Oakland Post BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Special to The Post
The Bay Area’s own Alysa Liu brought home gold medals figure skating from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan last week. Upon her return Monday night, she was greeted by gold balloons and a tinsel curtain when she walked up the jet bridge to the terminal.
ample of the greatness The Town produces. She studied at the acclaimed Oakland School of the Arts; is often spotted dining in Chinatown with her friends and practiced feverishly for the last two years at the Oakland Ice Center.
By H. Geoffrey Watson, MD Special to The Post
By Ken Epstein
The City Council’s Life Enrichment Committee this week heard a new report, “Black New Deal – Racial Impact Analysis,” on the effects examining “racialized discriminatory municipal policies, including … displacement through eminent domain, lost wealth due to segregation, depreciated property values, redlining and gentrification,” which make Oakland one of the two mostgentrified cities in the United States.
The 20-year-old daughter of a Chinese dissident whose immigrant experience began as a busboy in an Oakland restaurant became interested in figure skating when he took her to see Olympian Michelle Kwan at a skating event.
Alysa came to visit me at City Hall last August - her first time in the building - and she was excited to be there. Little did she know I was the one fan-girling over her.
Detailing the negative effects of current policies on Oakland’s African American community, the
Mayor Lee’s statement follows.
“As Mayor of Oakland, I am so proud of Alysa Liu - the first American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating in 24 years, and an ex-
Alysa embodies everything we love about Oakland - the heart, the determination, the refusal to back down - and she has shown young people right here in our city, and across the world, what becomes possible when you commit fully to your dream. The City is planning a celebration.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s press office provided this statement.
When I graduated from medical school in 1982, I raised my hand and repeat the Hippocratic Oath. I was told that Hippocrates was the father of medicine, apparently a Greek physician living approximately 370 years before Christ in Greece. It was known that Hippocrates traveled to Egypt to research historic data and to investigate and care for a variety of diseases.
In “Blacks and Science,” histo-
With only three staff members, the work is headed by Darlene Flynn, who was hired as the department’s first director in 2016. The effort to pass the ordinance creating the department was led by former District 6 Councilmember Desley Brooks. Flynn came to Oakland from Seattle, where she oversaw the city’s groundbreaking race and equity department for 10 years.
By Ken Epstein
The Oakland City Council this week heard a report about the ongoing work of one of the city’s smallest departments, the Department of Race and Equity, which carries a huge responsibility, to “embed fairness and justice into everything the city does.”
By Tanya Dennis
The Post Newspaper formed the National Probate Reform Coalition formed at the beginning of this year to address nationwide abuse occurring in probate court. Last Friday, the Post added a new thought leader to their planning committee, nationally known film maker Angelique Faucette.
Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the Council’s Life Enrichment Committee at the request of Councilmember Rowena Brown, Flynn explained that the department’s work “is sometimes about individual transactions, projects, programs, but it also has an overarching purpose to actually change the culture and the way the city approaches everything that it does,” which is gradual work that cannot be accomplished overnight.
The goal, she said, “was to embed equity procedures into the framework into the work that the city already does.”
Lacking staff and resources, Race
Reporter Dennis: “Angelique, please share with the public how you came involved in probate reform.”
Faucette: “I did not begin this journey as a policy activist. I began as a filmmaker.
“Across the United States, thousands of elderly citizens quietly disappear from public view, not because they have passed away, but because they have been placed inside abusive conservatorships and guardianships that can isolate them from the very people who love them most.
“For many Americans, these systems remain poorly understood. They were originally created to protect vulnerable adults who could no longer make decisions for themselves. Yet families and advocates across the nation are increasingly raising concerns about oversight, transparency, and accountability. Behind closed doors, seniors can lose control over finances, medical care, relationships, and even their
By Post Staff
The Alameda County District
Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan group of attorneys general from California, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin alleged in a complaint filed this week that Walmart showed drivers in its Spark Driver delivery program inflated base pay and tip amounts, and deceived customers by falsely claiming that 100% of customer
own voices. There is a sickening formula for what occurs; isolate, over-medicate, steal the estate, retaliate against the elder and those who fight for them and cremate to hide the evidence of abuse.
“As CEO and producer of Archangel Films LA, and later the founder of Elderly Lives Matter USA, my work centered on respect for others and exposing truth that elevates human dignity. Film taught me that stories have power when people are willing to confront uncomfortable realities.
Dennis: “So how did you get involved in their issue?”
Faucette: “That understanding would eventually lead me into one of the most difficult battles of my life: fighting for the human, civil, constitutional, and ADA rights of my second mother, Nichelle Nichols, beloved worldwide for portraying Lt. Uhura on “Star Trek.” She gave me away in marriage to my husband, she loved me and claimed me publicly ‘like a daughter.’
tips would go to drivers. In a multistate settlement that was reached, Walmart will pay $79 million to drivers nationwide for lost compensation. In addition, the company is paying a total of $11 million to the states and an additional $10 million to the FTC, which will be used to provide refunds to customers. Walmart will also have to operate an earning verification program and submit an annual report to the FTC for the next 10 years to ensure that drivers are being paid what they were
“Before her passing, Nichelle personally and fervently asked me to fight for her rights if anyone attempted to harm her or place her in circumstances against her will. Years earlier, in 2013, she had been placed in a rest home against her wishes, a situation she ultimately escaped from. Her experience opened my eyes to how easily autonomy can be challenged, even for someone known and respected around the world.
“What I came to understand is that this issue is not limited to any one community, but it is often under-discussed within the African American community, where conversations about elder rights, legal control, and guardianship rarely reach the public spotlight. Many families do not realize how quickly legal authority can shift, or how difficult it can be to restore a loved one’s independence once systems are set in motion.
“Through Elderly Lives Matter USA, I have worked alongside
By Post Staff
Community leader Wilson
Riles, who was a member of the Oakland City Council for 13 years and currently serves on the Oakland Police Commission, was recently hospitalized with a massive stroke and is now home and recuperating, according to his family.
Riles, 79, suffered the stroke a few weeks ago and was admitted to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland and is now recuperating at home.
He is not speaking at present but is alert and communicating, said his
families, advocates, and professionals nationwide who have witnessed similar patterns. These are not isolated incidents. They are stories repeated across states and courtrooms, leaving families exhausted and elders feeling unseen. These stories are vicious, horrific, degrading, some violent, some even being deprived of food or water to hasten their deaths.
“The impact extends beyond the elderly themselves. Advocates, many now entering their 50s and 60s, often face emotional, financial, reputational strain, RICO-style gang stalking, and getting beaten up by the authorities while trying to protect loved ones. The very act of speaking up can carry personal risk, yet silence carries a greater one.”
Dennis: “Thank you for joining our coalition here at the Post. What else are you doing?”
Faucette: “My work today bridges filmmaking, advocacy in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and policy. Sharing elder rights stories
rian Ivan Van Sertima reveals that Hippocrates sought out the technology utilized by Egypt because of their expertise in medicine, architecture, communications, and anthropology.
Imhotep and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams In 1862, grave diggers found the first scientific work of medical significance related to medical diagnosis, health, and surgery. The documents were on papyrus papers and represented a logical and highly organized work by a master
Continued on page 8
Race & Equity Department Seeks to Embed ‘Fairness and Justice into Everything the City Does’ The department was established in 2016 by former Councilmember Desley Brooks Mayor Barbara Lee Congratulates Figure Skater Alysa Liu on Olympics Victories Community Leader Wilson Riles Has Returned Home Following Hospitalization
wife, Patricia St. Onge. The family requests that friends and associates contact the family before visiting Riles at home.
Riles, who was born in May 1946, is a politician and community activist who served as a member on the Oakland City Council from 1979 to 1992 representing District 5.
While in office, he supported the development of affordable housing in the downtown area, implemented funding for school programs and defeated the building of a private detention facility that was proposed to be set up in Oakland.
He also was a leader in the Oakland anti-apartheid movement and fought for a nuclear-free zone ordinance.
Riles is the son of Wilson Camanza Riles, (1917-1999) who was State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the first African American ever to be elected to a California statewide office.
In 1968, Riles earned his bachelor’s degree in math and psychol-
is a foundation, but it also fuels legislative conversations and efforts toward stronger federal protections that prioritize transparency, dignity, and the given Constitutional rights of every American in our nation.
“This is not simply an elder issue. It is a human rights issue.
“As America’s population ages, the question before us is urgent: will we build systems that truly protect our elders, or allow them to disappear in plain sight?
“The elderly built our communities. Protecting their freedom, voice, and dignity is not only a legal responsibility, but also a moral one.”
National Probate Reform Coalition Zoom meetings are on the first Thursday of each month and all citizens are welcome to join. Meeting ID: 825 0367 1750
Passcode: 475480
From left: H. Geoffrey Watson, MD; Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, and Imhotep. Courtesy photos.
Left: District 3 City Councilmember Carroll Fife. Right: Dr. Brandi T. Sommers, producer of the Black New Deal report for the City of Oakland. File and courtesy photos.
Darlene Flynn has been director of the Department of Race and Equity since 2016. Courtesy photo.
Before she went to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, figure skater Alysa Liu visited the Oakland Mayor at City Hall. Courtesy photo.
Wilson Riles. File photo.
Angelique Faucette. Courtesy photo.
Those ‘We’re On The Same Team Olympic Feelings’ Fizzle in Trump’s Divisive State of the Union
By Emil Guillermo
The depths of our flailing democracy reached a new low with this week’s State of the Union (SOTU) address.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi called it a “manifesto of lies.”
Said Trump: “Our nation is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever.”
Is he living in America in 2026?
“After one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump said.
And that was just the first few minutes of what became the longest SOTU ever — an hour and 48 minutes. It even bumped the Democratic response out of prime time.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger cut through the fog.
“The president did what he always does,” she said. “He lied, he scapegoated and he distracted and offered no real solutions to our nation’s pressing challenges, so many of which he is actively making worse.”
She also noted who has thrived this past year.
“The scale of corruption is unprecedented,” Spanberger said, citing the Trump family crypto venture that has reportedly enriched them by billions since the
second term began.
Trump did mention Iran and the possibility of war. But he has not sought congressional approval, nor explained why military action might be necessary.
Some Democrats skipped the speech. Those who attended and refused to clap drew Trump’s ire.
“Wow, this is like incredible,” he said. “Democrats are destroying our country.”
At another point he demanded lawmakers stand if they believed “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
When Democrats remained seated, Trump sneered: “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
The speech would have been far shorter. It could have gone like this:
“Polls show my approval rating at 36%, my lowest ever. I hear your concerns about prices and instability. I will try to do better. Thank you. Good night.”
Instead, Trump staged the SOTU like an awards show with himself as emcee. He used the audience as props — centenarian veterans, a flood-rescuing first responder, victims of crimes tied to policies he opposes.
But did he mention Epstein’s victims, some invited by Democrats? Of course not.
He could have honored Laila Edwards, the first Black player on a U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team. It was the end of Black History Month. It could have been unifying. It would have echoed the Olympic spirit.
Of course, earlier in the speech, Trump bragged about dismantling DEI.
After two exhilarating weeks in Milan, didn’t we all feel briefly united? USA, USA, USA?
Sports remind us we are capable of collective pride without tearing one another apart.
But unity doesn’t last long under a master divider.
The Olympic glow fades when politics returns to grievance, scapegoating and spectacle.
The State of the Union is supposed to reassure the nation. Instead, it exposed how fractured we remain.
We are not on the same team — not when truth is optional, dissent is mocked, and division is strategy.
A country can’t chant “USA” in unison at the Olympics and then sit divided in its own Capitol — unless division is the point. About the Author
Emil Guillermo is an awardwinning journalist, commentator and stage monologist. His microtalk show, Emil Amok’s Takeout is on YouTube.
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
Former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price held a press conference Feb. 21, in San Francisco during the California Democratic Party Convention, calling on party leaders to condemn gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell for reposting what she described as a racist and dehumanizing video of her.
Swalwell currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives representing California’s 14th Congressional District.
Price, who announced Dec. 4, 2025, that she is seeking to re-
claim the seat she lost in a 2024 recall election, said Swalwell’s decision to share the video with his more than 460,000 social media followers represented “an alltime low in civic discourse.”
“It was disparaging enough that the video was first posted on the internet in 2024, but Congressman Eric Swalwell added insult to injury by reposting it to share with his network,” Price said. “To post the statement ‘Why dehumanize someone you disagree with? This bigotry doesn’t make a point. It sets your point back. Let’s do better’ while at the same time posting the de-
Emergency Cash: Gov. Newsom Approves
$590 Million Loan to Stabilize Bay Area Transit Agencies
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation authorizing a $590 million emergency loan to stabilize Bay Area transit systems, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), San Francisco Bay Area Municipal Transportation Commission (MTC), Caltrain and Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC) Transit.
The measure allows the California State Transportation Agency to loan funds to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to help cover operating deficits as agencies continue recovering from steep pandemic-related ridership losses.
“California is stepping up
to support Bay Area transit.
This agreement will help protect transit service for more than three million monthly riders,” Newsom said. He added that growing ridership, cleaner air and less congestion demonstrate “the benefits of a strong transit system.”
State Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin called the loan an emergency bridge to maintain reliable service while the region works toward a long-term funding fix.
“This $590 million emergency loan helps ensure Bay Area communities continue to have reliable service as ridership returns,” he said.
State Sen. Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco) said the funding would “avert a traffic ca-
tastrophe” and prevent devastating service cuts, describing the agreement as “a major win for securing a bright future for Bay Area public transit.”
Sen. Jesse Arreguín (DBerkeley) called it “a major victory for our region’s transit operators, workers, and the communities that depend on public transit.”
According to regional leaders, Bay Area commuters take 900,000 daily trips on the transit network.
MTC Chair Sue Noack said the loan “keeps the transit system running smoothly next year,” helping commuters avoid increased congestion.
The loan is structured as a temporary bridge while the region pursues a potential November 2026 ballot measure that would generate new operating funds starting in 2027. Under the agreement, MTC will repay the loan to the state over 12 years, with interestonly payments during the first two years. Repayment will be backed by State Transit Assistance revenues.
The legislation also directs state officials to ensure existing capital projects are not disrupted and requires monitoring of regional transportation funds.
Officials say the emergency financing is designed to stabilize service now while laying groundwork for a more financially resilient transit system in the years ahead.
humanizing video, is gaslighting and disingenuous.”
Price compared Swalwell’s actions to the inflammatory rhetoric of former President Donald Trump, accusing the congressman of engaging in “petty politics disguised as public discourse.”
“With this type of poisonous discourse Eric Swalwell is tantamount to Trump,” she said. “I agree with Swalwell, ‘Let’s Do Better.’ Let’s do better than to have someone like Swalwell who has consistently demonstrated such a lack of character and wisdom leading the 4th largest economy in the world.”
Price was joined by members of the party’s Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus, who she said were “shocked” by the repost. The news conference called on Democratic leaders to formally denounce the video and Swalwell’s decision to amplify it.
Swalwell, a Bay Area congressman and declared candidate for governor, has not publicly responded to Price’s remarks as of press time.
iStock.
Photo courtesy of Gov. Newsom’s office.
YouTube post from @GothamOakland featuring former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price responding to a question, accompanied by a caricature image. Congressman Eric Swalwell reposted the video but did not produce it. The repost prompted concern and criticism from some members of the community.
Adult Day Program
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ENGEO, Inc. has Staff Engineer openings in Oakland, CA. Wage Offer: $134,763/yr. Prfrm engnring duties in plning, desgnng, & field geotchncl engnring obsrvtion wrk. Telcmmtng permssble up to 20% of week. To apply, email resume and cover letter to resumes@engeo. com and reference job title. EOE. Principals only.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
NOTICE INVITING FORMAL BIDS
Notice is hereby given that the governing board (“Board”) of the Peralta Community College District (“District”) will receive by electronic submission, bids for the following project, Bid 25-26/07 Laney College Student Center Improvements. The Project consists of all labor, materials, equipment, and services necessary to provide the building improvements to the Student Center building located at Laney College, 900 Fallon St, Oakland, CA 94607. Contract Documents are available as of February 20, 2026, for review and may be downloaded from the District’s Purchasing website, https://hub.planetbids.com/hub/bm/bm-detail/138511
The District will only receive bids submitted electronically. Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m., April 13, 2026, only at the following web address: https://hub.planetbids.com/hub/bm/bm-detail/138511
Any bid submitted after this time will be nonresponsive and returned to the bidder. Each bidder is solely responsible for the timely submission of its bid; the District is not responsible for any
technological issues in a bidder’s ability to timely submit its bid or portion thereof on time. Any claim by a bidder of error in its bid must be made in compliance with section 5100 et seq. of the Public Contract Code. Prior to publicly reading aloud bids at the video conference, the District reserves the right to verify the genuineness of any bid security. There is a mandatory site visit on March 3, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at Laney College, 900 Fallon St, Oakland, CA 94607. Building F, Room 200.
To bid on this Project, the Bidder is required to be registered as a public works contractor with the Department of Industrial Relations and to possess one or more of the following State of California Contractor Licenses: Class A or B. The Bidder’s license(s) must remain active and in good standing throughout the term of the Contract.
The successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a 100% Performance Bond and a 100% Payment Bond if it is awarded the contract for the Work. The successful Bidder may substitute securities for any monies withheld by the District to ensure performance under the Contract, in accordance with the provisions of section 22300 of the Public Contract Code.
The successful Bidder shall comply with all requirements of Division 2,
Part 7, Chapter 1, of the Labor Code and Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations. For all work performed pursuant to this Contract, the Contractor and all subcontractors shall pay all workers not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and for holiday and overtime work as determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, State of California, (“DIR”) for the type of work performed and the locality in which the work is to be performed within the boundaries of the District, pursuant to sections 1770 et seq. of the California Labor Code. Prevailing wage rates are also available from the District or the DIR website at: http://www.dir.ca.gov. This Project is subject to labor compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR.
The Bidder and all Subcontractors under the Bidder shall comply with applicable federal, State, and local requirements relating to COVID-19 or other public health emergency/epidemic/pandemic including, if required, preparing, posting, and implementing a Social Distancing Protocol.
The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids and/or waive any irregularity in any bid received. Unless otherwise required by law, no bidder may withdraw its bid for ninety (90) days after the date of the bid opening.
CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR Alternate Dispute Resolution Actuarial Services
Contract Amount: TBD Terms: 5 Years
Project Description: This Request for Proposal (RFP) is being issued by the City of Oakland, Human Resource Department, Risk Management Division. The Risk Management Division is seeking a qualified consultant to evaluate the performance and cost effectiveness of the City of Oakland and Oakland Police Officers Association Worker’s Compensation Alternative Dispute Prevention and Resolution Program through ongoing actuarial analysis, reporting and expert consultation. Proposal Submittal Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026, by 2:00 P.M. via iSupplier.
Reminders:
• All who wish to participate in this RFP must register (at least 5 days prior to submittal due date) through iSupplier at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/register-with-isupplier) to avoid last minute submittal complications and receive addenda/updates on this RFP. For additional help registering and submitting your proposal to iSupplier please watch the user guide videos at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/documents/isupplier-user-guides).
• Did not receive an invitation? Start Early with iSupplier registration. Upon completion of registration, send an email to iSupplier@oaklandca.gov listing “RFP for ADR Actuarial Services” as the subject and request an invitation to the RFP. The Contract Analyst will add your business to the RFP invitation.
• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits
• 0% L/SLBE • Living Wage • Campaign Reform Act • Professional Services Local Hire • Prompt Payment • Arizona Boycott • Dispute Disclosure • Border Wall Prohibition • Sanctuary City Contracting and Investment Ordinance. Answers to Questions:
1. For project-related questions contact Contract Administration at contractadmin@oaklandca.gov
2. For iSupplier related questions after registration contact iSupplier@oaklandca.gov
Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, Friday, February 27, 2026
�������� AFFORDABLE
list based on household eligibility and unit availability.
Applicants will prioritize if at least one member who is currently an Alameda County resident or County worker, Leasing in accordance with PBV program preferences
� � HOW TO APPLY
Visit w www ebaldc org and navigate to How to Apply
Pre-applications for the l lottery must be submitted through the EBALDC Housing Portal Applicants unable to access the online portal may download a paper pre-application Paper PreApplications are available to print online or stop by the property management office to pick them up in person. Property Management address: 3611 E 12th Oakland CA 94601. Paper applications will be received during established business hours for the duration of the waiting list opening. Mail Completed Paper Applications to 3611 E. 12th Oakland CA 94601. Paper application must be received by the deadline.
� � � � � � Eligibility Requirements:
Walmart Agrees to $100M Settlement ...
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promised, and the company is prohibited from modifying orders after they have been accepted by drivers or misrepresenting how much a driver will earn from an offer.
“I applaud our Consumer Environmental and Worker Protection Division for their efforts to protect workers’ rights and consumers from unlawful business practices,” said DA Jones Dickson. “This collaboration between the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, the FTC, and attorneys general offices across the country led to a significant resolution against a corporate giant like Walmart that will protect and properly compensate Spark Program delivery drivers,” said DA Jones Dickson.
A spokesperson for Walmart told news outlet Reuters that it had already begun issuing payments to drivers. “We value the hard work and dedication of the drivers who deliver great service and products to our customers... We are continuously improving procedures to ensure fairness and transparency for drivers,” the spokesperson told the outlet.
Walmart uses its Spark Driver service to deliver goods to customers using gig workers via the Spark Driver app. Those workers decide whether to accept “offers” to deliver orders based on Walmart’s statements about the base pay and tips that a driver can expect to receive if they complete the work.
The complaint alleges that Walmart engaged in several deceptive practices related to its Spark Driver service, including:
• Deceiving drivers about the amount of tips they will receive from an order. The company failed to notify drivers that, unlike the payment for the goods being delivered, the payment for the advertised tip amount had not been preauthorized, and therefore drivers would not receive that amount if the customer was unable to cover the cost of the tip or if the charge otherwise failed. The company also failed to inform drivers that it would split tips when a customer’s delivery was split across multiple drivers.
Deceiving drivers about the
amount of base pay and tips they will receive when Walmart modifies “batched” offers. The company failed to inform drivers that it will reduce their base pay and/or tips when it removes orders from “batched orders,” which involve delivering goods to multiple customers during one trip. In many instances, Walmart either failed to notify drivers at all about the change in base pay and tips or only notified them of the change in their earnings after they completed the delivery.
Misrepresenting the incentive pay drivers can earn in exchange for completing certain tasks. The company failed to disclose all the conditions that must be met to earn the promised incentive pay for completing certain tasks and denied the promised earnings on the basis that drivers failed to meet all the conditions. For example, Walmart has offered to provide drivers a referral incentive when they refer new drivers to the service yet failed to adequately disclose that it will only pay the incentive if the newly recruited driver performed deliveries in a particular zone or for a particular store. Even when drivers meet the incentive conditions, Walmart sometimes failed to provide the promised incentive pay.
• Deceiving consumers that “100% of tips go to the driver.”
Despite this promise, Walmart, on multiple occasions, failed to provide collected tips to drivers as promised and did not refund the tip to customers either.
The FTC alleges that these practices violated the FTC Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act—by obtaining drivers’ bank and other financial information while deceiving them about the amount base pay and tips they will earn from Spark Driver deliveries—as well as laws of the agency’s state partners.
Press releases from the Office of Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson and from the Federal Trade Commission as well as Reuters reporting contributed to this report.
It Could Have Been a Great Night for ‘Sinners’ at BAFTA: But it Wasn’t
By Wanda Ravernell
So, in the aftermath of the British Academy Film Awards ceremony in London on Saturday, where we should have been talking about how “Sinners” stars Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan did us proud while also learning about a film meant to further understanding of disability, we are AGAIN talking about the N-word.
The producers of the ceremony advised participants that John Davidson, whose life is the subject of “I Swear,” a documentary about living with Tourette’s syndrome, may have uncontrollable outbursts caused by his neurological condition.
Reports say that Robinson had already been heard cursing and name-calling before Lindo and Jordan came to the podium to present an award for visual effects for “Avatar.”
Both nominated for Academy awards for acting in Ryan Coogler’s brilliant film “Sinners,” the pair appeared to take the in-
‘Racialized Discriminatory Municipal Policies’ in Oakland ...
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report underscores the urgent need for the council to enact measures to remedy entrenched discriminatory practices in how the city awards contracts to Oakland-based small African American-, minority- and women-owned businesses, laid out in another report, the recently released Disparity Study produced for the city by Mason Tillman Associates.
“I want to start with the reality that we’re facing: in 2020, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition named Oakland and San Francisco the most gentrified cities in the U.S. This is not just a statistic – it represents the lived experience of thousands of Oakland residents,” said Dr. Brandi T. Summers, whose firm, BluSummers, produced the Black New Deal report for the city, as requested by District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife and approved by the City Council. The report was produced in conjunction with the city’s Department of Race and Equity.
“Since 2010, Oakland has lost nearly 25% of its Black population,” Summers said. “Even more alarming, more than 70% of Oakland’s homeless population is Black despite Black residents making up less than 20% of the overall population. This disparity is among the worst in the nation.”
“The forces driving this crisis include rising rents, prohibitive property values, new construction that doesn’t serve existing residents, and the devastating impact of the Great Recession,” she said.
Continuing, she said, “These aren’t natural phenomena; they’re the direct result of policy decisions. Black and indigenous populations are the only demographic groups whose numbers are declining in Oakland.”
These conditions are historically rooted in redlining, urban renewal projects like the Cypress Freeway, the West Oakland BART station, and ongoing gentrification pressures.
The report took months to complete and is based on research, community interviews and data collection. Researchers examined three questions: what are the ongoing effects of federal, state, and locally subsidized policies and their toll on the Black community in Oakland; how do residents perceive the impact of these public policy decisions; and what policy changes could help mitigate these negative effects?
The report focused on six areas, including housing, education, economy, environment and health,
After the third time he uncontrollably called out the N-word, Robinson went to a separate suite for the rest of the ceremony.
But we all saw the arrow strike Jordan and Lindo. We saw the tar on their elegance.
arts and culture, and policing and public safety.
Looking at housing, the researchers found that “homeownership doesn’t guarantee wealth and stability in Oakland.” Dr. Summers said, “Unlike other communities, Black homeowners in Oakland face declining property values in certain neighborhoods, high maintenance costs, and limited access to home equity.”
Examining community perceptions, she said, “There is a prevailing belief among residents that housing is a human right, not simply a commodity, (challenging) the market-driven approach that has dominated so much of Oakland housing policy in the past.”
Further, she said, “There is also overwhelming support for rent control as a mechanism to preserve housing affordability and prevent displacement.”
The researchers also found that one of the challenges to buying and keeping a home is the cost of maintenance.
Looking at reform proposals, Dr. Summers said, “We recommend that city provide tax incentives to rehabilitate homes and neighborhoods with lower property values as well as property tax relief for low-income homeowners and renters, (and) rent control provisions that accompany five- and 10year tax abatements for landlords with those saving … passed on to tenants.”
The report also recommends training programs, modeled on Black Women Build in Baltimore, enabling prospective home buyers to learn to maintain their homes instead of relying on expensive contractors.
Summers also recommended several pilot programs, which could be expanded to scale.
One recommendation is a longterm resident’s bill, “proposing legislation providing benefits for long-term Black residents, especially those experiencing poverty and homelessness.” The program would provide education and training benefits, (directly) to community colleges, trade schools and training providers on behalf of eligible residents including homeownership benefits, down payment assistance, closing costs, and interest rate buy downs, she said.
“This creates a durable pathway to economic stability. It’s not charity. It’s an investment in Oakland’s future and acknowledging the debt owed to long-term residents who have been systematically excluded from wealth-building opportunities.”
taught and it is learned.
Black Doctors Have Been Part of the Healing Arts for Centuries ...
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physician known as Imhotep.
The grave diggers sold the papyrus to Egyptologist Edwin Smith who eventually shared this knowledge with the world. By 1930, an in-depth examination conducted by Professor James Breasted established that the papyrus was a copy of an original manuscript that must have been created far before Hippocrates, at least 3,000 years before Christ. Thus, in reality, the true father of medicine is a black Egyptian named Imhotep. Which means that Black doctors have been healing people for millennia, their wisdom passed down through the centuries. Black doctors are still making history. Below, I describe a few who, like me, have taken the Hippocratic oath.
James McCain Smith earned his MD in 1837 from the University of Glasgow in Scotland and returned to New York to be the first Black to practice medicine with a medical degree in the United States of America.
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams founded Provident Hospital in Chicago in 1891. He was the first Black to own a hospital and in 1891 and later co-founded the National Medical Association in 1895 with Robert F. Boyd, a physician and dentist.
Dr. Charles Drew – for whom the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is named –became the father of blood banking by developing techniques for the long-term preservation of blood plasma in the 1940s during World War II.
Dr. James A. Watson born in 1918 and became the first African American president of the medical staff at Herrick Hospital in Berkeley. He was an Oakland doctor.
Dr. Vertis Thompson became president of the National Medical Association of African American Physicians in 1980. He was an
Oakland DR.
Dr. Geoffrey Watson has been the president of the Sinkler Miller Medical Association, president of the Golden State Medical Association, a TV/Radio host on Soulbeat TV and on other networks where he was known as “Doctor Oakland.”
Dr. Walter Morris became the president National Medical Association in 2006. He is an Oakland doctor
Dr. Michael Lenoir became president of the National Medical Association in 2013. He is an Oakland doctor.
Dr. Frank Staggers, a urologist, was chief of urology at Highland Hospital from 1989 to 2001, became president of the National Medical Association in 1988, and served as president of the California Medical Association between 2001 and 2002. He was an Oakland doctor.
In 2013, Dr. Glenda Newel was the president of the Sinkler Miller Medical Association branch of the National Medical Association. She’s an Oakland doctor.
Dr. Rollington Ferguson has been president of the Sinkler Miller Medical Association. He is an Oakland doctor.
Dr. Stacey Hunt is the current president of Sinkler Miller. She became an Oakland doctor in 2026. Throughout history, Black doctors have represented greatness and have supported their community spiritually, medically, psychologically, and administratively. We all believe that there are disparities in health care and have worked hard to reduce these disparities. We will continue to work hard to ensure that your spiritual, socioeconomic, psychological, physical health is addressed.
Because we know that your health is your wealth and when you have your health you have everything. I’m Dr Geoffrey Watson, Some call me Doctor Oakland!
Race & Equity Department ...
sult in stride. I say ‘appeared’ because the gentlemen simply got on with their job and left the stage.
According to BBC, Lindo told Vanity Fair that after the ceremony he and Jordan “did what we had to do” as they carried on presenting the category, but also said he wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward.”
That’s all he said, but I can safely guess that he, Jordan, and another “Sinners” associate who was called the N-word on the way to dinner commiserated privately. I can guess that they could hardly wait to get to a safe place among family and friends and away from a place that allowed them to be insulted.
But it got worse. It seems the producers of BAFTA, and Robinson could not get it together to properly apologize in real time.
Though the broadcast was delayed, BBC did not bother to delete that moment though it managed to delete another winner’s brief remark about Palestine.
We saw them bear the weight of a word that no matter how much it is used in urban culture still means what it meant.
And, by the way, Sinners won three BAFTAs: Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler, Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, and Original Score.
Since Saturday, my husband has been randomly shouting out epithets: ‘H-nky!’ ‘Wte Trash!’ ‘Redneck!’ ‘Peck—wood!’
It is not funny, but I can’t stop laughing. Hysteria.
At 80, he can recall when he saw the photos of Emmett Till in Jet magazine. He talks about overhearing his elders from Greenville, Mississippi, and how their fears of lynching meant they didn’t even discuss wrongdoing among themselves in their own homes.
The consequences for any Negro –disabled or not – who spoke those epithets loud enough for any white person to hear would have been unutterable. Lynching comes to mind.
Racism is not an accident. It is perpetuated deliberately. It is
In the 1990s, I was at the Hayward BART station on my way to work. I was fiddling around to get my ticket out at the entry when a little boy exiting the station looked up at me and said: “Nxxxxr.” I was still caught up in the business of trying to catch my train and then I heard him call out: “That’s what I’m supposed to say, right Dad?”
‘Dad’ was walking away with the quickness of all parents whose children revealed family business.
And it is family business. This hatred is taught. It is passed down. People who use it know exactly how it is supposed to be applied and where and when. Robinson couldn’t help himself. But he knew it was an insult. The BBC and BAFTA also knew. And if there had not been an uproar, mostly by the Black community, they would have done nothing.
In 2026, 100 years after Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week to remind us that we were not that, we were not ‘nxxxrs,’ we are again reminded – no, assured – that our humanity, our dignity must be maintained by us, for us.
and Equity relies on “collaboration” and providing “guidance and technical assistance” to city departments, she said.
“One of our main strategies is cultivating a network of staff (volunteers) who advocate to implement equity strategies into (their departments), Flynn said.
“As a city, we’re an accumulation of many lines of business, many departmental arrangements that are quite different, that have their own cultures and their own charters, she continued.
Flynn’s department already has trained thousands of volunteers and is now asking all supervisors and managers to go to this training.
Her department has worked closely with the city’s Department of Transportation, which now has “a very structured and intentional way of going about approaching the needs of the community to make sure that our most marginalized communities are well served,” Flynn said.
Her department also is working with the planning and building department.
“It is a heavy lift to update a general plan, and we expect to continue
to be involved on this. But equity is so central to urban planning and how we think about the future of the city and how it will be laid out and who it will be functional for,” she said.
Looking at specific programs, she said her department worked with the paint hazard program, helping it double the amount of money it received from Alameda County.
“We’re focusing on the most atrisk part of the city, who find it practically impossible to get their children away from lead-based paint,” she said. “Where would they find alternate housing available to them at 30% or 40% of (market-rate rents).” The city’s program is a pilot project that serves about 450 households, she said, “(but) we know that we have as many as 80,000 units that could have lead paint in them.”
“Every unit doesn’t necessarily have a hazard because it has lead point, but there is a potential for hazard and blood lead pointing. It’s big problem (in Oakland) and nationally in any city that has a lot of old housing like Oakland does.”
“It disproportionately impacts poor children, and that means it disproportionately impacts children of color.”
Community Leader Wilson Riles Has Returned Home ...
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Continued from page 1 ogy from Stanford University. Following graduation from Stanford, he taught math in Sierra Leone, West Africa, from 1968 to 1970, while working as a Peace Corps volunteer.
Upon his return to the Bay Area, he took graduate level courses at UC Berkeley in child development and psychology between 1971 and 1973, and also taught math in the Oakland Unified School District at Hoover Junior High School.
In 2003, he returned to education as principal and a math teacher at the School for Social Justice, an Oakland high school.
He is one of the founders of the Community Bank of the Bay. Over the years, he has lectured at New College on the history of race. He worked for American Friends Service Committee for 10 years.
Riles unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Oakland three times, the last time against Jerry Brown. He ran against Lionel Wilson in 1985 and Elihu Harris in 1990.
Riles’ current term on the Oakland Police Commission runs from 2023 to 2026.
In addition to his work in the community, riles is strongly committed to his family. He is a beloved father and grandfather with five children and five grandchildren.
Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan. Ebony photo. COMMENTARY:
