Oakland Post
By Post Staff
The Alameda County Grand Jury’s annual report, issued in June, focused this year almost exclusively on failings of the City of Oakland, while ignoring the other 13 towns in this county of over 1.5 million residents.
“While the Grand Jury normally investigates complaints across Alameda County, this year,
because of the significance of the issues, we primarily focused on Oakland. As the county seat and its largest municipality, these investigations serve the citizens of Alameda County,” the report said.
Oakland’s response to the Grand Jury report was due by the end of September, but the city asked for and received an exten-
By Carla Thomas
By Post Staff
The City of Oakland has hired former City Councilmember at-Large Rebecca Kaplan, who served on the council for 16 years, to serve as a project manager in the Oakland city administrator’s office, focusing on combating illegal dumping and blight.
Kaplan, who started working on Sept. 29, will serve as an exempt, limited duration employee.
Her council term ended in January, though her fellow council members asked her to cover the council vacancy in District 2 for five months until the election of Charlene Wang. Kaplan will be working with
Special to the Post
LoveLife Foundation was started in 1997 by Donald Lacy and his family to support local student college scholarships, mentoring and other social services for at-risk youth in memory of his late daughter, LoEshe Adanma Lacy.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, who has made tackling illegal dumping one of the top priorities of her administration, emphasizing both expanding cleanup efforts and stricter enforcement.
Lee has added additional work crews to increase trash pickup to seven days a week, launched initiatives like #KeepTheTownClean to encourage residents to get involved in cleanup efforts, and is working with the Alameda County District Attorney to prosecute illegal dumpers more aggressively.
“As mayor, I want all of us to build an Oakland where our streets reflect the dignity, pride
By Post Staff
Nancy Pelosi has announced her retirement from Congress, ending a decades-long career in which she became one of the most powerful figures in U.S. politics.
In a video message on Thursday, Pelosi said she will not be seeking re-election to Congress at the end of her term in January 2027.
Pelosi, 85, led her party in the lower chamber of Congress from 2003 until 2023 and became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House from 2007-11 and again from 2019-23. Pelosi was first elected to Congress to represent San Francisco in 1987 at the age of 47.
“We have made history, we
A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to deliver SNAP payments in full to states by Friday.
The order, which U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued Thursday afternoon, following two weeks of chaos over the
By Oakland Post Staff
President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric over weekend reports of violence against Christians in Nigeria, ordering U.S. military planners to draw up options and publicly declaring he
would designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The chain of events began, according to multiple officials, when Trump saw a Fox News segment
His family’s tragedy made headlines in 1997 when LoEshe was killed by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting in West Oakland. After deep soul searching, Mr. Lacy decided to meet the shooter in person and hear his story, before forgiving his actions. This made national news in 2019 and inspired television specials on major broadcast outlets.
Since then, Lacy and his family have dedicated countless hours throughout Northern California fighting the good fight, to uplift and pour care on Bay Area youth. Since its founding, LoveLife Foundation
has provided a number of college scholarships, fed the homeless, distributed toys for year-end holidays, mobilized community activations for voting and celebratory events highlighting many for their service.
On Nov. 15 from 7-11 p.m., on the beautiful Hornblower City Cruise Ship docked at San Francisco’s Pier 3, LoveLife Foundation will celebrate students and Bay Area thought leaders to raise money for scholarships and social services for Bay Area families.
As a highlight of the evening, LoveLife Foundation will acknowledge the 35-year social impact work of former Hollywood heartthrob Blair Underwood and former Golden State Warrior Spiritual Advisor Gary Reeves.
Underwood and Reeves have been serving under-resourced populations for three decades in
A public memorial will be
Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m.
Grace
in San Francisco. Davis passed away peacefully after a long illness, just weeks before her 93rd birthday, according to her family. She leaves behind a towering legacy of courage, intellect, and excellence that transformed American journalism and inspired generations who followed in her footsteps.
By Oakland Post Staff Family, friends, and admirers across California are preparing to honor the life and legacy of Belva Davis, the trailblazing journalist
Born Belvagene Melton on Oct. 13, 1932, in Monroe, Louisiana, Davis grew up under the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South. Her family moved to Oakland, California, when she was 8 years old, seeking better opportunities.
By Oakland Post Staff
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi will finish her last term in January 2027. Courtesy photo.
Oakland City Hall. File photo.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinibu.
Courtesy image.
Rebecca Kaplan. File photo.
Blair Underwood (left) and Gary Reeves (right). Courtesy photos.
photo.
A Virtual Voyage: Aboard the Titanic
— in San Francisco
By Carla Thomas
History came to life at San Francisco’s Stonestown Galleria on Oct. 29 as guests previewed
“Titanic: A Voyage Through Time.” The cutting-edge virtual reality experience, making its Bay Area debut, offered visitors a rare opportunity to step back in time and virtually board the legendary ship. Before boarding, guests explored a detailed miniature replica of the Titanic and viewed architectural renderings of the ship displayed along the walls.
Shelves showcased vintage hats, luggage, and other authentic period pieces, evoking the elegance of early 20th-century travel. Real champagne served in crystal glasses and the soft melodies of a live quartet set the mood before guests donned their VR headsets in groups of up to
five for the immersive voyage.
The trip gave a realistic view of the ship's decks, ballrooms, and even the engine room.
Developed in partnership with Musealia, known for their historical exhibitions, the experience offered an opportunity to time travel through virtual reality (VR). Attendees were virtually transported nearly 2.5 miles beneath the Atlantic Ocean waves to view the Titanic’s haunting wreck as it rests today.
From there, the journey rewound to 1912, placing guests in the heart of the world’s most famous ship.
Unlike traditional exhibits, “Titanic: A Voyage Through Time” takes interactivity to a new level. Each participant received a personal boarding pass upon arrival, which they deposited in a vintage mailbox before entering
Continued on page 7
California First Partner
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Launches California Women’s Wealth Advisory Council
Special to the Post
The season for Dia de Los Muertos has come and gone in the Bay Area, bringing out thousands to festivals and parades from San Francisco to Marin and Hayward to Antioch. On Sunday, Nov. 2, the Unity Council held its much anticipated 30th annual celebration.
The parade route ran along International Boulevard from Fruitvale to 41st avenues, featured ofrendas or altars along E. 12th street between 33rd and 35th avenues and three stages where Aztec dancing and hometown bands performed.
Themed “Aquí estamos y no nos vamos” (Here we are, and we’re not going anywhere), the Unity Council prepared for threatened ICE raids – Berkeley High School cancelled its event scheduled for Oct. 30 – by training volunteers from the Alameda County Immigration Legal Education
Partnership to be ICE watchers.
On Oct. 26, the Oakland Museum of California held its 31st Annual Dia de Los Muertos Community Celebration with a procession, poetry readings, a market and even limpias (healing rituals).
At Berkeley’s La Peña Cultural Center, its Celebración de Día de Muertos at 3105 Shattuck Ave. featured a community altar and jam session from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 1.
In San Francisco, the Marigold Project held the 33rd Annual Day of the Dead Festival of Altars on Nov. 2, at Potrero Del Sol Park at 2827 Cesar Chavez St. San Rafael’s celebration included a tradition begun during the pandemic with a car procession through city streets while sugar-skull painting for kids was a highlight of a street fair in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, both on Nov. 1. Websites Wikipedia and Oaklandside were sources for this report.
California Connects: How the Governor’s Office Is Bringing Collaboration and Service to Communities
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
California Connects Regional, the statewide series of convenings hosted by the Governor's Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC), made a stop in Sacramento on Oct. 21.
The Sacramento meeting was part of an eight-city tour organized by the governor’s office to encourage service and collaboration in communities across the state, and to support community-based organizations as they impact the people they serve.
Held at the Hilton Arden West Sacramento hotel, the California Connects event in the capital city brought together community leaders, state agencies, and local partners.
Josh Fryday, who leads Gov. Newsom’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GOServe) and the state office of California Volunteers, laid out the essence of the series and what it offers.
“It’s a perfect example of how Washington, D.C., is shutting down, and California is stepping up. We’re going to make sure that our communities know about resources for those who are food insecure,” Fryday told California Black Media (CBM). “It’s also a place where we need volunteers and community members to step up.”
About $80 million has been allocated by the state as part of a coordinated effort involving GOServe and California Volunteers, which includes mobilizing the California National Guard to assist food banks in managing the expected surge in demand.
The goal of the California Connects series is to strengthen regional networks, foster collaboration, and provide organizations with the tools and resources to better serve their communities.
Sen. Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) was one of the guest speakers in Sacramento.
“Strong, connected communities don’t happen by accident, they’re built through partnerships like the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, which bring state resources and trusted local voices together to make real change where it matters most,” Ashby said.
The series featured components are the individual, daylong regional events held across California to connect community organizations, state agencies, local leaders, and philanthropic partners.
“The key element is that we are making a concerted effort to break down silos, to engage people differently, and bring people together,” Fryday said. “We are living in a disconnected and isolated society right now. Now, the state of California is working hard to address that.”
The cities selected by GoServe are chosen to ensure
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
OCPSC can work with a diverse set of organizations to reach “historically underserved populations,” said Aubrie Fong, OCPSC’s executive director.
The series has made stops in Los Angeles, Anaheim, Riverside, Oxnard, and San Diego, and will conclude on Nov. 18 in Fresno.
Sacramento City Councilmember Karina Talamantes welcomed partners to the gathering in her city.
“Having information, resources, and programs available in different languages is important to live up to our values of a state that values diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Talamantes said. “It’s all about action, how we move forward, and implementation of our values in California.”
GO-Serve is a new California state government agency established in July 2024. For more information about California Connects Regional convenings, visit https://ocpsc.ca.gov/regionalconvenings/
California’s First Partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, announced the launch of the California Women’s Wealth Advisory Council, a new initiative designed to expand access to capital, ownership and financial opportunity for women across the state. The council will bring together leaders in finance, venture capital and government to help close the women’s wealth gap and shape a more inclusive innovation economy.
“I’m proud to launch the California Women’s Wealth Advisory Council to help shape an economy that includes women at every level of decision-making,” said Siebel-Newsom.
“California is bringing the best and brightest minds together to meet this moment of historic wealth transfer and shape the foundations of a more equitable economy. When women control capital, they strengthen communities and expand oppor-
tunity. The work ahead is to redesign the systems that decide who has access and who benefits,” she said.
The council’s launch comes amid what the state describes as the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in modern U.S. history, with an estimated $84 trillion expected to change hands over the next two decades. California, home to the country’s largest public pension systems and a vibrant venture capital ecosystem, aims to play a central role in how that capital is allocated, with a particular focus on women.
According to Siebel Newsom, women continue to face systemic barriers in wealth creation: they receive a small share of venture funding, are under-represented in asset management and hold less business and household wealth overall. By designing inclusive financial systems from the outset, California hopes to model a more
Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Courtesy of California’s First Partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s Facebook page.
At San Francisco’s Stonestown Galleria, a tabletop replica of the Titanic luxury liner at the virtual reality experience, “Titanic: A Voyage Through Time.”
California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday stands with Sacramento Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes while speaking to reporters during a session hosted by California Volunteers and the Governor’s Office of Community Engagement. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey CBM photo. Collaboration and Service to Communities
The Unity Council celebrated its 30th Dia de Los Muertos Parade and Festival on Nov. 2. Unity Council photo.
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How I Know White People are Crazy and Other Stories
MacArthur Fellow Dorothy Roberts’ Advocates Restructure of Child Welfare System
William H. Richardson: The Man Who Transformed the Baby Stroller
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Author: Dr. Jonathan Mathias
Lassiter, Copyright: c.2025, Publisher: Legacy Lit, SRP: $30.00, Page Count: 320 pages
It’s enough to make you lose your mind.
You see your goal, but there’s a barrier in front of it, a barrier that makes no sense. Other people don’t have to jump through hoops or over walls to succeed, feel safe, or get help so why do you? In “How I Know White People are Crazy and Other Stories” by Dr. Jonathan Mathias Lassiter, you’ll see that an old nemesis has a new name.
He says he is not angry.
Lassiter is just really, really frustrated and for good reason.
Throughout most of his life, his father’s life and his grandfather’s, — and through his college years and his career — Lassiter says that “whiteness mindset” – defined as a condition that causes people of any race (but most often White people) to assume that their lives are more important than others, which allows them to justify oppressing those who are different - has never been far away. Sadly, Lassiter says, anyone can be on the receiving end of whiteness mindset, but it happens most often to the majorityminority including Black people, Asians, women, and to gay people like him.
He says that his grandfather lived under racism and it showed: he loved his children but didn’t
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.
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.
feel that he could demonstrate it. Lassiter’s father parented similarly because that’s all he knew. Living low-income also affected Lassiter’s mental health, as did the barriers he was forced to overcome in college due to racism and the oppression he felt because of his sexuality. Seeing what could be, if there were no such things as racism and oppression, didn’t help.
Roberts’s work encompasses reproductive health, bioethics, and child welfare. She sheds light on systemic inequities, amplifies the voices of those directly affected, and boldly calls for wholesale transformation of existing systems.
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
Through his work as a licensed clinical psychologist and the patients he’s treated, he knows his experiences are not unique. He also knows that whiteness mindset is not limited to higher education or the workplace and to combat it, we first have to admit that whiteness is not the concern. The mindset itself and what it does to mental health are bigger issues, and becoming educated is a great way to combat them.
Don’t be surprised if you’re a little confused at the outset of “How I Know White People are Crazy and Other Stories.” It is confusing. Lassiter writes quickly with a whirlwind of ideas that circle back with another like ripples in a pond on a windy day. It might make you want to just back away.
Instead, stick around and trust that the meat of the book is coming through stories of real-life counseling and of Lassiter’s own life, experiences, and family history. These tales eventually settle the chaos, offering the clarity missing in the opening pages and allowing readers to see “whiteness mindset” in action and to understand the conflicts within it.
You’ll be able to cleanly see where Lassiter’s frustration lies, and what can be done about it.
Just know that to get there will take some doing and patience with “How I Know White People Are Crazy and Other Stories.”
Try it, though.
Persevere, and you might not mind.
Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty 1997)”, she
nied agency to Black women and
standing of reproductive freedom. This work prompted Roberts to examine the treatment of children of color in the U.S. child welfare system.
W. H. Richardson. Child’s Carriage. Patent No. 405,600. June 18, 1889.
By Tamara Shiloh
In the late 1800s, a brilliant African American inventor named William H. Richardson changed the way parents and caregivers moved through the world with their babies.
Before his invention, baby carriages were big, heavy, and hard to control. They could only move
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.
in one direction, and parents had little flexibility or comfort when trying to use them. But in 1889, William’s creativity and problemsolving skills led to a design that made baby strollers more practical, comfortable, and safe — basic features we have become so accustomed to today.
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.
Richardson lived in Baltimore, Maryland, and worked as an inventor during a time when opportunities for Black inventors were extremely limited. Yet, he refused to let discrimination stop him from improving everyday life. He studied how existing baby carriages were built and noticed that they were not designed with parents or babies in mind. He believed that something used to carry children should be simple, safe, and easy to handle — not just a fancy piece of furniture on wheels.
His 1889 patent introduced two key improvements that complete-
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.
ly transformed the stroller. First, he designed a reversible seat, which allowed the baby to face either forward toward the world or backward toward the parent. This gave mothers the freedom to choose — they could keep a close eye on their infants or let older babies look around and explore. That small change made strollers more personal and interactive.
She also shows that blaming marginalized individuals for structural problems, while ignoring the historical roots of economic and social inequality, fails families and communities.
Roberts argues that the engrained oppressive features of the current system render it beyond repair. She calls for creating an entirely new approach focused on supporting families rather than punishing them.
Second, Richardson created a new wheel system that made turning and steering much easier. Instead of all four wheels moving in the same direction, his design allowed the front wheels to swivel independently of the back wheels. This made the stroller far more manageable — parents could turn corners smoothly and move through tight spaces without struggling. If you’ve ever pushed a modern stroller around a grocery store or park, you’ve benefited from Richardson’s creation.
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.
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.
Cover of “I Know White People are Crazy and Other Stories.” Courtesy of Legacy Lit press.
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
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.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
California Moves to Reclaim Control of State National Guard
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
California is escalating its legal battle against President Donald Trump’s federalization of the state’s National Guard.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a motion this week asking a federal judge to lift a stay and return the federally controlled California National Guard to the governor’s command.
“The Trump administration believes it can keep California’s National Guard federalized and de-
ployed wherever, forever, and for any purpose—no further justification necessary,” said Bonta. “That is simply not true, and we’re asking the court to issue a ruling that says as much without delay. The Ninth Circuit’s recent order made clear that this remains a live issue, and we are confident that when we make our case, we will prevail.”
In June, Trump’s order transferred 4,000 members of California’s Guard—one-third of its active force—to federal control for domestic law enforcement in Los Angeles and other areas, despite
the state’s objections. A federal judge ruled in August 2025 that the move violated federal law, but that ruling remains on hold pending appeal.
“President Trump turned the National Guard against the communities they swore to serve. This is unlawful and immoral,” said Newsom. “The National Guard deserves better than being treated like Trump’s toy soldiers – and when they’re returned to California command, we’ll get them back to doing the real work they signed up to do.”
Newsom’s office says the federalization has pulled Guard members from key state missions like wildfire management, fentanyl interdiction, and food distribution efforts amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
California’s challenge is part of a broader coalition of states — including Oregon and Illinois — pushing back against Trump’s expansion of federal control over state National Guards.
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the ship as first-class passengers.
The adventure continued as guests explored plush private cabins, unpacked luggage, and enjoyed lifelike recreations of the Titanic’s culinary delights.
In one memorable scene, visitors joined the engine room crew, tossing coal into the roaring furnaces that powered the ship and the daily workings of the vessel’s underbelly. Throughout the VR journey, guests encountered historical figures who walked on the ship’s iconic Grand Staircase and dined in its ornate salons. By blending storytelling with handson interaction, the attraction granted a perspective into the Titanic’s final days and the lives that shaped its enduring legacy.
The combination of meticulous set design, advanced VR graphics, and interactive storytelling created a moving encounter with one of history’s most studied
William H. Richardson ...
Continued from page 4
His invention wasn’t just about convenience — it was about care and connection. By giving parents more control and babies more comfort, William’s design showed real thoughtfulness and understanding. Over the years, his innovations have shaped almost
California Women’s Wealth Advisory Council ... Continued from page 2
resilient and equitable economy for all.
This initiative builds on First Partner Newsom’s previous efforts, including the California Equal Pay Pledge (launched in
tragedies.
“What a fun experience and I learned so much about the ship’s history,” said Hilary Skehan with her husband Brendan.
The Titanic was a $7.5 million luxury ocean liner, worth over $200 million today, symbolizing ambition, hope and grandeur, built between 1909 and 1912 as the largest ship of its kind, stretching nearly three football fields in length and standing 17 stories tall.
The ship featured 840 guest rooms: 416 first-class, 162 second-class, and 262 third-class, carrying about 2,200 people, including 1,300 passengers.
On its first voyage from Southampton to New York City on April 10, 1912, the ship tragically sank after hitting an iceberg, resulting in roughly 1,500 deaths.
For more information on the exhibition visit FeverUp.com
all baby strollers made since. Even though we don’t know much about his personal life, his work speaks for itself. At a time when African American inventors often went unrecognized, he managed to make a lasting impact that still touches families every day.
Today’s lightweight, foldable, and adjustable strollers all trace their roots back to William H. Richardson’s 1889 design.
2019), the Equal Pay Playbook, and the Board Culture Playbook, all aimed at strengthening gender equity in the workforce. In 2024, the state also passed legislation requiring public high schools to offer a one-semester personal finance course starting in 2027-28, a foundational step in helping young women build wealth.
OPINION:
On Tuesday, Voters Spoke Loudly for Democrats. Will Republicans Listen?
By Emil Guillermo
Last year, American voters tried some Trump. Tasted it. On Tuesday they spit it out.
Yes, democracy still works in America.
Of course, Donald Trump claimed without evidence that the California vote for Prop. 50 was rigged, but that’s his dictatorial tic working overtime.
On this Election Day, Democrats were victorious in four key states.
“We sent a message to the whole world that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship,” said former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the first woman elected governor of Virginia. “We chose our commonwealth over chaos.”
In New Jersey, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s speech quoted the inscription of the Statue of Liberty, speaking of her state as an open door. “We’re not going to give in to our darker impulses here in New Jersey. We know that this nation has not ever been nor will it ever be ruled by kings.”
And then there was Zohran Mamdani, the South Asian American immigrant, born in Africa, the newly elected mayor of New York City, and a Democratic Socialist.
Unifying But Defiant
Mamdani started his victory speech quoting American socialist Eugene V. Debs who ran for president multiple times, speak-
ing of a “new dawn for humanity.”
He also reached out to American Jews. Called a “Jew Hater” by Trump, Mamdani countered with clear rejection of antisemitism.
But the biggest cheers came when he challenged the president. “So, hear me President Trump when I say this, to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us. While we cast our ballots alone, we chose hope, together. Hope over tyranny, hope over big money and small ideas. Hope over despair.”
Mamdani’s rhetoric was the spiciest of the night.
Even spicier than Gov. Gavin Newsom, who spoke victoriously for Yes on 50, the proposition that allows for California to fight back against the effort by Trump to gerrymander districts to favor Republicans in some states.
Republicans have lost their grip on independent, free agent voters.
Exit polls showed both Sherrill and Spanberger out-performing Kamala Harris from a year ago, winning back Independents for
the Democrats.
That should make Newsom happy. Prop. 50 makes him the clear top dog Democrat and more of a national figure than ever. Democrats did so well Tuesday, it could become Liberation Day for the GOP.
After one year, voters dumped Trump in Virginia and New Jersey. It is enough for Republicans to break the cult-like hold he has on them and allow for a negotiation with Democrats to end the government shutdown — the longest in American history.
The Way We All Win
If you were an independent, or just an ordinary American who voted for Trump a year ago because of the economy, Tuesday was sweet.
You got to vote again — only this time you got to fire Donald Trump and the GOP.
That’s the lesson of Nov. 4. Voters still have the power in our democracy.
About the Author Emil Guillermo is an awardwinning veteran journalist, and columnist, and a former host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.” He has written columns on race and social justice for more than 30 years. See him perform his latest “Emil Amok” monologue, Nov. 19 at the SF Marsh. Save the date and get tickets now. https://themarsh.org/shows_and_events/ marsh-rising-emil-guillermo/
Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the new Democratic Socialist mayor-elect of New York City. Courtesy of Zohran Mandani.
Continued from page 1
about attacks on Christians while traveling to Florida. The president was “immediately” angered by the report and asked to be briefed further, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Shortly after Air Force One landed in West Palm Beach, the president used his Truth Social platform to press the issue. “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.
Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he posted, adding that he is making Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The matter moved quickly into the realm of possible military action. White House officials say the president instructed defense leaders to “prepare for possible action,” language that prompted a rapid response inside U.S. Africa Command. Personnel were recalled to headquarters over the weekend as planners convened to sketch options for senior leaders, sources said. “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of War is planning options for possible action to stop the killing of Christians in Nigeria,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.
A White House official told reporters the president had “been tracking this issue previously and had already begun thinking about truthing it out.”
Defense officials were reported to be building contingency plans but stopped short of detailing any concrete course of action. Pentagon spokespeople reiterated that formulating options for the president is a routine military task. “President Trump was elected in a landslide victory to accomplish his peace through
strength agenda. The Department of War stands ready to execute the Commander in Chief’s direction,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the Pentagon was “preparing for action.”
But outside analysts and Nigerian officials cautioned that the situation is more complex than the president’s posts suggest. Experts note that both Christians and Muslims have suffered at the hands of extremist groups, and that violence in Nigeria is often driven by a mix of insurgency, communal disputes and competition over resources. Massad Boulos, a Trump adviser on Arab and African affairs, told Nigerian media last month: “People of all religions and of all tribes are dying, and it is very unfortunate, and we even know that Boko Haram and ISIS are killing more Muslims than Christians.” Nigerian presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga responded to the U.S.’s statements bluntly: “We are shocked that President Trump is mulling an invasion of our country.”
Trump, pressed by reporters, did not rule out direct military involvement. “Could be.” He later warned in a social media post, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians.”
The unfolding dispute underscores growing pressure from conservative U.S. voices who argue Washington must do more to protect persecuted Christians abroad — and highlights the diplomatic strain that a possible U.S. military response would create with one of Africa’s largest economies and the continent’s most populous nation.
LoveLife Foundation 6th Annual Gala ...
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the areas of education, affordable housing, sports franchising, housing foster youth, HIV/AIDS awareness, and healthcare. Both are known for their work in the television and film industries. But it was “Give,” their Emmy-Award winning television show on NBC/ OWN, which raised the profiles of
more than 75 charities, that catapulted their creative efforts into the philanthropic mainstream.
Today, the partnership between Underwood and Reeves has been active with community activations and ownership participation with the Oakland Ballers, a Pioneer Baseball League champion.
Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement ...
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have made progress,” Pelosi said in her message.
“We have always led the way, and now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy, and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear,” she said.
“As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power.”
In a statement on Thursday, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said, “For decades, I had the privilege of serving alongside Nancy as her congressional neighbor, working together on our shared values for San Francisco, the State of California, our country and the World.
“As the first woman Speaker of the House, Nancy shattered barriers and opened doors for women across the country. She never let us forget the work we were doing was for the children and our future. As she prepares for her final year in Congress, she leaves a standard of principled leadership that will endure. I know this next chapter of her life will continue to be filled with joy and more time with her husband Paul and her beautiful family.”
Said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, “Nancy Pelosi has never been a politician of convenience. For four decades, she has stood in the storm, defending democracy, women, children, queer people, and working families with a kind of courage that cannot be taught.
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sion, which is due this week on Friday, Nov. 7.
At a special meeting on Tuesday, the City Council discussed the city’s response, which was prepared by staff.
The Grand Jury report covered five areas, titled:
• “Bad Roads and No Building: Oakland’s Budget Problems
Mean no Bonds for the City’s Needs”
• “Oakland’s Potholes: A Bumpy Road and Inadequate Oversight”
• “Oakland’s Poor Stewardship of Measure Q Funds Jeopardizes its Effectiveness”
• “Adding Insult to Injury: Oakland Issues Parking Tickets to Stolen Vehicles”
• “Oakland’s Wildfire Preparedness: Good Vegetation Management but Emergency Access Needs Improvement”
In its written response, the city agreed with most of the Grand Jury’s findings, though disagreeing on some of the recommendations.
Here are the City’s responses to some of the Grand Jury’s findings.
City staff agreed that “Potholes and other street pavement failures have been a prevalent problem in the City of Oakland for many years.”
“While potholes and pavement degradation are an ongoing challenge faced by all large urban jurisdictions, the City continues to apply industry best practices and maintenance prioritization and public safety risk mitigation,” the City said.
The City disagreed partially with a statement that repaving costs the city about $1 million per mile. The actual cost is greater, about $1.3 million per mile, the City said.
Agreeing with a finding that it must sell Measure U bonds to undertake additional street repaving, the City said it is “currently preparing to issue the next tranch, or portion, of Measure U bonds in November or December 2025” and is exploring “all eligible funding sources, including state and federal transportation programs to supplement bond proceeds.”
A high rate of employee vacan-
cies is also a major issue facing the City, the Grand Jury report said. Agreeing, the City said, “Staffing challenges (are) affecting multiple municipal functions, including public works and transportation.”
The City partially agreed with a finding that the City’s Local Business Enterprise and Small Local Business Enterprise programs limits competition for the City’s Department of Transportation contracts. These programs do influence bid participation, the City said, but are “legally mandated equity tools designed to expand contracting opportunities for Oakland-based firms.”
Disagreeing with a finding that the City has failed to conduct audits of Measure KK or Measure U, the City said its “annual financial audits conducted by external auditors have included all Measure KK and Measure U funds as part of its Comprehensive Financial Report.”
Regarding fire safety, the Grand Jury said the City Council must implement public education programs to inform residents about emergency evacuation routes, fire safety procedures and communication tools.” The City said it is already implementing this recommendation in coordination with Alameda County.
The City also said it is already implementing the recommendation that the Oakland Fire Department “must monitor the vegetation management inspection process.”
However, the City said it is not cost effective to implement a recommendation that it “must implement technology to avoid issuing parking tickets to vehicles that have been reported as stolen to law enforcement.”
Such a change, the City said, would require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Department of Justice and “exceed the benefit of pursuing a solution to address an issue that occurs in less than 1% of cases.” Such an MOU would cost the City hundreds of thousands of dollars in hours of staff and attorney time required to meeting to negotiate terms and draft documents with the state DOJ.
Remembering Belva Davis ...
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Her decision not to seek another term does not mark her exit; it marks a new type of presence. Her voice, her wisdom, and her command are still needed, now more than ever.
“We are living through a battle between good and evil. A battle between those who want a nation that serves the common good and those who are actively trading justice for power. In this fight, Nancy Pelosi remains a north star. She reminds us that governance, at its core, is a moral act.
“As a newer member of Congress and a daughter of the Bay, I have learned from her what it means to serve without fear. She has shown that care can be strategic, that discipline is a form of love, and that leadership requires a steady faith in people. Her mentorship has shaped how I lead and how I will keep fighting.”
“(Pelosi) broke glass ceilings as the first woman to be Speaker of the House, worked relentlessly to pass the Affordable Care Act, and championed transformative legislation to invest in our nation’s infrastructure,” said Alex Padilla, senior senator of California. “And from her roots in San Francisco through her trailblazing tenure in Congress, Speaker Pelosi was a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, fighting to guarantee the right to marry who you love and helping lead San Francisco through the AIDS crisis that devastated the city.
She became the first in her family to graduate from high school, attending Berkeley High in 1951.
“Mom was our family’s heart and soul,” said her daughter, Darolyn Davis. “She was the engine that powered me, my brother and my dad until the end. She instilled us with the confidence to dream big and to face every challenge with integrity and commitment. She would say if you can dream it, you can make it so. We miss her deeply.”
Her husband of 62 years, Bill Moore, shared a heartfelt remembrance of their partnership: “Belva was the love of my life. We had a magical bond from the moment we first met and were forever inseparable. We both started from humble beginnings but managed to build a life beyond any of our wildest dreams. The thing we enjoyed most was traveling the world from the Bay Area to parts near and far. We started our lives together during a time of social unrest but vowed to raise our family to make a difference. I am forever grateful for the gifts she gave me and will hold her love and spirit for eternity. I love you and miss you, Belva.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris once called her “an inspiration,” and “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker noted that “today’s Black journalists walk in Belva’s footsteps.”
Oakland Hires Former Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan ...
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and resilience of this community,” she said recently.
“We know too many Oaklanders are seeing trash on their streets and illegal dumping in their neighborhoods. And we are working hard to address this issue. Let’s create a cleaner, safer, greener Oakland together,” she said.
The city’s enhanced staffing is part of a broader set of initiatives being developed to prevent, reduce, and more efficiently clean up illegal dumping citywide.
Phase two of the mayor’s “Keep the Town Clean Initiative” will bring trash removal “block parties” to each of Oakland’s seven council districts through spring 2026, as well as monthly business corridor clean ups.
Josh Rowan, interim director of Oakland Public Works and director of the Oakland Department of Transportation said, “I want to thank the hardworking staff in our illegal dumping unit who are put-
ting in extra hours in a demanding job to get our streets clean faster.”
“We are complementing these expanded cleanup efforts with creative policy solutions and partnerships that we believe can significantly reduce the amount of trash that reaches our streets in the first place,” he added.
During her years on the council, Kaplan played a major role in the transition of the Oakland Coliseum property that had been owned by the Oakland A’s into a project now owned by the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG). She also helped the city secure a partnership with the Roots soccer team to play at the Coliseum.
As Oakland’s first openly lesbian councilmember, she worked with the city to invest in LGBTQ programs for youth, pushed to terminate old discriminatory laws, and co-sponsored a bill to create the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District.
Judges: SNAP Payments Must Resume ...
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soon as possible in response to a lawsuit filed by the progressive legal advocacy group Democracy Forward.
The Trump administration agreed to partially fund the program by using $4.65 billion in contingency funds to cover about 65% of the benefits that eligible households would ordinarily receive. But it declined to draw
from additional funding set aside for child nutrition programs. McConnell said the Trump administration “did nothing to ensure” that SNAP benefits would be delivered this week. He ordered the administration to use the funding for child nutrition programs, known as Section 32, in addition to the contingency funds to make sure payments are delivered in full.
Responsible AI in City Services ...
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at 2 p.m. PST, with notifications expected by Jan. 1, 2026.
The initiative reflects a deliberate approach focused on equity, transparency, and public trust, as Oakland tests how emerging technologies can help residents access services more efficiently while safeguarding sensitive data. Over the past year, AIWG has built the foundation for this next phase by developing the City’s first AI Equity Statement and piloting several internal tools.
strengthens our ability to serve all residents.”
Deputy City Administrator Joe DeVries, who co-leads the AI Working Group with ITD Director Tony Batalla, emphasized that inclusive collaboration has been key.
“By involving every City department, we’re not only addressing public concerns about AI but also ensuring these tools directly support the missions of those who serve our community daily,” he said.
Unable to afford college, Davis began working as a typist at the Naval Supply Center on Treasure Island, but her involvement in community organizations opened the door to journalism. Davis began writing unpaid stories for Black women’s groups and local papers, eventually working as a freelance reporter for Jet magazine and the Sun-Reporter. Her determination led to a full-time position at the Bay Area Independent, marking the beginning of an extraordinary career.
In 1967, Davis made her television debut at KPIX, San Francisco’s CBS affiliate, becoming a familiar and trusted face in Bay Area homes. She later worked at KQED and KRON-TV, producing award-winning journalism, coanchoring national political conventions, and interviewing a range of influential figures, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and James Baldwin to Fidel Castro, Frank Sinatra, and Willie Brown.
Among those tools is Microsoft Copilot 365, tested as an AI assistant to improve staff productivity. The pilot’s outcomes are being studied through a graduate research partnership with Northeastern University Oakland, formerly Mills College.
Another key element is the AIWG’s new data governance framework, which includes automated data classification and protection to ensure that AI tools cannot access or process confidential information. Together, these measures aim to make responsible experimentation with AI possible while maintaining security and fairness.
“We’ve identified real opportunities where AI can help make it easier for Oaklanders to access City services,” said Lee. “This request for information invites innovative partners to pilot these solutions with us in a way that
As part of the new RFI, the AIWG has released a list of 30 proposed use cases that demonstrate how AI could benefit Oakland residents. They include projects in digital accessibility, public engagement, public safety, and smart operations.
Examples range from automated document accessibility compliance and real-time translation in city meetings to predictive analytics for staffing and AI-driven oversight of campaign finance integrity. Selected innovators will partner with the City for a 16-week pilot, offered at no cost, to test and refine their solutions in real-world government operations.
For full details, applicants can visit the City of Oakland’s website at: https://www.oaklandca. gov/Government/Departments/ Information-Technology/RFI-AIUse-Case-Pilots
“Belva was not only the best journalist I ever knew, and she was one of the absolute finest human beings,” said Willie Brown, the former San Francisco mayor, California Assembly Speaker and longtime friend. “She could disarm you with that wry smile and beautiful voice, but then her questions could cut to the bone.” iStock.