Oakland Post
“Where
By Magaly Muñoz
Crimes in Oakland are trending down in the first half of the year across nearly all indexes aside from arsonry, according to new mid-year data from the Oakland Police Department, (OPD).
“These results show that we’re on the right track, but our work is far from done,” Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
Lee, now less than three months in office, said her administration has been working on a comprehensive approach to combating crime in the city. By expanding the Department of Violence Prevention, adding resources for sideshow pre-
vention, and removing abandoned vehicles from the streets, Lee expects crime to decline .
According to OPD data, total crime is down 28% from 2024, with the biggest drops in robbery, burglary, and theft crimes.
Last year’s statistics also revealed that robbery is down 41%, while robbery involving a firearm is down 48%, the largest decline in all indexes. Carjacking and motor vehicle theft also see the next largest drops at 46% and 45% respectively, from 2024.
Despite lower crime rates, arson is up 9% from last year, though no explanation as to the increase.
By Post Staff
Oakland police found an African American man hanging from a tree on the morning of June 30 on the Bridgeview hiking trail, raising community concerns about what might have happened.
Police said they believe the incident was a suicide, but some people on social media are questioning whether the man was murdered, saying the death may have been a lynching.
Responding to a report of a deceased individual, officers hiked to where the body was located, finding a male adult dead.
“The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating a suspicious death that occurred just before 7:30 a.m. ... in the area of Bridgeview Drive and Leimert Boulevard,” a police spokesman said.
The body was found near sever-
By Kitty Kelly Epstein
On Wednesday at D. Monaghans on the Hill in Oakland, guests celebrated the historic appointment of International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU) member, Derrick Muhammad, to the Oakland Port Commission.
Mayor Barbara Lee explained the significance of her making this appointment: “This is the first time a representative of the people who actually work at the Port has been on the Port Commission.”
Muhammad is a resident of West Oakland, a maritime lawyer, and a former leader of the ILWU. He is a lifelong Oakland resident and a third-generation ILWU member. He is also known as an environmental advocate opposed to allowing a coal terminal in Oakland.
The Port of Oakland is the economic engine of the region, and the Port Commission also manages the Oakland Metropolitan Airport and related real estate. ILWU Local 10 is a unique
Emory Douglas, previously the Black Panther Party Minister of Culture, poses with his daughter artist Meres-Sia Gabriel, creator of the “I Was There Too” multimedia production.
By Carla Thomas
On Monday, Aug. 4, Oakland
Mayor Barbara Lee convened the Mayor’s Economic Development Working Group at Oakstop, drawing leaders from business, workforce development, arts and culture, education, small business, and community organizations.
This initiative builds on the administration’s deep-rooted community engagement efforts, expanding on the dozens of roundtables and listening sessions conducted during Lee’s first 76 days in office.
The collaborative session aimed to shape an economic strategy rooted in equity, creativity, and community using the mayor’s five-point economic plan including empowering small businesses, strengthening the local workforce, revitalizing Oakland’s cultural and social landscape, attracting and retaining strategic sectors and ensuring economic opportunity for all communities.
During breakout sessions, participants shared recommendations across five focus areas: economic
By Carla Thomas
On Saturday, July 26, Black Women Organized for Political Action, (BWOPA) held their “Passing the Torch, Celebrating Legacy & Leadership” event at the Metropolitan Golf Course Fairview in Oakland.
Over 200 guests came to honor BWOPA founding member Dezie Woods-Jones for her leadership,
sisterhood, and dedication to the BWOPA mission of developing Black women as political activists and elected officials throughout the nation.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, who was mentored by WoodsJones, recognized her as a living legend, loving mentor, and community developer as she
By Carla Thomas
Chronicles of the Black Panther Party are often shared from the perspectives of Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Angela Davis, or Kathleen Cleaver. However, the view from a Panther's child was unique on stage as Meres-Sia Gabriel performed, “I Was There Too.”
On July 20, at the Oakland
Museum of California's Spotlight Sundays, Gabriel, the daughter of a Black Panther Party couple, Emory Douglas, minister of culture, and artist-educator, Gayle Asalu Dickson, gave a raw personal view of being raised in the middle of the Black Power Movement. Gabriel took the audience on her tumultuous journey of revolution as a child caught
Photo By Carla Thomas.
Photo courtesy of Kitty Kelly Epstein
Mayor Barbara Lee, alongside Dr. Holly Joshi, Police Chief Floyd Mitchell, and Assistant Chief Anthony Tedesko, at a press conference discussing Oakland mid-year crime stats. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. File photo.
Governor’s Race Wide Open After Kamala Harris Bows Out... see page 6
Crisis Point: Spike in Black Youth Suicide Rates Trigger Alarm Among Advocates
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
There has been a sharp rise in suicide rates among Black and other youth of color in California and across the United States.
“Many people assume suicide is a White problem. In fact, suicide rates have increased faster for youth of color than for White youth over the past two decades,” says Dr. Kiara Alvarez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Alvarez recently made the statement during an American Community Media (ACoM) digital briefing on Generation Z mental health.
“One national survey found that more than one in four Black youth seriously considered
suicide in the past year,” Alvarez continued. “Suicide rates for Black girls aged 13 to 19 more than doubled between 2003 and 2020.”
Per capita, rates of suicide among Black youth are also increasing at alarming rates, according to KidsData.org.
Generation Z, individuals born between 1997 and 2012, are the most digitally engaged generation. More than 22% of those Gen Z young adults reported having a major depressive episode in 2023, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health. And four out of 10 children report persistent feelings of sadness.
While there is no single cause for mental health issues within the Gen Z populace, Dr. Ovsanna Leyfer, a licensed clinical
psychologist, believes that growing academic pressure, sleep deprivation, gun violence, the impact of racism and other forms of discrimination, and, of course, social media are key factors.
The rise in youth mental health symptoms has also followed the introduction of smartphones and social media platforms. And that includes platforms that use artificial intelligence.
“Social media platforms can lead young people down some very dangerous rabbit holes,” said Leyfer who also spoke at the ACoM event. “If a young person starts watching or engaging with content about eating disorders or self-harm, the algorithm will start feeding them more and more of the same. That can make a young person feel like this is normal and
Continued on page 7
Feds Slash AmeriCorps Funds; California Steps Up to Save Youthof-Color Programs
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
Following orders President
Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made in April, California recently lost over 5,600 AmeriCorps public service workers and over $60 million in funding.
AmeriCorps members improve community life by tutoring students, protecting the environment, aiding disaster recovery, fighting hunger, and connecting people to essential services.
Luckie Diwa, Program Director at Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT), says her organization partners with AmeriCorps to help young men of color get to — and through — college. Due to the federal cuts, she says the program will have to scale back.
“A lot of the cuts go to the heart of the work that we're doing, making it harder for us to be able to have mentors go out and serve
brothers,” Diwa told California Black Media (CBM).
“It seems like a very coordinated attack on the group that we serve, which is young men of color. It's pretty heartbreaking to watch a program that has had so much support from different parties under attack right now,” Diwa added.
Jaylen Joyce, 20, was a youth participant in IYT and now serves as a mentor in the program.
“When I was in high school, I knew the areas where I needed improvement. Becoming a mentor, I was able to show the brothers in the program how to improve. It was a very reciprocal relationship. Taking that away — especially at a young age when you're trying to figure out what to do — is limiting. You’re limiting the number of people that can grow from that opportunity, especially in education.”
In June, AmeriCorps won a temporary court reprieve to
continue operating for another year. A federal lawsuit challenged Trump’s cost-cutting via the DOGE, which affected $557 million in grants for the AmeriCorps State and National program. The funds remain undistributed, leaving the program’s future uncertain.
Josh Fryday, director of the state’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, shared his frustration about the federal funding cuts and informed CBM about steps the state is taking to deliver some of the services lost or scaled back to the schools and the communities that need them most.
“This has put things into chaos — as the Trump administration does — and it's impacting our communities in a real way. It's making it harder to tutor and mentor our kids who need it,” said Fryday.
Fryday said it’s also hindering the state’s ability to prepare for disasters.
Continued on page 6
Everlaw, Inc. is hiring in Oakland, CA: Software Engineers: Dsgn & implmnt features such as doc upload, search, grouping, review, asgmt, coding, redactions, clustering & other features of the Everlaw Pltfrm. Expctd salary range for role is b/w $155,605 & $190,000. Software Engineers (Midlevel): Wrk w/Prdct & Dsgn teams by applying prfssnl exp to implmnt & release new features to the Everlaw e-discovery Pltfrm. Expctd salary range for role is b/w $130,250 & $181,000. Both positions may wrk remotely w/in commuting distance of Oakland, CA ofc. Final offered salary for all roles is depndnt upon candidate’s exp & skills. Base pay range is subj to change in the future. Send resume ref. position to everlawapplication@everlaw.com.
olds,
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm Sez
Author: Minda Harts, Pub-
lisher: Flatiron Books, c.2025,,
Price: $27.99, Page Count: 240
pages
Raise? What raise?
Your employees have been hinting for a few weeks now that they’d like a little more in their paycheck and you can surely understand their wishes. You also wish they’d understand that now’s not the time for it. And so, you avoid all conversations about money and hope there’s no turnover because you can’t afford that either. However, read “Talk to Me Nice” by Minda Harts, and you’ll know what to say and how to say it.
Five years ago, Harts had what was, to her, a dream job. She was basically autonomous, the only
East Coast employee of a West Coast firm, taking care of any clients who might visit the Big Apple. Harts knew she was trusted; her employers wholeheartedly indicated it, but they didn’t tell her much else. And when she asked to take her career to the next level with better wages or a promotion, they gave her a big fat sortof-maybe.
She was only looking for what she felt she was due. They glossed over her concerns.
And she turned in her resignation.
So, if you can’t pony up more moola or a corner office, what can you offer?
Trust, says Harts. Pure and simple, employees want trust. And the way to gain their trust is to use “the seven workplace trust languages.”
erts is excerpted from the MacArthur Fellows web site.
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.
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.
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.
Especially if you’ve got Black or LGBTQ employees, they want your sensitivity to the unique issues they face at work. In good times and bad, speaking to them with as much transparency as possible goes a long way. Security helps your employees feel safe on the job, both physically and mentally. Act, don’t just talk, to demonstrate your words. Be willing to give positive and kindly negative feedback on a regular basis. Offer acknowledgment for a job well-done, a work-iversary, or for a hard task completed. Finally, follow through to make sure your employees can feel confident that you’re on this.
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
And then, says Harts, “watch trust grow!”
This should feel pretty commonsensical, shouldn’t it? Yes, but Harts suggests in a huge way that it’s not, and that businesses — from the top down — need to relearn how to put trust back into the workplace. In “Talk to Me Nice,” she explains how.
Never mind the kerfuffle about DEI, the fact is that today’s workplaces can still be quite diverse and that plays big in this book as Harts shows why trust is key for happy employees and for healthy retention, and how it matters in every kind of workplace. Though her stories are a bit scattershot, they’re all-encompassing and she uses real-life examples to show trust-making in action and what happens if it’s lacking. That can be helpful and cautionary, and the relevance built into those tales is something readers will greatly appreciate.
This is an excellent book for CSuiters, managers, and supervisors, but it’s also a good book for an up-and-coming company star.
Read “Talk to Me Nice” and get ready to raise the roof.
This work prompted Roberts to examine the treatment of children of color in the U.S. child welfare system.
state intervention and the results of
ed with Child Protective Services tions regularly punish the effects
income, and children from these families are much more likely than white children to be removed from their families after CPS referral.
Eugene Bullard: The First-Known Negro Military Pilot
By Tamara Shiloh
dier asked. “You know damn well, Gene, there aren’t any Negroes in aviation.”
“Sure do,” Bullard said. “That’s why I want to get into it. There must be a first to everything, and I’m going to be the first Negro military pilot.”
She also shows that blaming marginalized individuals for structural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and communities.
After nearly two decades of research and advocacy work alongside parents, social workers, family defense lawyers, and organizations, Roberts has concluded that the current child welfare system is in fact a system of family policing with alarmingly unequal practices and outcomes. Her 2001 book, “Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare,” details the outsized role that race and class play in determining who is subject to
In “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (2022),”
It was the spring of 1916. Four American soldiers of the French Foreign Legion sat in commiseration at a Paris café. Eugene Jacques Bullard (1895–1961) was convalescing from a shrapnel wound.
Roberts traces the historical, cultural, and political forces driving the racial and class imbalance in child welfare interventions.
“Gene, suppose they find you’re too lame for the infantry?” one of the white soldiers seated at the table with him asked. Bullard replied: “I’ll go into the Air Service.” “Air Force?” the White sol-
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.
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.
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.
That friendly banter turned into a $2,000 wager. Bullard, who would become the first certified Black American aviator, won the bet. While welcoming any challenge was routine for the Georgia-born Bullard, a Black pilot, especially in 1916, was an unheard-of notion. But young Bullard had grown up dealing with Southern bigotry and was especially inspired by a place where a man’s social prospects were not limited by his skin color: France. So, he set out in 1904, determined to get there, and fly. At age 10, Bullard was caught as stowaway aboard a merchant freighter, and was immediately put ashore in Aberdeen, Scotland. There he took on a variety of jobs for survival. By age 16, he’d become a bantamweight boxer in Liv-
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.
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 artists a poet/writer, histo rian, and dancer/choreographer who each receive $800,000 over a five-year period to spend as they
min, Jericho Brown, Tony Cokes,
and Dorothy Roberts. This is the eighth and last in the series highlighting the Black awardees.
Dorothy Roberts. Photo courtesy of the John D. and Catherine T. Ma cArthur Foundation.
Author Minda Harts.
Eugene Bullard. Public domain.
How to Pay When Buying from Someone You Don’t Know: Keep These Tips in Mind to Help Avoid Scams
Sponsored By JPMorganChase
Credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, wires or sending money to others using a P2P (person-toperson) payment app are examples of the many ways consumers can pay for everyday transactions. To help protect their money from scammers, it’s important for people to understand that how they pay matters, especially when buying something from someone they don’t know or trust.
We sat down with Chase Bank where they outlined some examples of common scams impacting payment types:
Checks:
Although declining in usage, many people still regularly use checks, particularly for business transactions. Check fraud can happen in various ways, such as writing bad checks, stealing and altering someone else’s check, forging a check, or depositing the same check twice (once through a mobile app and again at a branch).
Here’s What You Can Do: Never make checks out to “cash.”
Use permanent ink, and write the amount in numbers and words. Don’t leave a check book unattended and always send a check directly from the post office or through secured mailboxes; don’t leave them for pickup in your mailbox at home. When possible, opt for electronic payment methods instead of checks.
Person-to-Person Payments:
Person-to-person payments through services like Zelle® can be quick and convenient ways to send money to others you know and trust (e.g., friends and family or your dogwalker). Don’t use Zelle to buy things online, especially through social media marketplaces or messaging apps. If you send money for something that turns out to be a scam, it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to get it back.
• Here’s What You Can Do: If you are purchasing goods or merchandise, including things like concert tickets, a credit or debit card that offers purchase protection may be a better op-
Vacaville painter Carla Lawson invites viewers to her web page with these words: “I create from a center of love and joy, bringing to life the rhythms of my mind through the usage of various mediums.”
Art was Lawson’s hobby when she was young. She worked in retail before devoting herself to painting 16 years ago with the encouragement of her mother who didn’t want Carla to have regrets.
As a Black woman, Lawson values the connection between her art and her community. She said that her art “needs to feel like Black people to me,” in hopes that her art will resonate with others in a cultural way. Many parts of the Black community inspire her, but often what stands out to her is history. She also talked about being inspired by Black children, by their laughter and joy.
For example, her Black ballerina-themed prints were originally made with making them look like they are actually dancing because of the way that ink flows and drips. Black ballerinas are often undervalued, but these pieces accurately capture their beauty and grace.
Lawson is almost entirely selftaught, with the exception of two classes at the Academy of Art in the
summer of 2000. Lawson continues to attain skill, recently focusing on human anatomy to bring more accuracy to her work while also pushing experimentation with different paints, brushes, and other materials to see how they work together. It often takes her many hours to complete a painting, and sometimes multiple days.
With that devoted practice, she says, over time not only has the range of her work grown, but the canvases got bigger!
Lawson sells primarily at festivals and pop-up events in the Bay Area. Her work is also showcased her work at restaurants and cafes, and she is working toward securing a gallery showing. Prints are for sale on her website carla-js-art. square.site .
Carla Lawson will be one of the artists at the 10th Annual BlackEyed Pea Festival, a celebration of traditional African American music, food, and art, 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
tion. If at any time you feel pressured, the deal seems too good to be true, or you otherwise suspect it’s a scam, don’t proceed with the purchase.
Credit and Debit Cards:
When you pay with a credit or debit card, you are not responsible for unauthorized charges if your card is lost, stolen or fraudulently used, as long as you report unauthorized charges promptly. Use your card’s security features to help keep it safe.
• Here’s What You Can Do: Two-factor authentication can help block anyone who gets your banking information from using it, and setting up credit monitoring
helps you know if your card is used fraudulently. Keep your card safe. If you misplace it or think it is lost or stolen, contact your bank immediately, and lock your card from additional charges.
Scammers may try to get you to send a payment to them to pay for something (like concert tickets) that you then never receive.
Credit and debit cards may offer some protections that can help you get your money back for purchases you make if you don’t receive what you paid for. If you pay with a credit card, your bank will likely reimburse you for your payment if you don’t receive the goods. If you paid with a debit card, your bank
will try to get your money back from the scammer’s bank, but if the scammer has disappeared with your money, they won’t be able to get the funds back, and your bank is not required to reimburse you.
• Here’s What You Can Do: Watch out for sellers who require forms of payment that do not provide purchase protection. Before you pay, always ask yourself: “Am I sure this is not a scam?” Always remember: If you’re unsure, walk away.
Wire Transfers:
Wire transfers are convenient and secure, and they work like cash. Only send a wire when you know the details of the recipient and never feel pressured or urged to send one. Wire transfers are a target for scammers because they are often used for high dollar transactions—like homes or cars—and once sent, they cannot be reversed. Scammers can impersonate companies, banks, and government agencies to quickly receive your hard-earned money, move it to another account and disappear.
Here’s What You Can Do:
Never provide your bank account details to unfamiliar or suspicious individuals and avoid wiring money to people or businesses you are unfamiliar with, especially if prompted by suspicious phone calls or emails.
In a world of growing payment options, it’s important that peo-
ple make informed choices about how to pay for purchases, especially when buying from a person or business you aren’t familiar with, to help keep their money safe. Learn more about protecting your finances at chase.com/digital/resources/privacy-security
For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.
Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Confronting a Suicide Crisis: California Steps Up for Men and Boys
By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom says California won’t “sit idle” as Republican-led states like Texas manipulate congressional maps to entrench power — even if that means rethinking California’s own redistricting rules.
“We’re not going to play by a different set of rules anymore,” Newsom said last week, after Texas Republicans approved new congressional maps in a
special session pushed by President Trump. He called the move a “five-alarm fire for democracy” and signaled that California may need to respond in kind to help Democrats reclaim control of the U.S. House.
The governor’s office confirmed that four legal and political options are under review, including a 2026 ballot measure that would dismantle the state’s independent redistricting commission and return the power to Continued on page 8
need to do this, I need to get rich, I need to get a Lambo’And so social media creates a false reality.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order aimed at reducing suicide rates among California’s boys and young men, calling the issue a crisis fueled by isolation, stigma, and lack of support. The order directs the California Health and Human Services Agency to develop recommendations to close gender disparities in mental health care and improve access to services.
“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence,” said Newsom in a statement his office issued last week, highlighting the state’s commitment to providing pathways to purpose, connection, and dignity.
According to the California Department of Public Health, males ages 15 to 44 die by suicide at three to four times the rate of females in the state.
es, including increased drug use, crime, workforce disengagement, and school dropouts. The governor emphasized the need to rethink outdated ideas about care work and improve school and mentorship support for boys.
The executive order builds on ongoing state initiatives, such as the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, California Jobs First, and the Community Schools Partnership Program. These programs aim to boost mental health access, economic opportunity, and educational outcomes for youth.
The governor also pointed to Proposition 1, recently passed to modernize the state’s behavioral health system, as part of a wider push to close gaps in care.
that everyone is doing it. It can also make it harder for a young person to stop.”
Samuel Gardner, 19, is an Oakland native and recent high school graduate who is keenly aware of the mental health issues and conversations defining his generation. Gardner spoke with California Black Media (CBM) about some of the causes he’s seen.
“I feel like, a lot of us are afraid to grow up. They look at other people's lives on social media and try to compare it to theirs. 'Oh, I
Gardner also spoke to the difficult job market and the growing disillusionment among his peers about how the viability of attending college has attributed to depression and lacking purpose in life. He spent his first year after high school in the workforce and saw firsthand how it can impact a person’s psyche.
“My co-workers close to my age would always talk about how depressed they were. I don't get how people do this for years. It's a lot more to life than just slaving away for a dollar. But some people my age are forced into that by having kids.”
Newsom’s office said harmful stereotypes and a lack of malefocused mental health resources contribute to broader challeng-
Biden as the Democratic nominee in 2024 after he left the race.
Although she carried California by 20 points, she lost the general election.
Her decision leaves a crowded Democratic field vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is barred by term limits from running again in 2026. Among the declared or likely candidates are
Advocates supported the state’s latest move, arguing that it represents a significant step toward addressing gender-specific mental health challenges. Newsom’s office says implementation will involve schools, families, and community leaders working together to ensure young men no longer fall through the cracks.
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, former state Senate leader Toni Atkins, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Despite the competitive field, Democrats are expected to retain the governorship in the solidly blue state.
For now, Harris says she looks forward to reconnecting with Californians as a private citizen.
Photo provided by JPMorganChase.
iStock.
Carla Lawson poses by one of her large canvas works. Courtesy photo.
Photo courtesy of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Facebook page.
By Daisha Williams
OPINION: With Texas Redistricting, Trump is Rigging Our Democracy
By Emil Guillermo
Donald Trump isn’t king.
But to rule with more monarchical authority and royal flair — he’d prefer a few extra red seats in Congress to keep up the appearance of a Democracy.
And the Republican-controlled Texas legislature is obliging.
So, Texas Democrats have fled the state to prevent a quorum to hold a vote.
Politicians have long rigged elections through good old-fashioned gerrymandering. Redrawing voting maps happens every ten years. But now Trump wants to do it before the next census.
Fortunately, the courts, that third branch of government, will get involved.
Unfortunately, though, Trump already has his ducks in a row — all the way up to the Supreme Court.
If the plan works in Texas, expect the same scenario to pop up
Redistricting Battle ...
Continued from page 7
draw political maps to the Legislature. California voters created the commission in 2008 to insulate the process from partisan influence.
The idea, still in exploratory stages, has sparked sharp backlash from California Republicans, who accuse Newsom and state Democrats of trying to upend a fair system for political gain.
“We win elections by a war of ideas, not by manipulating the lines,” said Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora (R-Ripon).
“This could cost everyone a lot of money and destroy voter trust.”
in other states.
Overkill? Not for Democracy’s budding king. Congress aligns with Trump on most policy issues. But there are some rogue Republicans who aren’t so loyal on matters like the Epstein files.
Trump needs his loyalists to keep buying into the idea of a oneman government rubber stamped by Congress and the courts.
What can we do? Root on the spirit of Texas State Representative Jolanda Jones of Houston who explained why she and her Democratic colleagues have stayed defiant to prevent Republicans from voting in new maps.
“We aren’t fleeing,” said Jones to reporters. “We’re fighting.”
When You Don’t Need Truth, Fire the Stats Person
Besides his call to rig Congress, Trump would like to rig job statistics, too.
When the jobs data came out last week and showed a slowdown
Other GOP leaders warn the proposal could unravel nearly two decades of bipartisan reform and tarnish Democrats’ credibility on voting rights. They argue that responding to Texas by undermining California’s own democratic safeguards sends the wrong message.
Newsom, however, insists California can’t be passive while other states exploit partisan redistricting to tilt national power. He noted that the state’s independent system was created under different political conditions and may no longer serve California’s strategic interests.
“This could cost everyone a lot of money and destroy voter trust,” he said.
in hiring, President’s Trump’s reaction was to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dr. Erika McEntarfer.
Still, critics from both parties remain skeptical that California voters — who overwhelmingly approved the redistricting commission — would back a return to lawmaker-controlled mapmaking. Newsom has not ruled out putting the issue before voters in 2026.
As of publishing time, the Texas Legislature had not officially approved the redrawn electoral maps, and Gov. Greg Abott had not signed them into law.
The redistricting debate comes at a critical moment, as both parties aim to lock down control of the U.S. House. Any changes to California’s maps could reshape the national political landscape for years to come.
McEntarfer is a numbers nerd and so apolitical, the Senate confirmed her 86-8 in 2024.
But Trump doesn’t want the truth.
“In my opinion, today’s Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad,” Trump posted on his social media account.
But it’s impossible for the head of the BLS to manipulate the numbers. She only sees them the Wednesday prior to the Friday release.
Firing the head of statistics is just Trump looking for an excuse for a bad economy for which he is responsible.
Remember, it’s the reason why so many people voted for him.
Now, he’d just really like things rigged for him in the future. Data, votes, elections, everything.
He also continues to distract.
Nuclear submarines to the edge of Russia, he says. Or former President Obama committed “treason” by interfering with the 2016 presidential election. Or
Record-Breaking UC Freshman Class Includes 6% Black Students
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
The University of California has admitted a record number of California first-year students for fall 2025, with 100,947 in-state freshmen admitted, which is a 7% increase over last year.
Among them, 6% identify as Black.
The UC system continues to see steady growth in racial and ethnic representation. Latinos made up the largest share of admitted students at 39%, followed by Asian Americans at 33%, White students at 18%, and Native American and Pacific Islander students at about 1% or less. The growth comes even as the total applicant pool dropped slightly to 249,824.
Much of the admissions increase was driven by UC Merced and UC
Riverside. Merced boosted admission offers by over 60%, and Riverside increased them by more than 38%. In contrast, UCLA and UC Berkeley admitted fewer California freshmen this year, despite high application numbers.
“This growth is a clear indication that Californians recognize the value of a UC degree,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, who stepped down from the post last month.
James B. Milliken, former University of Texas chancellor, has assumed the role.
supporting sending subpoenas to all his political foes in the Epstein matter, including the Clintons.
All this is really intended to turn off the American public, so they get disgusted with their leaders and institutions.
But that only enables Trump to do what he wants.
So, don’t get disgusted without a fight.
Instead of getting disgusted, laugh harder.
It’s one reason I continue to do my one-man show “Emil Amok, 69; Everything’s Flipped,” now touring at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.
And I’m coming home to the Bay Area in the fall.
About the Author Emil Guillermo is a journalist, commentator, and comic monologist. See him on YouTube.com/@ emilamok. He’s a board member of PEN Oakland.
The UC system continues to admit large numbers of students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. This year, 42% of California first-year admits come from low-income families, and 42% are the first in their family to attend college. In total, UC admitted 180,382 firstyear and transfer students, including international and out-of-state applicants. International admissions rose 17%, and out-of-state offers went up 9%,
Crime is Declining in Oakland ...
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Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell also addressed the drop in property crimes and the validity in the data, which have previously been called into question because of delays in reporting.
“We know that not everyone reports property crimes. When crimes go unreported, it limits our ability to investigate and identify emerging crime trends,” Mitchell said.
The police department is also increasing their 911 answering speed, up to 73%, but are still below the 90% standard for state requirements.
Mitchell said that people have been telling him that they are starting to feel safer in the community, noticing for themselves the drops in crime, further supporting the data.
Assistant Chief Anthony Tedesko said the department has also ramped up sideshow and dangerous driving enforcements.
Tedesko said 100 vehicles
have been towed for engaging in dangerous driving and four arrests have been made for a series of crimes involving vehicles used to smash into businesses in the area.
Lee and Mitchell largely contribute the drops in violent crimes to the reemergence of the Ceasefire program, which targets and prevents community gun violence in Oakland.
Ceasefire had been used for many years in Oakland before it took a backseat in 2019, and quickly after, there was a large increase in crimes throughout the city during the pandemic.
“The fact that we walked away from the strategy in 2019, I don’t think it is a coincidence that crime was going up and did not start to turn down like it was in many other places. So the reimplementation of the strategy in early 2024 is a really important data point for us to note,” Dr. Holly Joshi, chief of the Department of Violence Prevention, said.
Leaders and Advocates Host Eaton Fire Summit Focused on Supporting Black Elders
By Solomon O. Smith California Black Media
Dozens of community service organizations, local leaders, advocates, and survivors gathered on Aug. 2 at the Pasadena Hilton for the Eaton Fire Senior Summit.
Titled “Rebuilding with Resilience,” the event was held to support seniors whose homes were lost or damaged in the Eaton Fire, which burned more than 14,000 acres and destroyed 9,418 structures in Altadena and Pasadena.
The summit was organized by Lena L. Kennedy, CEO of Community Women Vital Voices, a Pasadena native with deep roots in the city. With help from her daughter, granddaughter, and a team of volunteers, Kennedy brought together faith groups, nonprofits, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton delivered updates to constituents during the luncheon.
“We want people that could help ... to step up,” said Kennedy. “I’m asking people to step up in a way where you talk to people, like myself, and the people that I deal with, so that your money will live beyond the Eaton fire.”
The day included workshops on rebuilding, state regulations, taxes, soil and water testing, modular homes, and financial assistance. Organizations such as Catholic Charities of California, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the DENA Forward Alliance hosted booths offering on-the-spot resources.
“Seniors were disproportionately impacted by this fire, especially up in Altadena, and it’s important for us to give them hope, because it is overwhelming,” said Barger. “So, summits like this are important to not only gather the facts and to make decisions, but
Dezie Woods-Jones Honored...
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proclaimed Saturday, July 26 as Dezie Woods-Jones Day in the City of Oakland.
She presented Woods-Jones a piece of traditional kente cloth, made in Ghana, from the Kamala Harris presidential campaign.
“As your mayor, I am privileged to present this mayor’s proclamation,” said Lee. “Whereas Dezie Woods-Jones’ tireless efforts on behalf of the underserved, the disenfranchised, women, and youth have earned her widespread recognition and respect as a transformative voice for justice.”
“Join me in celebrating her indelible contributions, fearless leadership, and unwavering dedication to our city, our state, and our collective future. May her legacy continue to light the path for generations to come.”
Lee expressed that Jones always knew the power of Black women and stepped into politics at a time when Black women were not taken seriously.
“Dezie, along with Edith M. Austin, Alfreda Abbott, and Margaret Amoureaux, and several other Black women stepped out early in politics at a time when they were questioned, while facing hate, and pushback. Dezie always knew that Black women lead not only for Black women and the Black community, but for everyone. Because, who better than Black women, who have gone through so much, so many struggles, and who have uplifted so many people, can save this world if it isn’t Black women?”
tor of community engagement.
Alameda County Supervisor
Nate Miley joked that when he first ran for Oakland City Council, Woods-Jones discouraged him. Ironically, Miley ran a successful campaign and won. However, Miley valued and credits Jones for incubating the many Black elected officials that have served the community.
“Years ago, Dezie pushed to rename 14th Street, International Boulevard,” said Miley. “Now, I encourage elected officials to rename International Boulevard, Dezie Woods-Jones Boulevard.” Miley also said he and his board have made a six- figure contribution to BWOPA to create a documentary about Jones’ life and “all the extraordinary things she has done.”
A variety of guests from as far away as Fresno and Madera, included Ladies In Red Founder Brenda Knight; Senator Ana Caballero, Senate District 14; BWOPA Richmond-Contra Costa County President, Joey D. Smith; volunteer Dondria Morgan, producer Lathan Hodge, and Teresa Cox of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Cox, who has served on the Fremont City Council and the Ohlone Community College Board of Trustees, said Jones’s guidance was crucial throughout her career as an elected official.
also it’s a chance to be amongst others.”
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors governs unincorporated areas such as Altadena. Barger’s Fifth District includes both Altadena and Pasadena — collectively referred to by locals as “DENA.”
She acknowledged that much work remains and said she is collaborating with city and state officials to rebuild infrastructure that will support the new homes and buildings envisioned for the area. For those unable to attend the summit, Barger recommended accessing services at the Altadena Community Center, which has been designated as a fire survivor hub.
Organizers said the summit was also intended to remind those affected by the fire — especially residents in unincorporated Altadena — that they are not alone. Hampton, a well-known and respected figure in the community, was warmly greeted as he walked through the concourse, shaking hands and consoling seniors.
One of those seniors was Dianne Lewis.
Lewis was able to get assistance and advice on updating her living will. Like many others who lost their homes, she is overwhelmed—rebuilding her life, coping with grief, and continuing to run the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center, one of the few Black cultural institutions in the Valley. She is also a strong advocate for Black elders. Last year, she traveled with Chu to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Black Altadena homeowners.
“I lost my will. They’re going to redo it for me. My living trust — they’re going to redo it for me. That’s something I don’t have to worry about,” said Lewis. “To see my colleagues and people that I work with in the community here, together, is positive.”
The next Eaton Fire Senior Summit will be held on Dec. 13.
Lee also commended LaNiece Jones for receiving the BWOPA torch as the new state director. Jones has served BWOPA for decades and is currently Lee’s direc-
“Dezie was always available and answered every phone call,” said Cox. “Because of her leadership, giving back to the community and uplifting us all as African American women, we’re able to move forward and keep the torch lit.”
Suspicious Hanging Death ...
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al rope swings. Officers believe the individual died from “self-harm,” the OPD spokesperson said.
Preliminary investigations are conducted by patrol officers and others who are first to arrive to the scene of an incident, but they are not a final determination.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Office has also ruled the death a suicide.
“This investigation is ongoing,” the OPD spokesperson said. Police request anyone with information to contact OPD Criminal Investigations Division at (510) 238-3821.
Mayor Barbara Lee Celebrates Successful National Night Out 2025 with Participation Across Oakland
By Justin Phillips
Mayor Barbara Lee Wednesday praised the overwhelming community participation in National Night Out 2025, with more than 229 events taking place across Oakland neighborhoods on Tuesday evening.
“What an amazing evening in Oakland,” said Lee. “With events happening across every corner of the Town, there was something for everyone to connect with neighbors and celebrate what makes Oakland special.”
The annual community-building event brought together residents from East Oakland to West Oakland, from the Hills to Downtown and everywhere in between. Mayor Lee visited multiple events throughout the evening, including stops at 121 Monte Vista, 1 Rockridge Place, Sobrante Park in East Oakland, 3833 Lakeshore Ave, and Discover Community Cafe in West Oakland.
“Tonight was about connection, safety, and showing the love that makes Oakland home,” Lee said.
The events ranged from neighborhood barbecues to block parties to community gatherings, each representing Oakland’s strong community spirit. Mayor Lee expressed her gratitude to every resident, block captain, community leader, and organization that made the evening possible.
“Thank you to every resident, block captain, community leader, and organization making tonight possible,” said Mayor Lee. “This is what Oakland Strong looks like!”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes public safety, community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live.
Justin Phillips is the communications director in the office of Mayor Barbara Lee.
‘I Was There Too’ ...
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between her mother's anger and her father's silence as the Party and Movement were undermined by its enemies like the COINTELPRO and the CIA.
Gabriel remembers her mom receiving threats as the Party unraveled, as well as the more lighthearted moments as a student at the Black Panther Party's Community School.
The school was a sanctuary where she could see Black power and excellence in action.
It was there that she and other children were served at the free breakfast program and had a front row seat to the organization’s social and racial justice mission, and self-determination, along with the 10-point platform where the party fought for equality and demanded its right to protect its community from police brutality.
On her own journey of selfdevelopment, Gabriel recounted her college life adventures and transformation while immersed in French culture. While watching television in France, she discovered that her father had become a powerful post-revolution celebrity, sharing how high school and college-age youth led a movement that inspired the world.
Through family photographs, historical images projected on screen, personal narratives and poetry, Gabriel presented accounts worth contemplating about the sacrifices made by Black Panther Party members. Her performance was backed by a jazz trio with musical director Dr. Yafeu Tyhimba on bass, Sam Gonzalez on drums, and pianist Sam Reid.
Gabriel’s poetry is featured in the “Black Power” installation at the Oakland Museum of California, and her father's book, “Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art
of Emory Douglas,” features her foreword. She accompanied her father on tour exhibiting his artwork from the Panther Party's publication as Minister of Culture.
Gabriel considers her work as a writer and performer a pathway toward self-reflection and personal healing. While creating “I Was There Too,” she worked for a year with the production's director, Ajuana Black.
“As director, I had the opportunity to witness, to create, to hold space with tenderness and trust," said Black. "Her performance touched my soul in a way that left me breathless."
With over two decades of musical theater experience, Black has starred in productions such as “Dreamgirls” as Lorrell and “Ain’t Misbehavin’s” Charlene. She also performs as the lead vocalist with top-tier cover bands in the Bay Area.
During the post-performance meet-and-greet in the (OMCA) Oakland Museum of California garden, Gabriel’s father posed for photos with family and friends.
“I am proud of her and her ability to share her truth,” he said. “She has a gift and she’s sharing it with the world.”
Shona Pratt, the daughter of the late BPP member Geronimo Pratt, also attended to support Gabriel. Pratt and Gabriel, known as Panther Cubs (children of the Black Panther Party), shared their experience on a panel in Richmond last year.
“Meres-Sia did a great job today,” said Pratt. “It was very powerful.”
Meres-Sia Gabriel was born and raised in Oakland, California. A graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Middlebury College School in France, Gabriel serves as a French instructor and writing coach.
Derrick Muhammad Appointed to the Oakand Port Commission ...
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organization with a long history of international solidarity and racial justice actions. They have rallied against the privatization of Port property and refused to handle cargo that was headed to South Africa when it had an apartheid government, among many other actions.
Muhammad thanked the mayor, Oakland City Council members, the National Coalition of 100 Black Men, and supporters who worked on his appointment.
Mayor Lee’s Economic Development Summit ...
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policy, small business support, workforce development, narrative change, and integration of arts and culture.
More than 100 participants at the meeting, which included former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Black Cultural Zone CEO Carolyn Johnson, East Oakland Youth Development Center CEO Selena Wilson, African American Sports and Entertainment Group founder, Ray Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Oakland School for the Arts Mike Oz, Visit Oakland Executive Director Peter Gamez and activistartist Kev Choice.
“Our economic development working group aims to spark collaboration, uplift existing successes, and identify what’s needed to keep The Town open for business — vibrant, safe, and rooted in equity,” said Lee remarked at the gathering.
Oakstop founder and CEO Trevor Parham stated that the summit felt like an open community forum. “It’s critical to have as many perspectives as possible to drive solutions so we can cover not only our concerns, but fulfill our economic mission,” said Parham.
Parham says the community should expect summits and collaborations more often at Oakstop. “I’m excited about the prospects and the outcomes from
bringing people from different industry sectors as well as different levels.”
Oakstop’s workforce development initiative, “The Oakstop Effect: WFD,” focuses on providing pathways to employment and advancement for Black adults aged 18–64. Through culturally relevant, mission-driven training facilitated by Black professionals with relatable backgrounds, the program creates supportive environments for skill-building, wealth creation, and worker empowerment.
“Our goal is to foster worker power for local workers, to build wealth, while building skills and redefining the workplace,” said Parham.
The program is powered through partnerships with organizations such as Philanthropic Ventures Foundation and Community Vision. Beyond workforce development, Oakstop offers co-working spaces, event venues, art galleries, and mental health and wellness programs — reinforcing its mission of community empowerment and economic mobility.
With a strategic equity framework, cultural and economic integration, and a continuous pipeline of sustainable talent, Lee plans to revitalize the Oakland economy by creating policies and opportunities that stabilize the city.
Mayor Barbara Lee (center). Courtesy photo.
Dianne Lewis receives a word of support from Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton. Photo by Solomon O. Smith.