Reflection and SelfEducation
California Foundations Drop $100 Million in “Black Freedom Fund”
Nancy Lieberman Gives Back
Gay Plair Cobb Supports Women’s Cancer Center
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Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
postnewsgroup.com
57th Year, No. 34
Weekly Edition. Edition. Feb. 10-16, 2021
Black History Highlight
LeRonne Armstrong, Oakland’s New Police Chief Pledges Anti-Violent Crime Focus With Openness, Honesty, Equity By Paul and Gay Plair Cobb
Vice Pres. Kamala Harris
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
Cathy Adams, OAACC’s president and CEO
Oakland Black Chamber of Commerce Center Stage At American Rescue Plan Meeting with Harris, Yellen By Sandra Varner
The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC), www.oaacc.org, joined more than 140 Black chamber presidents from across the nation, in a virtual conversation on February 5, with U.S. Vice Pres. Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, to discuss the American Rescue Plan. Moderated by Ron Busby, president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, INC., the nearly hour-long exchange, placed emphasis squarely on
restoring the U.S. economy to full capacity, particularly Black-owned businesses, a sector hardest hit during the COVID19 health pandemic. One of four speakers, Cathy Adams, OAACC’s president and CEO, said of the chamber’s virtual seat at the table, “We addressed the urgency of keeping our local businesses latter is critical to help our businesses build back better, here in the Bay Area.” Adams also punctuated a critical area affecting the Af-
rican-American community more broadly, stating, “Vice President Harris encouraged all chamber leaders to reach out to our respective communities to get people vaccinated.” Locally, OAACC created an economic stimulus fund last summer to provide needBlack-owned businesses that did not receive federal funding or PPP monies. The $1.1 million fund, raised in 90 days from area resources, corporate partners and individual conContinued on Page 8
LeRonne Armstrong is Oakland’s new police chief and he plans to utilize the knowledge and experiences he gained from his West Oakland birthplace to help him and his new executive team make some attitudinal and cultural changes about the tolerance for violence. He announced that reducing violent crime will be his administration’s uppermost focus. “The citizens of Oakland need to feel safe,” he said. Armstrong says his goal of reducing violent crime will not come at the expense of social justice because “we will be fully transparent, accountable and accessible.” He met with the Oakland series of regular press and media sessions to talk directly to the community. “I will not hide behind press releases. I will
Teachers’ Union President Keith Brown to Lead County-Wide Labor Federation By Ken Epstein
Rep. Barbara Lee
Rep. Barbara Lee Announces Funding for COVID-19 Funeral Expenses By Alex Katz
Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced on Wednesday $2 billion in special Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for families to afford proper funerals for their loved ones who passed away as a result of COVID-19. This program replicates the funding used for funeral assistance after Hurricane Katrina, and was inspired by legislation introduced by Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY14) in May. This program will allow families to be reimbursed up to $7,000 for funeral expenses. The funds will be retroactive through the beginning of the pandemic, Jan. 20, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020. “No one should struggle to afford a proper funeral for a loved one. During this time of unprecedented pain and economic hardship, it’s a moral imperative that the federal government step in and provide relief,” Lee said. “FEMA is authoContinued on Page 8
Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown was elected Monday to serve as president of the Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO, which represents about 135 union locals throughout the Alameda County and over 100,000 workers. “It’s a great honor, and I’m humbled to serve in this position to be able to support working families and workers in Oakland and throughout Alameda County,” said Brown, who was elected by labor council delegates on Monday the federation, he continues in his present position in his local union. “My role as president will be to continue an agenda to push for progressive change in Oakland and Alameda County,” said Brown, who rose to regional and national promi-
Keith Brown
nence during the Oakland Education Association’s successful strike in 2019. “We made great strides in Oakland (during recent elections) in electing a progressive City Council and electing school board members who prioritize students and families, not corporate interests,” he said. “In the midst of this COVID pandemic, strong unions are more important than ever, to
make sure that working people in the city and county have access to sick leave and are protected against layoffs,” he said. Brown will join executive secretary-treasurer of the labor council Elizabeth Ortega-Toro, who was re-elected to her position. “Under her leadership a strong labor movement has grown throughout the county,” he said. He said his election as president represents a vote of that teachers and their unions are providing in Oakland and throughout the country as they working people and particularly students and families of color are facing in schools, housing, living conditions and on the job. An Oakland native, Brown has worked for 22 years as a teacher in the public school Continued on Page 8
Latest U.S. Payroll Protection Program Can Help Minority-Owned Businesses By Post Staff
a PPP loan, whether they re-
With the U.S. economy struggling through the impacts of the COVID-19, Congress passed a broad Coronavirus Relief Act that went into law at the end of 2020, which included $284 billion in funding for a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These funds are now being released, providing a lifeline to
Blair Underwood
based organizations and those who are self-employed, to get ic times.
vides businesses with “forgivable” loans, which will not have to be paid back if funds are used as outlined by the SBA to pay wages, rent, utilities, and other
as part of the CARES Act, pro-
Businesses can apply for
or not. And unlike traditional loans, qualifying for this program is not based on the borrower’s credit-worthiness, and there is no collateral or personal guarantee required. To qualify, businesses needed to have been operating before Feb. 15, 2020, and be within SBA PPP size guidelines. It is available to businesses that have employees and those that don’t, including independent contractors. It
LeRonne Armstrong, Oakland’s new Police Chief. Photo by Auintard Henderson.
not back down. I will admit fault when it occurs and I will be willing to go to the council, mayor and the community to seek their cooperation and understanding,” he said. “This city needs an honest conversation about its needs, problems and progress of policing this
community.” Armstrong joined the Oakland Police Dept. (OPD) under the direction of Joe Samuels, the last 18 years the OPD has been under the auspices of the Continued on Page 8
Oakland Becomes Latest City to Pass Hazard Pay for Grocery Store Workers, Granting $5/hr Increase By Brandon Patterson
The Oakland City Council last week unanimously passed a measure requiring large supermarkets to give their employees an extra $5 an hour as hazard pay for working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Grocers Association, which represents grocery store owners, quickly sued the city a day later, arguing that many stores cannot afford the pay
raise and that stores would be forced to raise prices. Minimum wage in Oakland is currently $14.14 an hour – a skimpy wage for the expensive Bay Area. That means that grocery store workers making minimum wage will earn at least $19.19 an hour. Councilmembers said the increase in pay was necessary to compensate workers for risking their health to serve the public urging the COVID-19 pandemic. “The national reContinued on Page 8
Oakland Coliseum Vaccination Site Scheduled to Open Feb. 16 From City of Hayward
A new large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site is scheduled to open Feb. 16 at the Oakland Coliseum and begin serving people eligible to receive a vaccine under the State of California’s and Alameda County’s phased inoculation rollout. The Coliseum vaccination site will be run by the Federal Emergency Management of Emergency Services and is part of a Biden Administration effort to establish 100 vaccina100 days, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week. To determine your eligibility to receive a vaccine at the Coliseum at this time and to regibility, go online to the State’s appointment, registration and
the questionnaires. faith-based organizations. Thus far in Alameda CounMany small businesses, ty, more than 140,000 people Continued on Page 8
COVID-19 vaccine and 37,750 a second dose either through their health care provider, the Alameda County Public Health Department, community clinics and other Public Health Department partners. This week, eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination in Alameda County has expanded to include people 65 years of age and older, and essential workers in the food and agriculture, emergency services, and education and childcare sectors—an estimated population of 325,000 people. For more COVID-19 information from Alameda County Public Health Department—including ways and availability—start here on the Public Health Department website.