Oakland Post
By Post Staff
The Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) this week sent a letter to Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee strongly criticizing the city’s new two-year austerity budget, recently passed overwhelming by the City Council, and called on Lee to intervene to reopen the budget to increase funding for the police.
In a letter sent Monday, OPOA President Huy T. Nguyen claimed that the Council had “railroaded through (a budget) with little to no public input,” which does not meet the public’s demand for city leaders to put public safety first.
Responding to the letter, the Mayor’s Office said, “The Mayor received the letter this morning and is looking forward to continued dialogue with the Oakland Police Officer’s Association on a comprehensive public safety strategy as set forth by voters in Measure NN.”
In an interview with KRON4
News, Mayor Lee said, “I’m surprised that the letter was released to the press so early before I had a chance to discuss this with (OPOA President Nguyen). But I will discuss it with him.”
In the OPOA letter, Nguyen said, “The Council didn’t ‘find’ money—they gutted a police academy, eliminated sworn positions, and ignored the voter-approved Measure NN. This isn’t budgeting—it’s abandoning the people of Oakland.”
Measure NN, which passed in 2024, requires the City to maintain at least 700 sworn officers. While the current budget authorizes 678 officers for the next two years, the department currently has only 657 officers, and more than 100 are on leave.
The OPOA letter criticized the Council’s decision to use civilians instead of sworn officers in certain positions, such as internal affairs,
Special to the Post
Legendary Rap artist Warren G joined the Oakland Ballers ownership group for a Block Party Celebration for baseball legend Rickey Henderson Day at the pre-game party on June 21.
Warren Griffin III aka ‘Warren G’ is best known for his G-Funk sound and hit song “Regulator” that topped the Billboard charts in 1994. He shared the hit record with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg singing on the verses.
Warren G’s hip-hop career has spanned three decades in the West Coast music landscape. He has
been credited for the discovery of Snoop Dogg and penning a number of hits coming out of the Los Angeles rap scene.
Warren G said he is excited to be joining the professional baseball ranks with his creative juices and business acumen. Gary Reeves and Warren G look forward to bringing back cutting-edge music and other social impact creative endeavors to Oakland and the league soon.
“It’s time for me to step forward and build my legacy, so that my family can continue to benefit from my body of work. This is a new chapter for me to build on,” Griffin said.
By Magaly Muñoz
Day laborers in Oakland are losing wages due to theft from their employers, a new survey study shows, and a local nonprofit is asking the city to reinstate its funding in order to address the injustices faced by these workers.
According to a study from the Center for Urban Economic Development at the University
Special to The Post
The Oakland Unified School District now has a new chief of staff, one of the highest-ranking positions in leadership.
As current chief of staff, Dr. Dexter Moore, Jr. transitions to a new leadership role on the other
of Illinois Chicago, nearly 30% of day laborers surveyed (out of 138) experienced wage theft in and around Oakland. The average amount stolen from workers was reported as $590.
Most day laborers work physically demanding jobs such as landscaping, demolition, moving, and hauling. Workers can be picked up in any of six known day
side of the country, OUSD has brought in a new chief of staff with decades of education experience, including as a
Special to The Post
Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson filed felony charges Tuesday against Emmanuel Gonzalez Mendoza.
On June 27 at approximately 3:30 a.m., California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers from the Oakland Area Office responded to a report of a multi-vehicle traffic collision on Interstate 80 eastbound, near Buchanan Street in Alameda County.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a three-vehicle crash, which resulted in the death of one driver. Gonzalez Mendoza is alleged to be the driver of the vehicle that caused the crash. It is further alleged that at the time he was driving, Gonzalez Mendoza had an excessive amount of alcohol in his system and that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, caus-
Bellino.
Gabriela Galicia, Nik Theodore, and Luis Valentan give
Photo by Magaly Muñoz.
Mayor Barbara Lee. Official photo. Barack Obama. Facebook photo. George W. Bush. Facebook photo.
DA Angela Jones Dickson. Wikimedia photo.
Warren G. Courtesy photo.
OPOA Preident Hoy T. Nguyen. Courtesy photo.
By Antonio Ray Harvey and Edward Henderson
California Black Media
California lawmakers and state agencies are intensifying efforts to combat the growing prevalence of hate crimes and bias incidents across the state. On June 25, a legislative hearing and two newly released government reports highlighted the persistent threats facing communities targeted by race, religion, gender identity and other forms of discrimination.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), chaired a hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia, titled “The State of Hate and Charting a Path Forward.” Held at the State Capitol, the hearing featured three panels focused on the impact of hate across California and strategies for moving forward.
“Over the last five years, California has experienced the highest rates of hate and discrimination in our state’s history,” Jackson said during the opening of the hearing.
The hearing’s panelists included Damon Brown, Special Assistant Attorney General at the California Department of Justice (DOJ), and Brian Levin, chairperson of the California Commission on the State of Hate. Both offered expert testimony about the drivers of hate and the importance of statewide collaboration.
Rick Callender, president of the California-Hawaii NAACP, presented testimony describing systemic racism as a pervasive issue that manifests across institutions.
“Police use force, handcuffs or firearms against Black youth at an alarmingly high rate — 45% for ages 12 to 14, compared to 19% for White youth,” Callender said, citing data from the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory (RIPA) Board.
Callender urged lawmakers to examine oversight and reform within law enforcement systems, adding, “It’s clear these efforts are still gravely needed in our community. We need this kind of hate prevention dollars to be able to address these things in our communities.”
The Stop the Hate program,
Continued on page 6
A Boost to State’s Economy: California Touts 48 Film Projects Benefiting From New Tax Credits
By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
California is welcoming 48 new film productions made possible, in the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week.
The projects are expected to bring in $664 million in spending and create more than 6,500 jobs across the state.
“California didn’t earn its role as the heart of the entertainment world by accident,” said Newsom on June 23. “Today’s awards help ensure this legacy continues, keeping cameras rolling here at home and supporting thousands of crew members behind the scenes.”
The new round includes 43 independent films, many of which will be shot outside of Los Angeles. Locations include San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, Riverside County and Bakersfield. Five major studio films were also selected, including a sequel to “One of Them Days” from Sony Pictures,
which plans to spend over $39 million in qualified expenses.
Colleen Bell, director of the California Film Commission, said the tax credits are key to keeping productions from moving out of state. “This industry is core to California’s creative economy and keeping production here at home is more important than ever,” said Bell.
The productions are expected to hire 6,515 cast and crew and create over 32,000 background acting jobs measured in workdays.
The program has been a major driver of economic growth since it launched in 2009. Nearly 800 projects have been approved, generating almost $27 billion in statewide spending.
Newsom recently proposed expanding the program’s annual funding from $330 million to $750 million to keep California competitive.
Black Student Enrollment in California’s Public Schools Reaches Lowest Level Since 1990s
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
The number of Black students in California’s public schools has dropped sharply over the last 10 years, as overall school enrollment across the state continues to fall.
New data shows that enrollment has declined from 6.2 million students in 2014–15 to just 5.8 million in 2024–25.
According to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), this is the lowest total seen in California schools since the late 1990s.
The report shows that “in absolute terms, declining enrollment has meant falling numbers of students across most racial/ethnic subgroups.” While the number of Asian and multiracial students has grown, the number of Black and White students has gone down. The changes are most visible in large urban districts, where housing costs and migration out of state are likely playing a role.
At the same time, Latino
students now make up the majority of the student population. “In 1998, shares of White and Latino students were similar, almost 40%, but by 2024–25, the share of Latino students had risen over 16 percentage points, while the share of white students fell 18 percentage points,” the report stated. The share of students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged has increased, while the share of migrant and foster students has decreased. The number of English Learners has also dropped, partly due to a policy that exempts some transitional kindergarten students from testing. PPIC researchers say these shifts are likely to continue as enrollment keeps falling. “The state’s education system will need to find ways to serve a changing student body,” the report concluded. Advocates say that means paying close attention to groups like Black students, whose numbers are shrinking but whose needs remain high.
Screenshot Asm. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) chairs hearing on Racism, Hate & Xenophobia at the State Capitol. CBM photo.
Greater El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, located at 813 Williams Dr., (Parchester Village), Richmond, 94806, we are currently seeking a new Pastor. If the Lord leads you to inquire of or apply for this position, please visit our Website at geb.church and follow the instructions. The Deadline is Monday, August 4, 2025. Any questions/concerns please feel free to contact Sis. Evelyn Roquemore at 510-381-
PASTORAL VACANCY
BOOK
Madame Queen: The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair
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
olds,
Keep your eyes on the
If you want something enough, you’ll never, ever lose sight of that goal. You’ll do what it takes to achieve it, letting it linger in your dreams at night and dictate where you live, who you live with, where you work, and what you do. Never look away, keep your eyes on the prize. As you’ll see in “Madame Queen” by Mary Kay McBrayer, it might be worth it.
It’s likely that young Stephanie St. Clair learned to lie from her mother.
Ancelin, says McBrayer, knew her daughter was “shrewd.” She
probably figured that sending Stephanie alone on a ship from Guadalupe to New York was a chance for the girl to “spin straw into gold,” never mind that St. Clair was just 13 years old. Still, it soon became obvious that Ancelin was correct: St. Clair took the ruse further and told a ship’s worker that she was twenty-three.
The year was 1911 and St. Clair arrived in New York to a home for young female immigrants. McBrayer doesn’t believe that St. Clair made many friends there, but she kept her eyes open to opportunity, discovering at the White Rose Home for Colored Working Girls that she was good with numbers. There, she was also taught to sew, clean, save money, and how to comport herself as a lady.
MacArthur Fellow Dorothy Roberts’ Advocates Restructure of Child Welfare System
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.
Just beyond the doors of the home, she learned to shoot dice. She was with a man who was courting her when she learned to play the numbers.
Though it’s a fact that she married George Gachette not long afterward, St. Clair never directly mentioned it anywhere, nor did she mention the child they had or the day she rented a room in Harlem and abruptly left them both. She took a job at a dress factory; later, she moonlighted at a bank and began to plan.
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.
From then on, says McBrayer, “She was investing in her own future…”
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
She was also building her own crime empire.
In her introduction, author Mary Kay McBrayer explains how this book came to be: she read something about St. Clair and went in search for more, but information was scarce. She admits that she inferred much and made up a lot to craft this story. She calls it “creative nonfiction,” and in “Madame Queen,” it works.
Such conjecture, in fact, actually works better because McBrayer serves as a kind of narrator in St. Clair’s story, filling in the many, many blanks with plausible conversations and likely facts that she backs up with sound reasoning. Indeed, the imaginary oozes between the truth to make this feel like a novel, but with occasional reminders that reality is somewhere, inside, outside, or nearby. It’s a tale told with fine sleuthing, dogged journalism, a well-described backdrop, and a touch of obvious admiration for its subject.
Readers who love biographies and can accept some speculation will devour this book, as will fans of historical novels, 1920s history, and The Sopranos. Look for “Madame Queen,” It’s a good surprise for the eyes.
blend blues and boogie-woogie piano with a fresh, upbeat tempo. His rhythmic innovations appealed widely and influenced other musicians.
of norms.
state intervention and the results of
ed with Child Protective Services tions regularly punish the effects of poverty as neglect.
By Tamara Shiloh
ing slavery, to coercive sterilization and welfare reform—and advocates for an expanded understanding of reproductive freedom. This work prompted Roberts to examine the treatment of children of color in the U.S. child welfare system.
CPS disproportionately investigates Black and Indigenous families, especially if they are lowincome, and children from these families are much more likely than white children to be removed from their families after CPS referral.
Blueberry Hill and Beyond: The Legacy of Fats Domino
Fats Domino, born Antoine Dominique Domino Jr., on Feb. 26, 1928, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is one of the early pioneers of rock and roll music. With his signature boogie-woogie piano style and smooth, rhythmic voice, he created timeless hits for many years.
Growing up in a musical household in the Ninth Ward, Domino was immersed in the vibrant jazz and blues traditions of New Or-
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
leans. These early influences clearly shaped his distinctive sound, a joyous fusion of rhythm and blues, jazz, and Creole beats. He got his nickname “Fats” early, inspired by jazz legends like Fats Waller and reflecting his own cheerful personality and robust stature.
In “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (2022),” Roberts traces the historical, cultural, and political forces driving the racial and class imbalance in child welfare interventions.
These include stereotypes about Black parents as negligent, devaluation of Black family bonds, and stigmatization of parenting practices that fall outside a narrow set
His breakout came in 1949 with his recording of “The Fat Man,” considered by many music historians as one of the earliest rock and roll records. Produced by the legendary Dave Bartholomew, the single confirmed Fats’ ability to
She also shows that blaming marginalized individuals for structural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and communities.
Roberts argues that the engrained oppressive features of the current system render it beyond repair. She calls for creating an entirely new approach focused on supporting families rather than punishing them.
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.
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Domino was a prolific hitmaker. Songs like “Ain’t That a Shame,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Walking to New Orleans,” and “I’m Walkin” showcased his talents and solidified his status as a household name. His records often climbed to the top of both the rhythm and blues and pop charts, bridging racial divides in a segregated America and introducing Black musical styles to broader White audiences. His performance style was characterized by infectious charisma, coupled with his genuine humility. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he avoided flashy stage antics. Instead, he captivated audiences with his easygoing charm and skillful musicianship. His concerts were joyous celebrations, inviting fans of all backgrounds to dance and enjoy music together, fostering a sense of unity rarely seen during his era. Despite his widespread popu-
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.
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm Sez
Author: Mary Kay McBrayer, c.2025, Park Row Books, $30.00, Word Count: 256 Pages
prize.
Special to The Post
Oct. 1, it was noted that eight of the 22 MacArthur fellows were African American.
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.
Book Cover of Madame Queen. Courtesy of Park Row Books.
Fats Domino. Public domain.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
Continued from page 2
a statewide initiative coadministered by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) and Department of Social Services (CDSS), was cited by Callender as one solution that should continue to receive strong support and funding.
“This is what today is all about,” said Jackson. “Uplifting the voices of protected classes and proclaiming solidarity as we face a common enemy.”
The hearing coincided with the release of two significant reports: the DOJ’s “Hate Crimes
in California 2024” and the CRD’s “Hate Crimes Across California,” produced in partnership with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
According to the DOJ report, hate crimes involving a religious bias increased by 3.0%, from 394 in 2023 to 406 in 2024. Notably, antiJewish bias events rose by 7.3%, from 289 to 310 incidents.
“There is absolutely no place for hate in California. Transparent and accessible data is a critical part of understanding where we are and how we can end hate crimes in our communities,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta in a statement on June 25.
Hate Incidents ... Fats Domino ...
The DOJ data also showed a small overall decline in hate crimes motivated by race, with a 0.6% drop from 1,017 events in 2023 to 1,011 in 2024. However, anti-White bias incidents rose by 15.1%, and antiBlack and anti-Asian incidents both saw modest declines of 4.6% and 4.8%, respectively.
The state has continued to promote resources like CAvsHate. org, a non-emergency, multilingual hate reporting portal, and hotline (833) 866-4283. These services allow Californians to report bias incidents and get support confidentially.
Continued from page 4
larity, Domino maintained a relatively private life, consistently choosing family and community over the spotlight. Domino was known for being family-oriented, and despite his fame and busy schedule, he remained dedicated to his family life, preferring the comforts and privacy of his New Orleans home over the limelight.
Domino married Rosemary Hall in 1947. They had a long-lasting marriage until her death in 2008. Together, they had eight children. Even during the peak of his
fame, he remained focused on his beloved New Orleans. The devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 profoundly impacted him. He lost his home but survived the ordeal.
Domino’s legacy extends far beyond his chart-topping hits. His music significantly influenced artists across various genres, from the Beatles and Elvis Presley to contemporary musicians who still draw inspiration from his rhythmically vibrant style. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, Domino was celebrated not just as a great performer, but as a foundational figure.
Domino also had at least three
children with Virginia Byrd in the mid-1950s, one of whom is Karen Domino White. The five children from Domino and Rosemary have stayed largely private, with limited public visibility.
His daughter, Karen Domino White, however, is active in music and writing, blending her father’s rock & roll roots with her passion for gospel. She’s married with children and continues to share messages of faith and family through her work.
Domino passed away on Oct. 24, 2017, leaving behind a remarkable legacy.
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
The California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF), previously a 5-year-$100-million initiative to ensure that Black power-building and movement-based organizations have the sustained investments and resources they need, announced its evolution into a permanent, independent institution on July 1.
The organization will now be known as the Black Freedom Fund (BFF).
BFF began exploring its future as a statewide fund committed to Black communities in 2022, when Executive Director Marc Philpart took the helm. Despite the change, BFF’s mission remains unchanged: to invest in leaders and organizations at the center of Black communities in California, advancing people-led solutions to secure a more equitable society for all.
“The question that I had was, are we implementing a spin-down strategy or are we spinning off so that we can sustain the work and keep the momentum going?” Philpart told California Black Media. “As we got closer to our goal, it was clear that we would meet the goal and exceed it. And that really constituted the foundation for us to be able to spin off and become an independent organization, which everybody embraced because they felt like there was a void that we were filling.”
Since its inception, BFF has made significant impact across the state.
Supported by 83 institutional donors, it has distributed over $45 million to 205 Black-serving and power-building organizations, working across 17 issue areas in California.
Joanna Jackson, CEO of The Weingart Foundation, represents one of those earliest donors to the fund.
“As a Black woman, this is personal and important to me, but I’m not leading a non-profit, I’m not organizing folks in community,” said Jackson. “I think the goal of the fund is to fund with trust and an understanding that Black communities know what they need. It’s about moving resources to those communities that have been historically under-resourced so they could lead the change.”
Of those grants, 95% of them have been unrestricted, Philpart says, providing organizations with the flexibility to prioritize, innovate and adapt. He also said 65% of grantees are led by Black women; and 66% of BFF fund recipients operate on budgets under $1 million.
Noni Session is the executive director of the East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EB PREC) based in Oakland. The organization removes land and housing from the speculative market to create permanently affordable, community-controlled homes. EB PREC received $50,000 to help aid their organizational operations.
Session said she values BFF selecting EB PREC as a grantee.
“To be affirmed by a nascent fund that our work is in alignment for building a pathway to freedom for Black folks feels really important to me,” said Session. “I don’t think that small foundations really are just throwing their money at any old nonprofit superstar like some of the larger SF Foundations would be. So, when folks give me their hardearned philanthropic dollars that I know for a fact they had to shake every hand for, it means a lot to me. And it means that I’m not just doing this performative pantomime for the nonprofit field, but really moving, demonstrating and creating concrete results for people that mean the most to me, and mean the most to my organization.”
By Emil Guillermo
Trump calls it the Big Beautiful Bill, but it is the Big Ugly.
It’s the legislative form of MAGA. If it passes by the end of this week, it will be the dark sparkler of the Fourth of July.
The Big Ugly will cut Medicaid in America — health care to the poorest Americans — which means 11.8 million people uninsured by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The number of people rises because the cuts worsen over time — $930 billion in 10 years.
Made, Core Services Preserved
By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media
California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom have approved a $321.1 billion state budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year, closing a $46.8 billion shortfall through a combination of cuts, delays, and revenue shifts. Newsom signed the spending plan on June 27, following months of negotiations marked by divisions over environmental reforms, education funding, and health care access for undocumented Californians.
“This budget delivers on our core values — protecting public education, expanding access to health care, and supporting Californians most in need — while ensuring the state remains fiscally responsible,” Newsom said in a bill signing statement.
While the budget protects key programs — education, housing, and health care — vital to Black Californians, it also imposes new Medi-Cal restrictions that limits access for undocumented adults and low-income seniors.
What Happened in the Legislature
The budget deal came together after legislative leaders agreed to tie the Governor’s signature to the passage of either Assembly Bill (AB) 131 or Senate Bill (SB) 131 — housing reform bills that include exemptions to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
These controversial trailer bills evolved separately from the main budget bill, SB 101, which the Legislature passed on June 13.
Lawmakers reconvened on June 27 to pass AB 102, the primary budget implementation bill, along with over twenty trailer bills. The final package reflects changes demanded by Newsom following updated revenue projections and continued policy negotiations.
Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) called the budget “tough but thoughtful.” He said, “We protected our progress while taking a responsible approach to balancing the books.”
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), in a state-
ment issued through the Governor’s office, said the budget “reflects the values and priorities of California’s working families.”
Protecting Education and Health Care
The budget directs $114.6 billion in Proposition 98 funds to TK–12 public schools, including a 2.3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCCF) and $1.7 billion in discretionary block grants for student needs.
Education investments include $300 million for teacher stipends, $160 million to implement Universal School Meals, $200 million for literacy-focused professional development, $150 million for career technical education, $70 million for the Teacher Residency Grant Program, and more than $100 million to support schools recovering from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
In higher education, the budget preserves base funding for the University of California and California State University systems — support that had been at risk under Newsom’s earlier proposals. The Middle Class Scholarship remains funded at 35% of award levels. Community colleges will receive $100 million for enrollment growth and $60 million for student support.
Medi-Cal saw some of the most contentious changes. Beginning July 1, 2027, undocumented adults ages 19 to 59 covered under state-only Medi-Cal will be required to pay a $30 monthly premium. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, enrollment for this group will be frozen, with a six-month grace period for those who disenroll. The budget also reinstates a $130,000 asset test for Medi-Cal eligibility.
Sen. Laura Richardson (DInglewood), Assistant Majority Whip and a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), supported the plan but raised concerns about equity. “We must continue to monitor how these changes affect our communities on the ground. The promise of care and opportunity should not come with new barriers,” Richardson said.
Two things define us in this Trump world: money and class.
The Trump world which ended affirmative action, DEI, and is committed to rolling back civil rights, doesn’t want to see race.
It’s colorblind to all — except money.
Flash it and you’re in the club.
Don’t have it? You’re outside looking in.
It makes for a cruel, mean world that Trump continues to lie about.
“We’re cutting $1.7 trillion in this bill, and you’re not going to feel any of it,” he told Fox News on Sunday.
That’s true only if you’re wealthy.
But he insists on this other big lie.
“And your Medicaid is left alone, it’s left the same,” he told Fox.
As I’ve explained, that’s a lie.
If the Big Ugly passes, the federal budget will be impoverished, creating massive deficits that paid for tax cuts to the rich.
What are they going to do? Call their member of Congress who is too afraid to stand up?
The proposal suggests that savings from spending cuts should be passed on to higher-income individuals through tax reductions. Rich households could get a tax cut estimated at $400,000.
The rest of us could see a 7.5% tax increase.
And then as the rich cheer on the Big Ugly, the rest of us are on the path to doom.
When revenues are cut, there’s no money for services to the people, let alone to service the interest on the ballooning national debt.
But Trump tells doubters to count on “growth.”
This is the Trumpian version of “trickle-down theory.”
That’s where the rich believe other rich will take their tax savings and pour it into the economy as job creators.
But more likely, they don’t
That’s why the Big Ugly comes with the ugly reality for those not in the billionaire class.
How Did We Get Here?
By Bay City News
PG&E customers in the Bay Area have fallen victim to a growing wave of utility scams, with over $190,000 in losses reported so far this year, the utility company revealed on Tuesday.
PG&E said Tuesday that in the Bay Area alone, the company has received more than 2,500 reports of scams targeting both residential and business customers. The East Bay region leads the way with 971 reports, followed by the North Bay with 662 and the South Bay with 413.
In San Francisco, 260 reports have been filed, while other notable cities like San Jose and Oakland have also seen a significant uptick in scam attempts.
“In most cases, scammers create panic by threatening disconnection of utility services if immediate payment is not made. If outreach seems suspicious, hang up the phone, close the door, or do not respond to the email,” Jake Zigelman, PG&E’s Vice President for the Bay Area Region, said in a statement.
PG&E says scammers often impersonate utility workers, claiming that immediate payment is needed to avoid service disconnection. Victims are pressured to make payments through methods such as prepaid debit cards or mobile payment apps, which PG&E never uses for billing.
For the rest of us? We may not be houseless, but we will be marginalized and without a safety net.
Some people of color wanted it that way. Trump only won by 1.5% of the vote last November, according to a voter analysis of 2024 released by Pew last week.
Black men nearly doubled their Trump support in 2024 from 12% to 21%.
Black women doubled their Trump support from 5% to 10%.
Hispanic men went from 39% Trump to 50% Trump.
Hispanic women went from 33% to 46% Trump.
Asian men and women were both 40% for Trump in 2024.
That’s the new negative diversity of MAGA.
If the unpopular bill is signed this weekend, America will be transformed — just not into the country of our hopes and dreams.
About the Author
Emil Guillermo is a journalist, commentator, and comic monologist. See his micro-talk show on www.YouTube.com/@emilamok1.
The typical victim loses more than $900, with more than 200 customers reporting they have fallen for these fraudulent schemes. PG&E officials suspect the actual number of scams is even higher, as many customers do not report the incidents.
Business owners in the Bay Area have also been targeted, with 250 reports of scams aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. Scammers often exploit busy times, hoping to catch people off guard during peak customer service hours.
To protect themselves, PG&E advises customers to never make payments via prepaid debit cards, verify any suspicious communications through their official online accounts, and report suspected scams immediately.
“Remember, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email, nor will we request payment via prepaid debit cards or other methods of money transfer, including mobile applications,” Zigelman said.
Customers can call PG&E’s scam tip line at 1-833-500-SCAM or visit pge.com/scams for more information.
PG&E recommends that anyone who feels threatened by scammers should contact local law enforcement or dial 911.
iStock.
iStock.
Marc Philpart, executive director of California Black Freedom Fund, speaks at a rally in Sacramento. May 10, 2023. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey. File photo.
Celebrating Dreams: Oral Lee Brown Foundation Hosts 38th Annual Scholarship
Gala & Auction
By Oakland Post Staff
The Oral Lee Brown Foundation will hold its 38th Annual Scholarship Gala and Auction at 6 p.m. on July 18 at Scott’s Pavilion in Jack London Square in Oakland.
Brown, for whom the foundation is named, began her life in the Mississippi Delta under challenging circumstances. She says her faith has inspired her lifelong commitment to helping others and “giving something back” to the community.
In 1987, Brown made a bold promise: she adopted an entire first-grade class at Brookfield Elementary School in East Oakland. Her vision was to support at-risk youth through financial assis-
tance, after-school programming, and academic monitoring to help them receive a quality education.
Since then, she has donated — and continues to deposit — $10,000 annually to fund the education of her “babies.” The foundation provides Saturday school, tutoring, mentorship, and CAHEE and SAT/ACT prep classes.
Nearly all of the students in the program come from low-income families and live in the violenceplagued flatlands of East Oakland. Today, the foundation sponsors nine cohorts — or “phases” — of students. Of the original 23 Phase 1 students, 19 graduated from high school in 1999 and enrolled in college. By all measures, the foundation’s efforts have been a resounding success.
Legislation Aimed at Strengthening Artistic Engagement in Oakland
Special to The Post
A resolution introduced by Councilmember Janani Ramachandran (District 4) aimed at negotiating a lease agreement to renovate the vacant Montclair Firehouse for community use was approved unanimously by the City Council Tuesday evening.
The firehouse, which has been vacant since 1989 and currently sits in disrepair, will be reused as a community arts and performance space known as the the Montclair Firehouse Arts Center.
Built in 1927 and designated as a City landmark, the 3,200-squarefoot Montclair Firehouse will be renovated and operated by local arts nonprofit East Bay Recreation & Culture Club, Inc. (EBRCC) as a vibrant community arts space.
Located at 6226 Moraga Ave., the Firehouse will provide a key center for public arts engagement due to its proximity to Montclair Park, the Montclair Recreation Center, area sports and children’s facilities, Montclair Elementary School, the Montclair Village shopping district, and major transportation corridors that include Highway 13.
“The City Council’s vote represents a critical step towards transforming a site that has sat vacant for decades into a thriving hub for artistic expression and community engagement,” said Ramachandran.
“With an urgent need existing for Oakland to support artist growth
Day Laborers in Oakland Are Experiencing Wage Theft ...
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laborer spots across Oakland.
“When we think about day laborers, many are living payday to payday. So wage theft is putting immediate hardship on [workers] and their families,” Nik Theodore, author of the study, said at a press conference at City Hall.
Theodore said the prominent experience of wage theft from day laborers showed the lack of worker protections for vulnerable communities in the city, and removed vital consumer spending from laborers already struggling to get by.
Jesus Alberto was working as a welder at a nearby company when he discovered he was a victim of wage theft. His former employer was not giving workers a lunch or 15-minute break throughout the day, forcing employees to work 8-10 hour shifts nonstop.
Alberto made a formal complaint against the company in 2022, after working for his employer for over five years, but very little progress has been made in his case. He told the Post that he received a call last week from the mediator on his complaint that his former employer is not interested in settling the case and is willing to let the matter go to court, where Alberto feels he’ll lose due to lack of substantial evidence.
Alberto’s son, who’s currently abroad in the military, also has a case filed against the company for wage theft, and the odds are not in their favor either. They’re also struggling to find a lawyer that will help with their cases due to local nonprofits being at capacity for clients.
Alberto said he’s looking for a “noticeable sum” from the complaint.
Local nonprofit loses funds to help day laborers
After the passing of the Oakland City budget earlier this month, executive director of Street Level Health Project Gabriela Galicia was informed that the $220,000 two-year grant they heavily relied on from the city was no longer
available.
Oakland narrowly closed an over $120 million deficit, cutting arts programs, eliminating positions, and slashing community grants in the process. A “nobody’s happy” budget, councilmembers said.
Galicia said this decision to cut Street Level’s funding at a time when immigration raids are rampant across the country and antiimmigrant hate is trickling down from the top, cements the rhetoric that local officials do not care about their migrant communities.
“Even before this decision, our workers don’t feel like they matter in the city, and for a long time they’ve felt invisible to the city of Oakland, and the city administrator. They just go unseen,” Galicia said.
The $220,000 grant makes up half of the organization’s budget, which helps fund their food distribution program, and their workers’ rights and employment opportunities program.
Galicia said she hopes the wage theft study shows local leaders that the work her team is doing to inform laborers of their rights is instrumental in assisting the large migrant community in Oakland, and highlights why the organization is worth funding.
Councilmember Noel Gallo told the Post that he is personally donating $100,000 from his discretionary council budget to help fund Street Level for at least a year. He said he’s also awaiting decisions from local partners to make up the other half of the lost grant, but is also in conversations with the rest of the council to find the money for the organization if no other funds come through.
Gallo said the money from his council budget would’ve paid to hire an extra person to his team, but he understands the need to put the money locally instead.
“We have to be creative and utilize other resources and leverage our partnerships to get the city back on track,” Gallo said.
Attorney General Bonta Rebukes U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Limiting Patients’ Right to Choose Medical Providers
City Police Union Criticizes New Budget ...
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arguing that such a move would undermine public accountability, professional standards, and officer retention.
OPOA president Nguyen also blasted the new budget more generally. “This budget is built on the shaky premise that voters will approve new tax hikes or bond measures next year,” he said. “But even if they do, Oakland may not be able to sell bonds with our credit in freefall.”
Specifically, the OPOA urges
Mayor Lee to reopen the budget process with input from the public and law enforcement; prioritize police staffing and public safety; fully fund a long-term plan to grow OPD; and focus on hiring more local officers.
“This is Mayor Lee’s moment to lead,” Nguyen said. “We urge her to take bold, visionary action and rebuild a department that earns the trust of both officers and residents.”
OUSD Welcomes New Chief of Staff ,,,
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coordination among the multiple county agencies that serve the youth at the Juvenile Justice Center.
Additionally, Bellino supported the teams at ACOEoperated community schools thatv serve parenting teen students, youth who are expelled from a school district, and young adults previously disconnected from school.
Prior to that role, Bellino served as chief of staff under former Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L. Karen Monroe for eight years. Throughout his tenure as there, Bellino helped provide stability for ACOE staff and operations during significant leadership transitions across the agency.
Bellino began his career in
public education as a fourth-grade classroom teacher at PS 87 in Bronx, New York, where he also started the non-profit Bronx Flash Track Club to help increase student and community engagement and provide increased physical activity opportunities for youth throughout the borough.
He also worked for the New York City Department of Education Office of School Wellness Programs, focused on addressing the childhood obesity epidemic and supporting comprehensive health education.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Boston College and master’s degrees in Elementary Education and School District Leadership from Mercy College in New York.
This report courtesy of OUSD press officer John Sasaki.
Trump’s Freeze on USAID ,,,
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George W. Bush and Barack Obama were all disturbed by the termination of aid so that was so sudden that ships carrying relief overseas – including perishable food – were not permitted to unload at docks, or, in some cases, allowed to rot in warehouses because distribution was prohibited.
In a recorded statement addressing former USAID employees broadcast at a convention hosted by U2 singer Bono, Bush said: “You’ve showed the great strength of America through your work - and that is your good heart,” US media reported. “Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you.”
and economic development, this project will help foster a vibrant creative economy, strengthen a key business corridor, and reaffirm Oakland’s status as a destination for arts and culture.”
Having previously completed a successful restoration of the Piedmont Arts Center, the EBRCC recently voted to expand its mission by sponsoring the Montclair Firehouse Arts Center project. The EBRCC’s expected stewardship of the firehouse is in keeping with the organization’s efforts to create and promote cultural activities in Oakland and throughout the East Bay.
“We are all encouraged by the Council’s unanimous vote to advance this project, which now will have many moving parts,” said EBRCC President Nancy Lehrkind. “Our group will be fullsteam-ahead to accomplish our goal and we will need all the help we can get.”
Now that the legislation is approved by the Council, the City will engage in lease negotiations with the EBRCC on a proposed 15-year term to operate the facility as an arts center.
Once those negotiations have concluded, the firehouse project will return to the City Council as an proposed ordinance that includes the agreed-upon lease terms. This initiative will not result in any fiscal impact to Oakland and will be completely funded through coordinated fundraising and local volunteering spearheaded by the EBRCC.
Special to The Post
California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. Medina denying Medicaid recipients’ individual right to receive care from the qualified providers of their choice, including Planned Parenthood.
In a 6-3 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Medicaid beneficiaries do not have a private right of action to obtain assistance from any institution that is “qualified to perform the service or services required” under the Medicaid Act’s free-choice-of-provider provision because the any-qualified-provider provision, passed by Congress, does not clearly and unambiguously confer individual rights enforceable under §1983.
The case began when the state of South Carolina unlawfully terminated Planned Parenthood South Atlantic’s (Planned Parenthood) participation in Medicaid only be-
cause the organization performed abortions outside of the Medicaid program. As a result of the termination, Planned Parenthood immediately had to begin turning away Medicaid patients.
“Congress expressly granted patients the right to choose a qualified doctor or provider they trust while seeking medical care. Today’s decision got it wrong: It strips choice out of the hands of patients and allows politicians to block patients from making their own decisions about their own healthcare,” Bonta said. “The impacts of this decision are likely to harm real people, especially low-income residents of South Carolina and other Medicaid beneficiaries who turn to Planned Parenthood for critical services, including physical exams, pregnancy testing and counseling, and screening for conditions such as diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure.
“In California, we will continue to defend patients’ access to choose providers they trust, including qualified providers like Planned Parenthood.”
As part of a coalition of 17 attorneys general, Bonta previously filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Medicaid recipients’ individual right to receive care from the qualified providers of their choice, including Planned Parenthood.
The Attorney General’s Office of the California Department of Justice is the source of this report.
Obama affirmed the work that had already been done. “Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy. Because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world.”
Insisting that USAID expense is a sign of government waste, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio applauded the move. “This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency has officially come to an end,” he told Substack.
In her statement, Lee further asserted that “public-health researchers warn that ending these lifelines could cost more than 14 million lives, possibly as many as 16 million, in the coming years, wiping out two decades of progress while pushing fragile health systems to collapse.
“This decision is not fiscal prudence by the Trump administration; it is moral negligence.
“In Congress, I chaired and was the ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funded USAID and led bipartisan coalitions to create and expand PEPFAR, which President George W. Bush signed in 2003.
“PEPFAR used USAID as its main implementing agency and kept 20.6 million people, including 566 000 children, on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy while providing HIV tests to 83.8 millionpeople in 2024 alone.
“Altogether these efforts have prevented more than 26 million deaths from HIV and AIDS and driven historic gains in child survival, maternal health, and food security.
“Cutting off HIV treatment in Kenya or prenatal care in Guatemala does not make Americans safer; it deepens human suffering and weakens the partnerships that keep pandemics, conflict, and climate shocks from reaching our shores.
“I hope that Congress will recognize the deadly impact of this reckless move and find ways to restore USAID and PEPFAR. Lives hang in the balance, and so does our shared humanity.”
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s press office is the primary source for this report. Other sources include BBC News and CNN politics.
I cannot stay silent. Oakland residents have always stood with me in the struggle to save lives, whether in our own neighborhoods or half a world away.
DA Files Manslaughter Charges Against Man ...
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ing the tragic death of the victim in this case.
Gonzalez Mendoza has been charged with the following felony offenses: gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the victim whose life was tragically cut short by this senseless act,” said Jones Dickson.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Press Office is the source of this report.
The abandoned Montclair Firehouse at 6226 Moraga Ave. City of Oakland photo.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta. File photo.
Mrs. Oral Lee Brown and two of her fourth-grade students at Buckhalter Elementary School in Oakland. Photo courtesy Oral Lee Brown Foundation.