Universities face a delicate challenge: creating an environment where pro-Palestinian and proIsraeli voices can be heard, while maintaining respect and ensuring that rising antisemitism does not take hold.

Faith Ringgold in her studio 1999 and the cover art for her book “Tar Beach.” Wikipedia and Britannica photos respectively.

Fantastic Negrito. Wikimedia photo.

Sacramento: At Capitol Rally, Former Inmates Share Memories of Forced Labor

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) addressed a group of advocates and activists, including formerly incarcerated men and women at the State Capitol last week. She promised them that she is determined to advance Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 8 “across the finish line” for voters to decide in a November General Election referendum.

Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), was speaking at an April 29 rally at the State Capitol organized to promote “The End Slavery in California Act,” a measure that Wilson authored to amend the California Constitution, abolishing involuntary servitude in prisons across the state.

“For me, it’s a priority to reassert our unwavering commitment to ACA 8 but not just myself as the author but also the entire legislative Black caucus,” Wilson said at the rally held on the southeast end of the State Capitol’s grounds.

“This is not just legislation. It is a declaration of our value and resolve to end all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude in our state. ACA is vital because it proposes to remove the ‘exception’ for involuntary servitude from the state’s constitution, declaring unequivocally that all forms of slavery are prohibited,” she added.

The “Quest for Democracy (Q4D)” rally was hosted by All of Us or None of Us (AOUNOU), a grassroots civil and human rights organization focused on supporting formerly and currently incarcerated people and their families.

AOUNOU members, advocates, justice-impacted leaders, and

supporters from all over the state of California attended the rally and other activities organized around the event in Sacramento. Their goal was to educate lawmakers and participants about prison reform and the importance of ACA 8.

During the rally, many former incarcerated individuals, along with organizers, and supporters took turns performing songs, reading poems, and sharing their experiences working in California’s penal institutions. They also shared stories detailing the repercussions they suffered in prisons when they refused to work.

The 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified in 1865. It prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude with one exception: if involuntary servitude was imposed as punishment for a crime.

Article 1, Section 6 of the California Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, “except as punishment for a crime.”

Former state Sen. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) originally proposed ACA 3 in 2020, when she served in the Assembly, to remove this exception.

The Senate failed to pass ACA 3, the California Abolition Act in July 2022, preventing the measure from being placed on the November General Election ballot for voters to approve or reject.

Following Kamlager-Dove’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2022 to replace Rep. Karen Bass, who is now the mayor of Los Angeles, Wilson took up the cause when she was elected to the Assembly. The Assembly approved ACA 8 last September. It will be heard next in the Senate.

Sen. Laphonza Butler Introduces Bill to Honor

Rep. Shirley Chisholm with Congressional Gold Medal, Statue

By California Black Media

U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (DCalif.) announced last week she is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill to honor Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress. Butler, the only Black woman currently serving in the U.S. Senate, and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA.) proposed the legislation to posthumously endow Chisholm with Congress’s highest award in commemoration of her accomplishments, activism and legacy.

If the bill passes, Congress will present Chisholm, who was elected in 1968 to represent New York’s 12th District in the United States Congress with the Congressional Gold Medal. A statue of Chisholm will also be erected in the U.S. Capitol in her memory.

“Shirley Chisholm left a mark on our nation’s history that demands its own recognition,” Butler said.

“She was a trailblazer — the first Black woman elected to the

CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL QUALIFICATIONS (RFP) CITYWIDE COMPENSATION STUDY

Contract Amount: TBD Terms: 2 Years

Project Description: The City of Oakland, Human Resource Management Department is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to conduct a citywide compensation study.

The contract is for a one-year period which may be extended for an additional year at the discretion of the City. The contract will be awarded to the most qualified individual(s) or firm(s) who demonstrate(s) success in all aspects associated with gathering and analyzing classification and compensation data. Proposals shall describe how respondents’ expertise, experience, qualifications and management will guarantee the most responsive service.

Pre-Proposal Meeting: Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM via Zoom or by phone at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83342276206?pwd=ZVkxYmxma2VOeE01KzkxbFVrdGN1QT09

Meeting ID: 833 4227 6206

Passcode: HRM

Dial by your location

• +1 669 444 9171 US

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 833 4227 6206 Passcode: 775353

Proposal Submittal Deadline: Friday, May 24, 2024, by 2:00 P.M. via iSupplier.

Reminders:

• All who wish to participate in this RFP must register (at least 5 days prior to submittal due date) through iSupplier at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/register-with-isupplier) to avoid last minute submittal complications and receive addenda/updates on this RFP. For additional help registering and submitting your proposal to iSupplier please watch the user guide videos at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/documents/isupplier-user-guides).

• Did not receive and invitation? Start Early with iSupplier registration. Upon completion of registration, send an email to iSupplier@oaklandca.gov listing “RFP for CITYWIDE COMPENSATION STUDY” as the subject and request an invitation to the RFP. The Contract Analyst will add your business to the RFP invitation.

• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits • 0% L/SLBE • Living Wage • Campaign Reform Act • Professional Services Local Hire • Prompt Payment • Arizona Boycott • Dispute Disclosure • Border Wall Prohibition • Sanctuary City Contracting and Investment Ordinance.

Answers to Questions:

1. For project-related questions contact the Project Manager Lara Williams by phone at 510 238-6676 or via email at lwilliams@oaklandca.gov

2. For iSupplier related questions after registration contact iSupplier@oaklandca.gov

Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, (Friday, May 10, 2024)

The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.

Balancing Safety and Free Speech ... Continued from page 8

Historically, Jewish students have been at the forefront of social justice movements, marching alongside Black students for civil rights and LGBTQ+ students for equal rights. However, today some Jewish students feel a lack of similar support from student groups advocating for the Palestinian cause. As a result, some report feeling intimidated and unsafe on campus.

Universities must cultivate an atmosphere of inclusivity and intersectionality, ensuring students from all backgrounds can advocate for their beliefs. Open dialogue and mutual respect are essential to avoid marginalizing any group or cause.

A Call for Open Discussion and Understanding

These student protests highlight growing activism on campuses and underscore the complex challenges university leaders

face when managing passionate student demonstrations and navigating pressure from lawmakers and alumni.

Universities have a unique opportunity and a responsibility to their students to create forums for open discussion, foster empathy, understanding, and peaceful protest in a world brimming with conflict.

About the Author Joe W. Bowers Jr. is a contributing editor to California Black Media. He is a graduate of Stanford University.

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.

U.S. House of Representatives and the first to run for President who opened doors for generations of Black women,” Butler added.

Chisholm, a lifelong public servant, worked in education and social services before being elected as the second African American to the New York State Assembly in 1964. She is remembered as a passionate leader who advocated for women and minorities through legislation she introduced and supported.

Warnock said Chisholm’s legacy inspired him to fight for the rights and well-being of Black Americans.

“Shirley Chisholm broke barriers for Black women, Black Americans, and any American who refuses to be confined by injustice,” Warnock said.

“As an educator, and a trailblazing Congresswoman and presidential candidate, she fought for an inclusive democracy, one that lives up to our nation’s highest ideals of equity and justice under law,” he added.

By Special to the Post

California’s permanent housing and emergency shelter capacity programs are struggling to meet the homeless population’s growing housing needs, a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report stated.

California has launched several programs to mitigate its homelessness crisis — the worst in the nation — which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the report, federal funding helped the state increase emergency shelter beds by 34% during the pandemic. However, the shelters only provided temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness.

The PPIC stated that the increase in homelessness indicates that California needs to expand housing programs to accommodate the growing population.

The “programs that can prevent and mitigate homelessness and housing instability are more urgently needed than ever,” the PPIC stated.

Across California, there remains a shortage of beds in shelters for unhoused people. The re-

port estimates that the state has more than 180,000 homeless people but only about 70,000 beds, accounting for an overall shortage of nearly 110,000 beds.

The state’s struggle to provide permanent housing persists despite establishing partnerships with community-based organizations to tackle the problem.

California’s government has spent billions to increase capacity, but the rising cost of living and limited progress has made it difficult to get rid of homelessness. Local governments have also struggled to track city spending and provide accurate audits of housing programs.

A major concern for the state, according to the report, is that local governments are running out of pandemic-related relief funds. This has led to a decline in the number of beds funded by the Emergency Solutions Grants –Coronavirus (ESG-CV) program. Local governments have urged the state to increase funding for city housing programs, but city officials are yet to establish a reliable method to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs.

CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL QUALIFICATIONS (RFP) OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT POLYGRAPH SERVICES

Contract Amount: TBD Term: 2 Years with Option to Extend for Additional 2 Years

Project Description: The City of Oakland, Oakland Police Department, Recruiting & Background Unit, seeks pre-employment polygraph services. The services include, but are not limited to, providing polygraph examinations to individuals seeking employment and providing polygraph reports. The Unit is seeking both a primary and supplemental vendor for these services.

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Voluntary): Monday, May 20, 2024 - 10:00 a.m., Pacific Time (PT)

• Zoom Meeting ID: 574 929 2729, Passcode: MeetOPD!

• +16694449171,5749292729#,,,, *68173193# US

• +16699006833,,5749292729#,,,,*68173193# US (San Jose)

• https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5749292729?pwd=Qy9Pc1RPYVhVVXQ2SWV6K2xtU2o4 UT09

Proposal Submittal Deadline: Monday, June 24, 2024, by 2:00 p.m., PT via iSupplier.

Reminders:

• All who wish to participate in this RFP must register (at least 5 days prior to submittal due date) through iSupplier at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/register-with-isupplier) to avoid last minute submittal complications and receive addenda/updates on this RFP. For additional help registering and submitting your proposal to iSupplier please watch the user guide videos at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/documents/isupplier-user-guides).

• Did not receive an invitation? Start Early with iSupplier registration. Upon completion of registration, send an email to iSupplier@oaklandca.gov listing “Oakland Police Department Polygraph Services” as the subject and request an invitation to the RFP. The Contract Analyst will add your business to the RFP invitation.

• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits • 0.% L/SLBE • Living Wage • Campaign Reform Act

and Investment Ordinance.

Answers to Questions:

1. For project-related questions contact the Project Manager Antoné Hicks by phone at 510 238-2089 or via email at ahicks@oaklandca.gov.

2. For iSupplier related questions contact iSupplier@oaklandca.gov.

Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, Friday, May 10, 2024 The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.

Asm. Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) attended a rally on April 29, 2024, to discuss the progress of her bill ACA 8, a measure that would end involuntary servitude in California prisons. The rally at the State Capitol in Sacramento was hosted by All of Us or None of Us. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

Courtesy of Sen. Laphonza Bulter’s Office

New Study Reveals How a COVID Emergency Housing Initiative Helped Ease Homelessness

Project Roomkey was a federally funded program intended to help homeless people stay isolated and socially distant during the peak of the pandemic. Local governments placed medically frail and unsheltered individuals into non-congregate shelters like hotel rooms, motel rooms, or trailers.

By Magaly Muñoz

A new study by Abt Global released Monday shows how Project Roomkey (PRK) helped unhoused Californians during the height of the COVID pandemic. The study highlights PRK as an effective model for emergency housing.

Abt Global’s 56-page study into Project Roomkey (PRK) was funded by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to better understand what the outcomes of the initiatives were, how they were able to succeed and what they could’ve done better.

PRK was a federally funded program launched in April 2020 to help homeless people stay isolated and socially distant during the peak of the pandemic. Local governments placed medically frail and unsheltered individuals into non-congregate shelters like hotel rooms, motel rooms, or trailers.

The program was initially intended for a few months in 2020, but only began winding down and phasing out in 2022.

“Project Roomkey was a game changer in how communities provide emergency housing to people experiencing homelessness across California,” Nichole Fiore, principal associate at Abt Global, said in a statement.

The study found that PRK fulfilled its goal of isolating those most vulnerable and managed to connect agencies within local communities beyond what they were familiar doing. The pandemic exacerbated the underlying issues between things like temporary shelters and emergency response plans and essentially forced government agencies to find quick, sustainable solutions.

Unlike many homeless shelters across the state, PRK shelters offered more autonomy in the manner in which they were set up. With hotels and motels making up the majority of the spaces, people had access to their own bathrooms or had enough space to store their belongings without having to share with an unknown roommate.

Pets and partners were also allowed to accompany those staying in shelters, a feature that is unlike most shelters or temporary housing. Communities reported to Abt that residents had previously avoided wanting to stay in housing because of these strict conditions.

Another observation from Abt Global was that there were individuals entering these shelters that hadn’t been provided health care

Acts Full Gospel Church ...

Continued from page 1

their testimonies of how God has blessed and delivered them.

Norful said companies pay millions of dollars in advertising, but word of mouth reigns over all like the Bible.

“I want everyone here to join the witness protection,” said Norful citing that spreading the good news of the Lord ensures support and blessings. “God’s gonna cover, keep, and protect. You are the evidence of a mighty God,” he said.

Norful quoted Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 91, and Revelations 12:11 while sharing that the Lord is a strong tower that will protect you, keep you, and help you overcome the enemy by the power of the word of God.

Jesus Christ during a radio broadcast ministry he conducted during that same time. People were being saved but did not have a place to continue to grow spiritually. Evangelist Bob Jackson thought he could teach the participants the Word of God until the new converts could find a church home.

Several months later, Jackson and his first wife Charlene made plans to move to Georgia. The radio ministry and bible study class were in the process of being closed when Jackson had an encounter with an angel that used parables on the growth of a fig tree and the way the leader of a bird flock flying south is the one bird that knows the way, doesn’t run off and leave the flock, and stays with them until they all get to their destination.

Housing and Healthcare First Approach ...

Continued from page 1

that assist them in ending their homelessness.

Budenholzer and former Housing Portfolio manager Mona Palacios acknowledged a direct connection to health and housing, saying that the healthcare outcomes and life expectancy rates are much different from that of the average person.

They explained that although some in the shelter who are not under care for the medically frail have transitioned out of Oak Days into other permanent housing, the majority of those under Cardea’s assistance are receiving end of life care to make the time they have left more comfortable.

The county hopes to create and fund programs that will assist with those who are not in such drastic needs, but for now, that is where their resources and focus lie.

in their own feces,” Good said. Five Keys is a nonprofit that focuses on workforce development, education, reentry and housing, and oversees the staff at Oak Days, who manage the site as it transitions into permanent housing. The staff works directly with the residents at the shelter to help them with their everyday needs, aside from what they require from Cardea Health.

Those involved at Oak Days acknowledged that solutions are far and few in between, citing systemic barriers that force and keep these individuals on the streets, such as lack of access to healthcare, racial barriers, lack of mental health resources, the housing crisis and more.

assistance in a long time.

The study states that the majority of PRK residents were older adults with health related issues, but there were also those with severe chronic health conditions requiring extra medical assistance.

The authors suggest that shelters consider looking into funding by MediCal to train, assist, or provide resources to existing healthcare staff and needy residents in local communities.

Abt Global featured different counties in their study, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Alameda.

Alameda County was referenced for using isolation shelters as a transition into temporary or permanent housing. The county implemented “Operation Comfort” sites that quarantined people for two weeks or less who had contracted or were exposed to the virus, and “Safer Ground” sites which allowed vulnerable homeless individuals susceptible to COVID-19 the chance to stay in private rooms for an extended period.

According to Alameda Health data, the county housed 2,614 people throughout the duration of PRK. Of the 2,614 people who exited the shelters, 1,716 transitioned into housing.

One of the key findings from the report was that the longer someone stayed in PRK, the less likely they were to go back to their previous lives unsheltered or on the streets and the more likely they were to transition into permanent housing.

The stable living situation that many had experienced in the time they were at PRK sites made it possible to receive much needed resources and eased the transition back to indoor living. Funding from the state and federal government to tackle homelessness also gave local agencies the opportunity to establish pathways to permanent housing for those in chronic unhoused situations.

The authors strongly recommended that this long-term housing model continue to be promoted and funded so that those experiencing homelessness may secure stable housing.

“What we can say with certainty after analysis of this program is Project Roomkey transformed how homeless service systems offer emergency housing across the state” Fiore said.

The church’s co-founder Bishop Bob Jackson was honored by the county and city with Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley and Oakland Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield-Lynch presenting.

Surrounded by senior clergy; Elder Corey Vason, Assistant Pastor Joseph Cotton, and his sister, Senior Pastor Dr. Doris Limbrick, Bishop Bob Jackson beamed with thanks and praise.

Jackson thanked his wife, staff, family and congregation.

Acts Full Gospel Church, led by Bishop Bob Jackson and his beautiful and supportive wife, Lady Barbara Jackson have continued to be a beacon of light spiritually and civically with wrap-around programs serving the community’s incarcerated citizens, re-entry population, and those in need of residential as well as church homes. With a variety of classes and events, the church serves to meet the needs of its surrounding community and beyond.

The church was founded in January of 1984, when, at the time, evangelist Bob Jackson began a successful bible study in a rented dance hall at 5280 Foothill Boulevard in Oakland. The bible study class came about as a result of many souls coming to the Lord

The Jacksons cancelled their plans for the move down south, noticing requests for the young evangelists to start a congregation in Oakland, and, after much prayer, Jackson quit his lucrative job as a building inspector, accepted his calling and announced he would begin a new congregation. At the time, the bible class was focused on the Book of Acts, and the new congregation was named Acts Full Gospel Church.

On May 6, 1984, Acts Full Gospel Church held its first service in a dance hall, nicknamed the “Upper Room,” with 15 people in attendance, including Pastor Bob and Sister Charlene. At its prepandemic height, the church had 6,000 members.

“The Acts Full Gospel family has continued to grow strong through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are so thankful for the opportunity to share The Lord Jesus Christ with all individuals, families, and communities all over the world,” said Jackson.

Acts Church anniversary will also feature special guests; Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis on Thursday evening, and on Friday evening Pastor John F. Hannah.

For more information visit actsfullgospel.org.

D.A. Price Releases 2023 Annual Report...

Continued from page 1

ceived and accepted has dropped, the numbers have stayed consistent since 2020 when 18,635 cases were sent in and 12,402 were accepted.

Tara Anderson, assistant chief of administration and operations, explained that reports are rejected for one of two main reasons, including a report not having enough substantial evidence to move forward or through pre-filing diversion opportunities.

Pre-filing diversion is a process where deputies decide certain cases do not warrant formal charges to be filed and instead allow individuals a second chance through targeted support and resources. The DAO diverted 1,002 people with misdemeanors to these diversion programs.

The DAO also diverted 1,762 people to the Collaborative Courts, which combine judicial supervision with rehab services that are focused on recovery to reduce recidivism and improve offender outcomes. The most popular courts include misdemeanor diversion, behavioral health court and drug court.

Price detailed all her initiatives taken in the first year, including gun violence prevention, anti-human trafficking investments, organized retail theft, the Family Justice Center and much more.

Aside from reporting their many accomplishments, the DAO made it a point to explain plea bargaining in criminal justice cases and who the different players are in the system.

Price has been under fire for months for her alleged “soft on crime” approach, with many families of victims saying she has not prosecuted enough criminals to the highest extent of the law.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Otis Bruce Jr. said that over 90% of

cases that come to any criminal justice forum in the U.S. are resolved through plea bargaining. A plea bargain is an agreement between an attorney and a defendant where the defendant says they are guilty of a lesser charge to receive a more lenient sentence or an agreement to drop other charges.

Bruce emphasized that the district attorney is not the main party or decision maker in a case, contrary to what many believe. The ultimate decision for a criminal charge comes from the judge presiding over the case.

Recall proponents who have been working since last summer to oust Price have also criticized the lack of data showing that the DA and her office is effectively bringing justice to victims of crimes.

“Where is the data?” Brenda Grisham, a DA Price recall proponent, said in a press conference last week.

The DAO said they do not currently have complete data on their prosecution or conviction rates or other outcomes of their cases. They are working towards collecting that data in the coming months and are hoping to have a public database by the end of the year.

Despite facing heavy scrutiny from the public and currently on the verge of a recall election, Price is optimistic about what she was able to accomplish in her short time in office.

“We have more work to do, but I do feel like we have made tremendous progress over the first year,” Price said.

Eyes will be on Price yet again as the county Board of Supervisors decides the date for the recall election against her at a special meeting on May 14 at 3 p.m.

In 2020, Alameda announced a new plan called Home Together 2026 to reduce homelessness and housing issues in the county. Researchers and officials estimated that it would take $2.6 billion and the building of over 24,000 units and subsidy slots to achieve their goals.

Palacios stated that although the plan is certainly a step in the right direction, the only thing that will truly help address homelessness is the decrease in the cost of living across the country.

“Housing is just too expensive for people whether it’s homeownership or rental. It’s going to continue to be a problem, not just in the Bay Area, not just California. It seems like a nationwide problem,” Palacios said.

Steve Good, president and CEO of Five Keys, told the Post that while housing-first is key, it is not the end-all to help individuals once they’re able to receive those services. He believes more resources should go to address individuals’ complex needs that often stem from their unsheltered times.

“We still need more rooms, but we need a hell of a lot more money pumped into mental health and substance abuse issues. And we need to have better enforcement programs in place to get people off the streets so they’re not dying with needles in their arms or lying

But despite the continuous struggle to bring more awareness to the issue, Oak Days is showing that empathy and prioritization from county organizations and departments can alleviate the stress on these vulnerable individuals.

Residents can be seen and heard boasting about the staff at the shelter, stating that without Cardea or Five Keys, they would still be on the streets or dead. Some residents have even gone on to finding jobs and leaving the shelter because of the support that was offered to them that allowed them to get back on their feet after years of suffering.

Chettiar reported that the shelter has seen an 80% reduction in use of hospitals, emergency rooms and emergency psychiatric services for people who are assisted by Cardea and Five Keys, which translates to about $8 million in medical and healthcare savings.

New sites, similar to Oak Days, are scheduled to open as soon as 2025. Cardea Health and Five Keys will be a part of assisting these future developments.

“We’ve got a long way to go but it’s been a huge improvement for so many people who really had had no options for a very long time,” Chettiar said.

Mario Van Peebles ...

Continued from page 1

and her own grandfather was a cowboy.

Throughout “Outlaw Posse,” historic realities are exposed such as the "40 acres and a mule" promised but not delivered to Blacks postslavery and the tactics whites used to swindle land from the Indigenous people and the Africans in the nation were also party of the storyline.

The film showed how Black, Chinese, whites, and Indigenous people created their own havens and worked together. In this way,

Van Peebles displays his utopic side, a side that sees the world as it should be and not how it is.

Van Peebles says he continues to stretch his craft by creating images and films that make an impact and change the trajectory of how Blacks view themselves.

Van Peebles says he cannot overstate enough that while Blacks may not be in physical chains, they need to release the chains from their minds. "The colonizers left us the churches and the schools to keep us enslaved."

As he talks, Van Peebles provides history lessons as he fluidly shares his intellectual perspectives. Van Peebles noted that 1 in 4 cowboys was a Black man in America, but Hollywood gave images of white men in every Western.

He used heavyweight champions as an example, "We know that heavyweights look like Jack Johnson, Muhammed Ali, and Mike Tyson, and they are Black.

But Hollywood portrays them as white men, by creating films like ‘Rocky,’ and we know that's just a movie but it makes the white man the champion. Black men were called boys no matter their age, they were ordered: ‘do this, boy, do that boy.’ That's where the term ‘cowboy’ came from."

Van Peebles explained how West Hollywood brought in white actors to portray ethnic roles and mis-characterized them. "Black and Native American characters were played by white actors. Like the

old Westerns white films portrayed Latinos as the oily bandit, the Chinese, as the deferential house boy Hop Sing.

“Outlaw Posse” also stars actors Edward James Olmos, DC Young Fly, Allen Payne, and Cedric the Entertainer.

“We also cast Madison Calley, a real-life Black harpist and the beautiful Amber Reign Smith," he said.

Van Peebles says he purposely released the film during an election year and encourages everyone to vote.

"In an election year we were divided and in 1908 (the time setting of “Outlaw Posse”) we were divided, but we overcame it. I felt this was a great time to make a film with love and with people of all races especially during an election year that has divided the nation.

"In my own family I have Black, white, gay, and a ‘Trump-er’ aunt."

Van Peebles also emphasized the importance of what you do with your freedom and that money does not necessarily equate freedom.

"Malcolm said, 'Freedom by any means necessary.' Now we say, 'Get paid by any means necessary.' Then you begin to conflate money with freedom. Crack and fossil fuels make a lot of money but kill us." Outlaw Posse is currently available on multiple streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Youtube, and Fandango at Home.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate program. The program is supported by partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go tohttps://www. cavshate.org/

Photo by Magaly Muñoz.