The sighting of a U.S. Immigrationand Customs Enforcement (ICE) van led to two school closings, an impromptu protest rally and a car crash on Wednesday morning in West Oakland.
Hoover Elementary School and Harriet Tubman pre-school went on
lockdown until students were released to their parents later in the afternoon. The crash appeared to be a response from a parent who had dropped off their child at school and then hastily fled in a sedan that crashed into a parked car a few blocks away.
Noting that Oakland is a sanctuary
city, the Oakland Police Department investigated the crash and reiterated to the public that it does not cooperate with ICE.
Neighbors came out and surrounded the school, chanting songs to soothe the children inside while others, alerted by networks of activists, came to interrupt
ICE, blowing whistles and filming interactions.
Carroll Fife, councilperson for District 3, where the sighting took place, and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee both responded.
Observing that the ICE agents left
Oakland Post
Is Oakland City Council Undermining Police Commission’s Authority?
Created by voters in 2016, the Commission has helped ensure police accountability and civilian oversight
By Post Staff
A recent Oakland City Council decision has dealt a significant blow to the Oakland Police Commission and its responsibilities under the Oakland City Charter to provide oversight of the Oakland Police Department.
Now, some of the Oakland’s police accountability activists are raising concerns about city officials’ ongoing commitment to police accountability and ensuring constitutional policing.
Without providing any reasons, the City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 21 to reject the reappointment of the Police Commission’s chairperson and an alternate com-
missioner.
In the past, commissioners have been routinely approved by the Council after being picked through an established vetting process by a Police Commission Selection Panel, composed of nine members appointed by each City Council member and the mayor.
Oakland’s Police Commission is considered one of the strongest of civilian oversight boards in the country.
Accountability activists, including members of the Coalition for Police Accountability (CPA), have remained intensely focused on reforming the Oakland Police Depart-
Charges Suspect in Shooting Death of Laney College Coach John Beam
in the shooting death of beloved coach John Beam, who worked for decades as an educator and football coach at Skyline High School and Laney College in Oakland.
Jones Dickson announced the charges at a press conference Monday afternoon at the René C. Davidson Courthouse. If found guilty, Irving could face a sentence of 50 years to life in prison, the district attorney said.
According to court documents, Oakland Police Department officers identified Irving by going through many hours of surveillance footage from the Thursday, Nov. 13 shooting. After he was detained, Irving ad-
Black culture and history are being celebrated and reimagined for a new generation through the enterprising work of Claudia Walker, founder of
Prep School, a line of learning products that highlight the legacy of Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and prominent figures in Black culture.
Walker, a Spelman College alumna who originally set her sights on law, found herself swept up in a journey through Wall Street to classrooms in the Bay Area, a detour that would become the foundation for her award-winning career as an educator and businesswoman.
Reflecting on her path, Walker credits two pivotal moments for her transformation.
“After 9-11, I questioned my path, moved back to the Bay Area, and landed in education while pitching plays to agencies,” she explained. The career shift was unplanned but deeply transformative – when an opportunity arose to teach right across the street from her home, she accepted, beginning a 20-year ten-
Mayor Barbara Lee Appoints Assistant Chief James Beere as Interim Chief
Women’s Cancer Resource Center Receives Support from Alameda County for Women’s Health Advocacy and Services
Global initiative also recognizes nonprofit for advancing equitable cancer care
Special to The Post
By Carla Thomas
Mayor Barbara Lee announced a major leadership transition for the Oakland Police Department on Friday, Nov. 14, appointing Assistant Chief James Beere as interim chief of police effective Dec. 6, following the planned departure of Chief Floyd Mitchell on Dec. 5.
The decision, made in consultation with Ricardo Garcia-Acosta, the outgoing chair of the Police Commission, adhered to the guidelines outlined in Measure S1, ensuring community oversight in the
In a motion co-sponsored by Nikki Fortunato Bas and Nate Miley, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors declared November as Women’s Cancer Month and honored the Women’s Cancer Resource Center with special recognition in providing services to women of Alameda County.
WCRC has been announced as one of the 80+ organizations that were awarded funding through Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million global open call, launched in 2024 to support organizations working to improve women’s mental and physical health around the world. WCRC received a grant of $2.5 million.
For nearly 40 years, WCRC has provided free counseling, patient navigation, support groups, wellness classes, and practical assistance for women and caregivers
impacted by cancer. Each year, the organization supports about 1,500 clients in Alameda and Contra Costa counties through programs that combine emotional support, reliable information, and help in navigating complex health systems.
“This transformational grant will help us meet the rising needs of women with cancer,” said Amy Alanes, executive director of WCRC.
“No woman should have to choose between her health, her well-being, and providing for her family. This support will help us strengthen our capacity and move forward with our strategic priorities, including expanding into areas where women are historically underserved.”
An estimated 34,021 women are living with cancer in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Although the two counties make up only 36% of the Bay Area’s popula-
tion, they account for 41% of the region’s women living with cancer, and Contra Costa County has the highest women’s cancer mortality rate in the Bay Area. Alameda and Contra Costa are also among the most diverse counties in California, which means effective cancer care must reflect many cultures, languages, and lived experiences. With this new capacity-building award, WCRC plans to expand programs in Contra Costa County and Alameda County, deepen navigation services for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and broaden wellness offerings that support clients at every stage of care. The organization will also work to embed services within hospitals and community sites to reduce access barriers for clients who live farther from its Berkeley office.
Mayor Lee, Councilmembers Ramachandran and Unger Introduce Ballot Measure to Provide Tax Relief to Small and New Businesses
New Measure Would Amend Oakland’s Tax Ordinance to Provide Tax Exemptions for Small and New Businesses
By Jared Savas Special to The
Post
By Carla Thomas
This November, California is celebrating National Scholarship Month by spotlighting the success of the CalKIDS Scholarship Program, which has become the largest children’s savings account initiative in the United States.
The initiative now empowers over 5 million children statewide with resources to pursue higher education and career training. Launched in 2022, CalKIDS provides scholarships of up to $1,500 for eligible public school students, and up to $175 for every California child born on or after July 1, 2022. These funds that can be used for a range of educational expenses at accredited institutions nationwide.
In just three years, the CalKIDS initiative has resulted in more than 700,000 claimed accounts, supporting students in paying tuition, purchasing books, and meeting other education-related costs. The program is administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board and led by State Treasurer Fiona Ma.
District 4 Councilmember Janani Ramachandran along with District 1 Councilmember Zac Unger and Mayor Barbara Lee introduced a ballot measure to provide tax relief to small and new businesses throughout the City.
This innovative measure will appear on the June 2026 ballot and will accelerate Oakland’s ongoing efforts to support new and existing small businesses communitywide.
“Oakland’s vibrant business community is an invaluable contributor to our unique cultural diversity and economic resilience. It is high time that the City does more to ensure that our small businesses have the financial support they deserve,” said Ramachandran. “This legislation will prove that Oakland is ‘open for business’ by providing financial relief to existing small businesses while also meaningfully incentivizing new businesses of all sizes to set up in Oakland. Doing so will create and sustain jobs, yield new tax revenue, and revitalize business corridors all across the City.”
“I have lived in Oakland my whole life and have seen how crucial our business community is for our City,” said Unger. “We have seen San Francisco and other municipalities successfully implement tax relief programs and
we can use those best practices to make sure Oakland remains a competitive place to establish and operate a business.”
“Small businesses and new businesses bring the energy and opportunity that keep our city moving forward,” said Mayor Barbara Lee. “This measure is a smart, targeted step that will reduce barriers, encourage new businesses to open their doors in Oakland, and reaffirm our commitment to a vibrant, inclusive economy. I’m proud to stand with Councilmembers Unger and Ramachandran to support the businesses that power Oakland’s future.”
“The post-pandemic period has been an especially difficult time for small businesses, which are the fabric of Oakland’s diverse
economy. This measure is part of a series of efforts to incentivize vibrant new businesses to fill our empty storefronts, while changing the narrative that Oakland
By Carla Thomas
HBCU
By Post Staff
Alameda County District Attor-
ney Ursula Jones Dickson this week announced murder charges against Cedric Irving Jr., 27, who is accused
Alameda County Supervisors (l.-r.): Elisa Marquez, District 2; David Haubert (president) District 1; Nate Miley, District 4; WCRC Board Chair Angi Fisher; Supervisors Nikki Fortunato Bas, District 5; Lena Tam,
(Left to rightt:) District 4 Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran and District 1 Oakland City Councilmember Zac Unger. File photos.
(L to r:) Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and District 3 City Councilmember Carroll Fife. File photos.
Asm. Sharp-Collins Holds Webinar on Ending ‘Juvenile ‘Strikes’ Justice
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
In California, certain serious or violent felonies committed by minors can count as “strikes” under the state’s Three Strikes law if the youth is at least 16 years old at the time of the offense.
These juvenile “strikes” can follow individuals into adulthood, significantly increasing future sentences under the adult Three Strikes law. Though juvenile records are sealed at age 18, felony strikes remain attached for life and cannot be expunged.
In recent years, some lawmakers and justice reform advocates have pushed to end the use of juvenile court adjudications as “strikes” that trigger harsher adult sentences. Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-La Mesa), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is one of them.
found delinquent in California often lack key due process protections.
“These are not convictions handed down with full adult due process. And yet they can trigger a mandatory 25-to-life sentence in adulthood,” she said. “This is a multi-layer punishment, often for children who were already failed by the system meant to actually protect them.”
California’s Three Strikes law was enacted in 1994 when Republican Gov. Pete Wilson signed it, and it was later affirmed by voters through Proposition 184. Strike-eligible offenses include murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, arson, and first-degree burglary.
On Nov. 12, Sharp-Collins hosted a virtual discussion on Assembly Bill (AB) 1279, a twoyear bill she introduced during the 2025-2026 legislative session to reform youth justice policies. The
By Edward Henderson
California Black Media
Marcus Hill, 39, is an Oakland resident and professional who travels often for work. During his last trip, he brought along his wife and daughter for the weekend, only to be met with the widespread disruptions created by shutdown-related staffing shortages.
“Man, that day at Oakland Airport was rough. We got there early because we knew flights were already backed up from the shutdown. But the whole terminal felt tense -- long lines, people arguing with gate agents, kids crying, phones dying,” Hill explained.
“We waited almost four hours while our flight kept getting pushed back. First it was ‘delayed due to staffing,’ then they said they didn’t have enough air traffic controllers cleared to handle the route,” he continued. “By the time they officially canceled it, folks were furious. Including me.”
Hill’s experience is similar to that of many travelers across Cal-
shortages and operational disruptions.
Most major airports in California have been impacted.
Although President Donald Trump signed a deal Nov. 12 ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history (43 days), officials say travelers should still expect flight delays nationwide for the next week or possibly more.
On Nov. 7, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency order to 40 airports to reduce flights by 6% because of the shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the shutdown.
Four of the 40 airports impacted by the order are in California (Los Angeles International (LAX), Oakland International (OAK), San Diego International (SAN), and San Francisco International (SFO)).
Hundreds of domestic flights were canceled during the shutdown, throwing travelers into a scheduling panic. Had the shutdown continued, officials warned
By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced at COP30 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that California has reached 16,942 megawatts (MW) of battery storage, a milestone state officials say is strengthening the electric grid and accelerating the state’s shift to 100% clean energy. Leaders say the expansion shows that climate action and reliable, affordable electricity can go hand in hand.
The new total reflects rapid growth in clean energy infrastructure. Officials note that batteries now capture excess solar and wind power and release it during peak demand, helping the state maintain grid stability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Battery storage has surged 2,100% since Newsom took office in 2019, with about 1,200 megawatts added in the past six months alone.
California has now built roughly one-third of the storage capacity it expects to need by 2045 to meet
its clean energy goals. Of the total capacity, 13,880 megawatts come from large utility-scale projects, while behind-the-meter systems on homes, businesses, schools, and local government facilities provide another 3,062 megawatts. Newsom announced that California is joining the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, becoming the first subnational entity to participate. The pledge sets international targets to deploy 1,500 gigawatts of energy storage, double worldwide grid investments, and build 25 million kilometers of transmission by 2030.
The governor criticized President Trump’s energy policies, saying, “Donald Trump’s reckless energy agenda puts China first and America last. While Donald Trump is failing, the Golden State is leading. We’re deploying more battery storage than any state in America, building a stronger grid, cutting pollution, and making
The foregoing warning is provided pursuant to Proposition 65. This law requires the Governor of California to publish a list of chemicals “known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.” This list is compiled in accordance with a procedure established by the Proposition, and can be obtained from the California Environmental Protection Agency. Proposition 65 requires that clear and reasonable warnings be given to persons exposed to the listed chemicals in certain situations. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/petroleum or call: https://www.wspa.org/proposition-65-notice-information/
Jaubrae Dixon testified before the Assembly Public Safety Committee at the State Capitol in support of AB 1279. Convicted of a felony at age 17 that resulted in a “strike,” he was tried as
California Gov. Gavin Newsom with Rio de Janeiro Vice Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere on the sidelines of the COP 30 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Photo Courtesy of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Facebook page.
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In a good way, of course. You’ll make a cardboard sign and march with others for your beliefs. You’ll shout and dance, walk and make noise. You’ll get into “good trouble” and yes, you might get arrested for it. You do what you need to do to make politicians and others know how you feel and that you mean business. As in the new book, “Black Arms to Hold You Up” by Ben Passmore, you have history at your back.
There was violence just down the street when Passmore’s father
showed up on his doorstep with two bags of books. He hadn’t been much of a father, so when he started pushing his son to pay attention to history, Passmore wasn’t having any of it.
They argued. Passmore’s father hit him in the head with a book –and the next thing Passmore knew, he was standing on a street corner somewhere, and there were policemen; nearby was a man named Robert Charles, and the year was 1900. Ben was about to witness a deadly gunfight over Jim Crow laws, Black Code, “Christian Black identity,” and inequality in New Orleans.
He ran for safety and landed at the foot of a stage, where activist Marcus Garvey was giving a speech at a Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
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.
rally. Passmore ran, and found himself in a church, at Emmett Till’s funeral. He sat in a movie theater and learned about Robert E. Williams, a man whom “both the whites and the NAACP made… out to be an angry and violent brute.” Ben received a new name to reflect the Republic of New Afrika, and he hid upstairs in a house in Philadelphia, as MOVE fought with police in 1985.
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.
The journey was wild and terrifying, and his eyes were opened. Yes, he wanted liberation, but it could kill him. So could just walking around his neighborhood.
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
Were these things inevitable? He wondered - until his father told him what “Black liberation is really about.”
Your young adult needs to know their history. You might need the same. And you both might find it inside “Black Arms to Hold You Up,” but there are a few things you need to know first, before you pick it up.
Deeply researched, very thought-provoking, and including a bibliography for more information, this book hits a lot of major points in Black history, many of which today’s schoolbooks don’t tell. Passmore proves that Black activism didn’t just start during the Civil Rights Movement, or five years ago, or last year. Such reminders make this book relevant.
Just know this: violence literally colors every page of this book. It’s relentless. It’s loud and shocking, with illustrations tinted bloodred throughout, which will properly and righteously shock anyone who’s unaware.
That may trigger a sensitive reader, but it may wake up folks ages 16-to-adult, too. Just be mindful and know who’s doing the reading. Having “Black Arms to Hold You Up” around might be a good action.
Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty 1997)”, she
nied agency to Black women and This work prompted Roberts to examine the treatment of children of color in the U.S. child welfare
By Tamara Shiloh
When I reflect on the life of Sarah Boone, I find myself drawn to the everyday courage of a woman who turned necessity into invention— and transformed what it meant to press and prep garments forever.
search and advocacy work along side 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
olina—into a world where her parents were enslaved—her early life could easily have been defined by limitations. But instead, Marshall became a dressmaker, a mother of eight, a homeowner in New Haven, Connecticut, and ultimately an inventor who changed the domestic landscape.
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.
Black people from education—and used that ability to draft technical descriptions, lay out drawings, and lay claim to her idea.
As a dressmaker, Sarah understood intimately the struggles of pressing garments made for corsets, tight sleeves, and fitted waists. Conventional ironing methods— boards made of wood planks, sometimes laid across chairs—just didn’t meet the needs of the refined shapes in women’s fashion. Linking that lived experience with insight, she designed an attachment to the regular ironing board: it was narrow, curved to follow the contours of sleeves, padded to avoid imprinting creases, and even collapsible for storage.
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.
On April 26, 1892, she was awarded U.S. Patent No. 473,653 for her improvement. I like to imagine the moment she held that patent, a symbol of defiance and possibility: a formerly enslaved woman who learned to read—despite laws and social norms that barred
Her words in the patent application were very clear about what she was creating: “to produce a cheap, simple, convenient and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies’ garments.”
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.
Yet, Boone’s story is also wrought with despair. While her invention is widely recognized as a very useful attachment to the modern ironing board, there is little evidence that she profited significantly from it. And still, her legacy stands. In an era when innovation by Black women was rare and rarely acknowledged, she pressed forward.
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.
These include stereotypes about Black parents as negligent, devaluation of Black family bonds, and stigmatization of parenting practices that fall outside a narrow set of norms. She also shows that blaming marginalized individuals for structural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and communities.
Boone is a reminder that innovation doesn’t always need fireworks or a large laboratory—it can begin in the workshop of a dressmaker, arise from everyday need, and ripple outward into universal utility. Boone died of Bright’s disease on Oct. 29, 1904, and was buried alongside her mother and husband in New Haven’s Evergreen Cemetery.
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.
Courtesy photo.
Born Sarah Marshall around 1832 in Craven County, North Car-
Special to The Post
Oct. 1, it was noted that eight of the 22 MacArthur fellows were African American. Among the re cipients of the so-called ‘genius grants’ are scholars, visual and media artists a poet/writer, histo rian, and dancer/choreographer who each receive $800,000 over a five-year period to spend as they
min, Jericho Brown, Tony Cokes,
olds, and Dorothy Roberts. This is the eighth and last in the series highlighting the Black awardees.
Dorothy Roberts. Photo courtesy of the John D. and Catherine T. Ma cArthur Foundation.
The patent drawing for the ironing board invented by Sarah Boone.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
California Leaders Push Back Against Offshore Drilling as Trump Admin Moves Forward
By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
California officials are prepar-
ing to challenge federal plans to allow new offshore oil and gas drill-
ing along the state’s coast, warning the proposal threatens coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and the state’s clean energy goals.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking at COP30 in Brazil, called the plan
“dead on arrival” in California.
“We will do everything in our power to protect California’s coastline, our communities, and our environment from this reckless proposal,” he said.
The Trump administration reportedly plans six offshore lease sales off California between 2027 and 2030, the first new drilling along the Pacific Coast in decades. State leaders argue the plan undermines the state’s ambitious climate agenda and risks economic losses to tourism, fisheries, and recreation industries.
Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis also spoke out against the plan, saying, “California will not stand
by while federal officials gamble with our environment and economy. Our coastlines are irreplaceable, and our residents deserve protection from oil spills and environmental degradation.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta added, “We are prepared to use every legal tool at our disposal to stop these leases. California’s laws, communities, and environment come first.”
Environmental groups have joined state leaders in opposition. Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager at the Surfrider Foundation, said, “The federal administration’s offshore oil drilling plan will damage coastlines and communities while threatening coastal recreation and tourism industries that contribute billions of dollars to our nation’s economy.”
Advocates including Oceana, NRDC, and Earthjustice warned that expanded drilling could trigger oil spills, harm marine life, and endanger public health.
Industry analysts note Pacific Coast leases may be less attractive than Gulf leases due to stricter reg-
ulations and limited infrastructure.
California has avoided offshore drilling since the 1980s, following the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, which sparked the modern environmental movement.
California’s opposition aligns with a broader coalition of lawmakers and advocacy groups. Earlier this year, Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA-2) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6), led a letter signed by more than 100 congressional members urging the administration to halt new offshore leases.
Padilla emphasized, “Opening new offshore leases off our coasts threatens the environment, coastal economies, and communities that depend on a healthy ocean. We cannot allow short-term fossil fuel interests to outweigh public safety and economic security.”
Newsom added, “California will defend its communities, environment, and economy against this unnecessary and risky drilling initiative.”
Flight Delays Continue ...
Continued from page 2
that cancellations could have expanded to affect up to 10% of all flights nationwide.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy last week tried to assure travelers that the staffing issues are improving and a return to normal flight schedules is not too far ahead. A Nov. 12 FAA press release states that air traffic controllers will receive 70% of their pay within 24 to 48 hours of the shutdown ending.
CA at COP 30 ...
Continued from page 2
abundant clean energy even more affordable.”
The state has now gone three consecutive years without issuing a Flex Alert, a sign of the grid’s growing reliability. Flex Alerts are a call to consumers from the state to conserve energy ahead of
“The FAA safety team is encouraged to see our air traffic control staffing surge, and they feel comfortable with pausing the reduction schedule to give us time to review the airspace,” said Duffy. “The data is going to guide what we do because the safety of the American people comes first. If the FAA safety team determines the trend lines are moving in the right direction, we’ll put forward a path to resume normal operations.”
Representatives of the airline industry estimate that flights could return to normal within a week of the shutdown ending. However, there are key workarounds recommended to ensure your travel is as seamless as possible during what is estimated to be a heavy travel season in the coming months.
anticipated shortages.
Officials also note that renewable energy already supplies nearly 67% of in-state retail electricity sales, and California plans to retire all coal power by the end of the year.
“I’m nervous about Thanksgiving,” said Hill. “We’re planning to fly from Oakland down to San Diego to see my wife’s family. Normally that’s an easy trip — an hour and some change in the air. But now I’m thinking about whether we’re walking right back into the same mess: delays, cancellations, overcrowded flights, or last-minute staffing issues. Even if the shutdown is over, the system doesn’t just bounce back overnight.”
State leaders say the rapid expansion of battery storage and clean energy resources demonstrates that California’s grid can meet growing demand while cutting pollution. They point to strong reliability during extreme weather, increased renewable generation, and the planned retirement of fossil fuel plants as evidence that the state is on track to achieve its 100% clean electricity goals by 2045.
Request for Proposals –The Residences at Liberation Park GC Bid
Black Cultural Zone CDC, in partnership with Eden Housing, Inc., invites qualified General Contractors to submit proposals for general contracting services for the Residences at Liberation Park development. Our mission is to ensure an equitable, inclusive, and community-driven process that aligns with local and funding requirements. Please review the Request for Proposals by visiting: https://edenhousing.org/request-forproposals-the-residences-at-liberation-park-gc-bid/ Important Dates
RFP Questions Due: Monday, November 3, 2025
FAQ / RFI Responses Published: Monday, November 17, 2025
RFP Responses / Submissions Due: Monday, December 1, 2025
RFP Shortlist Interviews (in-person): Monday, December 15, 2025
GC Selection Announced: Monday, January 5, 2025
Contract negotiation / execution: Through April 2026
iStock.
Scammers Don’t Take Holidays: How to Help Protect Your Money This Season
JPMorgan Chase
There always seems to be a never-ending list of tasks during the holiday season, from booking flights to purchasing gifts for loved ones. As you prepare for the holidays, it’s also critical to keep an eye out for online scams that aim to steal your money and your joy.
Nationally, nearly 1 in 3 consumers reported falling victim to an online scam during the 2024 holiday season, and Californians have lost more than $1.7B to fraud and scams just last year. Scams are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, making them more convincing and harder to detect.
“The holidays are scammers’ busy season. From fake travel websites and false package delivery messages to phony charity donations, scammers take advantage of people’s spirit of generosity and bustling holiday schedule,” said Diedra Porché, National Head of Community and Business Development at JPMorganChase. “Your best defense to protect yourself and loved ones is to stay educated on common and emerging scam tactics.”
During the week of November 16, Chase will host over 20 fraud and scam education workshops across the country, in coordination with local law enforcement and other local partners. These workshops, which are free and open
Asm. SharpCollins Holds Webinar
...
Continued from page 2
public can engage in the legislative process.
One panelist, Jonathan Laba, is an Assistant Public Defender and Supervising Attorney in the Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office.
“In my view, the use of juvenile adjudication as strikes under the Three Strikes law is one of the most unjust, harmful practices we have in our entire California justice system,” he said.
“Charges can qualify as a strike if the person didn’t cause any injury,” Laba continued.
“Most importantly, a version of the Three Strikes law is more punitive because it applies to childhood behavior that is adjudicated in juvenile court. I am not aware of any other state in the country that permits juvenile adjudications to
to the public, aim to educate the public on recognizing scams and empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves. Chase hosts over 1,000 fraud and scam education workshops per year across its more than 5,000 branches.
Don’t let the threat of scams dampen your celebrations. Consider the following tips to help you celebrate safely.
Beware of unrealistic deals
When you have so many gifts to buy, you’ll want to look for bar-
be the basis to give an adult a life sentence.”
The webinar also featured personal stories. One was 24-yearold Daisy Sandoval, who ran away from home at 13 after learning she was adopted. Living on the streets, she was later sentenced to a maximum of seven years and a minimum of two after being convicted of assault with a deadly weapon as a minor.
Sharp-Collins introduced AB 1279 earlier this year, but the bill was placed on the inactive file at her request on June 5. As a twoyear bill, it will return in the second half of the 2025-2026 session.
During the webinar, SharpCollins stressed the need for statewide leadership on the issue.
“California cannot call itself a leader in justice while it's the only state in the nation that still counts juvenile adjudications as strikes. We are the only ones,” she said. “That’s not leadership. That is injustice.”
1111 Broadway, Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 208-7400 • www.alamedactc.org Request for Proposals (RFP) for Countywide Ramp Intersection Safety Plan Professional Planning and Public Outreach Services (RFP No. R26-0007)
The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is seeking proposals for a contract to commence services in May 2026, or as indicated in the RFP and/or appropriate addenda.
Key Dates:
- Optional Online Pre-Proposal Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
- Proposal due date: December 23, 2025, BEFORE 3:00 p.m. PT
This contract will be funded in whole by Congestion Management Agency (CMA) member fees and as such, will not be subject to the Alameda CTC Local Business Contract Equity Program. However, Alameda CTC strongly encourages each proposer to consider the use of local and/or small business enterprises in its proposal. Any contract resulting from this RFP will be awarded without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or national origin. All RFP documents are available Procurement Portal at https://alamedactc.bonfirehub.com. All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted via the Procurement Portal, no later than 3:00 p.m. PT on December 2, 2025.
Submittals must be made in accordance with the instructions in the RFP.
gains. However, make sure that the discounts you’re offered are legitimate. Scammers often lure buyers with massive discounts, especially on popular and sold-out items, often using fake websites or social media ads. If you think, “this deal is too good to be true,” listen to your gut. It’s likely a scam.
Shop with trusted retailers
When shopping online or on social media, make sure to only buy from trusted websites and vendors.
Review the website’s URL and ensure that it starts with “https://” (the
‘s’ stands for secure) as scammers can create fake websites to look like legitimate retailers. If you’re unfamiliar with a store, search for the name with terms like “scam,” “complaints,” or “reviews” to uncover any red flags.
Be especially cautious when making purchases from social media marketplaces. Always verify the product exists before purchasing and use payments with purchase protections, like a credit card, to pay.
Gift card scams typically be-
California’s Oldest AME Church Celebrates Historic 175th Anniversary
Rev. Dr. Mical
Presiding Prelate Bishop Francine
Pastor Dr. Jason
Christian Discipleship” at
175th Anniversary of St. Andrews AME, the oldest AME church in California and in the Western United States. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
The overflowing pride, spiritual joy and sense of community was tangible at the oldest African American church in California, St. Andrews African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.). On Nov. 15-16. the congregation celebrated its 175th anniversary with a special church service event in Sacramento.
Clergy, local elected officials, church auxiliary groups and other well-wishers gathered for the twoday celebration, which honored the founding of the faith community, the ongoing mission of the church, and the legacy it continues to uphold.
The Rev. Dr. Jason D. Thompson, Senior Pastor of St. Andrews, was raised in an A.M.E. church in Durham, North Carolina. He told California Black Media (CBM) that as he has grown older, he is “thankful to support the mission of a free African society.”
“That society really wanted social, economic empowerment –all these things they were fighting for so that freed Blacks at the time could make it,” Thompson continued. “For me, the A.M.E. church can recapture that sense of making sure those who are downtrodden in our society understand that Jesus is love and liberation comes for them specifically. That means a lot to me now.”
In 1850, Daniel Blue, alongside other formerly enslaved men, Barney and George Fletcher, helped establish St. Andrews A.M.E. in the basement of Blue’s home. The church -- initially called the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church before becoming Bethel AME -- is recognized as the first AME congregation on the West Coast.
In the 19th century, St. Andrews
gin with outreach from a scammer, often pretending to be someone else, who urgently pressures victims into buying specific gift cards and sharing the card numbers and PINs. Scammers use various stories, such as pretending to be government officials, tech support, friends or family in emergencies, prize promoters, utility companies, or online romantic interests.
Remember: Legitimate organizations will never demand payment by gift card, and requests for gift card payments are a sign of a scam.
How you pay matters
Not all payment methods offer purchase protection. When buying gifts for the holiday season, consider using your debit and credit cards, as they may provide protections that allow you to dispute a charge if you don’t receive what you paid for or it’s not as you expected. If you purchase something using payment methods like Zelle®, wire transfers, gift cards, or cash, and it turns out to be a scam, it’s unlikely you’ll get your money back. Only use Zelle® to pay others you know and trust.
Seek out free resources
Give yourself peace of mind while shopping by using digital tools to monitor your personal information. For example, Chase Credit Journey® offers free credit and identity monitoring. This includes alerts to let you know if your
data is exposed in a data breach or on the dark web. You don’t have to be a Chase customer use it. To learn more about how to help protect yourself from scams this holiday season, visit Chase.com/ Security.
Waymo to Offer Freeway Rides for Self-Driving Taxis in California
By Bo Tefu
California Black Media
was a hub for the community. It hosted three of the four California Colored Citizens’ State Conventions between 1855 and 1865. St. Andrews, originally located at 715 7th Street—now the site of the Sacramento County Courthouse and County Administration Buildings’ parking lot—is designated California Historical Landmark No. 1013. The church now sits across from Southside Park on 8th Street.
For California’s Black settlers and pioneers in the 1850s and ’60s—many of them miners drawn to the state by the Gold Rush— AME churches, with their focus on Black liberation and empowerment, became vital centers of religious, social and political activism. They also served as hubs for organizing protests and community service, and they offered a place of worship free from segregation.
“I am 48 now and I’m still trying to learn about life, but I know that God has called us to ensure that each person has the same rights and liberty, whatever the gold standards for those who have it all…it should be the gold standard for everybody,” Thompson said.
During the special service on Nov. 16, Bishop Francine A. Brookins was the guest preacher. Brookins is the Presiding Prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District, which covers 15 states in the western and central United States.
“There’s a problem with that and God has a problem with that,” Brookins said. “God tells the people, ‘This stuff that is going on -I need you to not fall for the okey doke, and don’t be scared. I need you to remember that there is more. I need you to know your real testimony.’”
Waymo announced Wednesday that its self-driving taxis will begin traveling on freeways in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area, marking a major milestone for autonomous vehicle technology.
Previously restricted to city streets, Waymo said its technology is now ready for higher-speed freeway conditions. “Freeway driving is one of those things that’s very easy to learn but very hard to master when we’re talking about full autonomy without a human driver as a backup, and at scale,” said coCEO Dmitri Dolgov. “It took time to do it properly.”
Waymo, a spinoff from Google, appears to be the first U.S. company offering fully autonomous freeway rides without human specialists on board. In a 40-minute test ride in Northern California, the vehicle merged on and off ramps, obeyed speed limits, maintained safe distances, and avoided a human driver attempting a dangerous maneuver, the company reported.
Safety remains a key concern.
About 18% of traffic fatalities occur on highways and expressways.
“In order to predict what’s going to happen 10 seconds from now, the car has to sense what’s happening much farther down the road,” said Wendy Ju, associate professor at Cornell University.
Srikanth Saripalli, director of the Center for Autonomous Vehicles at Texas A&M University, praised Waymo’s record, noting the company has passed over 100 million miles without a human be-
hind the wheel.
Waymo plans a gradual rollout of freeway rides, monitoring performance before full customer availability. “The Waymo driver goes up to the posted speed limit. So, for example, if the speed limit is 65, that’s the maximum speed limit, and it does not exceed it, unless in extraordinary circumstances,” said product manager Jacopo Sannazzaro.
The expansion comes amid increasing competition from Tesla, which has begun offering robotaxi rides in Austin and San Francisco, though its service still includes employees in the vehicle. Other companies, including Amazon’s Zoox and several Chinese tech firms, are also racing to expand autonomous taxi services.
Waymo also announced plans to more than double the number of cities it serves, with new coldweather locations including Denver and Detroit. It will introduce a new van, the Zeekr RT, supplementing its Jaguar fleet, and will start curbside service at San Jose’s airport, the second major airport for Waymo after Phoenix. Pablo Abad, Waymo product manager, said, “We do not expect Waymo to make congestion worse on the freeways,” citing no measurable impact in areas where robotaxis already operate.
Waymo’s freeway rollout marks a major step for self-driving cars in California.
“This has been a long time in the making,” said co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov. With safety-tested autonomous vehicles now navigating highways, the state is poised to lead in the future of robotaxi transportation.
Photo courtesy JPMorgan Chase.
Cayton, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Chico,
A. Brookins (center), and Senior
D. Thompson (left), during the “Invitation to
the
Photo courtesy of Waymo.
Laney College Coach John Beam ...
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mitted shooting Beam, police said.
While media reports say that Irving said that he believed Beam used “witchcraft” on him, the district attorney would not comment on Irving’s mental health, saying Irving’s attorney would speak on it. So far, Irving does not have an attorney.
Irving knew who Beam was, police said, but the two did not have a relationship. Irving was reported to have “loitered” around the campus, according to police.
Jones Dickson said Irving does not have a criminal record and was not enrolled at Laney. The DA’s office has assigned victim-witness advocates to speak with Irving’s family.
Beam coached football for 45 years. He was 66.
Stunned by the news of the coach’s killing, hundreds of local residents, officials and national leaders have spoken out during the last week expressing their love and respect for Beam and his lifetime of dedication to helping local youth succeed and the betterment of the Oakland community, and offered their condolences to his family and loved ones.
“Coach John Beam was a giant in Oakland and mentored thousands,” Mayor Barbara Lee said at a press conference Nov. 14. “He gave Oakland’s youth their best chance, and he never stopped fighting for them.”
Damian Lillard, an Oakland native and Portland Trail Blazers
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fic and promote neighborhood vibrancy.
New Business Incentive: eliminate up to $1 million in gross receipts tax for all businesses establishing a new location in an Oakland-based commercial space between Jan. 1, 2027, and Dec. 31, 2027 for the tax certificate year beginning Jan. 1, 2028 and terminating Dec. 31, 2028.
Because business tax rates were set by the voters under Measure T, these measures will also need to be approved by Oakland residents on the June 2026 ballot. Each of these initiatives will last for a single year, though each can be extended for up to three additional years by a vote of the Council.
A recent poll by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce showed widespread support among voters for reducing business tax rates for small Oakland businesses, with an overwhelming 89% in favor –underscoring the broad citywide consensus for ensuring small businesses have the resources needed to succeed.
“Oakland’s plan to prioritize tax relief and targeted incentives shows the City understands what truly drives our economy: a strong, sustainable business ecosystem,” said Oakland Chamber of Commerce President Barbara Leslie. “Our small businesses and entrepreneurs create the culture and community that make Oakland special, and our larger employers provide the jobs that keep it thriving. This program sends a clear message that Oakland is committed to supporting our local econ-
guard, posted a tribute to Beam on Instagram, saying the coach was a “true Oakland legend and GREAT man. Gave me my first job at Laney football games.”
U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D12) said, “Coach John Beam’s death is a deep loss for Oakland. Our city is mourning a mentor, teacher, and steady guide who devoted his life to opening doors for generations of young people.
“His impact reached far beyond sports. He gave young people confidence, structure, and a place to stand,” she said on Nov. 14. “Families trusted him because he showed up with discipline, care and a belief that every young person carried promise.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said in a television interview on Nov. 14, “Coach Beam was a legend, 40year head coach of different football teams in the Bay Area and current athletic director at Laney. Today is a really, really sad day for the Bay Area, sad day for Coach Beam’s family and for everybody in Oakland. He was a revered figure in Oakland. On behalf of the Warriors, I want to extend our condolences.”
Warriors star Steph Curry spoke at a press conference expressing his sadness for the loss of Coach Beam.
“An icon was lost. (We’re) sending thoughts and prayers to his family, to the whole Laney College community, to all of Oakland. It puts into perspective what we need to do every day,” he said.
omy and is open for business. We applaud Councilmembers Unger and Ramachandran for leading this effort.”
“The OAACC strongly supports this business tax ordinance because it provides meaningful relief for the small and emerging businesses that form the backbone of our communities,” said Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Adams. “These targeted exemptions will help new entrepreneurs get established, allow existing small businesses to remain competitive, and create opportunities for long-term economic growth. This ordinance recognizes the real challenges our members face and demonstrates the City’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and a thriving local economy.”
“Small businesses in Chinatown and across Oakland continue to face real economic challenges, and this measure provides timely, practical relief. By easing the initial tax burden for new and emerging businesses, the City is helping entrepreneurs build strong, sustainable operations from day one,” said Oakland Chinatown Business Chamber Board President Stephanie Tran. “This proposal also reaffirms Oakland’s commitment to an inclusive economic environment where minority-owned businesses can grow and thrive. Our community remains dedicated to Oakland’s vitality, and we see this measure as an important step toward strengthening the City’s future.”
District 4 City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran’s media relations office is the source of this report.
National Scholarship Month ...
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Ma underscores the program’s dual impact.
“CalKIDS is a catalyst for building family assets and expanding access to education. It offers immediate financial support for older students,” said Ma. “For new parents, it sows the seeds of lifelong financial literacy.”
The automatic, no-application nature of CalKIDS accounts removes access barriers, ensuring every eligible student has a scholarship opportunity.
James Beere as Interim Chief of Police ...
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selection process.
In addition to Beere’s appointment, Lee unveiled the creation of a new interim constitutional policing administrator position, naming Assistant City Administrator Michelle Phillips to the role. The new position aims to strengthen accountability within the department with Phillips tasked to work closely with Beere on enhancing internal affairs investigations, policy development, internal audits, and resource allocation.
Phillips will also continue reporting directly to the City Administrator while coordinating efforts with the department’s Executive Command.
Beere brings more than 25 years of experience within the Oakland Police Department, having joined in 1997. His career includes key leadership roles, serving as assistant chief, deputy chief of the Bureau of Field Operations, and commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. Before his police service, Beere was a Marine Corps combat veteran.
Throughout his tenure, he earned several honors and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Golden Gate University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and is an alumnus of the FBI National Academy.
Phillips’ initial charge in her new role will be to shape the new office into a permanent leadership position dedicated to transparency, accountability, and constitutional policing. Her mandate includes oversight and advisement of procedures and policies, with a particular focus on the Bureau of Risk Management, Internal Affairs Bureau, and matters related to Fiscal and Human Resources. Phillips’ role requires her to identify effective funding models for the new position, while supporting ongoing improvements in police accountability structures and resource management.
With Beere assuming the interim chief post, the Police Commission
will initiate the process to search for Oakland’s next permanent police chief. Under Measure S1, the Commission, working with the City Administrator, will begin preparations to advertise the role and evaluate candidates. After conducting interviews, the Commission plans to present Lee with at least three finalists.
The mayor would then appoint one candidate from the shortlist or request further suggestions, with an emphasis on finding a leader committed to public safety, community accountability, and a deep understanding of Oakland’s unique social fabric.
Lee disclosed that Mitchell had informed her of his resignation a month earlier, allowing ample time for the transition and search process to begin. She thanked Mitchell for his committed leadership during a period marked by notable reductions in major crime categories, expressing gratitude for his contributions to the city’s public safety goals.
Regarding the interim appointment, Lee clarified that Beere will be eligible to apply for the permanent chief role along with other qualified candidates. She emphasized the Police Commission’s central role in conducting a thorough but efficient search, noting that the interim appointment should not exceed six months unless extended by the Commission.
Mayor Lee also addressed concerns over commissioner participation, confirming that both Garcia-Acosta, and alternate Police Commissioner Omar Farmer, whose reappointments had been rejected by City Council, continued to serve in a holdover capacity with full authority until successors are named.
Finally, Mayor Lee assured the public that the Federal Monitor had been advised of both appointments, furthering the administration’s commitment to transparency and compliance with federal oversight requirements.
HBCU Prep School ...
Continued from page 1 ure that deeply influenced her approach as a business leader.
Her business inspiration struck again in 2019, when she discovered an old ‘bucket list’ tucked away in a journal. Disappointed by how few goals she’d accomplished, Walker began tackling something new each day, a daily challenge that led to the creation of her flagship product – “The ABCs of HBCUs.”
Initially, she sought to tell the rich stories of Black colleges through the alphabet. But with more than 100 HBCUs across the country, the project couldn’t be contained by just 26 letters. This creative challenge led to the expansion of her product line, which now includes coloring books, flash cards, puzzles, and activity books for older kids, all spreading knowledge about the full HBCU network and the accomplishments of Black Americans.
Walker’s educational journey is personal as well as professional. As a wife and mother of three, she often tests new products with her own children, drawing feedback that has shaped everything from the tactile engagement of a coloring book to the viral success of her flash cards.
“The pandemic was a time when I paused and reflected on my purpose. Now a teacher and a mom, I
realize you can reach kids in many ways – some want to read, others want something hands-on,” she said.
As her business grew, so did her vision for additional ABCs series, which including Black Wall Street, cybersecurity, and the Harlem Renaissance. Walker even produced a music video.
Walker’s background as a principal and classroom teacher has informed her mission to fill gaps in literacy and representation. From a family of educators, she is intentional about exposing children to a diverse array of Black leaders, from history makers like Amy Sherald, who painted Michelle Obama’s portrait, to athletes like Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, reminding young people that history is happening now and that they, too, can shape the world.
Walker’s next projects include more books on music and contemporary icons, helping HBCU Prep School position itself as a trailblazing publisher offering stories rarely seen in mainstream publishing.
“I want kids to see themselves, to know their history, and to realize their potential to make an impact,” Walker said.
For more information visit: hbcuprepschool.com
know about such resources.
Police Commission’s
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ment, which has been under federal court oversight for several decades.
The CPA was responsible for working with the City Council in 2016 to create the Police Commission, which was approved by 83% of Oakland voters in the wake of severe public scandals that rocked OPD, leading to the departure of some of the department’s top leaders.
However, the commission now faces vocal community opposition from residents who oppose continuing federal court oversight of the department and say police are being undermined by too much civilian interference. They are saying the Police Commission obstructs police in ensuring public safety.
These residents, many of whom live in the city’s more affluent neighborhoods, include vocal spokespeople who say officers should face fewer regulations hampering their actions. Some want the Commission to be eliminated or reduced to a strictly advisory panel.
Following the vote rejecting their reappointments, both commissioners said they were targeted by a campaign organized by antiPolice Commission residents.
“I’m offended by the callous indifference I received after volunteering for the City of Oakland for five years,” said Farmer, speaking to Oaklandside. “I went above and beyond what was required. At minimum, the City should have highlighted the work we’ve done and said ‘thank you.’”
“The City Council’s recent actions, driven by comments filled with ignorance and ill intent, undermine the very progress we’ve made in police oversight,” Ricardo Garcia-Acosta told Oaklandside.
“By dismissing the dedicated efforts of public servants and disrupting civilian oversight, they risk setting our City back and jeopardizing our future within the NSA (federal court-mandated supervision of OPD).”
It is unclear at present what Mayor Barbara Lee is thinking about this conflict over the police commission.
In an interview with the Oakland Post, Rashidah Grinage, a long-time police accountability activist, and a founder of the Coalition for Police Accountability, said the Council made serious procedural errors in its Oct. 21 discussion, and the vote on the reappointments “was invalid. The two commissioners should be reappointed.”
“The underlying point of all this is that there was a concerted campaign by a contingent of people who organized to oppose Omar Farmer in particular. It’s clear that they don’t mind Ricardo Garcia-Acosta,” said Grinage.
“Farmer has taken a strong position against [replacing] the Bearcat, a … heavily armored tactical vehicle,” and they oppose him for that reason, she said.
Though the two commissioners have not been reappointed, under the City Charter they can still sit on the Commission until the selection committee selects new candidates who can be approved by the council, which could take months.
Grinage said that among the people who want the two commissioners removed are some who supported the recalls of the Mayor Sheng Thao and D.A. Pamela Price. A spokesperson for that group has claimed that public safety issues
Did you know?
Authority ...
in Oakland are caused by the Coalition for Police Accountability (CPA) and the Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP), which “have plunged Oakland into chaos.”
“They are after everyone, including Oakland’s federal monitor Robert Warshaw, who they believe are putting the clamps on the Police Department, preventing them from solving crimes,” said Grinage.
Millie Cleveland, chair of the Coalition for Police Accountability steering committee, said she thinks the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA), which is opposed to the Commission, “is behind the narrative that civilian oversight is an obstacle to police being able to fight crime. I believe it’s being pushed by the police union and their current tool; a digital newsletter called the ‘Oakland Report.’” Opposition to the Commission took shape during the recent fight over OPD’s police pursuit policy, which prevented police from engaging in high-speed chases exceeding 50 miles per hour without permission, which some said hampered officers’ ability to catch criminals.”
However, “the policy was not written by the Commission but by former OPD Chief LeRonne Armstrong because a series of innocent bystanders were killed in highspeed chases,” Cleveland said. The opposition to the Commission focused on Farmer, who is a military veteran and very familiar with military equipment, including the Bearcat, which was used to kill Joshua Pawlik,” a 31-year-old homeless man in 2018. In that case five officers were fired.
“Omar is probably more knowledgeable than the average person about a lot of police practices because he’s a retired veteran, and maybe that’s why OPOA doesn’t like him,” said Cleveland.
A member of the Police Commission, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Oakland Post that the City Charter requires the selection panel to submit a slate of proposed commissioners to City Council, and the council can only vote the slate up or down.
“So, maybe, they don’t like [Farmer] because he knows too much and he’s passionate about changing (police) conditions,” the commissioner said, adding that Farmer is strong about advocating for the mental health of police officers.
“But the current makeup of the of the Commission is much stricter on the Police Department than they want it to be,” said the commissioner.
There are some people in OPD who need a change of heart, the commissioner continued, “to get the department to the place where they’re not an occupational force and don’t look down on everybody as demented and a potential criminal. There are guys who gather around this military equipment and like going in and busting down doors and things like that,” the commissioner said.
“You get the feeling that what’s behind (this conflict) is more of a longer-range plan to get rid of or weaken the Commission.”
This article is part of a series on the Police Commission, police accountability, and civilian oversight of OPD. Members of the public are encouraged to submit articles and opinions on these issues.
ICE Activity Near West Oakland School ...
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the area without arresting anyone, Fife said on social media: “This is what happened after a parent was dropping their child off at school in West Oakland this morning,” the Mercury News reported. “It’s the same story we are hearing across the country. They wouldn’t identify themselves.”
In a press statement, Lee said: “We were made aware of reports
Students like Abigail Lopez from CSU San Bernardino attest to the difference CalKIDS makes, noting it helped relieve financial stress and provided critical support with educational expenses.
of federal immigration enforcement activity in the vicinity of local schools in West Oakland this morning. We immediately contacted our community partners, Oakland Unified School District, and the Oakland Police Department.
“We are still gathering information, but here’s what I want to reiterate to our immigrant community: Oakland stands firmly with you – this is who we are and what we
Parents, too, say receiving an early scholarship for their newborns is a meaningful milestone and a reminder to start planning for the future. College counselors and faculty have noted the program’s accessibility and importance for families who may otherwise not
believe. You are not alone, and we will not be intimidated by federal operations designed to create fear and division.
“If you or someone you know needs support, please call the ACILEP hotline at 510-241-4011 or visit The City of Oakland’s Immigrant Rights and Resources page,” the statement said. What You Need to Know: Oakland’s Immigrant Protection Actions:
Parents say receiving an early scholarship for their newborns feels like a meaningful milestone – and a reminder to begin planning for the future. College counselors and faculty add that the program’s simplicity and accessibility make it especially valuable for families who might not otherwise learn about these kinds of resources.
• OPD does not and will not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant. Interim Police Chief James Beere confirmed that the department will continue upholding this policy as a Sanctuary City • Launched Stand Together Bay Area Fund with San Francisco and San Jose to provide direct financial support to immigrant families impacted by aggressive immigration enforcement;
• 60% of public-school students in grades 2–12 across California are eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship. 100% of children born in California on or after July 1, 2022, are eligible for a newborn scholarship. Eligibility can be confirmed at www.CalKIDS.org. Pub-
partnering with Alameda County for additional resources – https://sff.org/stand-togetherbay-area/ • ACILEP hotline (510-241-4011) provides 24/7 rapid response and free comprehensive legal assistance through multiple organizations including Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Centro Legal de la Raza, and Bay Area Legal Aid • Comprehensive immigrant
lic school students need their Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), and parents of newborns need the Local Registration Number (LRN) from the birth certificate. Scholarship accounts can be claimed and later requested for use after age 17 upon enrollment in higher education or vocational training.
rights resources and “Know Your Rights” materials available in multiple languages at https://www.oaklandca.gov/ Government/CityCouncilLeadership/Leadership/Office-of-the-Mayor/ImmigrantRights-andResources to help community members understand their legal protection Sources for this report include Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s press office and the Mercury News.
Ramachandran and Unger Introduce Ballot Measure ...
