Oakland Post
By Magaly Muñoz
Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was sworn into office as Oakland’s new mayor at a private ceremony Tuesday afternoon. She shared her agenda for getting the city “on the right track.”
Lee talked about addressing the “moral disgrace” of the homelessness crisis, ensuring public safety for young people and seniors, and helping artists and businesses grow.
“We’ll continue through our share of challenges, but what I know about our city is that we are a community that punches above our weight,” Lee said. “We are a city of doers, dreamers, entrepreneurs, and innovators.”
Lee acknowledged the many challenges she has to contend with in her new leadership role, including public safety, city blight, and the looming budget crisis.
Oakland is facing a projected $280 million shortfall over the next two years. The city shut down
By Ken Epstein
The Oakland Unified School Board this week reversed a poorly worded decision made at a March board meeting, voting to protect after-school programs that were “inadvertently” included in funding cuts as the district struggles to eliminate an estimated $95 million budget shortfall.
firehouses, cut arts and culture programs, and reduced police spending in December to minimize its $129 million deficit for the 2024-25 budget cycle, decisions that continue to be points of contention with residents.
In November, Oakland passed
Special to The Post
The Oakland Ballers will host Interfaith Night on Tuesday, May 27 at Raimondi Park in West Oakland as they take on the Grand Junction Jackalopes.
Tickets are $2.00 for the first 800 attendees. For tickets, go to https://tickets.oaklandballers. com/event/5-27-2025-oaklandballers-vs-grand-junction-jacko04oxv
The game will be highlighted by a ceremonial first pitch thrown at 6:35 p.m. by Rev. Ken Chambers, founding president of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) and senior pastor of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church.
ICAC’s mission is to build bridges of mutual respect and collaboration among different religious traditions while taking
collective action to address social justice issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, and housing inequality.
In the spirit of that mission, the Oakland Ballers and their volunteer team, the “Ballunteers,” recently partnered with ICAC to help prepare trailers that will serve as transitional housing for unhoused families.
Through programs like the Safe Car Park initiative, ICAC continues to offer practical, dignity-centered solutions to some of the most urgent challenges in Alameda County. Interfaith Night at Raimondi Park will reflect this powerful commitment to justice and unity, bringing people together for celebration, service, and community spirit, alongside a great night of baseball. Learn more about ICAC at interfaithac.org
Concerned and angry parents and after-school program employees packed the school board meeting Wednesday evening to protest as board members explained that it was never their intention to cut funding for programs that take care of children in the late afternoons while parents and guardians work or go to school.
Special to The Post
Her name is Shamieka Mabrey. She was 38 years old when her life was stolen from her in 2023, in Oakland, California. She was more than a statistic. More than a headline. She was a daughter, a friend, a neighbor, a pet parent, and a woman full of dreams. She worked hard, paid
A joint statement by OUSD Board President Jennifer Brouhard
Special to The Post Students who have been studying American Government at Oakland’s Emiliano Zapata Street Academy have written essays about democracy. Below is a composite of their writings. In 2025, the state of democracy in America faces critical challenges that test its resilience and adaptability in an increasingly complex world. The foundational prin-
ciples of democracy are liberty, equality, and representation. Over the years the democratic process has expanded to include a broader spectrum of voices through suffrage movements and civil rights advancements. These remain vital, but various factors threaten to undermine these ideals. Political scientists from Cornell and Johns Hop-
Shamieka Latoya Mabrey. She was loved. She mattered. And she deserves justice. We’re asking for the public to not forget her. Say her name. Share her story. Help bring justice to a woman who can no longer fight for herself. Until justice is served, Shamieka cannot rest in peace. Mabrey’s senseless murder continues to deeply impact her loved ones who are suffering from her loss. The Family Support Advocates join with Mabrey’s grieving family and loved ones in their pursuit of justice. Anyone in the community with information about Shamieka’s murder is asked to contact the Homicide Section at 510238-3821 or the TIP LINE at 510238-7950. #JusticeforShamieka. FAMILY SUPPORT
By Post Staff
Academy students. Photo courtesy Emiliano
Helen Wyman, Laura Geist, Pastor Ken Chambers, and Randy Williamson at a food giveaway and trailer cleanup in Oakland in February. File photo by Kevin Hicks.
Interfaith Council of Alameda County members and Oakland Ballunteers at a food giveaway and trailer cleanup in February. File photo by Kevin Hicks.
Shamieka Mabrey. Courtesy photo.
Left to right: District 3 Trustee VanCedric Williams, District 2 Trustee Jennifer Brouhard, and District 6 Trustee Valarie Bachelor. File photos.
Dis As California Invests Billions in Cap-and-Trade Earnings, Advocates Urge Better Public Awareness, More Impactful Spending ... see page 2
Black Media Leaders Respond to Newsom’s Plan to Cut Journalism Fund by $20 Million ... see page 2
California Bill to Strengthen Small Business Support Gains Bipartisan Support ... see page 2
Mary Eliza Mahoney: America’s First Black Professional Nurse ... see page 4
By Tom Henry California Black Media
California officials are stepping up funding aimed at achieving its goal of net-zero carbon pollution by 2045.
According to a report released by the by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the state has reinvested $33 billion earned from its cap-and-trade
the biggest challenges Black Californians and other underserved communities face.
“California is earning billions from cap-and-trade, but we are still paying the highest price for fuel in the country. What is the return on investments in our disadvantaged communities?” said P. Anthony Thomas, managing partner of the Thomas Advocacy Group,
of businesses, the energy sector, government and all communities.
On May 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement after the CARB report was released.
“California is proving that cutting pollution creates jobs and boosts communities. By holding polluters accountable, we’re sending billions of dollars back to communities and back to people’s wallets through credits on utility
By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed cutting $20 million from a landmark state initiative supporting local journalism, citing intensified financial pressures stemming from a projected $11.9 billion budget shortfall.
Called the Transformation Fund, launched in partnership with Google, the program was expected to provide $30 million in
member Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). The original legislation would have required Google to pay into a fund supporting news outlets based on journalist employment numbers. While the law was not enacted, the deal led to joint state and private support for local newsrooms and included a controversial $68 million AI initiative.
Rebuild Local News President Steven Waldman criticized the proposed cut: “Cutting it by twothirds moves California in the wrong direction at a time when local journalism is collapsing
Black Media leaders, however, said Newsom’s downsized $10 million investment —made at a time the state faces numerous uncertainties and constraints — is a notable first step to addressing the ongoing crisis in American jour-
“While the Governor and Legislature face the very real challenge of closing a significant budget deficit, I deeply appreciate the state’s initial investment and As-
semblymember Wicks’ continued leadership,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media (CBM).
“This moment calls for bold thinking to protect one of the foundational pillars of our democracy — independent journalism. A well-informed public is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s how people hold power to account, engage with their government, and shape the rules that govern their lives,” Wilson added.
The journalism funding rollback follows broader state costcutting efforts, and the Governor warning of strained public resources as economic challenges mount.
The journalism fund was intended to help struggling newsrooms that have faced financial hardship, leading to fewer reporters covering vital civic issues. As budget negotiations begin, advocates are urging lawmakers to reassess the media funding cut, warning it could deepen the information gap in underserved communities.
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
A bill authored by Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace) to support small businesses in California has moved one step closer to becoming law. Senate Bill (SB) 781 passed the Senate Committee on Local Government with unanimous support from Democrats and Republicans.
“The Inland Empire is ripe with talent and opportunity, but the economic environment makes it difficult for small businesses to sur-
vive,” said Reyes. “SB 781 provides community-driven strategies and support to cut red tape and foster an environment that allows small businesses to breathe and thrive.”
If passed, SB 781 would help local governments create plans that make it easier for small businesses to win contracts and grow. These plans would include goals for hiring small businesses. They would also offer training for government staff and give local businesses more chances to compete for public work.
The bill also allows the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to guide cities and counties in helping small companies, especially those in areas that have fewer resources or slower economic growth.
Julian Canete, President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, said the bill would “support small businesses, expand their operations, create jobs and strengthen local economies.”
The bill would also let the state
Adult Day Program
Dedicated staff needed to work with individuals with developmental disabilities in communitybased settings, or environments. Qualifications: High school or equivalent. Driver’s license. Dependable and efficient. Background check. Physical exam and TB test. Training available. Decent wages. Please call (510) 690-9570.
a five-year period to spend as they see fit.
May Revise: Newsom’s 2025
Budget
When grants were announced
Oct. 1, it was noted that eight of the 22 MacArthur fellows were African American. Among the recipients of the so-called ‘genius grants’ are scholars, visual and media artists a poet/writer, historian, and dancer/choreographer who each receive $800,000 over
By Tamara Shiloh
In 1845, Mary
Eliza Mahoney
was born in Boston, Massachusetts — a city alive with abolitionist rhetoric but seemingly untroubled by its racial barriers, existent in all walks of life.
Born to parents who had once lived as slaves, Mahoney grew up knowing that freedom alone did not guarantee opportunity, especially for Black women.
Like many Black women of her time, she began her working life in service roles: cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. She found work at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Roxbury, where she observed doctors and nurses up close. Though her early tasks were far from medical, she watched carefully, learning through quiet observation. Over time, her interest in nursing grew into a determined ambition.
At age 33, Mary applied to the hospital’s nursing program. It was 1878, and of the 42 students who began the intensive 16-month course, only four graduated. Mahoney was one of them, the first Black woman in the United States to do so.
She spent much of her career as
Their names are Ruha Benjamin, Jericho Brown, Tony Cokes, Jennifer L. Morgan, Ebony G. Patterson, Shamel Pitts, Jason Reynolds, and Dorothy Roberts. This is the eighth and last in the series highlighting the Black awardees. The report below on Dorothy Rob-
Mary Eliza Mahoney: America’s First Black Professional
a private-duty nurse, working in the homes of wealthy White families along the East Coast. Her reputation for professionalism, skill, and compassion spread quickly. But she knew her success was only part of a larger struggle. Nursing remained a segregated field, with Black women routinely denied training, jobs, and recognition.
In 1908, she helped establish the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN), an organization dedicated to supporting Black nurses and advocating for racial equality in the profession. Mahoney became a mentor and organizer, helping to open doors for future generations of Black nurses who faced discrimination at every turn. Her commitment to justice extended beyond healthcare. After the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, she was among the first women to register in Boston, taking her place in yet another fight for equality.
Mahoney died in 1926 at the age of 80. Her impact lives on through the Mary Mahoney Award, created by the American Nurses Association to honor those advancing equity in nursing.
Preserves Services Critical to Black Communities
MacArthur Fellow Dorothy Roberts’ Advocates Restructure of Child Welfare System
A graduate of Yale University with a law degree from Harvard,
posing racial inequities embedded within health and social service
fessor of Law and Sociology, and on the faculty in the department of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
By Joe Bowers Jr. California Black Media
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.
On May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom presented his revised 2025–26 state budget, a $321.9 billion proposal designed to close a projected $11.9 billion deficit while maintaining core investments in education, health care, and behavioral health.
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
“We’re not just the fourth largest economy in the world — $4.1 trillion in annual output — we lead the nation in manufacturing, innovation, agriculture, and trade,” Newsom said. He blamed much of the current economic downturn on federal policy and called the fiscal volatility the state is experiencing “the Trump Slump.”
The May Revise uses a combination of $5 billion in spending cuts, $5.3 billion in borrowing and fund transfers, and $1.7 billion in fund shifts to help balance the budget. No new state taxes are proposed.
Newsom’s biggest cuts land on Medi-Cal, the state’s health coverage program that serves over 14 million low-income Californians — including 38% of Black residents. The Governor proposes freezing enrollment for undocumented adults starting in 2026, imposing a $100 monthly premium, and eliminating access to longterm care and dental services for undocumented people. Additional cuts would bring back asset tests for seniors and reduce hours for caregivers in the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program
— a workforce predominantly staffed by Black women.
Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty 1997)”, she analyzes historical and contemporary policies and practices that denied agency to Black women and sought to control their childbearing—from forced procreation during 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.
The state will continue investing in behavioral health services. The budget maintains funding for Proposition 1, which expands mental health and substance use treatment, including housing. It also supports the launch of BHCONNECT, a multiyear effort to improve behavioral health care for high-need Medi-Cal enrollees, including those at risk of homelessness or involved in the justice system.
“We’ve reached a point where Medi-Cal expenditures are outpacing our revenue growth,” said Budget Director Joe Stephenshaw. “This budget tries to bring balance without dismantling core health services.”
The May Revise continues strong support for K–12 education, proposing $25,176 in total per-student funding from all sources. Of
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.
that, $18,671 comes from Proposition 98, with a 2.3% cost-of-living adjustment applied to the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which directs more resources to districts serving high numbers of Black students, English learners, and low-income families. The budget also maintains funding for universal transitional kindergarten, free school meals, and extended day and summer programs.
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.
of norms.
we know improve student achievement.”
She also shows that blaming marginalized individuals for structural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and communities.
The University of California and California State University systems will also see budget relief. Initially facing 8% cuts, the systems will now see reductions of just 3%, a move UC President Michael V. Drake said, “demonstrates his strong commitment to California’s students.”
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.
May Revise: Newsom’s 2025 Budget Preserves Services Critical to Black Communities
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.
In a notable addition, Newsom proposes new funding to support evidence-based reading instruction, literacy coaches, and teacher training. “In a really tight budget year, prioritizing reading for California kids and investing $200 million is real leadership,” said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice.
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.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond applauded Newsom, saying, “The Governor’s proposed revision would fund critical programs that
These include stereotypes about Black parents as negligent, devaluation of Black family bonds, and stigmatization of parenting practices that fall outside a narrow set
However, the absence of new investments comes as Black Californians — who make up just 6.5% of the state’s population but over 30% of its unhoused residents — remain disproportionately impacted. While a new state housing and homelessness agency and a future infrastructure bond are in development, new funding from those initiatives are unlikely to reach communities before 2027.
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.
Dorothy Roberts. Photo courtesy of the John D. and Catherine T. Ma cArthur Foundation.
Nurse
Courtesy of California Governor’s office.
Fair use. Public domain.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
California Invests Billions in Capand-Trade Earnings ...
Continued from page 2
and supporting tree planting and other renewable energy initiatives.
Every year, California sets an annual “cap” on about on about 80% of GHG generated by corporations considered “largest polluters in the state.” The state allocates no-cost allowances to some companies as incentives every year. Those entities must, however, purchase the remainder of the allowances from the state at quarterly auctions if they exceed established limits.
On May 7, CARB organized a virtual news briefing with California media outlets to discuss the report and inform the public about the investments. On the panel, Randolph joined California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin; Secretary Yana Garcia, California Environmental Protection Agency; and Amanda Hansen, Deputy Secretary for Climate Change, California Natural Resources Agency.
California Black Media (CBM) asked Omishakin about the program’s impact and the need for more awareness.
“These investments fund a wide range of initiatives, including cleaner transportation modes like transit e-bikes and scooters, zero emission trucks and buses, zero and near-zero mobility options like car sharing and cleaner off road equipment rebates to make zero emissions and plug in hybrids more affordable,” said Omishakin.
Omishakin, however, acknowledged that the state can do more to inform the public about the capand-trade program.
Thomas said he is hopeful that the state will take steps to better balance the interests of all stakeholders and provide more information to the public about cap-and-trade.
“What is the net that has been cast to inform the public and who are you working with to get the message out?” he asked. “If this should impact disadvantaged communities, where are the disadvantaged communities? Are they in Oak Park, South LA, the East Bay?”
California Bill to Strengthen Small Business Support ...
Continued from page 2
fund small business programs without depending on matching money from the federal government. This change would help local communities continue programs even if federal support changes.
More than half of California’s private-sector jobs come from small businesses. However, in areas like the Inland Empire, many small business owners still face challenges like lower sales and limited access to loans.
Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 2025 as Small Business Month.
“California’s more than 4.2 million small businesses… embody the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the economy of the Golden State,” Newsom stated.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing SB 781. Committee members are expected to vote on it by May 23.
CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Contract Amount: TBD Terms: 5 Years
Project Description: The scope of this project is to provide safe and reliable transportation services for youth participating in recreational activities. The transportation service will be responsible for picking up and dropping off youth participants at designated locations, ensuring their safety during transit, and maintaining clear communication with the program staff.
Pre-Proposal Meeting (Voluntary): Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 - 11:00 AM (Pacific Time) Via Teams Join with this link (https://rb.gy/1oakxi) or with
Meeting ID: 217 622 411 531 2
Passcode: wL9w6zM3
Proposal Submittal Deadline: Friday, June 13th, 2025, by 2:00 P.M. via iSupplier.
Reminders:
• All who wish to participate in this RFP must register (at least 5 days prior to submittal due date) through iSupplier at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/register-with-isupplier) to avoid last minute submittal complications and receive addenda/updates on this RFP. For additional help registering and submitting your proposal to iSupplier please watch the user guide videos at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/documents/isupplier-user-guides). Receipt of a confirmation email indicates that a proposal was successfully submitted.
• Did not receive and invitation? Start Early with iSupplier registration. Upon completion of registration, send an email to iSupplier@oaklandca.gov listing “RFP for TRANSPORTATION SERVICES” as the subject and request an invitation to the RFP. The Contract Analyst will add your business to the RFP invitation.
• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits • 0% L/SLBE • Living Wage • Campaign Reform Act • Professional Services Local Hire • Prompt Payment • Arizona Boycott • Dispute Disclosure • Border Wall Prohibition • Sanctuary City Contracting and Investment Ordinance.
Answers to Questions:
1. For project-related questions contact Contract Administration at contractadmin@ oaklandca.gov
2. For iSupplier related questions after registration contact iSupplier@oaklandca.gov Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, (Friday, May 23, 2025) The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.
Everyone knows that living organ donors save lives, but did you know that these common and safe procedures happen by the thousands each year?
Stanford Health Care helps educate people about kidney, liver, and other living tissue donation because saving lives starts with understanding what is at stake.
Learn more about living organ donation at: stanfordhealthcare.org/livingdonor
Barbara Lee Sworn in As New Mayor
Continued from page 1
a 0.5% sales and use tax that could potentially bring in nearly $30 million annually over 10 years for city funding revenue.
Lee said she’s been meeting with state and federal partners to identify investment alliances, resources, and funding grants for homelessness, affordable housing, healthy food access, clean energy, infrastructure and more. She said the responses have been “incredibly positive.”
Lee’s inauguration marks the end of a long recall process against former mayor Sheng Thao, who is currently facing federal indictment charges on alleged bribery and conspiracy. Oaklanders ousted Thao in a majority recall vote late last fall after less than two years in office because of countless community concerns, including public safety, budget mismanagement, and crime.
Lee served as a U.S. representative of California’s 12th Congressional District, which includes Oakland, for over 20 years. During her swearing-in ceremony, she shared her family’s history of slavery in South Texas.
Her grandfather, whose Bible she used for the oath of office, was born in 1867, two years after the end of slavery, and was the first letter carrier in immigrant-heavy El Paso.
Justice
She said her great- grandmother was born and lived through slavery in Galveston, the city where Juneteenth originated.
Lee’s mother was also one of the first 12 students who integrated into the University of Texas at El Paso in the ’50s, and worked as the first African American civilian at Fort Bliss Army Base.
In her first 100 days of office, Lee promised to follow a 10-point plan addressing economic revitalization, public safety, and good governance. Plans include convening the CEOs of the 10 largest Oakland employers to develop public-private initiatives that enhance growth; appointing a task force of ethics experts and advocates to modernize the city’s charter; and conducting a forensic audit of city contracts to ensure public funds are spent effectively by contractors and non-profits.
Lee declared a “new era” for the city, and recited civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s poem “And Still I Rise,” reinforcing her commitment that Oakland will see positive changes amidst its heavy challenges.
“I am the dream and the hope of the slaves. I rise, I rise, I rise,” Lee said. “Oakland, today, what are we going to do? We rise.”
for Shamieka Mabrey ...
Continued from page 1
port Advocacy Task Force, a committee of the Violence Prevention Coalition, is to advocate for local, state and federal policies and legislation to enhance and expand support to families and friends of those who experienced violence; for more compassionate and transparent communication between law enforcement, the district attorney with the family of homicide victims and to push for the elimination of all violence, but particularly gun violence and homicides.
Oakland High School Youth Share Thoughts on Democracy ...
Continued from page 1
kins universities say that the four threats to our democracy are polarization, conflict over who belongs, economic inequality, and executive aggrandizement.Our government should have continued to stop monopolies and stop allowing rich people to control our media. Forty-four percent of people are now saying in polls that the state of democracy is ‘poor.’
The people of the United States are mainly descendants of immigrants from all over the world. We worry for our relatives who have a darker skin tone. And one of the African Americans among us has had their family fall victim to police brutality more than once in the
past five years
Young people are more aware and politically engaged, using social media and activism to push for change. However, many feel that their voices don’t matter.
As young people we have the power to create change and shape the world we want to live in. As high school students in Oakland we are in a city with a long history of activism and engagement.
So, we are in a great place to think critically about democracy. We shouldn’t lose hope; we should keep fighting through this hard time. We need to keep speaking out, organizing, and demanding that our voices be heard.
Oakland School Board Votes ...
Continued from page 1
and Vice President Valarie Bachelor explained the board majority’s commitment is to make cuts in the central office bureaucracy, as far away as possible from schools and direct services to students.
“Our alternative budget resolution (adopted in March) was specifically designed to protect and maintain essential site-based services, like after-school programs, field trips, and classroom supports, while moving the district toward long-term fiscal stability,” the statement said.
“We deeply value our partnerships with community-based organizations and know they are critical to student and family success,” read the statement, which was issued before this week’s board meeting.
“We will not tolerate efforts to undermine school site programs by shifting the burden of cuts away from the central office and onto our after-school programs and classrooms.”
“Oakland’s students and families deserve better than scare tactics – they deserve leadership focused on learning, stability, and care,” the statement said.
The question remains: how did the March school board bureaucracy-cutting decision end up becoming a decision to cut funding for after-school programs when the opposite was the board’s intention?
The item in question was on the March 26 school board agenda, “directing alternative budget adjustments,” sponsored by Boardmem-
Attorney General Bonta Charges 2 Bay
Area
Caregivers with Elder Abuse, Fraud
Black
Rep Hosts Ishmael Reed’s
‘Life Among the Aryans,’ a Satire on Black
Benefit Programs Serving White People
By Carla Thomas
Berkeley’s Black Repertory Group will host the stage play “Life Among the Aryans,” from May 16 to June 1. The political satire was created by former UC Berkeley professor and AUDELCO award-winner Ishmael Reed. Reed teamed up with playwright Sean Vaughn Scott, director of the Black Repertory Group Theater.
According to Reed, Frederick Douglass said of the Freedman’s Savings Bank: “It was the Black man’s cow but the white man’s milk.”
“That’s because whites benefitted the most from a bank that held the savings of ex-enslaved people.”
Reed explained further that since 1865 to the present, including Affirmative Action, the most renowned national program intended to benefit people of color find equal opportunity in the workplace,” the majority of those who receive Affirmative Action are white,” said Reed. “Programs perceived as Black programs serve whites the most - that was my inspiration for creating the play.”
With this history in mind, Reed wrote “Life Among The Aryans,” based on the premise that if the government paid the descendants of slaves reparations, whites would cash in.
“Life Among the Aryans,” premiered in 2018 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. It follows the lives of two white MAGA (Make America Great Again) families as they wallow in conspiracy theories and turn
their fates over to a charismatic leader. “Life Among the Aryans” is the play that predicted the January 6th insurrection,” said Reed. Black Repertory Group Theater Executive Director Sean Scott says his organization holds a special place in the Black community.
“It’s important to support the arts, our legacy in creativity,” said Scott. “Reed is a national treasure, and his writing makes us think, contemplate, and laugh. Laughter and room to create are key in society today.”
Scott was recently installed as the president of the resurrected Berkeley chapter of the NAACP. He plans to continue to use his family’s theatrical platform and the NAACP to further advance the Black community and its allies.
Inez Banks, who recently coproduced “Diva on Tour” at the theater, said, “The Berkeley Black Repertory Theater Group has been a constant in the community teaching the youth, young adults, and anyone interested the theater arts. The Scotts’ legacy continues as we bring our stories to life and learn the craft and professionalism in the arts.”
“We have been in the community a long time and have lots of exciting programming scheduled,” said Scott. “It’s going to be a busy summer.”
“Life Among the Aryans” performances will be held on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. through June 1.
For more information visit: www.blackrepertorygroup.com
PROFILE:
A Conversation with Oakland’s Esteemed Writer Ishmael Reed
bers Brouhard and Bachelor, which said the district must “cap the total expenditures on services and contracts at $125 million” through the 2026-2027 school year.
According to Josefina Alvarado Mena, CEO of Safe Passages, which conducts after-school programs, the board decision created a cap on all contracts, which “inadvertently” included all the afterschool programs, even though that money is mostly state grants that can’t be used for anything else.
“It just seems like we should not have been scooped up in this bucket,” she said in an interview with KQED.
The administration, which has the responsibility of explaining issues to the board and providing a written report on resolutions, apparently did not. The issue was “not thoroughly discussed” before the vote at the board meeting, Alvarado Mena said, “nor does it seem like the board members had enough information to make this specific decision, and I don’t think they understood all of the implications of this specific action… the board did not even have a written report.”
Boardmember Mike Hutchinson, speaking at the meeting, said this was the third consecutive board meeting with no written amendment for the board to discuss and vote on.
“I don’t understand why there wasn’t a written copy. No one in the community has a copy…. I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said in a statement quoted by KQED.
An illustration of Ishmael Reed. Courtesy of Chris Hedges.
By Emil Guillermo
Ishmael Reed was half-joking, but maybe not.
The award-winning Oakland writer, novelist, poet, and playwright, and I were talking when he added another “p” word to the list.
“I’m a prophet,” Reed told me. “Writing novels is a way I’ve conveyed my prophecies.”
In “Life Among the Aryans,” Reed’s satirical play about White nationalists, he predicted the Jan. 6 insurrection.
This week, you can see the play and experience how reality seems to catch up to Reed’s satire. A new production of “Life Among the Aryans” opens May 16 at the Black Repertory Theater in Oakland and runs through June 1. Get tickets at eventbrite.com
It’s a rare staging, and it’s worth seeing. Reed, 87, is still highly regarded as a world-class literary artist and social critic who proudly calls Oakland home.
I asked Reed for his take on the Pulitzer Prize in literature being awarded to Everett Percival for “James,” a novel that reimagines Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” from Jim’s perspective. That led to our discussion of the Trump administration’s attack on DEI, as well as other subjects like Diddy’s trial, and Kamala Harris’ future.
On Percival’s “James,” Reed said PEN Oakland was proud to have honored Percival and his work years before the Pulitzers.
Other subjects, like Trump’s attack on DEI: “Black people have been through this before,” said Reed,
noting that President Woodrow Wilson segregated the civil service. In 2025, Reed says, “It’s the same old Willie Horton in a cap and gown.” At least, the old demagogues were honest, “They had an ‘N’ word in every sentence.” The new ones are more refined. But Reed stays positive. “This will never be a White nationalist nation,” Reed said. “Thats’ why they’re bringing in all these White Afrikaners from South Africa.”
Trump imported racists from South Africa as refugees recently.
“But there’s no genocide there,” Reed said. “It’s just Trump trying to add to the White racist population here with Afrikaners.”
On the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial: Reed said it should wake up the #MeToo movement. But given that a civil jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, maybe Diddy should turn to politics next and “run for president.”
On Kamala Harris: “She ran a good race,” Reed said, but she lost because of racism and misogyny. It wasn’t the economy. Should Harris run again?
“Why would she want to come back?”
On Trump’s first 100 days and more: Reed says if you’re disgusted and want to leave the country, don’t. “Take it,” he said. “Stay here.”
Things will change because Trump’s policies, Reed said, are hurting his base in Red states. “I call it suicide by vote.”
Reed says Trump is defending the Alamo. “This Anglo domination of American culture is coming to an end, Reed said. He said American Black culture is mainstream global culture and Whites feel threatened. “They lost the culture war in the ’70s and just became aware of it.”
It’s as optimistic as I’ve ever heard Reed in 50 years.
Judging from his satirical play “Life Among the Aryans,” he has a good sense about the future. About the Author
Emil Guillermo is a journalist and humorist/stage monologist. See him performing different pieces at March SF on May 19, and June 2. See his micro-talk show on YouTube.com/@ emilamok1 Contact: www.amok.
Special to The Post California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the filing of felony charges against two caregivers for fraud and elder abuse.
The California Department of Justice received a complaint referral from the California Department of Social Services alleging abuse and neglect of residents at an unlicensed care home located in San Jose. It was alleged that the residents were living in biohazardous conditions and were left with untreated medical issues, all the while the defendants were receiving in-home support service payments from Medi-Cal.
“Those who care for our elders have a profound responsibility to treat those in their care with the highest level of compassion and dignity,” said Attorney General Bonta.
“They support individuals during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. At the Cali-
fornia Department of Justice, we are committed to fighting against all types of elder abuse and neglect. We will take prompt action to ensure that anyone who exploits or harms these vulnerable members of our community is held accountable.”
A felony complaint has been filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court, charging the defendants with two felony counts of elder abuse, one felony count of dependent adult abuse, and one felony count of filing a false claim.
The California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in the state, and those who perpetrate fraud on the Medi-Cal program.
The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $69,244,976 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. The remaining 25% is funded by the State of California. FY 2025 is from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025. It is important to note that criminal charges must be proven in a court of law. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
OPINION: Trump is Punishing Congresswoman
LaMonica
McIver for Doing Her Job
By Emil Guillermo Congresswoman LaMonica
McIver (D-NJ-10).
Her first name may remind you of the Oakland Raiders’ great Daryl Lamonica, who threw long bombs for touchdowns to his favorite receiver, Warren Wells.
This LaMonica is a winner, too. She’s a freshman member of Congress.
Remember her name. Republicans are trying to make her a national example.
Democrats are saying go right ahead, Rep. McIver was fighting for the people.
But for putting up a fight, McIver is now facing federal assault charges from Trump’s Department of Justice.
It stems from an incident earlier this month in Newark when McIver showed up to inspect an ICE detention facility. That includes making sure all due process rights of detainees were honored, like access to a phone.
That wasn’t happening upon inspection, so thank goodness McIver was there as a member of the committee overseeing Homeland Security.
With her was Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. But Homeland Security officers refused to let Baraka take part in the inspection since he was not a member of the congressional committee.
Baraka, who appeared peaceful and non-confrontational, was still arrested.
McIver was next to Baraka and can be seen in the videos holding her own, almost in self-defense, as Homeland Security officers tried to herd people away from the facility. McIver does not appear to be pushing back or even attempting to strike any agent.
The charges against Baraka were dropped.
But on Monday, the Justice Department’s New Jersey prosecutor Alana Haba, a former personal lawyer for Trump, threw the book at McIver, saying McIver “assaulted, impeded and interfered with law enforcement.”
“The charges are absurd, you know, ridiculous,” McIver said to CNN. “They caused the confrontation; Homeland came and caused this chaos.”
McIver also revealed the Justice Department was pressuring her to admit to the charges.
“I’m not going to roll over and stop doing my job,” McIver said. “I’m not going to admit to something that I did not do, and no one’s going to stop me from serving the people in New Jersey.”
Since the incident, McIver has become the target of an orchestrated attack from anti-immigrant MAGA Republicans like Congressman Warren Davidson (ROH-8) who believes McIver is “defending MS 13 gang members.” Lies, of course.
Said President Trump on Tuesday: “The days of ‘woke’ are over. That woman, I have no idea who she is. That woman was out of control. She was shoving federal agents. She was out of control. The days of that crap are over. In this country, we’re gonna have law and order.”
Maybe Trump should get to know McIver.
“We have come to this point in America, that this is what we see happening to leaders who are trying to do their jobs,” McIver told CNN. “It’s political intimidation, and I will not be intimidated.”
Even the Supreme Court says detainees must be granted their Constitutional rights to due process.
As Republicans make her into an example of what’s wrong about the country, just remember she stands for something that’s good about America.
That’s Rep. LaMonica McIver. About the Author Emil Guillermo is a journalist, commentator and stage monologist. See his micro-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1. See him perform at the SF Marsh, 1062 Valencia St, 7pm, June 2.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta. File photo.
Berkeley Black Repertory Group Theater Executive Director Sean Vaughn Scott (far right) with cast of “Life Among the Aryans” running through June 1. Photo by Carla Thomas.
Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10). Official photo.