Oakland Post
“Where there is no vision, the people perish...”
California to Mark 60th Anniversary of Voting Rights Act with Public Event in Sacramento
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
California Secretary of State
Shirley N. Weber will host an event on Aug. 25 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – landmark federal legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices and expanded ballot access nationwide.
The program will feature a panel discussion examining both the historic passage of the act and its modern-day impact on elections, with particular attention to California’s role in advancing voting rights. The event will also include a special exhibit curated by the California State Archives, a division of the Secretary of State’s office.
Under Mayor Lee, Oakland Is Cutting Red Tape for Small Business Permits
By Post Staff
One of Mayor Barbara Lee’s top priorities, along with housing, illegal dumping, homelessness, and public safety has been to respond to calls for permit reform, a longtime concern of economic development groups and community advocates who have complained that complex and restrictive permit rules are squashing small businesses.
According to Robin Abad, ombudsperson for the City of Oakland, the goal of permit reform is to “streamline and reduce bureau-
cracy for small businesses.”
“Permit reform impacts so many aspects of our local economy,” Abad said. “With the right changes, more entrepreneurs will be able to realize their dreams by starting up businesses in Oakland, and we’ll be able to retain the rich and diverse small business community we enjoy here.”
Abad said permit reform is already underway. Recent code amendments have relaxed rules for businesses in Downtown Oakland, the Broadway-Valdez district in Uptown, and the area
Remembering Dr. James Sweeney III: A Life Dedicated to Service
By Carla Thomas
By Carla Thomas
On Aug. 19, families
and organiza-
cities
Born and raised in Oakland,
Lovett was arrested in 2019 and died in 2021 after being held in Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail.
He was in the custody of the notorious 3000 Boys sheriff’s gang, a group linked to the deaths of many other inmates. And while his body showed signs of severe physical trauma, the Los Ange -
Community leader and dental practitioner, Dr. James Sweeney III passed away on Aug. 10.
A Nashville native, Sweeney earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Fisk University in his hometown in 1967. He then attended Meharry Medical College, also in Nashville,
By Paul Cobb
I want to thank my wife Gay Plair and my niece Constance Camille Cobb Zunino for organizing a surprise Aug. 18 birthday party celebration for me at the Marriott in downtown Oakland.
During the extemporaneous reminisces, which included Mayor Barbara Lee, who formerly lived around the corner from us on Filbert Street, several family members and friends urged me to write a book about my life as an
where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1971. From 1971 to 1973, Dr. Sweeney served in the United States Air Force at David Grant Hospital, Travis AFB, CA. At the completion of his service, Dr. Sweeney began his private practice as an associate dentist with Dr. Henry Lucas in
activist, religion editor, business operator, public official and volunteer organizer.
And now, since I have been blessed by God to be alive after 82 years, I told the gathering that I would start chronicling some of my experiences and stories as columns, photos and interviews.
As I told Cathy Adams, Richard “Razor” Johnson and Wil Ussery and others, please provide recommendations and issues or events that you feel I should include. Since this is the era of AI, which
By Ken Epstein
Joining more than 300 protests and marches across the country, hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators rallied on short notice in Oakland on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland to denounce the Trump administration’s plans to guarantee Republican reelection by gerrymandering and suppressing voting rights in Texas and other states.
According to Drucilla Tigner, executive director of pro-democ-
By Post Staff
Port of Oakland July container volume marked a strong rebound from June, with volumes climbing sharply as importers moved cargo early to get ahead of the announced Aug. 1 tariff deadlines.
As one of the city’s largest economic engines, the Port of Oakland plays a critical role in job creation, international trade, and regional development.
Loaded imports jumped from 70,334 TEUs (20-foot containers) in June to 92,392 TEUs in July, a 31.4% increase, the highest monthly import total so far in 2025.
“This kind of front-loading— where cargo owners accelerate shipments to avoid added costs— was clearly the driving force behind the month’s performance,”
means Artificial Intelligence, but for me it might mean Active Ignorance, I will incorporate those experiences by finally using Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-Tok and all the other communication pathways. And as a publisher I will not be quiescent about the present political climate, but I will use my podcast and other social media tools to propose solutions and strategies to fight back and save democracy, whether it poses a threat to our plans for a
62nd-anniversary fundraiser or not. Please share your ideas, suggested solution topics, photos and videos to pcobb@postnews-
impacted by police violence
tions from several
across California rallied in front of the Attorney General’s offices to protest Rob Bonta’s failure to investigate the murder of Jalani Lovett.
Mayor Barbara Lee. Photo courtesy of City of Oakland.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber speaks with CBM media partners about voting rights, May 19, 2025, in Sacramento, CA. CBM photo by LC Photography.
Speakers at the Aug. 16 pro-democracy rally at Lake Merritt in Oakland included Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas.
Photo by Ken Epstein.
Dr. James Sweeney III. File photo.
Paul at seven. Coutesy photo.
Outside Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, Kathryn Wade of Antioch, Malad Baldwin’s mother, Jalani Lovett’s sister, Yvette Martin, Jalani Lovett’s mother, activist Terry Lovett, and an unnamed supporter protest violence across California and demand justice for Jalani Lovett. Photo courtesy of Carla Thomas.
DisBlack Lawmakers at Forefront of Newsom-Trump Redistricting Clash ... see page 2
Photo courtesy Port of Oakland.
Mayor Barbara Lee presented a proclamation to Post publisher Paul Cobb during a surpise birthday party celebration in his honor.
Key Black Caucus ‘Road to Repair’ Bills Await Their Fate in the State Legislature
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
The State Assembly and Senate must act on several priority bills that California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) members authored within the next two weeks if they are to become law.
The push to pass these bills comes as the Legislature is superfocused on several other competing priorities, including approving Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed redistricting plan by Aug. 22.
The 16-bill Road to Repair 2025 Priority Bill Package is based on recommendations from the California Reparations Task Force’s 1,100-page report released in June 2023. According to the CLBC, it aims to address historical injustices and systemic barriers facing Black Californians.
study,” said Chris Lodgson of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California. “And CSU should not be doing the study as well. Not one of its 23 campuses has a genealogical department.”
“Without targeted measures, the state cannot adequately address the wealth gap and housing disparities rooted in these injustices and discrimination.”
By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media
At the Japanese American
National Museum in Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom and top California Democratic leaders unveiled a plan to authorize a special election for new congressional district maps in response to President Donald Trump’s push for partisan gerrymandering in Texas and other states to benefit House Republicans in next year’s midterm elections.
Newsom, standing with legislative leaders, members of Congress, civil rights advocates and union leaders, said, “Donald Trump, you have poked the bear, and we will punch back.”
The Election Rigging Response
Act
Newsom is proposing a constitutional amendment, the Election Rigging Response Act for the Nov. 4 ballot. It would keep California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, declare support for fair, nonpartisan commissions nationwide, and temporarily adopt new congressional districts through 2030 unless other states keep their maps. Voters would decide whether to bypass the commission temporarily and let the Legislature draw maps for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.
The package includes three bills: one calling for the Nov. 4 special election, another establishing new district maps if triggered, and a third reimbursing counties for election costs.
The maps, drawn by the Legislature’s independent experts, are now publicly available on the Assembly and Senate Elections Committee websites for review.
Lawmakers have set an expedited schedule for passing the bills: introduce them in both houses when they return from recess on Aug. 18, hear them in each Elections Committees on Aug. 19, move them to Appropriations on Aug. 20, and hold floor votes on Aug. 21, when they must pass with a two-thirds majority in order to go before voters in a special election.
Black Lawmakers Speak Out
Black lawmakers speaking at the press conference linked Trump’s redistricting strategy to broader threats against
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“This legislative package is a chance to transform the promise of equality into a lived reality,” CLBC chair Sen. Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) said in February.
Many of those bills are in the Appropriations process, where lawmakers evaluate their potential against costs. Weber has two measures in the package — Senate Bill (SB) 518and SB 437. Those bills revive the spirit and intent of two earlier CLBC bills that failed to pass last August.
SB 518 would create the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery, while SB 437 directs the California State University (CSU) to develop a method to verify reparations eligibility. It also allocates $6 million for that work.
Some reparations advocates oppose the CSU provision. “We don’t need another study. The Reparations Task Force did the
Both bills cleared the Assembly Judiciary Committee but were placed in the Appropriations “suspense file” on July 16.
The suspense file is a temporary holding place for bills with significant fiscal impacts, potentially costing $50,000 or more in the Senate or $150,000 or more in the Assembly.
AB 57, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), has passed the Assembly and is currently under review in the SenateAppropriations Committee. AB 57 aims to narrow the racial wealth gap by reserving 10% of the state’s Home Purchase Assistance Program for descendants of enslaved people.
“A homeownership gap persists, with the descendants of formerly enslaved people lagging behind White households in homeownership rates by approximately 30 percentage points,” McKinnor said.
SB 515, authored by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro), was placed in the suspense file before its initial Appropriations hearing on the same day. It is a reparative justice measure also included in the CLBC’s Road to Repair package. Richardson’s bill would require cities, counties, and charter jurisdictions to include additional categories for collecting data on the ancestry or ethnic origin of their employees, including specified Black or African American groups, commencing Jan. 1, 2027.
In the weeks left in session, CLBC bills still awaiting floor votes or stuck in committees face a decisive moment.
“The Road to Repair 2025 Bill Package is not only about acknowledging the past, but also a commitment to build a more just and equitable future by addressing the systemic barriers that Black Californians continue to face,” the CLBC said in a February letter.
Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) and members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) present their Road to Repair 2025 Priority Bill Package on Feb. 20 at the State Capitol. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters speaks to the media following a press conference, Aug. 14. CBM photo by Maxim Elramsisy.
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By Tamara Shiloh
Lead Boldly: Seven Principles from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Kevin Woolfolk: The Innovator Behind
MacArthur Fellow Dorothy Roberts’ Advocates Restructure of Child Welfare System
erts is excerpted from the MacArthur Fellows web site.
state intervention and the results of
artists a poet/writer, histo rian, and dancer/choreographer who each receive $800,000 over
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm Sez
Author: Robert F. Smith, Copy-
right: c.2025, Publisher: HarperCollins Leadership, Price $31.99, Page Count: 240 pages
Watch and learn.
If you’ve ever had to do something thorny or tricky, something you’ve never done before, that’s how you get good at it: you watch a video online or see someone do it in person before trying it and putting your own spin on it. See one, do one, show one, they say.
As in the new book “Lead Boldly” by Robert F. Smith, it’s always best to learn by example.
Although he was there at the March on Washington in August of 1963, Smith doesn’t remember it. He was an infant in his mother’s arms then, but he grew up on stories of that day, and other accounts of Dr. Martin Luther King’s efforts. He cut his teeth on tales of Jim Crow, the Green Book, and the lack of generational wealth. Understanding this his-
a five-year period to spend as they
min, Jericho Brown, Tony Cokes,
olds, and Dorothy Roberts. This is the eighth and last in the series highlighting the Black awardees. The report below on Dorothy Rob
tory is why, in his business, he reaches for the seven principles that Dr. King taught.
Leaders, he says, know the importance of equal opportunities and they work to change wealth gaps, and to raise up future generations of Black citizens – often through CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions), which help underserved areas.
Leaders build community, then they work to move everyone forward by encouraging STEM education in local schools, and by ensuring that the latest technology is within reach of all citizens. They meld both sides of America into one cohesive citizenry to harness the power of togetherness, and to create equity and opportunities. Leaders build bridges between their group and others, and they work to keep them strong. A good leader is brave enough and willing enough to step up and declare that something’s wrong, and to see that that thing is fixed.
A graduate of Yale University with a law degree from Harvard, Dorothy Roberts is a legal scholar and public policy researcher exposing racial inequities embedded within health and social service systems.
And finally, you can “lead boldly” by taking the reins, gathering your team, and continuing on with efforts to better all citizens in all corners.
Sine 2012, she has been a professor of Law and Sociology, and on the faculty in the department of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Looking for some inspiration from the C-Suite?
Roberts’s work encompasses reproductive health, bioethics, and child welfare. She sheds light on systemic inequities, amplifies the voices of those directly affected, and boldly calls for wholesale transformation of existing systems.
Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty 1997)”, she analyzes historical and contempo rary policies and practices that de nied agency to Black women and sought to control their childbear ing—from forced procreation dur ing slavery, to coercive steriliza tion and welfare reform—and ad vocates for an expanded under standing of reproductive freedom.
This work prompted Roberts to examine the treatment of children of color in the U.S. child welfare system.
You might find it inside “Lead Boldly,” but you might also notice that what you’ll read here is somewhat inadequate. Rather than hearty information, it’s a lot of opinion – valid opinion, but opinion nonetheless – that may work better for younger, up-andcomers. Worse: there’s really not enough of it.
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
That can be frustrating. Author and head of Vista Equity Partners Robert F. Smith starts each chapter with a different speech by Dr. King, and he then makes each relevant for anyone who hopes to make change.
After those rousing words, though, readers may be left wanting more direction. You’ll be fired up… and then cooled down, quickly, probably because this book is relatively short, at just 240 pages, roughly half of which is speech transcripts. That leaves the other half to cover a lot of ground.
Which it does, but just not enough.
This isn’t a bad book; it’s full of great information but it feels incomplete. Perhaps the best way to get the most out of it is to study the speeches and use Smith’s lessons as a launching pad. Do your own homework and then let “Lead Boldly” inspire you further.
After nearly two decades of re search and advocacy work along side parents, social workers, fam ily defense lawyers, and organiza tions, Roberts has concluded that the current child welfare system is in fact a system of family policing with alarmingly unequal practic es and outcomes. Her 2001 book, “Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare,” details the out sized role that race and class play in determining who is subject to
Through interviews with Chicago mothers who had interacted with Child Protective Services (CPS), Roberts shows that institutions regularly punish the effects
CPS disproportionately investigates Black and Indigenous families, especially if they are lowincome, and children from these families are much more likely than white children to be removed from their families after CPS referral.
In “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (2022),”
Roberts traces the historical, cultural, and political forces driving the racial and class imbalance in
These include stereotypes about Black parents as negligent, devaluation of Black family bonds, and stigmatization of parenting practices that fall outside a narrow set of norms.
In the world of pet care innovation, some of the most impactful inventions come from the simplest observations. Such is the case with Kevin Woolfolk, an inventor whose curiosity about his pet hamster led to a revolutionary improvement in small animal exercise equipment that continues to benefit pets and their owners today.
She also shows that blaming marginalized individuals for structural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and communities.
Roberts argues that the engrained oppressive features of the current system render it beyond repair. She calls for creating an entirely new approach focused on supporting families rather than punishing them.
There isn’t much written about Woolfolk’s life, but his story begins in 1969 when he was exercising on his stationary bike one evening in Normal, Illinois. As he diligently recorded the mileage of his workout, he noticed his hamster, Burt, running energetically on his wheel. This simple observation sparked a question that would lead to a significant innovation: just how far was Burt traveling during his nightly runs?
Her support for dismantling the current system of child welfare is unsettling to some, but her provocation inspires many to think more critically about its poor track record and harmful design.
By uncovering the complex forces underlying social systems and institutions, and uplifting the experiences of people caught up in them, Roberts creates opportunities to imagine and build more equitable and responsive ways to ensure child and family safety.
Unlike many inventors who start with complex technical problems, his inspiration came from genuine curiosity about his
Continued on page 6
Special to The Post
Oct. 1, it was noted that eight of the 22 MacArthur fellows were African American. Among the re cipients of the so-called ‘genius grants’ are scholars, visual and media
Dorothy Roberts. Photo courtesy of the John D. and Catherine T. Ma cArthur Foundation.
Businessman and author Robert F. Smith, head of Vista Equity Partners,
Design sketch courtesy of Kevin Woolfolk.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
Continued from page 4
pet’s activity levels. He wondered about the distance Burt was covering as he ran on the traditional hamster wheel, which at the time provided exercise but no way to measure the animal’s activity.
Driven by this curiosity, Woolfolk created a prototype that could measure his hamster’s exercise routine. His solution was simple: he constructed a mouse wheel equipped with a small magnetic counter purchased from a local store. This addition transformed the basic exercise wheel into a device capable of tracking the distance traveled by the animal.
After placing the prototype in Burt’s cage, Woolfolk left his hamster to complete his nightly exercise routine. The results were astounding — upon waking up, he discovered that Burt had run an impressive 23,300 feet, equivalent to roughly 4.5 miles. This revelation not only satisfied his curiosity but also demonstrated the significant exercise needs of small pets like hamsters.
Motivated by this eye-opening figure, he decided to put his creative juices to work. About a year after drafting the idea, he filed and was granted a patent for a “squirrel cage having a cyclometer … and method for monitoring the
Newsom-Trump
Continued from page 2
communities of color.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), said, “This isn’t about redistricting. This is about whether we let an authoritarian in the White House break our democracy,” Bryan said at the museum.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA43) called Trump “dangerous and authoritarian,” saying he targets Black and Latino communities with “militarized” tactics. She said California is organized and “will not be intimidated,” stressing the fight is about protecting communities of color from systemic assault.
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) described the GOP’s mid-decade redraws as “racebased and classist,” designed to silence Black and Latino voices. “Voters, not janky maps, should decide elections,” she said.
activity of an animal.” The patent detailed the mechanics of effectively tracking the animal’s activity via wheel rotation.
Recognizing the potential value of his invention for other pet owners and researchers, he patented his improved hamster exercise wheel, making him the known inventor of this type of measuring device. His patent (US 5,649,503) describes “a squirrel cage” with “a cyclometer having a sensor mounted on the support and a trigger mounted on the cylinder such that when the cylinder rotates, the trigger passes near the sensor.”
This innovation represented more than just a gadget for curious pet owners. The ability to measure small animal exercise provided valuable data for veterinarians, researchers, and pet enthusiasts who wanted to better understand and monitor their pets’ health and activity levels.
Woolfolk’s invention has had lasting impact on the pet industry. His idea was eventually picked up by pet companies and commercialized, making the measuring hamster wheel available to consumers worldwide. Today, variations of his design can be found in pet stores and are used by hamster owners who want to track their pets’ exercise routines.
CBLC Chair State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) reinforced the caucus’ message in a press release stating: “California will not sit idly by while Republicans attempt to rig the electoral system … California is responding to protect our democracy and preserve the will of the people.”
Republican Pushback California Republicans blasted the Democrats’ plan, calling it a power grab accusing them of abandoning the voter-approved independent redistricting commission, created to take mapdrawing power from legislators. GOP leaders warned the move would erode public trust and predicted voters would reject the measure as partisan politics disguised as reform.
What Happens Next If voters approve the measure, the new maps would govern California’s 52 congressional districts starting in 2026. That could offset Texas’s redrawn maps and potentially help Democrats retake control of the U.S. House.
Gov. Newsom’s Office Disputes Auditor Report on State Telework Savings
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office pushed back Tuesday against a state auditor’s report that estimated keeping state employees remote for three days a week could save the state $225 million annually in real estate costs.
The report, issued by State Auditor Grant Parks, found that the state could reduce office space by roughly 30% across seven large buildings totaling 5.5 million square feet. The buildings include 455 Golden Gate Ave. in San Francisco, 1515 Clay St. in Oakland, one building in Los Angeles, and four in Sacramento.
Parks said the savings would not be achievable under Newsom’s March order requiring employees to return to the office four days per week, an increase from the two-day directive issued in 2024. Each worker under the fourday plan would need a dedicated workspace, limiting potential reductions in office space.
Newsom has delayed implementing the four-day order until next year while negotiating with worker unions.
Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for the governor, said the report’s figures are inaccurate.
“This audit on state telework is not a scientific study, nor does it paint a complete picture of the state workforce or the benefits of working in person. While we appreciate the auditor’s time in collecting this information, we respectfully disagree with the auditor’s findings, which are based on
1111 Broadway, Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 208-7400 • www.alamedactc.org
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Oversight Project Management and Project Support Services (RFQ No. R26-0002)
The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) for contracts to commence services in April, 2026, or as indicated in the RFQ and/or appropriate addenda.
Key Dates:
• Optional Online Pre-Proposal Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
• SOQ due date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, BEFORE 3:00 p.m. PT
SOQs are subject to Alameda CTC’s Local Business Contract Equity Program. The Program goals for professional services are 70% for Local Business Enterprise (LBE) and 30% for Small LBE. For Program requirements and forms, visit Alameda CTC’s website. Any contract resulting from this RFQ will be awarded without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or national origin.
All RFQ documents are available Procurement Portal at https://alamedactc. bonfirehub.com. All questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted via the Procurement Portal, no later than 3:00 p.m. PT on September 1, 2025. Submittals must be made in accordance with the instructions in the RFQ. Any contract awarded must be in compliance with the local, state, and/or federal requirements.
OPINION: Some Believe Trump’s Takeover of D.C. Police Is a Necessary Solution to an Unending Crime
By Craig J. DeLuz Special to California Black Media Partners
estimates and as noted throughout the audit, hypothetical theories and incomplete information,” she said.
“While the auditor found potential cost savings, these calculations are based on estimates and require a set of assumptions that are unlikely to occur. We will take the audit’s recommendations into consideration, but the budget savings identified should be treated as hypothetical and incomplete,” Gallegos added.
The report also criticized the governor’s office for failing to gather data on office space needs and benefits of in-person work and noted that the Department of General Services had not provided guidance on evaluating telework effectiveness. It recommended the Legislature consider amending state law to allow certain jobs to work remotely three or more days per week, potentially reducing office space costs.
The state workers’ union SEIU Local 1000 opposes the four-day order. President Anica Wells said the report “confirms what we’ve been saying all along: telework works. It saves the state hundreds of millions of dollars, reduces traffic and pollution, and helps recruit and retain the best workers.”
As the debate over remote work continues, California policymakers, unions, and state agencies will weigh both cost savings and operational needs, balancing efficiency with workforce flexibility as they plan for the coming year.
President Trump’s recent announcement regarding federal control of the Washington, D.C. police force is a bold and necessary step toward confronting the rampant crime that has plagued our nation’s capital. This decision resonates strongly, especially in light of the ever-mounting statistics that tell a grim tale of safety in the District. The persistent narrative attempting to downplay the crime crisis in D.C. must be challenged, as doing so is irrelevant to pursuing real solutions.
President Trump acknowledged a longstanding problem and took action to address it.
For years, D.C. has wrestled with a heinous crime rate. In 2023 alone, the city recorded 200 homicides at its fastest pace ever, leading to an alarming murder rate that surpasses even that of cities like Bogotá, Colombia and Mexico City, Mexico – Latin American capitals notorious for their violence. The statistics are damning: the number of car thefts has doubled, while carjackings have more than tripled in just five years. These figures paint a plain picture of reality, contradicting claims from local officials who have, time and again, insisted that everything is “just fine.” This level of denial, akin to sticking one’s head in the sand, and it does not pave a path to real solutions. It only fosters a dangerous environment in which citizens feel less secure.
President Trump has invoked the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, asserting his constitutional authority — something very much in line with the founding principles that establish congressional oversight over the nation’s capital. By mobilizing 800 members of the National Guard to rein in crime, he is not only prioritizing public safety but also challenging the status quo that has allowed D.C. to spiral into lawlessness.
Epidemic
The President’s concern for safety is echoed in a recent Washington Post poll, which reveals that Black and low-income residents of D.C. are particularly alarmed about the rising crime rates, highlighting a troubling disconnect between prevailing political narratives and the lived experiences of vulnerable communities.
President Trump’s strategy — to increase police presence and reshape law enforcement authority — is reminiscent of practical measures that stemmed from the “Broken Windows Theory,” which posits that addressing small problems can prevent larger ones from manifesting. The idea is straightforward: if the community can see that law enforcement is actively engaged, the likelihood of crime decreases. This concept has been proven time and again in other cities, where policing strategies that insist on accountability and visible enforcement lead to substantial drops in criminal behavior.
President Trump’s decisive action to reclaim control over the policing of Washington, D.C. deserves acknowledgment and support. It is a response based on hard truths, action, and a clear message: safety and well-being cannot wait for the next convenient political cycle. As the President suggested, “we want our Capitol back.” That means stepping up and refusing to accept a narrative of complacency when real-world dangers lurk just outside our doors. Only through leadership that prioritizes immediate and tangible responses can we hope to see a decline in crime and a restoration of peace in our nation’s capital.
About the Author Craig J. DeLuz has almost 30 years of experience in public policy and advocacy. He currently hosts a daily news and commentary show called “The RUNDOWN.” You can follow him on X at @CraigDeLuz.
1111 Broadway, Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 208-7400 • www.alamedactc.org
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Oversight Construction Management and Project Support Services (RFQ No. R26-0004)
The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) for contracts to commence services in April 2026, or as indicated in the RFQ and/or appropriate addenda.
Key Dates:
• Optional Online Pre-Proposal Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
• SOQ due date: Thursday, October 2, 2025, BEFORE 3:00 p.m. PT
SOQs are subject to Alameda CTC’s Local Business Contract Equity Program. The Program goals for professional services are 70% for Local Business Enterprise (LBE) and 30% for Small LBE. For Program requirements and forms, visit Alameda CTC’s website. Any contract resulting from this RFQ will be awarded without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or national origin. All RFQ documents are available Procurement Portal at https://alamedactc. bonfirehub.com. All questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted via the Procurement Portal, no later than 3:00 p.m. PT on September 16, 2025. Submittals must be made in accordance with the instructions in the RFQ. Any contract awarded must be in compliance with the local, state, and/or federal requirements.
By Emil Guillermo
Got to hand it to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
More than any Democrat — alongside State Attorney General Rob Bonta — he’s been trying to find the right way to fight the unlawfulness of the Trump administration that seems bent toward turning America into a functioning Republican dictatorship.
That’s right. I said it.
You can point to ICE and say it’s really fascist.
Or say authoritarian.
But we’re quibbling here, right?
With Trump so willing to use executive orders to exert his will and with the Republicans so willing to accommodate, America is barely a functioning democracy.
We are sliding toward that oth-
er “d” word, that starts with that “dic…” sound and it is not a pretty thought.
To counteract that takes some action — and Newsom is ready.
But it’s not going to be easy.
It’s one thing to file lawsuits about tariffs and military deployment. All that takes time.
But this new idea to fight the ending of democracy with democracy makes more sense — if Californians understand the urgency.
It requires we change the law that installed a commission to assure that gerrymandering of districts was held in check.
And then the state Legislature with a super majority would be able to draw up new maps that oust the
same number of Republican seats as Texas and other red states are trying to rig the mid-term elections for Republicans.
Is it fighting dirty to fight dirty?
Or are the Dems finally coming to a knife fight with at least a big stick?
It is, however, using democracy to fight the abuse of democracy. Any time a president says, ‘I need five more districts,’ and Texas obliges, you know we are dealing with an abuse of democracy.
California has the power to fight back and it should.
But are people willing to do what it takes?
All it takes is voting.
This is where the “rubber meets the road” as they say. Most people just don’t vote.
People show up for general elections, but still, we don’t get 100% in our country.
The only place I’ve seen 100% voting was in Iraq, and guess what — everyone voted for Saddam Hussein.
What Newsom wants to do to counteract is risky. People have to go out there and be willing to say yes to the suspension of the state’s redistricting commission.
Will they do it?
It just depends on how bad we all want to stop America’s slide into a functioning dictatorship.
Do we have it in us?
Before we get there, Republicans who may get mapped out will try to stop Newsom and say the plan will impact voters negatively.
They’re only trying to save their jobs and California for Trump.
Let’s try Newsom’s way and see if people can muster the courage to fight the anti-democracy of Trump with the power of their sacred vote.
About the Author
Emil Guillermo is a veteran journalist, news commentator, and stage monologist. You can see him on YouTube.com/@emilamok1. Or see him perform on his Canadian fringe tour in Edmonton through Aug. 24, and in Vancouver in Sept. Info at www.amok.com
1111 Broadway, Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 208-7400 • www.alamedactc.org
Request for Proposals (RFP) for Program Management and Project Controls Services (RFP No. R26-0003)
The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is seeking proposals for a contract to commence services on April 1, 2026, or as indicated in the RFP and/or appropriate addenda.
Key Dates:
• Optional Online Pre-Proposal Meeting is scheduled for September 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT)
• Proposal due date: September 24, 2025 BEFORE 3:00 p.m. PT
Proposals are subject to Alameda CTC’s Local Business Contract Equity Program. The Program goals for professional services are 70% for Local Business Enterprise (LBE) and 30% for Small LBE. For Program requirements and forms, visit Alameda CTC’s website. Any contract resulting from this RFP will be awarded without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or national origin. 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 September 8, 2025.
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.
Crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products can expose you to chemicals including toluene and benzene, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. These exposures can occur in and around oil fields, refineries, chemical plants, transport and storage operations, such as pipelines, marine terminals, tank trucks, and other facilities and equipment listed here:
https://www.wspa.org/proposition-65-notice-information/
The foregoing warning is provided pursuant to Proposition 65. This law requires the Governor of California to publish a list of chemicals “known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.” This list is compiled in accordance with a procedure established by the Proposition, and can be obtained from the California Environmental Protection Agency. Proposition 65 requires that clear and reasonable warnings be given to persons exposed to the listed chemicals in certain situations. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/petroleum or call:
Bring on the Bands: The Roots of African American Music on Stage at Black-Eyed Pea Festival
Andre Thierry’s Accordion Magic, MJ’s Brass Boppers, Piwai and others provide free entertainment
By Post Staff
They’re gonna sing, they’re gonna dance, they’re gonna play accordions and saxophones, drums and trumpets, fifes, washboards, tambourines, and the mbira (also known as kalimba, the African thumb piano) on the stage at the 10th Annual Oakland Black-Eyed Pea Festival (BEPF).
No, not all at once, but that’s what you’ll see and hear over the course of the day at the festival celebrating traditional African and African American music, food, and art on Sept. 13 at Marston Campbell Park at 17th and West streets in West Oakland.
Grammy-nominated Andre Thierry of Accordion Soul Music, second-line band MJ’s Brass Boppers, the Oakland School for the Arts jazz band, and vocalist Piwai will grace the stage MCed by Dance-A-Vision’s Carla Service, who will help keep you moving.
Below is a schedule of the day’s musical line-up:
11 a.m.: The festival opens for shopping, massage, and activities for children.
12-1 p.m.: Led by Zamora, the Wakan Wiya Two-Spirit Drum honors the land and our native forebears. They are followed by a libation and offering to the ancestors through Bata drums and chant in ancient Yoruba by Awon Ohun Omnira
1:20-2 p.m.: Under the direction of Daniel Parenti, the students in the jazz program at Oakland School for the Arts will bring us jazz from different eras, from classic to smooth.
2:20-3:20 p.m.: Piwai wows audiences across the globe with her soulful voice and genre-fusing melodies. Fondly known as the girl with the African thumb piano, the mbira, Piwai was born and raised in Zimbabwe. As a gwenyambira, Piwai adds authentic cultural elements to her music, making her performances truly unique. Her collaboration on the Grammy-winning album “Last Days of Oakland” show-
cases her versatility.
3:40-4:40 p.m. Andre Thierry’s accordion soul music fills up the festival’s midafternoon schedule. The Richmond native and Grammy-nominee received high praise from The Washington Post, calling him “A master at pumping out fast, funky rhythms on an instrument not usually associated with earthy syncopation. A versatile student of the music, Thierry can’t be lumped into Zydeco’s old-school R&B-influenced camp or its nouveau, rapinspired one: He and his band lay down both soulful, traditional slowdances and bottom-end-booming kinetic groovers.”
5-6 p.m.: MJ’s Brass Boppers’ singing and swinging brass line brings an authentic second-line experience with true New Orleans flair to San Francisco. Founded in 2008 by Michael “MJ” Jones and other NOLA transplants who were trained by family and community, the band rehearses constantly and lives the music, with the second-line beat pulsing through their veins. Seen at private events and street festivals, they’ve opened for a variety of acts, including George Clinton & Funkadelic, The O’Jays, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave, Funky Meters, George Porter Jr. and more.
Online sources from the musicians’ web sites were quoted in this report.
The 10th Annual Black-Eyed Pea Festival, a free celebration of traditional African American music, food, and art will be held on Sat. Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Marston Campbell Park, 17th and West streets in West Oakland. For more info, go to Oakbepf.com or call 510-332-5851. Bring a chair or blanket for the lawn or reserve a table for six for $150 at https:// www.tickettailor.com/events/omnirainstitute/1799229
Courtesy of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Facebook page.
Early exposure to his French Creole heritage put Andre Thierry on the road to life as a musician at a young age. Courtesy photo.
Oakland Is Cutting Red Tape ... Continued from page 1
around the Lake Merritt BART Station.
More amendments will be proposed this fall to expand those relaxed rules to commercial districts across the whole city.
The changes will make it easier for businesses such as medical offices, banks, tutoring facilities, pet groomers and fitness studios to open in ground-floor retail spaces up to a certain square-footage.
Makers and sellers of artisanal goods — such as furniture making, textile production, and metalworking — could operate in commercial zones citywide with no square-footage or floor-level requirements. And businesses in these zones could have billiards tables and arcade games without a special permit.
Currently, these activities are either not permitted or require an application for review by the Bureau of Planning. Some conditional permit applications also must go through a public hearing, where community members can weigh in, before the permit can be approved.
“We have expanded places where land use regulations don’t require extensive approval processes, so it’s much easier to open up,” Abad said. “These changes are part of stimulating local business and inviting folks to open up businesses in Oakland.”
Further, until recently all businesses, like arts and entertainment venues, had to apply for a special permit to sell alcohol. This required a Planning Commission hearing, which could take up to a year.
This was a separate permit on top of a liquor license from California State Alcohol Beverage Control, the latter of which is required for all businesses that serve alcohol and is granted at the state level.
This flexible new permit now makes it easier for bars, nightclubs, theaters, pool halls, museums, art galleries, salons, and similar venues in central business district zones to serve alcohol.
Other proposed changes include the addition of entertainment and food sales in dispensaries that have an existing onsite consumption permit to operate as cannabis cafes.
These changes come in response to the passage of California State Assembly Bill 1775, authorizing cities to permit cannabis cafes that provide valid county health permits for preparation, sale, and consumption of non-cannabis food and beverages at state-licensed and locally permitted cannabis dispensaries with onsite consumption lounges.
“Visit Oakland” already offers a Cannabis Trail, and the introduction of cannabis cafes could contribute to cannabis tourism in The Town.
Changes like these require amendments to the city’s planning code. Already, the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan, adopted in 2024, prioritizes new zoning that allows flexible ground-floor uses for customer-oriented artisan production, office, and retail use.
Abad said the city aims ultimately to expand the planning code amendments to all commercial corridors in Oakland. Ideally, this expansion would go before the City Council to be adopted before the end of this calendar year.
“We have many incredible small business entrepreneurs and restaurateurs here in the City of Oakland, and that’s part of what makes Oakland beautiful and wonderful,” Abad said. “We want to encourage local enterprises to open as much as possible. So, let’s cut out any unnecessary procedures and streamline the process.”
Justice for Jalani Lovett ...
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les Sheriff’s Department labeled Lovett’s death as a drug overdose, although he no access to drugs while in solitary confinement.
Terry Lovett, Jalani’s mother, has been fighting for a proper investigation into her son’s death for four years. She has repeatedly reached out to Bonta, asking him to act since the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) refuses to investigate itself. Organizers say that, despite his campaign promises to step up investigation of in-custody deaths, Bonta has refused to take any action on Jalani Lovett’s case.
Terry Lovett, along with a coalition of police-accountability organizations, families impacted by police violence, trade unions, and concerned community members that support her, organized the state-wide day of action. The organizers rallied in front of Bonta’s offices in San Diego and Los Angeles, and delivered a scroll of over 1,200 signatures of Californians who demand transparency to the office in downtown Oakland.
Lin, an organizer for Oakland Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (OAARPR), said the demands include that Bonta hold a meeting with Terry Lovett to discuss her findings from her own investigation into Jalani’s death, the removal of all security holds on Jalani’s records, and access to all reports and records involving Jalani’s death.
60th
Anniversary
of Voting Rights Act ...
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Organizers said the commemoration will provide an opportunity to reflect on how far the nation has come since 1965 while acknowledging that the work of ensuring equal access to the ballot continues.
Civic leaders, scholars, and community advocates are expected to attend.
The in-person gathering will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the California Secretary of State Auditorium, 1500 11th St. in Sacramento.
Registration is open to the public at http://bit.ly/3IICCGh.
The Voting Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, prohibited literacy tests, poll taxes, and other measures that sup-
pressed voter participation, particularly among Black Americans in the South. Its enforcement provisions reshaped voting protections in states such as California, which later expanded access through reforms like early voting, same-day registration, and automatic voter registration.
This anniversary comes as several states have enacted new voting laws that critics say disenfranchise voters.
California officials, however, have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining broad access to the polls, emphasizing that the principles of the 1965 law remain vital to democracy.
For additional information or to request assistance, email SOSOutreach@sos.ca.gov
Remembering Dr. James Sweeney III ...
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San Francisco, CA.
In 1975, he joined what is now known as Oasis Dental and practiced there throughout his career.
Sweeney’s career stands as a testament to his dedication to excellence in dentistry, mentorship, and community service. His decades-long commitment to both his patients and the neighborhood he serves has left a lasting legacy of compassion, leadership, and impact.
“He was devoted to his patients and enjoyed chatting with them during their appointments,” said his wife of 46 years, Pamela Sweeney. Sweeney said the doctor took meticulous notes on the lives of his patients, charting vacations and graduations. “He really enjoyed what he did and cared so much about his patients.”
diverse communities. Sweeney’s leadership was felt in countless roles: Board Member and Fundraising Chair for the Oakland Neighborhood Housing Service, and a driving force behind local initiatives like the Oakland Sharing the Vision Task Force.
As a member of the Greater Bay Area Dental Society, he helped shape the standards and practices of his profession.
Sweeney was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and a pillar in professional societies mentoring the next generation of professionals.
He enjoyed reading, playing golf, trips to Mexico, and retelling his favorite stories. Sweeney courageously fought cancer three times in his life, losing the last battle earlier this month.
Trump’s Supression of Voting Rights ...
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racy coalition Texas For All, tens of thousands of people in 44 states and Washington, D.C., attended the day’s protests.
The Oakland rally was sponsored by local organizations including Bay Resistance, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Alameda Labor Council, SEIU 1021, California Working Families Party, and Indivisible East Bay.
Among the speakers were elected officials Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, and Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, as well as local labor and community leaders. The rally was emceed by Valarie Bachelor, a union organizer and vice president of the Oakland Board of Education.
Rep. Simon took a strong stand for justice in Oakland and internationally, speaking out for a free Palestine.
“I came (here today) to bring this message that it is absolutely midnight, and we will find our way to morning,” Simon said. “It is midnight when we have an administration that is so vested in their racism and their xenophobia they are clear that their job is to go into homes and to separate families and to take our brothers and sisters into gulags.
“It is midnight when we sat on the floor of the United States Congress and watched the Republican Party vote ‘yes’ on sending trillions in bombs all over the world,” she said. “Believe me ... there is a durable (opposition) movement that is growing, that is swelling all over this country.”
Alameda County Together for All and we are funding, Know Your Rights trainings, rapid response, and legal services to keep our immigrant families together.
“We have already allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to shore up our social safety net that Trump is defunding,” she said.
Said Derrick Boutte, SEIU 1021’s vice president for the East Bay region, “This is a political emergency. Trump allies are undermining fair elections, silencing votes of color, and holding entire communities hostage to push their political agenda.
“The Republicans keep rigging the rules to tip the balance of power, and if we do nothing, they will continue to pass laws that hurt workers. They have already illegally suspended union contracts and collective bargaining rights for federal workers.”
Kampala Taiz Rancifer, president of the Oakland teachers’ union, the Oakland Education Association (OEA), said, “(Trump) is trying to cut people of color out of the democratic process and disenfranchise our communities. He wants to destroy our democracy. He wants to destroy us. But Oakland, we must show them who we are.”
Gerald Lenoir, co-founder of Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), connected the current fight for democratic rights against fascism to the context of lessons learned from the historic battles against slavery and Jim Crow.
She added that Californians can’t afford to ignore this violation of her son’s rights. “An injury to one is an injury to all.”
Lovett emphasized that this fight isn’t just about her son, but part of a broader fight gainst the terrible violence experienced by California prisoners. “California prisoners have the highest rate of in-custody deaths in the country, with a staggering 120 deaths listed as “unnatural causes” in 2025 alone,” said Lovett. Anyone can end up in prison like her son, Lovett said, and that all Californians have reason to be worried about the issue. Jalani’s sister, Yvette Martin, was also present.
Terry Lovett is supported by ILWU Locals 10 and 34, OAARPR, Dignity & Power Now, The Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego, Open Police Archives and Oakland Jericho, and BART workers from the ATU Local 1555.
Many families that have lost a loved one to police violence from around the Bay Area attended the rally, including Kathryn Wade, and Denise Friday, among others.
Kathryn Wade, the mother of Malad Baldwin, who was beaten by law enforcement in Antioch, cried as she explained the harassment and beatings of her son at the hands of law enforcement.
“We need justice for everyone” she said with her grandson, Sirlod, age 8. “My grandson has no father because of the racism and harassment in these systems. Justice for Jalani.”
“Jail isn’t supposed to be a death sentence,” said Terry Lovett about her son. “Just ecause he was in jail doesn’t mean you had the right to take his life. You are still supposed to have rights in prison, and the Attorney General’s job is to protect those rights.”
Yet, Sweeney’s legacy extends far beyond the walls of his practice. His career has been a tapestry woven with threads of outreach, leadership, and mentorship. From co-directing dental services at Our Lady of Guadalupe Health Center in Daly City to guiding the next generation of dentists as a volunteer clinical professor at the University of California and the University of the Pacific. His dedication to neighborhood well-being led to the founding of the MacArthur Blvd. Merchants' Association, fostering collaboration and economic vitality for Oakland’s
Sweeney's surviving family members include his daughter, Kelly Woolfolk, Esq.; his son, James Sweeney, IV; and his grandson, Andrew Woolfolk. He is also survived by a wide circle of friends and cherished community members in Oakland and beyond.
“As per his wishes, no memorial services will be held,” said his wife.
“In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in his memory to Fisk University or Meharry Medical College in Nashvillecontinuing his legacy of support for his beloved institutions,” she said.
Port of Oakland ...
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said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes.
The increase was not limited to inbound cargo — full exports also rose, moving from 59,593 TEUs in June to 65,595 TEUs in July, an increase of 10.1%. Together, full TEUs totaled 157,987 for the month, up more than 21% from June.
Vessel activity also reflected the uptick in demand. Ninety-five vessels called the Port in July, up from 77 in June—a 23.4% increase—as carriers added more port calls to accommodate the additional volume. Average TEUs per vessel edged down slightly from 2,187 in June, to 2,138 in July, a natural shift when more ships are sharing the load.
Year-to-date, total TEUs through July stand at 1,346,022, keeping the Port 1.9% ahead of 2024’s pace. Loaded imports are tracking 3.5% higher than last year, while loaded exports are up 0.3%.
July’s surge underscores how quickly cargo flows can shift in response to announced changes in trade policy.
“The pending tariffs created a clear incentive for importers to
push cargo through in advance, giving us a strong month across the board,” said Brandes. “As that front-loaded cargo works its way through the supply chain, we anticipate a more moderate pace in the months ahead.”
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s recent appointments to the Port Commission include Derrick Muhammad, a labor leader from West Oakland and member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
Muhammad brings firsthand knowledge of the Port’s impact on working families. “He will ensure that working people and West Oakland residents remain at the center of Port decision-making,” according to a press release from the Mayor’s Office.
Muhammad, a maritime lawyer and a former leader of the ILWU, is a lifelong Oakland resident and a third-generation ILWU member. He is also an environmental advocate, who has opposed allowing a coal terminal in Oakland.
“This is the first time a representative of the people who actually work at the Port has been on the Port Commission,” said Lee.
Oakland Mayor Lee said, “We (in Oakland) are showing the country what ‘power to the people’ means.
“This is a coordinated, dangerous effort to take power from the people and hand it to the Trump MAGA extremist Republicans,” Lee said. “They’re trying to rewrite the rules and the laws to restrict and to dismantle what’s left of our voting rights and what’s left of our democracy.”
“We’re not going to let that happen, though,” she continued.
“Here in Oakland, once again, we’re not sitting this one out. Let us show what Oakland power is. We believe in our democracy and not in autocracies.”
Supervisor Fortunato Bas said, “Trump and his Republican allies are trying to steal the 2026 election by redrawing districts in their favor and attacking voting rights. They know they’re going to lose if there’s a level playing field.
“I am working with all of you to fight back,” she continued.
“I’m chairing a committee called
“Freedom and democracy are on the line, and we know if we fight, we can win,” he said. “But we’ve got to do it across all our different communities. We’ve got to invite the immigrant rights movement into this. We’ve got to invite the labor movement. We’ve got to move across the generations, across the movements, across the lines of racial identity, across the lines of gender identity, and fight to win.”
Calling for solidarity and unity within the community, Rev. Jeremy J. McCants, senior pastor-elect of Imani Community Church, said there is a “moral imperative” to oppose the greed that is now rampant in this country, which is “purely evil” and a symptom of terrible “leadership malfunction.” To counter this evil, “we must rely on ourselves,” he said. “We are utilizing and putting our faith into action. This is what love in action looks like. This is what faith in action looks like. This is what community in action looks like.”
