Horace King: A Genius Builder Page 2
Ending the AIDS Epidemic
Dr, Watson and SDA Church Serve Unhoused
Page 9
Photo and story on Page 10
Reparations: How “Intentional” Government Policy Denied Blacks Access to Wealth... Page 5
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
postnewsgroup.com
Weekly Edition: October 27 - Nov. 2, 2021
58th Year, No. 19
Board of Supervisors Approves Taxing County Residents to Fund Oakland A’s Development
Non-binding vote greenlights using public money to pay for stadium and luxury real estate deal By Bay City News and Post Staff
After many hours of talk, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to provide funding for a new Oakland A’s ballpark, from County tax dollars. Though the vote is nonbinding, it will be seen as a green light for the developer, billionaire John Fisher, to move towards creating 3,000 luxury condominiums, a stadium that can seat 35,000 people, and 1.8 million square feet of commercial space and a concert venue on publicly owned land at the Charles P. Howard Terminal in the Port of Oakland. The resolution was not passed, however, with overwhelming enthusiasm. Board President Keith Carson voted against the non-binding resolution after asking detailed questions of staff. Supervisor Carson, among other supervisors, worried
Rendering of the Oakland A’s $12-billion proposed real estate development at the Port of Oakland. Courtesy of sfyimby.com
about the outcome of a massive financial investment like this, in part because some of the City’s economic consultants are making economic assumptions based on legislation that has yet to pass. Carson was concerned that even a non-binding presentation will confront the supervisors with ultimate pressure to participate in the deal. He also noted repeatedly that the demand by the City of Oakland administration to take up this
topic has taken County staff away from the actual work of the County, which includes its primary responsibility to deal with Covid 19 response. Speakers in opposition said that Howard Terminal is critical to the operation of the Port, and that the whole project endangers Oakland’s and the region’s main economic engine. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf considers the vote to be a “historic action that creates a clear path to keep the A’s
Keith Carson
rooted in Oakland,” she wrote in a statement. The City plans to fund part of this project, though it was originally supposed to be 100 percent privately funded. “We look forward to continue working with the A’s, and to issuing a final Environmental Impact Report by the end of this year as well as negotiating a binding Development Agreement. We will return to Continued on Page 10
New Poll of Voters Shows Rebecca Kaplan Leading Mayor’s Race for Nov, 2022 Election
Mayor Libby Schaaf was rated unfavorably by 54% of voters, while only 37% were favorable; Homelessness, Crime and Affordable Housing issues top voters’ concerns By Ken Epstein
A new professionally conducted poll of local voters indicates that more than a year before the November 2022 election, Oakland residents are deeply unhappy with the direction their city is going. Many voters are already backing City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, who significantly leads in a field of 10 potential mayoral candidates, the only one with double-digit first-place votes. Kaplan received 14% of first place votes and adding in those who gave her their secondchoice votes, 20% of the voters want Kaplan as mayor, according to the poll conducted on
October 16-18. Councilmember Loren Taylor came in second in the poll with 9% of first-choice votes and 2% of second-choice votes – for a total of 11% of the vote. Former City Councilmem-
ber Ignacio De La Fuente came in third with 7% of first- and second-place votes, while Councilmember Sheng Thao came in fourth, with a total of 6% of first- and second-place votes.
None of the other candidates reached more than 4% of total first- and second-choice votes, including Councilmember Treva Reid, Port Commissioner Ces Butner, small business owner Derreck Johnson, youth development consultant Greg Hodge, community advocate Ken Houston and Oakland developer Phil Tagami. “This is a base line poll, and most voters are undecided, (but) they have strong thoughts about homelessness, crime, housing affordability and what to do about crime. They also had strong thoughts about the mayor,” said Gregory McConContinued on Page 10
Kaiser Stationary Engineers Still on Strike After 40 Days By Zack Haber
Union workers in IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 have been picketing 24/7 near Kaiser Permanente’s Oakland Medical Center since Sept. 18, the day after their contract with the healthcare company ran out. The Oakland picket line is one of 24 that include about 750 engineers at Kaiser facilities across Northern California. “The payment package increase that they gave us was less than half of [the increase] everybody else is getting right now,” said Mark Sutherland, a stationary engineer on the picket line. “It was kind of a slap in the face.” Local 39 stationary engineers’ work involves maintaining Kaiser buildings and medical equipment like ventilators and heart monitors. It’s a job that requires four years of specialized training, continued
Alana Beard, WNBA Champion and four-time WNBA AllStar.
Legend Alana Beard to Lead Ownership Group For Oakland WNBA Proposal By Post Staff
WNBA Champion and fourtime WNBA All-Star Alana Beard has partnered with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) to bring a WNBA franchise to Oakland. Attorney Jade Smith-Williams, of the law firm Baily &
Glasser, LLP, has also joined as counsel for the group. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited to help bring a WNBA team to Oakland,” Beard said. “The AASEG has done an incredible job of getting us to this point and has garnered tremendous support Continued on Page 10
Sports Group Sees Former Walgreens Site as New Health and Wellness Center
Groundbreaking ceremony for East Oakland Walgreens at 81st Avenue and International Boulevard. (left to right): Aliza Gallo, Oakland Economic Development assistant director, Unindentified person, former Mayor Elihu Harris, former Councilperson Dezie WoodsJones and Gladys Green, East Oakland Community Development leader.
By Post Staff
The African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG) is continuing its push to serve as a primary vehicle for economic development in the areas of Oakland that are most in need. Their latest endeavor comes as a response to news that East Oakland’s District 7 is losing a longstanding Walgreens
Pharmacy store that served the crucial needs of thousands of residents in the surrounding community, especially seniors. The AASEG is introducing a new concept at the former Walgreens location called: “Reimagining the Walgreens Site: Introducing A Healthy Village” The AASEG is working Continued on Page 10
Oakland Schools Will Require Student Vaccinations in January By Post Staff
Striking Kaiser workers in the IUOE Stationary Engineer Local 39 union stand next to the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland on October 21 with supporter from other Kaiser workers in the SEIUUHW and OPEIU 29. Photo by Zack Haber.
night classes during the first few years of employment, and onsite training. Kaiser’s proposed payment package, they say, would make them the lowest paid stationary engineers working in Bay Area hospitals. Union members want a pay package similar to what
stationary engineers at nearby hospitals receive. Kaiser Permanente’s media team did not directly answer when asked how their proposed payment package for Local 39 stationary engineers compared to other such workers in the Bay Area, but instead compared
their package to elsewhere in the nation. “The engineers represented by Local 39 are among the highest paid in their profession in the country, earning total compensation (wages, benefits, Continued on Page 10
The Oakland Board of Education voted this week to implement a student vaccine requirement, starting in January. “Starting Jan. 1, 2022, all students must be vaccinated to attend school in person (or take part in any other in-person school activity) unless they are exempted,” according to the resolution adopted 4-3 at Wednesday evening’s board meeting. “Students will have to be
fully vaccinated by the time the spring semester begins in January,” according to a district media release. “There are a number of exemptions in the policy, including an exemption for medical reasons, for personal belief, or if a student has received their first or second shots but is not yet fully vaccinated,” the media release said. “All non-exempted, unvaccinated students will be offered placement in the District’s independent study program at Sojourner Truth.”