Oakland Post
Special to The Post
The Ballers baseball team announced the appointment of actor Blair Underwood as their social impact ambassador. The Ballers also said that Underwood will be joining the Oakland Ballers ownership group.
The Ballers also recently announced that Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong and hip-hop superstar and entrepreneur Too $hort are joining the team.
Last year, when the Ballers launched a community investment round, more than 2,200 fans invested $1.234 million in just nine days. The Ballers have now opened a second investment round that seeks to raise $2 million.
Underwood’s entry into pro-
fessional baseball may seem like it comes out of left field, but the esteemed actor, producer, director, author and philanthropist has quietly woven his way into the social fabric of many homes and personal conversations for more than 35 years through his body of work.
“I truly appreciate the social fabric of inclusion that the Oakland Ballers are promoting through their love of baseball,” said Underwood. “I was really attracted to the team’s approach to rebuilding under-resourced footprints and tackling an issue in The Town. Having served the City of Oakland for 20-plus years in the area of philanthropic concerns, it all aligned with my New Oakland initiative to bring alternative fi-
Teacher Training Grants
$148 million of funding at stake for California programs addressing ongoing teacher shortage
By Post Staff
Bonta, leading a multistate coalition, has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs.
By Ken Epstein
A nearly two-hour televised mayoral debate this week brought into sharp focus the different approaches of the two top contenders for Oakland mayor in the April 15 special election.
nancing and fresh ideas to the City of Oakland.”
Underwood’s acting career also features significant baseball crossover which includes starring in the highly celebrated film ‘Soul of the Game’ in which he played Jackie Robinson.
Underwood was also the first recurring African American cast member on the hit television series “Sex and The City,” and broke barriers by playing Stanley Kowalski in a Broadway production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a role previously made famous by the late Marlon Brando.
“Blair Underwood is a champion of inclusion from the diamond to the street,” said Paul Freedman, Oakland Ballers co-founder. “His
that would yank teachers out of schools and prevent new teachersin-training who are close to being ready to serve our students from filling empty classrooms,” said Bonta. “States across the nation are facing a critical teacher shortage. But instead of trying to help us solve it, instead of doing the bare minimum and honoring grants that have already been awarded and obligated, the U.S. Department of Education is attempting to terminate funding for vital teacher preparation programs that train teachers to go into hard-to-fill positions and high-poverty or high need schools across the country.
“As a father myself, I can’t sit back while the Trump Administration attempts to pull the rug out from under aspiring teachers – especially when it’s our kids’ education on the line. I’ll see the Trump Administration in court.”
Special to The Post
As the City of Oakland prepares for a critical budget cycle, Mayor Kevin Jenkins has appointed two trusted leaders, LaNiece Jones and Burt Jones (no relation), as deputy mayors to represent his administration and spearhead short-term, special projects focused on cleaner and safer communities.
“With the upcoming budget process requiring my full attention, I am grateful to have LaNiece
According to former Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s strong statement, Oakland is a city full of beautiful, progressive people that has a track record of leading the country politically and culturally but is now in the midst a serious crisis.
Working together in spite of major differences and appreciating residents’ resilience and solidarity, Oakland can solve the crisis and emerge stronger than ever, says Lee, fresh from the front lines serving in Washington, D.C., in the Republican-controlled Congress.
Lee has a successful track record in the State Legislature and in Congress. Her achievements for Oakland include bringing many millions of dollars to the city, including $17 million in the past year for the Port, for Lake Merritt, for youth programs, and more.
In contrast, the other top candidate, former Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor, says that Oakland is a ‘broken’ city where many people no longer
want to live or work and that needs new, more moderate leadership. The city needs new leaders who are not under the influence of old guard community organizations. Because of its reputation, Taylor says, Oakland is at a disadvantage and must work to convince public officials and private benefactors that it is a city worthy of their investments.
In his remarks, Taylor said, “Oakland is failing its residents …We have to be honest with ourselves: Oakland is broken. We have a lot of things that need to be fixed and need to be fixed immediately. If we don’t respond with urgency, we could lose more residents, lose more businesses, lose more revenues driving us closer to bankruptcy.”
Continuing, he stressed the need to remove the city’s current leaders, replacing them with leaders who will turn their backs on the labor and nonprofits who have had an influence on city policies.
“Oakland needs fresh energy, new leadership, someone who is unencumbered by the existing establishment, those who have a vested interest, and have been having their way in our city, guiding decisions, not in the best
By Post Staff
The attorneys general argue that the terminations, impacting institutions across the nation and which were issued without warning and with immediate effect, violate the Administrative Procedure Act. The attorneys general are seeking an order to prevent disruptions to these programs, which would immediately reduce the number of teachers and teacher trainees serving in schools.
“The Trump Administration is pursuing an anti-education agenda
Beginning on Feb. 7, California institutions received letters purporting to terminate grants with a total value of at least $148 million in critical funding to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage through teacher preparation programs. These programs are designed to create a pipeline for teachers serving rural and urban communities and teaching harder-to-fill positions like math and science and have been shown to increase teacher retention rates and ensure that educators remain in the profession beyond the crucial first five years.
“The elimination of funding to the Teacher Quality Partnership grants awarded to universities in the California State University system will cause widespread and irreparable harm to the students and school districts we are so honored to serve through these grants,” said California State University Chancellor Mildred García.
In 2024, more than 400,000 teaching positions in the U.S. — representing about 1in 8 of all teaching positions nationwide — were vacant or filled by uncertified teachers. When schools are unable to find qualified teachers, students suffer.
Teacher shortages can result in larger class sizes, cancelled courses, or classes staffed with teachers less able to teach a subject.
On March 7, Oakland lost one of its musical luminaries, D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the Grammy-nominated group Tony! Toni! Toné! Wiggins, who grew up in Oakland, died of complications from bladder cancer, which he had been battling for a year. He was 64.
“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,” his family said in a statement. “He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor and founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné! He was deeply passionate about
The Bookmark Bookstore is offering more than 5,000 cookbooks from every major genre at 30% off for Friends of the Oakland Public Library members on March 15 and for all foodies, testers, tasters, home chefs and aspiring cooks on March 16. And if you are just an eater who
LaNiece Jones and Burt Jones will take on special responsibilities so that Mayor Kevin Jenkins can focus of Oakland’s budget
Courtesy photo.
The Oakland Ballers’ new investors and boosters include (left to right): Oakland Rapper Too $hort, Actor/ Philanthropist Blair Underwood and Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day front man. Post composite image.
photo.
CA Attorney General Rob Bonta. File photo. Attorney General Bonta Sues to Halt Termination of K-12
A Strategic Alliance: Reparations Advocates, Republican Assemblymember Explain Proposed Freedmen Affairs Agency
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
In an unexpected alliance, Kamilah Moore, who served as the chair of California’s Reparations Task Force, joined forces with Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona) to advance reparations efforts in the state.
Although Essayli has expressed his opposition to taxpayer-funded reparations, he has introduced a bill to establish the California American Freedmen Agency, which would provide genealogy services to identify Californians who are descendants of enslaved African Americans.
Moore, who chaired California’s historic reparations task force, has endorsed the bill, calling it a crucial step forward.
“I stand in strong support,” said Moore. “As former chairperson, I’m going to support any piece of legislation from any legislator that speaks to the task force’s re-
port.”
The proposal closely mirrors a measure introduced last year by former Democratic State Senator Steven Bradford, Senate Bill (SB) 1403, which did not advance to the floor of the Assembly for a vote during the last legislative session.
Advocates outraged about the bill’s failure blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom and members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) for the bill’s failure.
Essayli claims Democratic lawmakers told him Newsom wanted to avoid the issue due to national political concerns. Newsom’s office declined to comment on the claim.
The CLBC has recently proposed a separate initiative that would allocate $6 million for a two-year genealogy study before launching a Bureau for Descendants of American Slaves. However, Moore argues that the task force has already conducted suf-
ficient research and that the focus should now be on implementation.
The state allocated $12 million in the 2024-25 budget for reparations-related initiatives. Last year, the Legislature issued a formal apology to the descendants of enslaved people, which includes a $500,000 memorial plaque.
Essayli emphasized that his bill would not require new funding, as the existing budget could support the Freedmen Affairs Agency.
“I think a lot of people have a misconception that there is an effort to hand out checks to all Black Americans. That’s not true, it’s also not constitutional. So, this bill is very narrow,” said Essayli.
“We are the party that fought to abolish slavery, we were founded to abolish slavery, we fought a civil war. Our first President was Lincoln. This was a natural constituency group for the Republican party,” he said.
ticularly focusing on a potentially hostile work environment for Jewish professors, staff, and employees.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department’s commitment to defending Jewish Americans and addressing institutional anti-Semitism.
“This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Anti-Semitism,” said Bondi.
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
The California Surgeon General’s Office has launched a new questionnaire that they believe will help reduce the state’s maternal mortality rate by 50% by December 2026 as part of its Strong Start and Beyond movement.
The Preconception Medical Assessment or PreMA is comprised of eight yes or no questions that can help potential mothers understand how their current health status and history affect a future pregnancy. The Office plans to provide digital links and physical PDFs of the questionnaire and distribute them among women living in communities designated as “high risk.”
“We know that over 85% of maternal deaths in California can be prevented,” said California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos during an Office of Community
Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) digital press conference.
“Moms don’t have to die. Our sisters, our mothers, the wives, they don’t have to die,” she continued. “We can save their lives by simply alerting people to the fact that their current health could impact the pregnancy and postpartum.”
Question topics include heart health, high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues, drug use and history of surgery.
There are general recommendations for care at the bottom of the questionnaire based on the number of ‘yes’ responses they give. Also, at the bottom of the quiz, there are links to resources where people can get information on medical care, housing and other programs providing aid.
Additionally, 62% of maternal deaths occur after the baby has
been delivered. PreMA can also be effective to monitor health conditions between pregnancies as well to help lower this number.
“There were so many times when I cared for patients and I had to tell them, ‘you’re going to be needing more medical care, or you’re a higher risk pregnancy because of the chronic medical condition that was present before you became pregnant.’ And inevitably, the words that always came out of the people that I cared for was, ‘I wish I would have known. I wish I would have known that there was something that I could have done to improve the outlook for my pregnancy.’”
Black women in the U.S. are more than twice as likely as white women to die due to complications related to maternity and the birthing process, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the University of California
(UC) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The investigation aims to determine if the UC system has allowed a pattern of discrimination based on race, religion, and national origin, par-
By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
March is Older Californians Nutrition Month.
It is a time, state authorities say, to recognize the importance of nu-
tritious food and social connection in healthy aging The California Department of Aging (CDA) reminds older adults that a variety of statesupported programs are available to improve their health and well-
The investigation follows a rise in anti-Semitic incidents at educational institutions across the nation, including UC campuses, particularly after the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, stressed that both students and faculty should have a work environment free from such hostility.
being, including group and homedelivered meals, exercise classes, and grocery assistance.
“Californians aged 60 and older have access to free meals specifically designed to meet the nutrition needs of older individuals,” said CDA Director Susan DeMarois.
“For many older Californians, a meal represents more than nutrition — it’s about health, independence, and connection,” she said.
The state provides vital services, such as the Congregate Meals Program, which serves nutritious meals at senior centers and other venues, and the Home-Delivered
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) says she understood before she was elected to office last year that Californians pay among the highest electricity rates in the country.
So, lowering that cost — and that of other utility bills — has become her top priority.
A member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), Ransom, on her first day on the job in December, introduced Assembly Bill (AB 13). If passed, the legislation will reform the five-member California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and hold its regulators more accountable, providing residents with the transparency she says they deserve regarding how their bills are increased.
“This is necessary because (CPUC) oversees the utilities companies that request rate hikes,” Ransom told California
Black Media (CBM). “So far, that has been happening but we as the public don’t understand that the CPUC is not an elected body. It is an appointed body. They don’t have to answer to constituents who hold them accountable.”
Ransom represents California’s 13th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Stockton, Tracy and Mountain House. A former Tracy City Councilmember, Ransom was elected to office in the November General Election and is one of nine Black women legislators that are part of the 12-member CLBC.
“We need to ensure that decisions affecting utilities are made with fairness, transparency, and accountability, prioritizing affordability for Californians,” she stated.
The CPUC is a state regulatory agency that was created by a constitutional amendment to regulate privately owned telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water,
railroad, rail transit, passenger transportation, and in-state moving companies.
The CPUC is responsible for ensuring that California utility customers have dependable utility service at less expensive rates, protecting utility customers from acts of deception, and promoting the well-being of California’s economy. The agency has a staff of approximately 940 employees. The commission’s board, which typically meets twice a month, is comprised of five members with a president. Board members are appointed by the Governor and serve six-year terms. The current commissioners are Alice Busching-Reynolds, Darcie L. Houck, John Reynolds, Karen Douglas, and Matthew Baker. Busching-Reynolds is the President.
AB 13 would require that four members of the commission represent the geographic locations of the four State Board of Equalization districts. The bill would require that one member be an atlarge member with unspecified qualifications.
“We all wonder sometimes how they make their decisions, how they are approving these rates and are they putting people first,” Ransom said. “They are a part of the California Constitution. They are appointed by the Governor. The Constitution does say they are supposed to be accountable to the Legislature, but the Governor gets to appoint them.”
Ransom continued, “So far, the legislature does not play a big role in what they do. We do get reports from them, but we should be getting a little bit more.”
California Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona), left, and Kamilah Moore, the attorney who served as chair of California’s Reparations Task Force, right. iStock.
Asm. Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 13 on the day she was sworn into office. AB 13, if passed, would reform the California Public Utility Commission to increase its accountability to taxpayers. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
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dancer/choreographer who each receive $800,000 over
a five-year period to spend as they
Dorothy Roberts. This is the eighth and last in the series highlighting the
awardees. The report below on Dorothy Rob-
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The anticipation is high.
Your soon-to-be-graduate has been checking every day to see if there’s good news or bad news from the college of their choice, and to determine if they need a change of plans. It’s an unnerving time, but also one of hope. So why not be prepared, and read these great books about education in the Black community.
More than 70 years ago, something happened in rural Tennessee that was almost lost to history: three people — one of them, a White man — joined forces to help Black southerners get past Jim Crow laws and vote. As you’ll read in “Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement” by Elaine
Weiss (One Signal, $29.99), they accomplished this feat by opening Citizenship Schools which, by 1965, had grown from one little room in the back of a grocery store, to over nine hundred such schools. How this happened, and what these schools accomplished, is a story you can’t miss.
Here’s another book that presents another side of history: “Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children” by Noliwe Rooks (Pantheon, $28) challenges the narrative that says Brown v. Board of Education fixed what was wrong with separate-butequal laws for schools. Author Rooks says, in fact, that there’s so much more to this story, and that understanding what integration actually did for Black
students is to understand how it can be so much better. Bonus: Rooks includes personal stories here, which are as entertaining as they are informative for readers concerned about their children’s education.
California vs
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.
Attorney Gen. Bonta Lays Out ‘Resistance’ Plan
Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty 1997)”, she
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.
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
If your student is heading for an HBCU in the fall, be sure to check out “With Faith in God and Heart and Mind: A History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity” by Maurice J. Hobson, Eddie R. Cole, Jim C. Harper II, and Derrick P. Alridge (University of North Carolina Press, $29.95). Started in the fall of 1911 by four students at Howard University, Omega Psi Phi was a place for students to join, to bond, and to get support. But it was also a place for greatness: many of its members went on to serve in the military in high places, to serve in society, medicine, science, and politics. In this book, you’ll read a history of the fraternity, and you’ll learn about its prominent alumni.
And finally, if your student isn’t sure if college is in their future, look at “Who Needs College Anymore?” by Kathleen Delaski (Harvard Education Press, $34). There are other ways to get an education, says the author, and they may still involve a formal education or new twists on old methods of finding a career. Some of them may be controversial. Others may be just the key for a new grad with an aversion to school. And if these books on education aren’t enough for you or your student, be sure to ask your librarian or bookseller for more suggestions. There are many more books on the history of education for you to read, addressing elementary schools, college-level, and high school.
Author: Various Authors, c.2025, Various Publishers, $28 - $34
nied agency to Black women and
This work prompted Roberts to examine the treatment of children of color in the U.S. child welfare system.
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
During an online conference on Feb. 26, California Attorney General Rob Bonta detailed how the Trump Administration used its first five and half weeks to execute an agenda that runs counter in various ways to California state policies and priorities.
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
state intervention and the results of those interventions.
Through interviews with Chicago mothers who had interacted with Child Protective Services (CPS), Roberts shows that institutions regularly punish the effects of poverty as neglect.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued scores of executive actions that make good on many of his campaign promises. Bonta said the impact of Trump’s exercise of his powers is creeping up on the doorsteps of California’s diverse residents.
on California politics.
of norms.
“The Resistance: California vs. Donald Trump.” The four-and-ahalf-hour event explored Trump’s presidential executive orders, mass firings, deportations, and billionaire Elon Musk’s handling of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
She also shows that blaming marginalized individuals for structural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and communities.
CPS disproportionately investigates Black and Indigenous families, especially if they are lowincome, and children from these families are much more likely than white children to be removed from their families after CPS referral.
In “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (2022),” Roberts traces the historical, cultural, and political forces driving the racial and class imbalance in child welfare interventions.
“People are scared, worried, anxious, and uncertain about what’s happening in the federal government. And will it impact their lives and loved ones,” Bonta said. “Sadly, I think it’s pretty clear that that’s part of the president’s strategy: To flood the zone, overwhelm us with a barrage of damaging, dangerous, and illegal executive orders and actions that impede on the law and values that make America strong.”
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.
One of the directives Trump signed on Jan. 21 bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the federal government and urges the private sector to follow suit.
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.
Bonta had already advised California businesses, nonprofits, and other entities not to sway from DEI initiatives in their workplaces.
Bonta made the statement while delivering an address as the guest speaker of a virtual conference hosted by Capitol Weekly, a non-partisan publication focused
These include stereotypes about Black parents as negligent, devaluation of Black family bonds, and stigmatization of parenting practices that fall outside a narrow set
“I urge all California businesses not to fall for this scare tactic,” Bonta stated.
The online conference was held almost three weeks after Gov.
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.
Gavin Newsom signed two
cipients of the so-called ‘genius grants’ are scholars, visual and media artists a poet/writer, historian, and
min, Jericho Brown, Tony Cokes, terson, Shamel Pitts, Jason Reyn olds, and
Black
Rob Bonta, California Attorney General. File photo.
Photo courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
Let’s Go to the Doctor: Alzheimer’s and Dementia Health
Part 1 of 2
By Clifford L. Williams
Alzheimer’s is a disease that, due to multiple historical and socioeconomic factors, Black Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to develop.
Yet, Black patients are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with the condition.
In a recent post, The Family Institute at Northwestern University’s online master of arts in counseling program addressed how counselors who deal with demen-
tia in Black American communities must consider multiple factors that can contribute to poor mental health among Black people.
“It takes counselors to get out there to advocate for the needs of our communities,” noted Dr. Tonya Davis, a licensed clinical professional counselor and core faculty member for counseling at Northwestern.
Davis further stated that changes in the brain occur years before the initial signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Catching these drastic shifts in the brain at an early stage can re-
sult in the possibility of preventing or deferring memory loss along with other symptoms of dementia.
Although still incurable, an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis might help to add a little more precious time with the loved one you remember as well as allow them more time to enjoy the life they love and cherish with family.
Mom losing her keys a little more often is not a sign of impending dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Mom begins losing her way home on a route she takes daily is something to discuss with the family
physician. Dad repeating his favorite stories at every special family occasion is not a cause for alarm. Dad repeating the same thing over and over within the span of one short conversation is something to be noted. Normally cool and calm dad becoming a bit more irritable may bear watching more closely. Forgetting a point you intended to make or what something is called is pretty common. However, forgetting how to use every day common items or not remembering their function is an important
Continued on page 7
Lower Maternal Mortality Rates ...
Continued from page 2
For Black women in California, the risk of death due to pregnancy complications is four to six times higher than any other ethnic group, according to data from the California Health Care Foundation.
lize the services of an emergency room. During a visit she found out that there was a bleeding from her placenta caused by high blood pressure.
Resources to Stay Healthy ...
Continued from page 2
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Health...
Continued from page 6
signal that should not be ignored.
Licensed doula, Ithiopia McKinney, is an example of one of those women. McKinney, said at the time of her pregnancy she did not qualify for insurance. According to McKinney, she had to uti-
“If it was something that was caught beforehand, I would have been able to take the necessary steps to fix it with medical care,” said McKinney. “And I would not have had anxiety during my pregnancy. They were even talking about it might be possible that I had to stay in the hospital. I was put on bed rest, but I really couldn’t be on bed rest because I was an immigrant trying to work.”
Meals Program, which ensures that homebound seniors receive healthy meals. In 2024, CDA’s local partners delivered 15.7 million meals to isolated older adults. Additionally, the CalFresh program offers financial assistance to help eligible seniors purchase food, with participation growing significantly in recent years.
ty and well-being,” said California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson. By 2030, older adults are projected to outnumber children in California, making access to these resources more critical than ever.
For more information on available services, seniors can contact their local Area Agency on Aging or visit CDA’s website. vention (CDC).
“Ensuring that older Californians have access to healthy meals and essential services is part of our broader commitment to equi-
The state also offers programs like the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program, which help seniors buy fresh produce and meals at participating locations.
For example, if mom begins putting her toothbrush in the freezer or, instead of simply turning the dial, you discover dad striking the thermostat, it’s time to get your loved one tested for dementia or Alzheimer’s as quickly as possible.
It’s not easy to watch a parent’s behavior change. There are few things in life that prepare us for the day mom or dad shows up for breakfast with their shoes on the wrong feet. The same sweet voice
that urged you to shower and brush your teeth daily may become the same voice now yelling their defiance and refusal to shower themselves. Always try to remember, it’s only the disease talking. Resist allowing your feelings to be hurt by anything that may be said.
Next week, this column will discuss the early signs of Alzheimer’s; what to look out for, and proactive measures to prevent Alzheimer’s.
To Our Readers: For information on other health-related issues regarding men’s health, please share your thoughts and/or concerns with the Post News Group editorial staff.
Rev. Dr. Dorsey Odell Blake, 78
By Post Staff
The Rev. Dr. Dorsey Odell Blake, 78, of Oakland, California, passed away Sunday, March 2.
He was born in Liberty, Missouri, on July 26, 1946. Blake is the fourth of nine children born to Rev. Dr. William Louis Blake and Hazel Teen (Roberson) Blake.
Dorsey graduated valedictorian from Lincoln High School in Kansas City and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Brown University. Later, Blake earned Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from Pacific School of Religion and the Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary.
His accomplishments were many and varied. Chief among them were his positions as program director of the Howard Thurman Educational Trust and presiding minister of The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples for 31 years. The trajectory of his life’s journey was meteoric;
MORTGAGE AWAITS.
he excelled in many areas of endeavor.
Over the years, he developed a network of influence that was local, regional, national and international.
He is survived by two younger siblings: Carl LeRoy Blake of Oakland, California, and Irene Lucresia Blake of Memphis, Tennessee. Other survivors include nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces across the country. Bryan Caston of San Francisco served exceptionally as Dorsey’s primary caregiver and business partner.
Ancestors on the paternal side of Blake’s family can be traced back to 1841. Maternal ancestors can be traced to 1790.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 22 at the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, 2041 Larkin St., San Francisco, California, 94109. Attendance options are in-person and online livestreaming. (Details provided on the church’s website www.fellowshipsf.org.)
Free parking at St. Brigid Church, at the corner of Broadway and Franklin streets.
A reception will immediately follow the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Additionally, there will be a free giveaway of books from Dr. Blake’s voluminous library.
Tributes, messages, gifts, and donations can be sent to the church at the above-mentioned address. Readers are welcome to post memories, reminiscences, and messages online on social media platforms.
July 26, 1946 (Liberty, MO) –March 2, 2025 (Oakland, CA)
“Father, into Thy Hands, I give my life. H. Thurman, Inward Journey No. 39 Saturday, March 22, 2025 11 O’clock A.M.
The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples San Francisco, California 94109
Free Parking at St. Brigid Church, Corner of Broadway and Franklin Streets, SF.
Attendance Options: In-person and Livestreaming www.fellowshipsf.org
U.S. Reps Lateefah Simon and Sydney Kamlager-Dove Explain Decision to Walk Out of Trump’s Address
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
California’s U.S. Congressmembers Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Lateefah Simon (DCA-12) joined other Democratic lawmakers who protested President Donald Trump’s policies by walking out on his address to a joint session of Congress on March 4.
Kamlager-Dove described Trump’s speech as deceptive and lacking real solutions. She said she attended to support Sylvia Joyner, an advocate for wrong-
The Reverend Doctor Dorsey Odell Blake. Courtesy photo.
Roy Ayers, Godfather of Neo-Soul, 84
By Post Staff
Vibraphonist Roy Ayers, who started out in the cool world of avant garde jazz, but whose upbeat personality broke through to create his all-time hit, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” died on March 4. He was 84.
Born on Sept. 10, 1940, in what is now known as South Central Los Angeles to musical parents, Ayers fell in love with the vibraphone at age 5 when he attended a Lionel Hampton concert. He showed so much enthusiasm that the big band leader presented young Ayers with a set of vibraphone mallets.
In his multi-decade career, Ayers bent musical genres constantly, blazing a trail as a vibraphonist, composer, singer, and producer, and eventually becoming known as the “godfather of neo-soul.”
After singing in his high school choir and playing steel guitar and piano in a local band called the Latin Lyrics, he studied music theory at Los Angeles City College, but dropped out to go on tour playing vibes as a sideman.
He recorded an album in 1963 and later joined jazz flautist Herbie Mann’s group, recording in
the late 1960s.
Ayers moved to New York in the early 1970s, where he formed the 14-member ensemble called Roy Ayers Ubiquity. He wrote and performed for “Coffy,” a Blaxploitation film starring Pam Grier in 1973 and released his signature “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” in 1976.
For nearly 50 years, the song has stayed in the collective mind of listeners, sampled innumerable times by artists including Dr Dre, Pharrell Williams and Mary J. Blige, the track has also been covered by musicians ranging from D’Angelo to Jamie Cullen. He influenced many more, including Alicia Keys, The Roots and Gang Starr’s Guru.
“It’s wonderful, the desire young people express for my music,” Ayers told Dummy in 2016. “It’s wonderful because I’m still growing in popularity.”
According to the Guardian, Ayers said the song was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York on a warm summer day. Debbie Darby (credited as “Chicas”) is on vocals and Philip Woo on piano, electric piano, and synthesizer. Woo said “the song based around a single chord that the band in the studio then developed” because Ayers did not like to work from charts or scores, the Guardian reported.
“It was so spontaneous. It felt wonderful,” Ayers told The Guardian in 2017 of the song’s creation. “And I knew exactly how I wanted it to sound: a mix of vibraphone, piano and a synthesizer.”
The simplicity of the song’s structure appealed to a variety of musicians because it was so easy
NOTICE INVITING BIDS
to improvise. “D’Angelo covered the song in sweaty desire; Cullen’s ‘Live in Ibiza’ version is as light and moreish as your favourite ice-cream; the Robert Glasper Experiment cover is edgy, an exercise in deconstruction,” the Guardian reported.
In 1979, Ayers toured in Nigeria with Fela Kuti, and the resulting album, “Music of Many Colours” (1980), led to many collaborations, among them Whitney Houston in 1988, Rick James in 1992 and Tyler the Creator in 2015.
In the 1980s and beyond, he toured continuously especially in Europe and Asia.
In 2000, Ayers collaborated with Erykah Badu on her second album and together they recorded a new version of “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” on what would be his last studio album, “Mahogany,” in 2004.
In 2020, the soul-funk album, “Roy Ayers JID002,” was released. It was the brainchild of the producers Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad a member of A Tribe Called Quest, who had several of sampled Ayers’ songs.
“If I didn’t have music I wouldn’t even want to be here,” Ayers told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s like an escape when there is no escape.”
Ayers is survived by his wife, Argerie, and his children, Mtume, Ayana, and Nabil, and a granddaughter.
The Guardian, NPR, and Wikipedia are the sources for this report.
The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is calling for sealed Bids from qualified firms to provide General Contracting services for the Laney College Theater Modernization Project (Bid No. 24-25/05). Bids are to be submitted electronically (via PlanetBids), by 2:00 PM, on May 15, 2025. Follow the link below for the bid opening: https://peralta-edu.zoom.us/j/84716794834
The project consists of demolition and construction necessary for the modernization of the existing Laney Theater Building inclusive of the following: extensive modifications for accessibility; a glass curtain wall; lobby extension with new elevator; expanded restrooms/amenities; a new north lobby and entry; upgrades to the 300-seat auditorium, technical theater, and AV systems; upgrades to existing classrooms, visual and sound labs;and replacement of the existing mechanical systems.
The work to be performed under this contract includes the furnishing of all labor, materials, equipment, transportation, services, permits, temporary controls and construction facilities, and all general conditions, seismic requirements, general requirements and incidentals required to complete the work on the project in its entirety as described in the contract documents.
In order to perform the work, Bidders at the time of the Bid Opening and for the duration of the project shall possess a valid California Contractor’s license and certifications in order to qualify to perform the Work: Class A and/or B Contractor’s License. This is a Public Works project and will require payment of prevailing wages.
A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is required for this project. The successful Bidder will be required to sign a Letter of Assent agreeing to the terms and conditions of the District’s PLA in order to perform the work.
A Mandatory Pre-Bid video conference meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 11:00A.M. To register in advance for this meeting: https://peralta-edu.zoom.us/j/86800481409
Meeting ID: 868 0048 1409
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Two Pre-Bid Site Walks will be held at Laney College located at 900 Fallon St, Oakland, CA, 94607. Mandatory attendance by the bidding General Contractor is required at one of the two site walks in order to submit a bid.
1. Pre-Bid Site Walk #1 will be held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 1:00PM. We will meet at the Theatre Building located at 900 Fallon St, Oakland, CA, 94607.
2. Pre-Bid Site Walk #2 will be held on Tuesday, April 01, 2025 at 1:00PM.
We will meet at the Theatre Building located at 900 Fallon St, Oakland, CA, 94607.
Copies of the bid documents may be obtained by clicking on the following links:
https://vendors.planetbids.com/portal/71895/portal-home
Governing Codes:
GC 53068
EC 81641
Publication Dates: March 07, 2025, and March 14, 2025
Bonta Lays Out ‘Resistance’ Plan ... Continued from page 4
bills appropriating $50 million to “Trump Proof” the State of California. It provides Bonta and the California Department of Justice (DOJ) funding to file lawsuits against the Trump Administration as well as protect California laws, institutions, and policies, Bonta said.
The funding is two-fold. First, Senate Bill SBX1-1, authored by Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) amends the 2024 Budget Act to include a State Litigation Fund, distributing $25 mil-
lion to the DOJ.
SBX1-1 was enacted in case the Trump Administration decides to withhold funding for emergency aid after a natural disaster such as the wildfires that occurred in Los Angeles. The DOJ says it intends to go after the federal government in courts if aid is withheld.
The second bill that was born out of the Special Legislative Session called by Newsom, SBX12, amends the Budget Act to add funding for Legal Services, including $25 million for legal assistance for Californians and immigrant communities.
Authored by Weiner and Gabriel, SBX1-2, also allows the DOJ to provide free legal services
fully terminated workers, but she ended up walking out in protest, vowing to keep fighting against the administration’s policies.
“I walked out of the Joint Address on behalf of the people of California’s 37th District — and because there is only so much bulls**t that a person can tolerate,” said Kamlager-Dove, in a statement.
She accused Trump of misleading the public about the impact of his policies, particularly his push to cut federal health care funding by up to $2.5 trillion.
Kamlager-Dove represents a district with the fourth-largest Medicaid enrollment in the nation, where 56% of constituents rely on the program for health care. She slammed Trump for claiming that benefits would remain intact while advancing policies that would reduce funding for critical services.
for veterans, people with disabilities, homeless youth, families facing eviction, seniors, victims of domestic violence, wage theft, and human trafficking.
Bonta stated that the funding is sufficient and that his office is staffed to handle litigation that resists obstructive policies and interference from the Trump Administration.
The funds would be used “wisely and prudently and efficiently,” Bonta said. Bonta said. “I am here to enforce our laws, defend our rights, and protect our people. I am here to ensure progress prevails in California.”
“How dare he tell the 56% of my constituents who rely on Medicaid that their benefits are safe when his top legislative priority is cutting federal health care funding?” Kamlager-Dove said.
Simon says she attended the joint session because she felt it was her duty to “uphold Congress’ power of checks and balances and be a witness to truth.”
However, Simon said, “There was no truth to be found.”
“After hearing President Trump’s lies about Social Security and his celebration of firing dedicated federal workers — I walked out of his joint address to Congress.
“Over 60 million Americans rely on Social Security. As someone who previously relied on Social Security Disability Income benefits and waited for hours in a local Social Security office to file survivor benefits after my husband, Kevin, died of cancer — I know firsthand how devastating the Administration’s cuts to Social Security will be.”
Roy Ayers. Facebook photo.
California’s U.S. Congressmembers Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), left, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), right.
Underwood Named Ballers’ Social Impact Ambassador...
Oakland’s history of community resilience inspires the Ballers’ vision to build a team and sustain it by revolutionizing the connection between teams and communities. The Ballers aspire to lead a new era of sports ownership that prioritizes fans and recognizes their essential value to a team.
Freedman said the Ballers want the community to have the opportunity to be a fan and an owner by investing in the team.
and having him in the ownership group will add an authentic voice to our overall social conscience.”
The offering will be powered by DealMaker — built specifically for community investment rounds.
For more information, visit invest.oaklandballers.com.
D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné!, Dead at 64 ...
Continued from page 1
providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.”
His family added: “Through this fight, he remained committed and present for his family, his music, his fans and his community.”
The Grammy-nominated trio, comprised of his brother, Raphael Saadiq and their cousin, Christian Riley, began their ascent to renown with their 1988 debut album, “Who?” with songs like “Baby Doll” and “Little Walter.”
The group became mainstays of what would become known as the New Jack Swing genre with “Feels Good” in 1990 and followed with classic 1990s jams “Anniversary,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California)” and (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow.”
went their separate ways after their fourth album, 1996’s platinumselling “House of Music.”
In 1995, he opened his studio, House of Music, and established a label, Grass Roots Entertainment. There, he spent much time mentoring younger artists, including Zendaya, H.E.R., Kehlani and even Destiny’s Child, with a teenaged Beyonce, stretching his influence well beyond the Bay Area.
“He was so kind. So patient, so multi-talented and generous. Beyoncé said that he influenced and taught her so much,” Tina Knowles wrote on Instagram.
The son of Oakland began playing guitar at age 11, played in Castlemont High School’s band and toured with Tramaine Hawkins and the trio toured with Sheena Easton before going out on their own.
and contributed to Oakland’s community by collaborating with organizations like Youth Uprising, near his high school alma mater. In the early 2000s, Wiggins did studio work with Alicia Keys, joined D.L. Hughly’s Comedy Central series and even collaborated with Too $hort on the rapper’s film, “Life Is.” In 2022, he was given a key to the city by then-Mayor Libby Schaaf.
The original Tonyies reunited for a tour in 2023, vowing never to let outside influences drive them apart, and even planning a new project. “We got a lot of material, and now we just want to make sure that we put out the right energy through our music,” Wiggins told the Associated Press.
Wiggins was surrounded by family at his passing. Funeral services have not been announced.
that is championed by the Ballers
Mayor Kevin Jenkins Appoints Deputy Mayors ...
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and Burt stepping into these key roles to ensure that our administration continues to be present, engaged, and responsive to the needs of Oaklanders,” said Jenkins. “Both of them bring a deep commitment to public service and a proven track record of uplifting our communities. Their leadership will help advance critical initiatives that make our neighborhoods safer and cleaner.”
Burt Jones, a West Oakland native, has dedicated his career to youth development, social justice, and civic engagement. His background includes leadership roles in both city government and the
LaNiece Jones, a longtime strategist and community advocate, has extensive experience in public policy, economic equity, and civic engagement. She previously served as special assistant to Jenkins and has worked with the California Legislative Black Caucus on policy initiatives aimed at empowering Black communities. A seasoned marketing and public relations professional, she has led efforts to expand Black women’s leadership and coalition-building across the state.
PHOENIX APARTMENTS
nonprofit sector, including work with Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA). With an MBA and a law degree, Burt brings a wealth of experience in policy, advocacy, and community organizing.
As deputy mayors, LaNiece and Burt will serve as official representatives of the Mayor’s Office, engaging with community members, business leaders, and city stakeholders while leading shortterm projects focused on improving quality of life in Oakland.
811 & 821 Pine Street, Oakland Tel: 510-306-1621 California Relay Service: 711
The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING - WAITING LIST OPENING
OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC
Now accepting pre-applications for Studio, 1-, 2-bedroom units.
Opens March 28th at 9:00 AM and closes on April 11th at 5:00 PM
Phoenix Apartments (the “Project”) is a 101-unit apartment building, located at 811 and 821 Pine Street Oakland CA 94611. The Project is an affordable permanent rental housing community for extremely low-income to low-income.
Fifty (50) units will be non-referral units in which applicants are not referred through CES. Applications will be selected from a waiting list that will be initially established through a lottery. Applications to be considered for the lottery can be completed on the EBALDC housing portal at http://EBALDC.org. Applications who are unable to access and complete the application through the online portal may our leasing office at 510-306-1621 to request a reasonable accommodation or modification during the published period of the open waiting lottery period.
Pre-applications to be considered for the lottery can be completed on EBALDC housing portal at http://ebaldcphoenix.com. Applicants who are unable to access and complete the pre-application through the online portal may call our leasing office at 510-306-1621 to request a reasonable accommodation or modification during the published period of the open waiting lottery period. Paper pre-applications will be available online to print. Paper pre-applications must be mailed to 1825 San Pablo Ave #200 Oakland CA 94106 Attn: Phoenix. Paper pre-applications will be available to pick up at 1825 San Pablo Ave #200 Oakland at these times: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 10 am to Noon and Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 from 1pm to 3pm. Paper pre-applications must be mailed to 1825 San Pablo Ave #200 Oakland. Pre-applications must be received by deadline. Applicable languages: Spanish, Chinese RENTS The maximum rents listed in the table below are net rents, calculated after deducting the applicable utility allowance published by the Oakland Housing Authority 0 BDRM 1 BDRM 2
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But the trio’s success took a toll on their person relationships and after disagreements on finances and creative direction, the Tonyies
Although Wiggins, a songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, continued to tour under the group’s name from 1998 to 2018, he shunned the trappings of fame
ABC News, Wikipedia, The New York Times, Instagram and Fox 2 are the sources for this report.
Black Lawmakers Push Reparations Bills Amid Trump’s DEI Attacks
By Brandon Patterson
Black lawmakers — both in California and on Capitol Hill — reintroduced reparations legislation in recent weeks, citing the Trump administration’s attacks on DEI as a motivator.
Members of California’s Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) reintroduced a package of bills based on recommendations from the state’s 2023 reparations taskforce report, while federal lawmakers reintroduced H.R. 40, the federal reparations proposal first introduced by former Rep. John Conyers in 1989 and reintroduced by the late congressman annually for nearly thirty years before his passing in 2019.
Several members of California’s congressional delegation cosponsored the federal bill, including
Bay Area representatives Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14).
“With the constant attacks on civil rights and the rolling back of decades of progress, it is essential that we continue the fight for justice,” state Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), chair of the CLBC, said in a statement.
The California state bills include a measure that would give priority in University of California systems admissions to descendants of enslaved people, update state public education curriculum to include the “impacts of segregation, slavery, and systemic discrimination,” and require government agencies to conduct racial equity analyses on the impact of their policies and initiatives.
“We are very confident in our package, which includes bills that have bipartisan support,” Weber Pierson said. “The fact that Republicans support our efforts shows that, even in the current political climate, the need to repair the centuries of harm imposed on Black Americans goes beyond political affiliations — it is a moral obligation.”
The measures are precisely the kind that have come under attack by the Trump administration and conservative groups. President Trump signed executive orders eliminating racial equity or DEI programs and positions in the federal government. And the UC
system was sued in February by white and Asian students alleging racial discrimination in preference of Black and Latino applicants.
Nearly 70 anti-DEI lawsuits have been filed throughout the country since 2024, according to a database tracked by the NYU School of Law. The list includes a lawsuit filed against the local reparations program in Evanston, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, considered the first local reparations program in the country.
Conservatives have levied an “engineered onslaught” of antiDEI cases, attorney Lisa Holder, told the Guardian US about the lawsuits. Holder is president of the Equal Justice Society, a coalition of law firms and civil rights attorneys founded last year to “defend, protect and advance policies along the spectrum of diversity, equity, inclusion, to repairing the harm.” Simon also underscored the need for the bills to pushback against the anti-DEI movement in an interview TheGrio last week.
“Anti-DEI is a code word for ensuring that White men take back governance in this country,” she said. They “want to bring us back to an apartheid United States, and again, that’s what many of our grandparents were born into. But we’re not going back to that.”
Televised Debate Highlights Differences ...
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interest of Oaklanders, but in their own interests,” he said.
Responding, Lee said, I don’t believe the city is broken, but I believe that we’re in a crisis. I know that we need leadership that can lead us out of this crisis.
“We’re in a crisis, and we have to be able to work with our allies and work with people in Sacramento in Washington, with the County, with EBMUD, with East Bay Regional Park District – we have to bring this region together for Oakland.”
She questioned who Taylor was referring to when he criticized some Oakland residents for having undue influence in the city and for being part of the “old guard” that endorsed Lee’s campaign.
“It is important to recognize who we’re talking about. Is it our labor union brothers and sisters? Are we talking about our activists? Are we talking about the Oakland Chamber of Commerce? I’m not sure who Loren is talking about because I put together a strong coalition in this city that is an example of how, as mayor, I will govern.
“I will not take cheap shots at people who support [Taylor]. This is wrong. I’m talking about bringing the city together. And I think my campaign has illustrated that, and so I am very proud of the support that (I am receiving).”
"I’m the only candidate who’s endorsed by people on both sides of the issues by landlords and
tenants, by pro-recall people, anti-recall people, by hundreds of people from all over the city, by activists, by climate activists, by organizations that are dealing with human trafficking, by seven mayors and city administrators, and so I think it’s important for you all to think about this election and who can bring what to Oakland right now in the midst of this.”
She said that Taylor blamed the past administration for the crisis facing the city, though he was on the City Council voting for some of the measures he now criticizes.
"I want to remind you that many of these (City Council decisions) that were made that brought us to this crisis occurred by (Taylor’s) votes when he was on the City Council. So, please don't be deceived,” she said.
Lee emphasized she wants to heal Oakland’s divisions.
“I’m the only candidate that’s endorsed by people on both sides of the issues, by landlords and tenants, by pro-recall people and anti-recall people, by hundreds of people from all over the city. By climate activists, by organizations that are dealing with human trafficking, by seven mayors and city administrators. So, I think it's important for you all to think about this election and who can bring what to Oakland right now in the midst of this. `
She said she was criticized as a “flash from the past.”
“I’m really proud of my past,
and I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to do, and we need a flash and some light shown on this city because it's a beautiful city, and I hope you join me in this effort,” Lee said.
Taylor stressed that city leaders will have their work cut out getting funds from the state, the County, and other sources because of Oakland’s past failures. “When it comes to others, we have been a drain; we are a drain on the State of California.”
The city can only receive more funds, he said, “if we can effectively deliver, if we can manage our resources, if we can make progress. I know Gov. Newsom; he's frustrated with how we’ve shown up…We’ve got to step up as a city.”
Disagreeing passionately, Lee said, Oakland does not need to apologize. “We’re not a drain on Sacramento and Washington. We pay taxes. Come on. They owe us. And let me just say, this campaign is for mayor, not for a staffer. We have to have a mayor who has a vision and who can pick up the ball and go to Sacramento and say, ‘You owe us. We pay taxes.’ Also, we have been missing in action. We need leadership who’s going to be at the County saying, ‘You owe us this money.’”
“Oakland needs a mayor who’s going to demand their seat at the table and demand what they owe us,” said Lee.
Sen. Akilah Weber-Pierson is chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. File photo.