Oakland Post
Farwest Region Deltas Celebrate Centennial With ‘Sept. Breakfast’ Honoring Vivian Osborne Marsh
By Antoinette Porter
Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and their guests gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union at UC Berkeley, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sorority’s Farwest Region.
The region was established in
1925 under the leadership of Vivian Osborne Marsh, who became its first Regional Director. Marsh was a pioneering scholar and civic leader, earning recognition as the first Black woman to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley.
Marsh went on to serve as Delta
Sigma Theta’s 7th National President, where she launched the sorority’s National Library Project to expand access to books in underserved Black communities in the South. During her presidency, the organization also became a prominent voice in the civil rights move-
Brenda Knight Inspires and Educates at Breast Cancer Conference
healthier lifestyles, and encourage lasting improvements in community well-being.
The gathering addressed the reality that breast cancer disproportionately impacts Black women in the United States, who are often diagnosed younger, at later stages, and with more aggressive forms of the disease. Focusing on culturally relevant, high-quality, and timely cancer information, organizers say, the SCI BCAA Conference bridged critical awareness gaps and offered resouces and support for African American communities across the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding counties.
By Carla Thomas
The Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI) Office of Community Outreach and Engagement on Aug. 23 hosted the Breast Cancer and African Americans (BCAA) Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Newark, California.
The event, themed “Helping Communities Better Help Themselves,” provided culturally tailored education, aiming to promote
Rep.
Asm. Mia Bonta’s Bill Cracking Down on Private Equity Healthcare Deals Heads to Gov’s Desk
By Post Staff
The event welcomed African American women ages 18 and older that were newly diagnosed, in treatment, survivors, or simply seeking knowledge and connection. Family members, caregivers, community advocates, faith-based leaders, healthcare professionals, researchers, and clinicians also participated.
Highlights of the day included presentations by distinguished local and national experts on breast cancer, women’s health, and wellness.
The panel of speakers included Brenda Knight, founder of the La-
Lateefah Simon Backs
and Morgan Spector, Mahmoud Khalil, Dr. Adil Husain, other Members of Congress and advocates to call for the passage of H.R. 3565, the Block the Bombs Act, to save lives.
The Block the Bombs Act withholds the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel and demands Israel’s compliance with U.S. and international law.
Representative Simon said:
“I come to Congress from a lineage of folks who know that war does not make us stronger, from a lineage of Ron Dellums and Barbara Lee, who were very clear that we as a nation cannot kill and slaughter our way to peace, that we cannot fund the machinery of death, and that safety is found in care – and not conquest.
dies In Red; Dr. Ryland Gore, owner of the Dream Breast Care Center; Dr. Cheryl Ewing of the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center, and Breast Cancer Champions Lynda Haliburton, and Chandra Collins. Former WNBA player and breast cancer survivor, Edna Campbell, owner of Breathe and Stretch and Geneva Clay, founder of Fit-4 Living Health & Wellness Services was also a speaker at the event.
Brenda Knight, founder of the “Ladies in Red” social network, said she entered the stage with the music of James Brown’s “Get Up Offa That Thing” and Lessss’ “Dance Until You Feel Better.”
“One lady thanked me for getting her up and moving around,” said Knight, realizing that a diagnosis or disease can leave people without energy and sedentary.
Knight, as a motivational speaker, leans on her life experience as a mother, wife, community advocate, and professional leader to encourage people. Knight has a track record of supporting the BCAA conference for over 10 years and has volunteered with hundreds of cancer patients through programs
on page 8 Continued on page 8
‘Block the Bombs Act,’ to Withhold Weapons to Israel: ‘We as a nation cannot kill and slaughter our way to peace’
tinian people must end. I am proud to co-sponsor, along with my colleagues, the Block the Bombs act. It’s clear, let us stop the murder and the slaughter of innocent civilians in Gaza.”
Continuing, she said, “We grieve deeply and profoundly the children of Gaza, whose bodies, as we speak, are being torn by shrapnel. We grieve them, and we can, in the same moment, deeply grieve the families in Israel who lost loved ones and who were killed. We can grieve them.”
California is one step closer this week to tightening oversight of private equity and hedge fund spending in the healthcare sector as lawmakers sent Assembly Bill (AB)1415, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.
The measure, if signed into law, would expand the authority of the state’s Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA), requiring private equity groups, hedge funds, and Management Services Organizations (MSOs) to notify the office of major transactions, including mergers or acquisitions involving hospitals, physician organizations, skilled nursing facilities, or other MSOs.
“AB 1415 ensures that Cali-
The Greenlining Institute’s Board of Directors has appointed Max Vargas as its new President and CEO, effective September 15. He succeeds Olga Talamante, who has served as Interim President and CEO since February and will now return to her role on the Board. Vargas most recently served as Vice President of Economic Justice at the Latino Community Foundation, where he built a portfolio focused on unlocking Latino economic power through entrepreneurship, worker advancement, cooperatives, and climate justice. His career also includes leadership roles as Deputy Director “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18 postnewsgroup.com
“I am proud to stand with my colleagues today and say clearly that the genocide against the Pales-
“Simultaneously, we can refuse the trap that tells us that we must choose whose pain is real. There are no two sides when we’re talking about tens of thousands of children, slaughtered. We must demand and insist that the genocide that is happening in this moment not be committed in the name of anyone who Continued on page 8
By Carla Thomas
By Antoinette Porter
Recently, Beebe Memorial Cathedral began broadcasting its Sunday announcements to help streamline the flow of Sunday service. What most members didn’t realize is that the warm, dynamic voice welcoming them was one of their own, Tee Jay Jetson, a professional voice actor.
A longtime storyteller with a background in writing, Jetson was captivated when she first stood at the mic to tell stories
about Oakland for the Mills College public radio program while she was in graduate school.
“The mic allowed me to blend storytelling with service,” she recalls.
Since 2023, Jetson has trained and coached with leading voiceover professionals in commercial, political, corporate narration, explainers, e-learning, automotive, and more. The results are captured in her demos. In March 2025, she signed with her first talent agent, Shortlist. One month later, she signed with New York talent agency CESD.
Jetson auditions daily from her home studio, because “I am an entrepreneur and voiceover is my business.” Currently, Jetson is doing the live-announce opening segment for Best in Gospel Bay Area, a music competition produced by Gregory Cole, and she says, “I am having a blast!”
To learn how you can work with Tee Jay, go to TeeJayJetsonVO.com.
By Post Staff
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Oakland will hold a special prayer service followed by a fundraising walk on Sept. 14 at 11:30 a.m., as parishioners work to raise awareness about the uncertain future of their historic parish.
Following the 10 a.m. mass, participants plan to circle the block
along Lakeshore Avenue several times in a show of unity, concern, and faith. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year in response to several hundred claims of past sexual abuse by church members, may sell a number of parish properties to help satisfy settlements. Our Lady of Lourdes, locat-
By Carla Thomas
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Alumni Coalition of Northern California (HBCUC) will present its annual “Elegant All White Scholarship Gala” on Saturday, September 27, at Scott’s Chandelier Pavilion in Oakland’s Jack London Square. The HBCUC supports Bay Area students who aspire to attend historic institutions such as Howard University in Washington, D.C. and Spelman College in Atlanta, among others. Proceeds from the gala will
fund scholarships for local students who have been accepted into one of the 107 HBCUs across the United States, while also sustaining the association’s ongoing community work.
Guests will include government officials, community leaders, corporate sponsors, and members of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities. The gala reflects the coalition’s guiding theme and slogan: “The Village – Coming Together for a Common Purpose Through Advancing
Assemblymember Mia Bonta represents California’s 18th Assembly District, which covers Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville. Photo courtesy office of Asm. Bonta.
Brenda Knight at the SCI Breast Cancer and African Americans Conference 2025. Photo courtesy of Brenda Knight.
Tee Jay Jetson. Photo courtesy of Scott Hester of StudioJPhotos. com.
HBCUC - Historically Black Colleges and Universities Alumni Coalition of Northern California. Photo courtesy of HBCUC.
Farwest Regional Director Kimberly Usher, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon, and Farwest Regional Representative Radiya Ajibade. Photo courtesy of Farwest Regional Photographer Vicki P. Love.
Greenlining Institute’s new President and CEO Max Vargas. Photo courtesy of The Greenlining Institute.
Photo courtesy City of Berkeley.
‘ADisLovely Place of Refuge’: Interfaith Justice Forum Tackles Hate in California ... see page 2
California Bill Requires Schools to Alert Families of Immigration Agents, Backed by Tony Thurmond ... see page 2 California Payroll Report Highlights Top-Earning Public Workers as
By Post staff
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) on Wednesday
joined Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), other members of Congress, actors Cynthia Nixon
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon speaks at press conference in Washington D.C., Sept. 10.
‘A Lovely Place of Refuge’: Interfaith Justice Forum Tackles Hate in California
$96 Million Allocated So Far to Black-Owned Firms as HighSpeed Rail Project Expands Jobs, Boosts Local Economies
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
As of May 31, the most recent data from the California HighSpeed Rail Authority shows that 47 African American-owned firms are participating in the project as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs).
A total of 936 Certified Small businesses are working on the high-speed rail program statewide, representatives of the high-speed rail project say.
The number of Black-owned DBE firms (5.2%) accounts for $96 million of the $1.136 billion allocated to minority firms thus far.
Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and Chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement says the rail project “is exactly the kind of investment” California needs.
Smallwood-Cuevas, speaking in Aug. 25 at the State Capitol Swing Space Annex — along with a coalition of Democratic state legislators and union leaders — provided an update on the California High-Speed Rail project and its efforts to employ people from the Black community and businesses.
“It builds a cleaner, more connected California while creating thousands of union jobs,” said Smallwood-Cuevas. “And
we must ensure workforce equity, with pathways that open doors for workers who too often have been left out of good-paying careers.”
The remaining DBE minorityowned firms received the following amounts:
• Asian Subcontinent: 24 firms received approximately $65 million
• Asian-Pacific Islander: 52 firms received approximately $86 million
• Native American: 6 firms received approximately $39 million
• Hispanic/Latino: an unspecified number of DBE businesses received approximately $848 million
There are currently 328 certified DBEs participating in the project, according to the California High Speed Authority. The multibillion-dollar project is billed to be committed to small, disabled, disadvantaged, and diverse businesses playing a major role in building the statewide high-speed rail project.
“As a Central Valley native, I know firsthand how transformative high-speed rail will be for our communities,” stated Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) a member of the CLBC and Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee.
“Stable and sustained funding is essential to delivering this
By McKenzie Jackson California Black Media
Americans became more polarized in the last decade than at any time in U.S. history since the Civil War, according to Maia Ferdman, the Deputy Director of UCLA’s Bendari Kindness Institute and Staff Director of the university’s Dialogue Across Difference Initiative.
Seeing opponents as enemies can justify violence and hate, Ferdman also warned. “Bridgebuilding, she said, can counteract the fraying of society.”
Ferdman’s insights framed the tone of the California Commission on the State of Hate’s “Virtual Community Forum on Dialogue Across Differences” held via Zoom on Sept. 5.
The two-hour community forum’s other speakers included Western Justice Center Executive Director Elissa Barrett and Interfaith Speakers Bureau speakers Maha Elgenaidi and Karen Stiller.
State of Hate Commissioners Cynthia Choi, Regina Cuellar, Cece Feiler, Russell Roybal, Erroll Southers, and Chair Brian Levin shared their ideas and perspectives, too.
The Commission on the State of Hate, a division of the state’s Civil Rights Department, was established to strengthen California’s efforts to stop hate and promote mutual respect among the Golden State’s diverse population. It produces annual hate incident reports.
Barrett, whose organization focuses on restorative justice in schools, shared that the Western Justice Center has trained 4,000 students and teachers in Southern California school systems to
CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR DOCUMENT PRINTING AND MAILING SERVICES
Contract Amount: TBD Terms: 3 Years
Project Description: The City of Oakland, Department of Finance, is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or firms capable of providing a full range of printing and mailing services.
Proposal Submittal Deadline: Friday, October 3, 2025, by 2:00 P.M. via iSupplier. Reminders:
• All who wish to participate in this RFP must register (at least 5 days prior to submittal due date) through iSupplier at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/Business/DoingBusiness-with-the-City/Doing-Business-With-The-City-Register-with-iSupplier) to avoid last minute submittal complications and receive addenda/updates on this RFP. For additional help registering and submitting your proposal to iSupplier please watch the user guide videos at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/Business/DoingBusiness-with-the-City/Doing-Business-With-The-City-Register-with-iSupplier/ iSupplier-User-Guides). Receipt of a confirmation email indicates that a proposal was successfully submitted.
• Did not receive and invitation? Start Early with iSupplier registration. Upon completion of registration, send an email to iSupplier@oaklandca.gov listing “RFP for Document Printing and Mailing Services” as the subject and request an invitation to the RFP. Contract Administration will add your business to the RFP invitation.
• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits • 0% L/SLBE • Living Wage
• Campaign Reform Act • Professional Services Local Hire • Prompt Payment • Arizona Boycott • Dispute Disclosure • Border Wall Prohibition • Sanctuary City Contracting and Investment Ordinance.
Answers to Questions:
1. Contact Information: The following City staffs are available to answer questions regarding this RFP.
a. Contract Admin: contractadmin@oaklandca.gov
b. Department of Workplace and Employment Standards: dwes@oaklandca.gov
2. For iSupplier related questions after registration contact iSupplier@oaklandca.gov
Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, Friday, September 12, 2025
The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.
manage conflict and reduce violence.
Recently, Barrett said, the Western Justice Center co-led a mediation with students and teachers between a 12th grader who defaced school property with a swastika and a teacher whom the senior had directed racist language toward. During the mediation, the student explained the root of his actions and the teacher discussed the betrayal of trust.
Elgenaidi, Executive Director of the Islamic Networks Group, said the organization founded the Interfaith Speakers Bureau 20 years ago.
“We realized we could focus on the challenges we share here at home. Combating Islamophobia and antisemitism, strengthening security, and building inclusion are priorities we had in common. Out of that realization, our very first Muslim/Jewish panel was born.”
Today, the Bureau includes members of several faith communities who host inclusion and belonging training programs — where participants are valued, seen, and respected — along with educational presentations and panels designed to explore interfaith topics involving Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews and combat all forms of bigotry.
Stiller, a Bureau speaker for 15 years, called the group a “lovely place of refuge.”
“Some Jews aren’t feeling safe to show their identity as Jews,” she said. “We are standing together with allies against these forms of hate.”
How To Report A Hate Crime: CA vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime and
California Bill Requires Schools to Alert Families of Immigration Agents, Backed by
Tony Thurmond
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
California lawmakers have passed a bill requiring K-12 schools, state universities, and community colleges to notify students, faculty, and families when immigration enforcement authorities are present on campuses. The legislation, known as the SAFE Act, comes amid the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation efforts and increasing immigration enforcement activity near schools.
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Alhambra), who authored the bill, said it is modeled on early warning systems already used for other campus emergencies.
“With students returning to school, this legislation is more important than ever,” said Pérez. “In the face of mass deportations, raids and immigration enforcement authorities showing up at schools, the SAFE Act can help inform and empower school communities to make the best decisions about their safety and their family’s safety.”
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who oversees the state’s public school system, strongly supported the bill.
“Our immigrant families are living in fear and our time to act is limited. The school
year has begun, and now is the time to make decisive efforts to protect our communities and maintain schools as a safe place for learning,” said Thurmond.
Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Rolling Hill Estates) emphasized the need for safe learning environments.
“Students cannot learn unless they feel safe,” said Muratsuchi. “For decades we had a bipartisan agreement to keep educational institutions, schools, campuses, free from immigration enforcement activities.”
The bill now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until Oct. 12 to sign it into law. If approved, it will take effect immediately and remain in place until 2031.
The SAFE Act is part of a broader set of California proposals aimed at protecting immigrant communities, including measures to prevent enforcement officers from entering nonpublic areas of schools or hospitals without a warrant. The legislation follows high-profile incidents, such as the detention of a 15-year-old outside a Los Angeles high school in August, which drew widespread public outrage.
CITY OF OAKLAND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH ASSESSMENTS AND SPECIAL DISTRICTING
Contract Amount: TBD Terms: 3 Years
Project Description: TThe City of Oakland, Finance Department is seeking a registered professional engineer to delineate the parcels subject to district and parcel taxes, to determine the land uses and assessment rates for each parcel, to annually develop the Assessment Roll for the County Assessor, and to assist with any informational requests required by the City relating to the districts and parcel taxes. Contractor shall be responsible for updating, adjusting and recording annual parcel tax assessments for the City’s Landscape and Lighting Assessment District (LLAD), and all other benefit assessments and special tax measures approved by voters, including new assessment districts or special tax measures that are approved and enacted during the contract period at the City’s discretion.
Proposal Submittal Deadline: Friday, October 3, 2025, by 2:00 P.M. via iSupplier.
Reminders:
• All who wish to participate in this RFP must register (at least 5 days prior to submittal due date) through iSupplier at (https://www.oaklandca.gov/Business/Doing-Business-with-theCity/Doing-Business-With-The-City-Register-with-iSupplier) to avoid last minute submittal complications and receive addenda/updates on this RFP. For additional help registering and submitting your proposal to iSupplier please watch the user guide videos at (https://www. oaklandca.gov/Business/Doing-Business-with-the-City/Doing-Business-With-The-CityRegister-with-iSupplier/iSupplier-User-Guides).
• Did not receive an invitation? Start Early with iSupplier registration. Upon completion of registration, send an email to iSupplier@oaklandca.gov listing “RFP for Engineering Services in Connection With Assessments And Special Districting” as the subject and request an invitation to the RFP. Contract Administration will add your business to the RFP invitation.
• The following policies apply to this RFP: Equal Benefits • 0% L/SLBE • Living Wage
• Campaign Reform Act • Professional Services Local Hire • Prompt Payment • Arizona Boycott • Dispute Disclosure • Border Wall Prohibition • Sanctuary City Contracting and Investment Ordinance.
Answers to Questions:
1. For project-related questions contact Contract Administration at contractadmin@oaklandca. gov
2. For iSupplier related questions after registration contact iSupplier@oaklandca.gov
Asha Reed, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council, Friday, September 12, 2025 The City Council reserves the right to reject all proposals.
San Joaquin River Viaduct, completed in February 2021, is a 4,700foot structure in north Fresno spanning the San Joaquin River and Union Pacific tracks along SR 99. Featuring arches as Fresno’s northern gateway and a pergola that carries high-speed trains over the rail line, it stretches from the river to near Herndon Avenue.
iStock.
Adult Day Program
Dedicated staff needed to work with individuals with developmental disabilities in communitybased settings, or environments.
Qualifications: High school or equivalent. Driver’s license. Dependable and efficient. Background check. Physical exam and TB test. Training available. Decent wages. Please call (510) 690-9570.
By Tamara Shiloh
REVIEW American Kings - A Biography of the Quarterback
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm Sez
Author: Seth Wickersham,
Copyright: c.2025, Publisher: Hyperion Avenue, Price: $29.99, Page Count: 407 pages Snap.
And with that, and a catch that’s picture-perfect, your team is on its way to another win. The guy that threw the football sure knows his stuff. He’s worth every penny he’s paid, and in the new book “American Kings” by Seth Wickersham, you’ll see what it took to get there.
Like so many little boys, Wickersham wanted to play pro football when he was growing up; specifically, he wanted to be a quarterback. Unlike most other boys, though, he took it to an extreme, becoming “obsessed” with throw-
ing a football with the best accuracy, hoping to match the skills of the players he admired. Alas, despite an entire childhood of near-constant practice and a few wins on the field in high school, he didn’t make varsity and ended up playing as a receiver. He knows now that to be a quarterback is to be a star, but it’s also “a way of life.”
Here, he writes about Arch Manning, “a legend, a folk hero, a song title… and the beginning of a family franchise…” Wickersham shares the story of Warren Moon, how he stepped up to help his mother when his father died, how domestic violence almost derailed his legacy, and the racism he quarterbacked under for years. He spent time with Caleb Wil-
MacArthur Fellow Dorothy Roberts’ Advocates Restructure of Child Welfare System
erts is excerpted from the MacArthur Fellows web site.
A graduate of Yale University with a law degree from Harvard, Dorothy Roberts is a legal scholar and public policy researcher exposing racial inequities embedded within health and social service systems.
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.
liams, “the first true professional amateur quarterback” to get money for playing at the college level. He interviewed James Harris, who was prepared to become a teacher “If the league didn’t want a Black quarterback…” Wickersham “spent much of 2022 with” Andrew Luck, who “learned quickly that greatness requires an… unlimited selfishness.” He writes about how Jack Elway influenced his son’s choice of career, what Hollywood had to do with one pro footballer’s life, and the post-career of the first player “to throw a consistently beautiful spiral.”
Says Wickersham about his subjects, “Anyone could throw a football. Only a quarterback could make people cheer.”
Roberts’s early work focused on Black women’s reproductive rights and their fight for reproductive justice. In “Killing the Black
Your favorite chair is oiled for smooth reclining and fast slamdowns. The snacks are laid in for at least a week, and beverages are on ice. You know exactly what you’re wearing for the game this weekend. All you need is “American Kings” and you’re set.
Wickersham calls his book “a biography,” but it’s just as much a history, since he refers often to the earliest days of the game, as well as the etymology of the word “quarterback.” That helps to lay a solid background, and it adds color to a reader’s knowledge about football itself, while explaining what it takes for men and women to stand out and to achieve gridiron greatness. On that. Wickersham is honest, sometimes calling out his subjects for their attitudes toward teammates and others. Blunt words are used that are unprintable in family newspapers, so beware if you’re sharing.
Is your team’s QB in this book? Maybe. But, more than likely, a past favorite is, So, check out “American Kings” and see what you find. Football fans and pigskin prognosticators both will love this book in a snap.
Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty 1997)”, she analyzes historical and contemporary policies and practices that denied agency to Black women and
state intervention and the results of those interventions.
Benjamin Banneker: A Brilliant Mind Who Reached for the Stars
Through interviews with Chicago mothers who had interacted with Child Protective Services tions regularly punish the effects
of norms.
sized role that race and class play in determining who is subject to
income, and children from these families are much more likely than white children to be removed from
In “Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (2022),”
tural, and political forces driving the racial and class imbalance in
These include stereotypes about
uation of Black family bonds, and stigmatization of parenting practices that fall outside a narrow set
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.
Benjamin Banneker was an extraordinary man who lived in the 1700s, a time when life was very difficult for African Americans. He was born on Nov. 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland, and grew up on his family’s 100-acre farm near what is now Ellicott City. Unlike many Black people of his time who were enslaved, Banneker was born free. Still, being a free Black man in a slave state came with many challenges. Despite those obstacles, he became a respected mathematician, astronomer, inventor, writer, and farmer.
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.
Banneker learned to read and write at a Quaker school that welcomed both Black and White children — something very rare in the 1700s. He loved to learn, especially about math and science, and continued to study on his own throughout his life. Books and careful observation of nature became his teachers. After his father passed away, he took over the
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.
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.
Courtesy of Pieces of History. National Archives.
Book Cover of American Kings. Photo courtesy of Hyperion Avenue.
Public Notices, Classifieds & Business
OPINION: Can Donald Trump Pole Dance?
By Emil Guillermo
The news cycle has been buzzing the last few weeks. Xi, with Putin and Kim, the sweethearts of Trump carousing without him? The victims of the pedophile Epstein speaking out publicly in DC.
Then, there’s the release of that salacious letter Donald Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump said the letter didn’t exist. But it does.
Timing is everything.
Additionally, there are further concerns, such as the Supreme Court removing restrictions on ICE interactions. ICE Agents can stop anyone now. For any reason. And there’s the threat of the U.S. sending the military to fight crime in Chicago. Trump even posted a meme of himself as a character in “Apocalypse Now.”
All that with bad polls and bad economic numbers, and these topics are dominating the news cycle — Trump era chaos.
Given all that is happening, if the presidency was more like pole dancing, you know Trump would be flat on his butt.
The reality is the opposite. He keeps going strong like nothing’s happened. Inexplicably, Trump always seems to defy gravity.
That’s why to reassure myself with reality, I just think of Trump on a pole. Dancing. He was born on Flag Day, after all.
I’ve got pole dancing on my mind because I’m in Canada at the Vancouver Fringe Festival doing my show, “Emil Amok 69, Everything’s Flipped,” about how the
current political situation gets very personal.
I’ve performed at 16 fringe festivals, and I always look for unique performers. This year, in my same venue (the Revue Stage) I found her in a show, “The Pole Shebang.”
Andrea James Lui may look like a typical Asian American at first.
But she’s Asian Canadian, married to an Australian, who now lives down under.
At the Vancouver Fringe, she highlights her special identity.
Pole Dancer
Yes, pole dancing has come to the fringe. Leave your dollar bills at home, this is not that kind of pole dancing.
This is more Cirque Du Soleilish acrobatic stuff, yet it’s hard to deny the sexiness when a woman flawlessly swings from a pole with her legs apart.
The show is more intriguing than it is titillating.
Lui has created a behind-thescenes look at the “polar” experience.
“She could have been a physi-
California Leaders Mourn John Burton, Trailblazing Democratic Powerhouse Dead at 92
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
John Lowell Burton, an influential figure in California politics who served as State Assemblymember, U.S. Congressman, President pro Tempore of the State Senate, and Chair of the California Democratic Party, passed away of natural causes on Sept. 7.
Burton was 92.
Gov. Gavin Newsom honored his legacy: “There was no greater champion for the poor, the bullied, the disabled, and forgotten Californians than John Burton. He was a towering figure a legendary force whose decades of service shaped our state and our politics for the better.”
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, a longtime friend, reflected on Burton’s determination.
“His life’s work reminds us that authentic leadership means having the courage to speak truth to power and never forgetting where you came from,” Lee said.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said Burton was a guiding light and fierce defender of justice.
“John was a mentor to countless progressive leaders across California, including me,” said Padilla. “I’ll always be grateful for his counsel over our breakfasts at Delancey Street Restaurant in San Francisco, surrounded by residents working to rebuild their lives.”
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis also paid tribute to Burton.
“John Burton left an indel-
ible mark not only on California, but on all of us who were inspired by his example. He showed us what it means to lead with courage, to fight for the voiceless, and to speak truth without fear,” said Kounalakis.
Burton’s decades in office were marked by passionate advocacy for civil rights, environmental protection, education, healthcare, and foster youth. He overcame personal struggles — including addressing addiction in the 1980s — and returned to public service with renewed purpose. His work reshaped California’s political landscape and inspired generations of leaders.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11) remembered her friend.
“Today, working families have lost one of the most outspoken, ferocious and unyielding champions our nation has ever known,” said Pelosi in a statement, adding that Burton “was a progressive warrior and dear friend whose big heart, sharp mind and boundless fight for justice shaped California and America.”
According to Newsom and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Burton will be posthumously inducted into the California Hall of Fame and flags will be flown at half-staff in his honor.
cist,” says her big sister Christina, who despite saying that, supports her sister 100 percent.
Lui touches on some of the emotional depth in the poled subculture. But there’s plenty more to mine in the future. “Polar Bare,” the Musical? I’d see it.
Trump on a Pole
So that’s how I’ve come to the polar metaphor.
As Trump flails in the news, I picture him on a pole.
The letter to Epstein is further proof of the character of the man.
Will he stay afloat?
Not if the presidency were more like pole dancing.
You can’t lie on the pole.
That’s one way all of us in the Trump era can get to the truth. About the Author
Emil Amok is a veteran journalist, commentator, and stage monologist. He has written a weekly column on Asian Americans for more than 30 years.
Contact: www.amok.com.
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has filed a federal lawsuit challenging California’s proposed congressional redistricting plan, known as Proposition 50, arguing that it violates the 14th Amendment and equal protection rights for voters. The suit was filed Sept. 4 in the U.S. Central District Court of California’s Southern Division.
Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and prominent contender in the race to succeed Gov.
California
Payroll Report
Highlights
Top-Earning Public Workers as Controller Malia Cohen Publishes New Data
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
California State Controller Malia M. Cohen has released 2024 payroll data for special districts, spotlighting some of the state’s highest-paid government jobs. The report, published on the Government Compensation in California (GCC) website, offers a detailed look at wages and benefits for nearly 173,000 positions.
The self-reported data shows special district employees received more than $12.66 billion in wages last year, with an additional $3.38 billion in health and retirement benefits. A total of 3,100 special districts submitted reports, though 68 either failed to file or turned in noncompliant information.
Special districts are local government entities designed to provide targeted services such as healthcare, utilities, transportation, and fire protection. According to the 2024 report, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority led the state in total wages, paying more than $1.18 billion. It was followed by the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District with nearly $599 million and the Inland
Empire Health Plan with $372 million. Other top-paying districts included Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Orange County Fire Authority.
“Fiscal oversight and transparency are central to my responsibility as State Controller,” Cohen said in a statement. “Publishing the 2024 payroll data for California’s special districts allows the public to see how billions in wages and benefits are managed each year. The Government Compensation in California website is a critical accountability tool that helps taxpayers, policymakers, and local leaders track spending, evaluate priorities, and ensure that public resources are being used responsibly.”
California law requires cities, counties, and special districts to report compensation annually. The GCC site now hosts salary and benefit information for more than two million public jobs, including those in state government and the California State University system.
Website users can search pay by region, district, or job title, and export customized reports for analysis.
“scheme” that ignores California’s constitutional requirement that redistricting occur only once every 10 years after a census.
“The Constitution does not say one person, one vote sometimes. It does not say one person, one vote, only for the majority party. It says one person, one vote for everyone. If this map is allowed to stand, millions of Californians will have their voices silenced and their votes devalued,” Hilton added.
If voters approve the newly proposed maps in a special election on Nov. 4, five Republican-held districts, including that of Kevin Kiley in Northern California, could be redrawn to include more Democratic-leaning areas. The new boundaries would make Kiley’s district smaller and add parts of urban Sacramento County.
Gavin Newsom, had warned last month he would take legal action if Democrats advanced redistricting plans that he claims would favor their party. The lawsuit names Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, whose office oversees elections in California.
“After Gavin Newsom’s Partisan Power Grab, a Democrat Vote in California Will be Worth Eight Times What a Republican Vote is Worth, a Grotesque Assault on our Democracy,” said Hilton in a campaign news release. He also described Proposition 50 as a
Other Republicans have also pushed for a ban on mid-decade redistricting, but state courts have not acted, and the California Supreme Court has twice declined to intervene in related ballot measures. Kiley has appealed to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to support efforts to prevent mid-decade redistricting nationwide.
Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are the two most prominent GOP candidates hoping to challenge a crowded Democratic field for governor as Newsom reaches his term limit next year.
California’s Largest ICE Detention Center Reopens, Begins Receiving Detainees
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
California’s largest federal immigration detention facility has quietly reopened in Kern County and has started receiving detainees, according to the private prison operator CoreCivic. The facility, now known as the California City Immigration Processing Center, is a 2,560-bed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center.
“We have begun receiving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees at our California City Correctional Facility (CCCF) in response to an immediate need from the federal government for safe, humane and appropriate housing and care for these individuals,” said Ryan Gustin, senior director for public affairs for CoreCivic.
The facility is the third privately-operated ICE detention center in Kern County and the seventh in California. It originally opened in the late 1990s as a federal facility, later becoming a state prison, and was closed in 2024 after California ended for-profit prison contracts. CoreCivic confirmed that the reopening will create roughly 500 jobs and generate more than $2 million in property taxes for California City.
The reopening has raised le-
gal and community concerns. California law requires a 180day public notice before opening or reusing detention facilities under SB29. City officials, including Mayor Marquette Hawkins and City Manager Christopher Lopez, did not respond to comment requests, and Lopez said he had “no information” on long-term agreements between ICE and the city.
Advocates warned during a June 24 city council meeting that reopening the facility could lead to increased local ICE arrests.
Nora Zaragoza-Yáñez, manager of the nonprofit Faith in the Valley, said, “We’re troubled by California City turning a deaf ear to the objections voiced by community members and advocates voiced at previous meetings.” Faith in the Valley estimates that roughly 300 detainees have already been quietly transferred from nearby facilities Golden State Annex and Mesa Verde. City officials have raised safety concerns, citing insufficient emergency communications and building code issues in a July 29 letter to CoreCivic. Gustin said the company has addressed these concerns and maintains “an open line of communication” with city officials.
iStock.
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton. Courtesy of Steve Hilton for Governor website.
File photo.
iStock.
California State Controller Malia M. Cohen. File photo.
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project and fulfilling the promise made to voters.”
The news conference was hosted by Senate Transportation Chair, Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), who was promoting Senate Bill (SB) 545. He and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) urged the Legislature to commit to a steady, annual investment from a cap-andtrade program to fund the highspeed rail project.
Dr. Melanie Okoro, the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Eco-Alpha, attended the briefing. Eco-Alpha is a Sacramento-headquartered small, women-owned, minority-certified firm.
‘A
Lovely Place of Refuge’ ...
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incident reporting hotline and online portal. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833)
866-4283, or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time.
The Black-owned firm provides engineering and environmental services to the California HighSpeed Rail project, primarily focused on facilities operation and Maintenance.
Okoro said laborers are not the only workers benefiting from the project. Professionals of color in engineering, with specialized knowledge and problem-solving skills to design, build, and maintain a wide array of structures, systems, and products, are looking forward to these “great opportunities.”
The company, not classified as a DBE, earned its status as a certified small business and a certified women-minority small business through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Department of General Services (DGS). The certification allowed Eco-Alpha to be featured by CHSRA as a small business working on the project.
Hate acts can be reported in 15 different languages through the online portal and in over 200 languages when calling the hotline. For individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, please call 911.
For more information on CA vs Hate, please visit CAvsHate.org.
NOTICE AND DIGEST
Sacramento: Lawmakers Hear From Health Advocates on ‘State of Black Maternal Health’
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
Adjoa Jones is a Los Angeles-based health and community leader who has dedicated her career to advocating for equitable birth outcomes for Black mothers and infants.
Participating in a legislative briefing hosted by the California Black Health Network (CBHN) on Aug. 27, Jones shared stories that shed light on the disproportionately high rate of pregnancy-related com-
ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $300,000,000 AND GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $55,000,000 AND APPROVING CERTAIN RELATED MATTERS
The Ordinance would authorize the City to issue general obligation bonds (the “Bonds”) up to Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000) pursuant to: (i) the ordinance approved by more than two-thirds of the qualified voters of the City at the November 5, 2002, General Municipal Election (“Measure DD) and (ii) the 2022 Affordable Housing and Infrastructure Bond Ordinance, which was approved by more than two-thirds of the qualified voters of the City at the November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election (“Measure U”). The proceeds of the Bonds will be used for purposes permitted by Measure DD and Measure U.
The Ordinance would also authorize the City to issue general obligation refunding bonds (the “Refunding Bonds”) up to fifty five million dollars ($55,000,000) which amount shall be finally determined by the City Administrator or the Director of Finance or such other officer of the City designated by the City Administrator or the Director of Finance.
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday afternoon July 15, 2025, and passed to print 7 Ayes; 1 Excused, Houston. Final adoption has been scheduled for the Special City Council meeting on Monday morning September 15, 2025, 9:30 A.M., at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California, and via Teleconference.
Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California.
ASHA REED, City Clerk Publication Date: Friday, September 12, 2025.
NOTICE AND DIGEST ORDINANCE AMENDING OAKLAND MUNICIPAL CODE 6.04 (ANIMAL CONTROL) TO: (1) REDUCE THE HOLDING PERIOD FOR IMPOUNDED ANIMALS TO 72 HOURS; (2) REMOVE REQUIREMENT FOR OAKLAND ANIMAL SERVICES TO ACCEPT ALL SURRENDERED ANIMALS; (3) ALLOW FINDERS OF STRAY ANIMALS TO TEMPORARILY KEEP AND CARE FOR FOUND ANIMALS IN LIEU OF DELIVERING TO OAKLAND ANIMAL SERVICES; (4) REQUIRE OUTDOOR CATS AND IMPOUNDED AND AT-LARGE DOGS TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED; (5) AUTHORIZE OAKLAND ANIMAL SERVICES TO WAIVE FEES BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED; AND (6) MAKE OTHER MINOR AMENDMENTS CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW
This Ordinance updates the Animal Control Ordinance in its entirety to modernize, clean-up, and conform the Ordinance to current state laws and modern best practices in animal welfare and shelter administration. A significant portion of the proposed amendments are simply reorganization and/or removing provisions covered elsewhere in the code or under state law. Of the substantive amendments, proposed changes seek to address shelter overpopulation, improve animal outcomes, and reduce the burden on shelter staff who are currently providing services far above those mandated by state law. The key changes are to reduce the required holding period for animals impounded as stray, expand the universe of animals required to be spayed or neutered—including cats residing outdoors and dogs that have been impounded or cited for multiple violations of the animal code, and to remove the requirement for Oakland Animal Services to accept any and all animals from members of the public. Revisions also remove the requirement for finders of stray animals to deliver found animals to the City’s shelter, so long as the finder provides adequate notice to the City to maximize the likelihood of owner reunification. Revisions also seek to make the Ordinance and shelter operation more equitable, such as by allowing Animal Services to waive fees on the basis of financial need, thereby improving the ability of low-income and resource-limited residents to redeem animals in custody, comply with licensing requirements, and adopt unwanted animals at risk of euthanasia.
Notice of Publication
This Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting, Tuesday afternoon July 15, 2025, and passed to print 7 Ayes; 1 No, Ramachandran. Final adoption has been scheduled for the Special City Council meeting on Monday morning September 15, 2025, 9:30 A.M., at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Council Chamber, 3rd floor, Oakland, California, and via Teleconference.
Three full copies are available for use and examination by the public in the Office of the City Clerk at One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor, Oakland, California.
ASHA REED, City Clerk
Publication Date: Friday, September 12, 2025.
plications and deaths among Black women.
Two Black women in Southern California, Jones says, suddenly passed away after giving birth. From Jones’s perspective, those maternal mortalities could have been prevented.
“I come to you speaking from the voices of our community. From the stories of two unforgettable mothers, but it really speaks to the most preventable tragedies,” said, Jones, who is the Director of African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative at the L.A. County Department.
“It’s not just impacting California, but our nation far and wide,” Jones added during the event titled “The State of Black Maternal Health” and held at the California State Museum in Sacramento.
Participants highlighted several past and current bills going through the state Legislature that focus on improving maternal health equity. The proposals address systemic inequities to improve the healthcare experiences of Black women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Panelists included Sandra Poole, Health Policy advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, and Brittany Chambers, Associate Professor for the Department of Human Ecology at the University of California at Davis.
Other panelists were Palav Babaria, Deputy Director for the California Department of Health Care Services, and Zea Malawa, Director of Expecting Justice.
Rhonda Smith, the Executive Director of CBHN, served as the host and moderator of the briefing.
“There are amazing and incredible women who are doing amazing work here in the state,” Smith said of the panelists who discussed potential policy solutions and account-
ability.
During Jones’ presentation, she shared the tragic stories of two women. One was April Valentine, who died on Jan. 10, 2023, after giving birth at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood.
According to reports, Valentine died from a blood clot, a pulmonary embolism, that formed in her leg and circulated to her lung. A well-known complication during pregnancy. Valentine’s family members said her condition was preventable, and they filed a wrongfuldeath claim.
The second woman, 32-yearold Briget Cromer, died in 2023 at California Hospital Medical Center, hours after giving birth to her fifth child. Her family believes her death was due to medical negligence.
Her family’s legal team filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHH) alleging systemic racial bias in care.
According to the California Department of Public Health, Black women are more likely than their counterparts to die during pregnancy. They represent 5% pregnancies in the state but account for 21% of pregnancy-related deaths.
“We’re doing all that we can to ensure that pregnancy is uplifted (and) pregnancy is a place that’s where folks can enjoy the journey, Jones said.
Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), an obstetriciangynecologist, was the keynote speaker.
“Here in California, we tragically lose another mother due to pregnancy-related complications every five days,” Weber Pierson said. “Here and nationally, Black mothers are three to four times likely to be one of those mothers lost. That’s coming from 40% of maternal deaths.”
family farm and managed it successfully.
One of Banneker’s most amazing accomplishments was building a working clock made entirely of wood. He carefully studied the inside of a watch, then carved each piece of the clock by hand. The clock was so well made that it kept time for decades, ringing a bell on the hour. This invention brought him attention and showed his incredible skill and determination.
Banneker was also fascinated by the night sky. He taught himself astronomy and studied the movement of the stars and planets. In 1789, he correctly predicted a solar eclipse, even when some famous scientists of the time thought he was wrong. This proved his intelligence and earned him great respect.
He went on to create and publish an almanac for ten years. His almanac included tide tables, information about the moon and stars, and even useful medical tips. It was the first scientific book published by an African American. His work inspired many people, especially African Americans, to see that they too could succeed in science and learning.
In 1791, President George Washington chose a site along the Potomac River to build the new U.S. capital city — what we now know as Washington, D.C. A team of surveyors was chosen to measure the land and set the boundaries. Banneker, who was friends with George Ellicott, was invited to join the team. He used his knowledge of the stars to help establish the south corner boundary stone at Jones Point in Alexandria. Even though he had to stop working with the team because of his health, his contribution to building the nation’s capital was an important part of his legacy. Banneker passed away on Oct. 9, 1806. Sadly, much of his work was lost in a fire shortly after his death. Still, his influence continues to this day. Schools, parks, and community centers have been named after him in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
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CBHN Executive Director Rhonda Smith convened a panel of experts—including health policy advocates, public health directors, researchers, and birth workers—for the organization’s legislative briefing on the state of Black maternal health. Sacramento, CA, Aug. 27, 2025. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum Feb 18, 2017, Photo by F Delventhal, Wikimedia Commons.
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ment, lobbying Congress to pass anti-lynching legislation.
Brenda Knight ...
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Back in the Bay Area, Marsh devoted her career to advancing educational opportunities, mentoring young people, and strengthening community life. That commitment continues to shape the region, which supports initiatives in education, social justice, and economic development. Current projects include raising scholarship funds for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, voter education campaigns, and health and wellness programs.
at local hospitals and Relay for Life - American Canyon.
A century after its founding, the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta remains active across California and other western states, carrying forward Marsh’s vision of service and advocacy.
Richmond Community Leaders Advocate for Accountability and Equity in Chevron Settlement Funds
By Carla Thomas Richmond’s
historic $550 million settlement with Chevron is considered a major victory by local officials, environmental justice advocates, and union representatives to remedy the harm caused by the refinery’s long-term air pollution in the city.
However, still unresolved is how the money will be allocated to reach community members who need the most support.
“Now is the time for our community to have funding to solve the many problems that have been created over time,” said community advocate Antwon Cloird. “We now have no time to see politicians and the system get paid, while our community, year after year gets played.”
Cloird says he has formed a new coalition of 25 long-term residents who are all professionals and contributors to the community. Along with his newly formed group, which held a meeting at CoBiz, he demands transparency, equity, and fairness in the distribution of the settlement funds.
Cloird says the city wants to hire a consultant for $1.5 million to assess the Black community’s needs.
But Cloird says Black communities in Richmond have undergone so many rounds of gentrification abuse that an assessment is wasted money and time on reparations that can be more clearly defined by community members.
Cloird is outraged by the City of Richmond’s history of harm toward its Black community. Since the 1980s, the community has suffered from racism, redlining, gentrification, and marginalization, he said, arguing that the manipulation of the city’s finances has sidelined the Black community for too long.
Cloird’s career and life experiences have led him to share how the Crack Epidemic, the prison to pipeline syndrome, and the many ways systemic racism has forced an outmigration of the City’s Black community to the more northern suburbs of Pittsburgh and Antioch, which are connected to the mismanagement of city funds and the marginalization of several Black neighborhoods in Richmond.
Mayor Eduardo Martinez has proposed plans to rectify city finances and expand public services.
He says the money will be placed into the city’s general fund and be allocated through open budget meetings, with public participation.
Council members Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, and Sue Wilson support using the settle-
ment to transform the city’s finances and redirect millions in annual pension payments toward services like safety, road repairs, and staffing.
Local advocacy groups, including the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), had rallied for the nowrescinded “Make Polluters Pay” measure, but are now focusing on environmental justice and investment in community-led programs.
At present, residents and organizers remain cautious, wanting to ensure the funds are fairly allocated while Richmond faces a delicate balance of supporting those who have suffered most from the impacts of refinery pollution.
Cloird says he does not trust the proposed plans to direct the money into the general fund.
“There has been a pattern of money not reaching the communities that have suffered the most when money goes into the general fund. Our coalition will fight for our community, and I want ensure we will have a viable community moving forward.”
The $550 million settlement with Chevron Corporation ended a high-profile campaign to impose new taxes on the oil giant’s local refinery. Approved by the Richmond City Council in August 2024, the agreement provides the city with a decade of financial installments, starting in July 2025.
The settlement emerged after a grassroots campaign demanded stronger accountability from Chevron for decades of air pollution linked to increased health risks in Richmond. The 2900-acre Chevron refinery, which processes approximately 240,000 barrels of crude oil daily, has long faced criticism from residents for contributing to elevated rates of respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular disease.
In response, local advocates and city leaders moved forward with a proposed “Make Polluters Pay” ballot measure that would have set a new tax of $1 per barrel of oil refined in the facility. The measure aimed to raise funds directly from Chevron to address public health, infrastructure, and environmental concerns.
To avoid the proposed tax, Chevron agreed to a $550 million payout over the next decade. Chevron will deliver $50 million annually from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030, and $60 million annually from July 1, 2030, through June 30, 2035.
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has been murdered; and that we all must – in this building— be committed to the moral act of working towards a just peace.”
Concluding, Congresswoman Simon called for “a just peace everywhere from Washington D.C. to Haiti to Sudan to Gaza. The people of this nation and the people around the world are counting on the folks at the highest levels of government to act with the morality that is deeply written in scripture. We must block the bombs; the United States government can no longer be complicit in the murdering of children. We can no longer be complicit in supplying and funding two-thousand-pound bombs to hit hospitals, to hit orphanages, and tent cities.”
Knight is not a cancer survivor, but cancer became a personal fight when the disease struck her close friend, Janie Flowers. “I moved Janie into my home to help her and to fight the challenges of cancer,” said Knight of her deceased friend. Knight, who is currently a caregiver for her mother, said she volunteered with cardiology patients at Kaiser Hospital as she took care of her husband who battled congestive heart failure.
“We can overcome and endure anything as long as we have support,” said Knight. “That’s why the
BCCA conference is so important. People need to know they are not alone, and there are resources and people who care about their wellbeing.”
Event supporters and partners included Global Alliance for Change, Bay Area Black Nurses Association, Inc., Ladies in Red, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. - San Francisco Chapter, Dream Breast Care Center, Allen Temple Baptist Church - Health Education Ministry, Saint Mark AME Zion Church, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. - Sigma Omicron Chapter California State University East Bay (CSUEB).
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the Cause of Education.” True to this vision, HBCUC continues to provide hope, college readiness resources, and scholarship opportunities to Bay Area students.
This year’s gala will feature a special tribute to 15 women being recognized as trailblazers for their outstanding achievements and community impact. The Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening will be Celebrity Chef Nikki Shaw, wife of Oakland native Brian Shaw, NBA coach for the Los Angeles Clippers. Entertainment will include a live performance by Lionel Burns and the We R1 Band, offering a musical tribute to the late Frankie Beverly.
Event producer, Paula Welsh says the gala promises to be “a powerful evening of celebration, unity, and commitment to advancing educational opportunities for future generations.”
What is now the Northern California Historically Black College & University Alumni Associations Coalition (HBCUC) began as a discussion at a series of annual summer barbecues between HBCU alumni in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 1990s, gatherings of HBCU alumni living in the San Francisco Bay Area became spaces for reconnecting, sharing traditions, and envisioning community action. These informal events laid the foundation for what would soon grow into a structured coalition advancing the legacy and presence of HBCUs in Northern California.
The first official HBCUC meeting was held in 1998 at Skyline College by the following founding HBCU alumni members:
Aner Ruth Young (Alabama State University)
Edwyna Elzie (Alabama A&M University)
Faye Carr (Jackson State University)
Freddy Burke (Alcorn State University)
Gaynell Johnson (Southern University)
Jean Finklin (Jackson State University)
Lynwood Barr (Central State University)
Mel Cozwell (Central State University)
Pat Deamer (Southern University)
Wanda Scott (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff)
The late Ethel Daniels (Prairie View A &M University)
The late Harold Logwood (How-
ard University)
The late Joseph Shields (Alcorn State University)
The late Ken Coleman (Alcorn State University)
The late Nathaniel H. Brooks (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff)
The late Vernon Clark (Prairie View A & M University)
On March 9, 1998, the second meeting was held, the constitution was created, and executive officers were installed including President, Lynwood Barr (Central State University), an Educator
Vice President, Joseph Shields, (Alcorn State University) an Educator
Secretary, Ethel Daniels (Prairie View A &M University) an Educator Correspondence Secretary, Edwyna Elzie (Alabama A & M University) an Educator
Treasurer, Vernon Clarke (Prairie View A &M University) an JROTC Instructor
Parliamentarian, Harold Logwood (Howard University) a Lawyer.
On January 14, 2000 the HBCUC became incorporated with officers; President, Patricia Deamer (Southern University)
Vice President, Joseph Shields (Alcorn State University)
Secretary, Ethel Daniels (Prairie View A&M University)
Treasurer, Vernon Clark (Prairie View A&M University).
Two honorary members included jazz legend John Handy and Governor Emeritus Jerry Brown who was the Mayor of Oakland at that time.
The Northern California Historically Black College and University Alumni Associations Coalition (HBCUC), composed of alumni from HBCU and UNCF institutions, actively recruits and engages students at church centers, schools, community colleges, and expos throughout Northern and Central California. By informing parents, guardians, and students, ranging from middle school to community college, the next generation becomes fully empowered in understanding that four-year college admission is achievable. By providing resources, scholarship information, and essential guidance, HBCUC inspires hope and fosters pathways to higher education.
For more information visit: www. northerncaliforniahbcuc.org/gala
The Greenlining Institute ...
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at First 5 California, Senior Policy Advisor to former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, and posts within the California State Legislature, local workforce and transportation agencies, and the National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS).
A former unaccompanied minor from Peru, Vargas sought political asylum in the United States and later became a naturalized citizen, an experience that has shaped his lifelong commitment to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for communities historically excluded from power.
“Max embodies the very spirit of Greenlining,” said Board CoChairs Noemí Gallardo and Tunua Thrash-Ntuk. “His vision, lived experience, and record of bold, strategic leadership will ensure communities of color are not only at the table but leading the solutions for racial, economic, and climate justice.”
For more than three decades, The Greenlining Institute has worked to move beyond resisting redlining by creating pathways
ed at the eastern end of Lake Merritt at 2808 Lakeshore Ave.,is among the churches at risk. Should the property be sold, the multicultural congregation, largely comprised of people of color, would be dispersed, and the iconic building could face demolition or redevelopment into commercial or residential space, according to church members.
For parishioners, this possibility represents not only the loss of their spiritual home but also the potential erasure of a neighborhood landmark. The church’s architecture and location near the historic pergola make it a familiar sight to Oakland residents and visitors. An historical plaque on the adjacent Parish Hall states the building hosted the first known catholic mass in the East Bay, held in 1772 by a Franciscan priest of the Portolá Expedition during the Spanish exploration.
The congregation, which only last year marked its 100th anniver-
sary, hopes the upcoming prayer walk will amplify their plea to diocesan leaders to reconsider the sale of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
For many, saving the church means preserving not only a place of worship but also an important piece of Oakland history.
On March 17, the Diocese of Oakland filed its Third Amended Plan of Reorganization, to provide compensation for survivors of child sexual abuse, and reorganizing the diocese to enable it to continue serving the East Bay. The diocese potentially plans to create a settlement trust of nearly $200 million in preparation to compensate over 350 claims of abuse.
According to the diocese’s website, properties deemed non-essential or underutilized are determined by their legal, real estate, and financial advisors and any sale of property is ultimately approved by the Diocese of Oakland Bishop.
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fornians have a watchdog when it comes to the billions of dollars of private equity transactions in California’s healthcare system,” said Bonta, who chairs the Assembly Health Committee. “This bill is a crucial step to close the gaps in the Office of Health Care Affordability’s oversight abilities at a time when our constituents are demanding that we take action to protect access to affordable and high-quality care.”
Created in 2022, OHCA was tasked with tackling rising health costs that continue to outpace inflation and strain working families. The office monitors healthcare spending, enforces statewide cost-growth benchmarks, reviews transactions for their effect on access and equity, and promotes strategies to improve affordability and quality.
Bonta’s bill follows last year’s veto of AB 3129, a similar measure blocked by Gov. Newsom. In that veto, Newsom directed that OHCA — not other agencies — should be the lead state entity reviewing healthcare mergers and acquisitions, a role AB 1415 would now cement.
Supporters say the legislation is urgently needed as California faces rapid healthcare consolidation. Between 2019 and 2023, private equity acquisitions of healthcare providers in the state totaled $4.31 billion, representing nearly one-third of all healthcare deals. The share of community hospitals owned by larger health entities climbed from 53% in 2004 to 68% in 2022. And the percentage of physicians working in hospitals or
practices owned by bigger systems grew from 29% in 2012 to 41% in 2022.
Research shows that when consolidation increases, so do prices. Critics of unchecked mergers warn that corporate takeovers often lead to service reductions, closures, and diminished community access to care.
“We all are feeling the rise in our health care prices, and one big reason is that powerful investment and private equity firms are quietly buying up hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices, often cutting corners to boost profits. Yet the state doesn’t have all the information needed to determine the impact of these mergers for California health care consumers,” said Katie Van Deynze, Senior Policy Advocate with Health Access California, a statewide healthcare consumer coalition.
Deynze continued, “We hope Governor Newsom signs this bill so we can have the full picture when health care mergers have the potential to harm patients or workers and drive up costs.”
If signed, AB 1415 would mark a first-of-its-kind law in California and could set a precedent nationally. Other states, including Illinois and Texas, along with Congress, are exploring similar efforts to scrutinize private equity’s growing footprint in the healthcare industry.
Bonta represents California’s 18th Assembly District, which covers Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville. She is also the first woman of color to chair the Assembly Health Committee.
toward inclusive investment and prosperity in communities of color. At a time when systemic racism, economic inequity, and environmental injustice continue to plague society, Board members expressed confidence that Vargas will position Greenlining to redefine how equity and justice drive systemic change.
“We are thrilled to welcome Max as he guides Greenlining into its next chapter and building a future where communities of color thrive,” said Talamante.
In accepting the role, Vargas reflected on both the organization’s legacy and its future impact. “I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to grow The Greenlining Institute’s legacy of racial, economic, and environmental justice,” he said. “It is an honor to join a team of community champions committed to matching policy with action.
While the challenges our communities face are great, our commitment and the investments our communities deserve are greater.”
25 Long Term Residents of Richmond Form Coalition led by Community Advocate Antwon Cloird at CoBiz in Richmond. Photo Courtesy of Antwon Cloird.