Can you tell me about your role at St Mary’s Center?
Ruby Rodriguez:
As the Hope and Justice Organizer, my focus is to empower seniors who have experienced homelessness to become advocates and leaders in our community. Working closely with these individuals, I aim to amplify their voices through storytelling, leadership training and development, political education, and advocacy efforts, to have leaders be at the forefront of crafting policy solutions that address homelessness, housing, and racial inequities.
Interviewer:
Can you tell us about some of the initiatives or projects you’ve been involved in this past year and more recently?
“By amplifying the voices of seniors with lived experiences of homelessness to be at the decision-making table advocating for policy reforms, we can move toward JUSTICE.
Ruby Rodriguez:
Certainly. One of our significant initiatives this past year was organizing an Equity Forum in January where seven seniors with lived experience of homelessness engaged in a dialogue with city officials, including Chris Norman from the City of Oakland and Michelle Starratt from Alameda now known as Regional Measure 4, ensuring that the needs of those most affected by homelessness were prioritized in the discussion. In partnership with Courtney Welch, the Advocacy Manager, we have also organized and led eight community speaker trainings since late March. These sessions have been attended by over 40
Register to Vote
You can apply to register to vote right now by filling in the online application. The application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. https://registertovote.ca.gov
Ways of Voting
Official 24-Hour Ballot Drop Boxes
Drop your ballot off at a 24-Hour Drop Box.
Remember to sign the back of your return envelope. Open until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Drop Box Near You: https://alamedacountyca.gov/ rovapps/maps/ballotdropbox_map.htm
Vote Center Locations
Vote in-person at any vote center.
View a list of near by Vote Centers
San Pablo Avenue community voting Locations. St Mary’s Center, 925 Brockhurst St. St Columba Catholic Church, 6401 San Pablo Av. Prescott School, 920 Campbell St. Greater St. John Missionary Baptist, 1909 Market. Sankofa United Elem School, 581 61st St. West Oakland Public Library, 1801 Adeline St.
For more locations visit: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place
PROP 5: Allows Local Bonds for Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure With 55% Voter Approval. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Prop 5 would lower the voter approval requirement from two-thirds to 55% for local bonds funding affordable housing, supportive housing, and public infrastructure projects. These bonds help cities and counties raise money to build things like housing for low-income residents, roads, and fire stations. If approved, it could make it easier to pass local funding measures, but may lead to increased property taxes to repay the borrowed money.
Yes/No Statement:
A YES vote on this measure means: Certain local bonds and related property taxes could be approved with a 55 percent vote of the local electorate, rather than the current two-thirds approval requirement. These bonds would have to fund affordable housing, supportive housing, or public infrastructure.
A NO vote on this measure means: Certain local bonds and related property taxes would continue to need approval by a two-thirds vote of the local electorate.
An Oakland Girl for President?
Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She began her law career in the office of the district attorney (DA) of Alameda County, before being recruited to the San Francisco DA’s Office and later the city attorney of San Francisco’s office. In 2003, she was elected DA of San Francisco. She was elected attorney general of California in 2010 and reelected in 2014. Harris served as the junior U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021. She defeated Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 Senate election to become the second Black woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Interview With Three Women on the Impacts of the Appealing of Roe V. Wade
By: K Wine
K Wine:
Hello. How you doing this morning?
Tiffany: I’m well, thank you.
K Wine:
Could you tell me your name and spell it?
Tiffany:
My name is Tiffany Miller, spelled T, I, F, F, A, N, Y, M, I, L, L, E, R.
K Wine:
Okay. So what nationality do you identify with and where do you work?
Tiffany:
Well, I am actually mixed race, but I identify as an African American woman, and I work for the United States Postal Service.
K Wine:
Now my question to you, do you agree or disagree with the Supreme Court ruling on repealing Roe v Wade and why I would say I disagree?
Tiffany: I mean, I don’t feel like they should take away a woman’s choice whether or not to have a baby, especially if you know, let’s just say, under certain circumstances, they got pregnant and they did not want to have that baby, I believe it should still be their choice to not have it well.
K Wine:
Thank you very much.
Interview with Chef Empress from Third Eye Soul Kitchen
By: Annette Miller
Annette:
Hey Empress, How has everything been at Third Eye Soul Kitchen these days?
Empress:
Everything has been a bit up and down with business as we maintain to keep our doors open for community. Unfortunately are landlords want to possibly go up on our rent.
Annette:
That is very unfortunate! What’s the plan now for what you all do for the community?
Empress:
Well as of now we are navigating our options on what is to come. We had asked others in the community to do a residency which will allow people to use the space for pop-up for food, markets, art events, educational and creative workshops. We are planning to host our
K Wine:
Hello. How you doing good? Could you tell me your name and spell it?
Christina: K, R, I S, T, I N, A, W, O, N, G.
K Wine:
Thank you. So tell me. What nationality do you identify with?
Christina:
I am half Filipino and half Chinese.
K Wine:
Great. Okay, and what do you do? Where do you work? What is your position there?
Christina:
I am the director of administration at St Mary’s Center.
K Wine:
Okay, great. So tell me, I have one question for you, do you agree or disagree with the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade?
Christina:
I disagree wholeheartedly. I think it takes away the rights of a woman to choose what is right for her and her body, and I believe the Supreme Court got it wholly wrong.
K Wine:
Well, thank you very much
Christina: Thank you.
our Sunday Market at Sparc-It Place in the near future so that we can keep that going for those who use some produce for there homes.
Annette:
That’s huge, with the high cost of produce and food for the homes I’m sure you all are helping so many people.
Empress:
Yes we are, with the help of Hope Collective and Steer Committee we have been able to create health meals for those in East and West Oakland communities. We help so many families from all different cultures. We’d love to expand our program to be able to make meals for postpartum mommies, families, and seniors. There are 100s of tons of food wasted every week it’s so important that we navigate through way on making it useful especially for those who can not afford these high priced health foods
K Wine:
Hello, how you doing?
Rita: I’m doing well.
K Wine:
Could you tell me your name and spell it?
Rita:
My name is Rita Mitchell, R, I T, A, M, I T, C, H, E, L, L.
K Wine: What nationality are you?
Rita: Well, I’m a Caucasian from German and Irish background.
K Wine: What organization do you work with?
Rita: I volunteer at St Mary’s Center.
K Wine: Now I have one question for you, okay, do you agree or disagree with the Supreme Court appealing Roe v Wade?
Rita: I disagree, and why? And the reason I disagree for me, it’s not so much about abortion, it’s about taking away the woman’s right to make decisions about her own healthcare. To me, it should be the woman and her partner and her medical professionals do.
“I mean, I don’t feel like they should take away a woman’s choice whether or not to have a baby, especially if you know, let’s just say, under certain circumstances, they got pregnant and they did not want to have that baby, I believe it should still be their choice to not have it well.” - Tiffany
Annette:
Thanks so much for what you do! We will be on the look out for what is to come and do what we can to make sure you STAY! Looking forward to see you at SPARC-it Place!
Empress:
Thanks Annette, and funding or investing opportunities would be amazing!! But please come and check us out!!
Want to Collaborate?
Third Eye Soul Kitchen Residency Form
Affordable Housing
New Subsidized Housing for Family and Formerly Homeless Coming to West Oakland
By Tim Fisher
WEST GRAND & BRUSH, EBALDC/ ABODE SERVICES:
“I believe this project provides an amazing opportunity to create a positive impact on the community and will serve as a catalyst for further investment that could bring significant change to the area.” - Benjamin Newsome
Q&A WITH BENJAMIN NEWSOME, PROJECT MANAGER, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, EBALDC
On the site of a new EBALDC subsidized housing residence, Brush and West Grand. Benjamin Newsome (L) Project Manager, EBALDC, and Mutaz Khalf, Project Manager, Branagh Inc. general contractor for constuciton. Photo: K Wine
Q. – How did you become the Project Manager and What is Your Background?
A. – I joined EBALDC roughly a year ago and at the time the current project manager for West Grand and Brush was transitioning to a new position with another affordable developer. I was chosen to oversee the project right as construction resumed last September. I have roughly ten years of experience working in a variety of real estate investments, particularly in single family
housing and small multi-family properties. Over the years, I have managed numerous rehab projects as well as some new construction and developed my skills in project management, budgeting, and team coordination.
Q. – What are some of the outstanding features of this building?
A. – This building’s design is both sustainable and aesthetically pleasing, incorporating energy-efficient systems, and obtaining a Platinum GreenPoint rating. The building offers a mix of residential units that cater to families and individuals as well as permanent supportive housing units. The property has several nice amenities such as a fifth-floor terrace with a view of the bay, a courtyard with a large play area, a flex room that can be utilized for events, and a community space that fosters social interaction with a kitchen and lounge area.
Q. – What excites you most about this project?
A. – I believe this project provides an amazing opportunity to create a positive impact on the community and will serve as a catalyst for further investment that could bring significant change to the area. Collaborating with various stakeholders and seeing the transformation of the vision from a blueprint to a physical building and eventually a thriving community space is very exciting.
Q. – What is your opinion/interest working on non-profit housing development versus commercial residential properties?
A. – While commercial projects often focus on maximizing returns, non-profit housing prioritizes affordability and community benefits. I find non-profit housing development to be deeply fulfilling as it aligns with my values of social responsibility and providing for underserved populations. Although there are unique challenges compared to commercial residential properties, the ability to make a tangible difference in people’s lives and contribute to addressing housing affordability issues is incredibly motivating.
Q. – Can you give some insights into the current non-profit housing environment. Are you feeling optimistic?
A. – I believe there continues to be a growing awareness and demand for
affordable housing solutions, driven by the rising housing costs and economic disparities. While funding and regulatory hurdles remain significant challenges, I feel that EBALDC and other CDC’s have found genuine support from vendors, private partnerships, and community organizations. We are currently more active than ever with several new construction and rehab projects underway. Despite the constant changing landscape for funding, I remain optimistic about the future of non-profit housing development as innovative approaches and collaborations continue to emerge.
HOW TO ACCESS SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IN OAKLAND
EBALDC (East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation) is one of numerous non-profit housing developers in the Bay Area. Their properties, now totaling 30, comprise subsidized housing for low and mid-income communities including families, veterans, seniors and formerly homeless.
When West Grand and Brush gets closer to opening, EBALDC will send out alerts that applications are now being accepted for prospective residents. A sure way to hear about this building taking applications is to sign up for the EBALDC newsletter n
Composition: 59 Total Units; 1 Manager Unit
Location: West Oakland / 2201 Brush St. Oakland, CA 94612
here to sign up for openhousesf.org monthy newspapers
5D Ascension and the Collective
By: Chef Fel
As we forge forward with the Divine, Heavens, and Universe. We need to be aware of the many things that are going on Planetary wise. This will assist Us in preparing more strategically, making better decision, eating cleaner, and more imprtant “Self-Care”.
In this edition, we will have a better knowledge of what “Ascension” truly is...how does it apply to you; what can you do to go with the flow???
Definition:
Ascension: The gradual process of moving upward and/or the rise up to a higher level/ higher state of christ consciousness. This process happens after we have did our shadow work/unconscious state of being (low vibrational side). To diminish a lot of our habits. Attachments. Addictions.
If you are reading this message, congratulations! You are on your way of deepening your knowledge of how ascension will play out for you and others around you.
We are in TMH (The Most High) Hands of Mass Awakenings on earth. WE are wakening up to what we assumed was our reality, was not our reality at all.
Mass Awakenings are happening around the globe. For those who are ready. Look at this entire process of having a reset of your life and well being (life makeover to create your own reality in the Light). Additionally, we are being activated heavenly. This will allow ascenion process to take place within you. When we align our lives with prayer, devotion, ministry of music, mediation, balancing chakras, eating, lighter and cleaner. We are
Interview with Raine Robichaud
Beloved Former Newspaper Crew
Project Coordinator
By: Tyra Rhodes
Tyra: Hello, Raine. How are you today?
Raine:
Good. How are you doing?
Tyra:
I’m wonderful. Thank you for taking part in this meeting.
Raine:
My gosh, thank you. Congrats on Edition 5. That’s so exciting.
Tyra: It is. Thank you. My first question to you would be. How was your time working with the San Pablo Ave Community Newspaper Crew?
Raine:
Oh my gosh, I mean. It’s hard to describe in words how fun and joyful friendship, creativity and like. It was hard because none of us had done it before. There is teamwork and different perspectives and experiences everyone brought to the newspaper. I feel like every team member and contributor and people who wanted to collaborate with us made the experience even better. I learned so much from you all. I could go on because it was a special, amazing experience.
“freeding our light” towards ascension. All that are of TMH God’s Light. Our mission is to fulfill the goal of having “Heaven on Earth”. The ascension processes also include energetically shifting the collective out of the 3D (Matrix) into the 5D Christ Consciousness.
Here A List of Ascension Symptoms to Pay Attention to:
• Chakra Activation (Balance all Chakras with a professional)
• Out of Body Experience (Ground Yourself as often as need be)
• Ringing Inside Ears
• (You can cover your ears up, ear massage)
• Past Memories Good or Bad Re -surfacing to be healed (depending on your situation. You may need to seek counseling)
• Insomnia (schedule new rest patterns with new times, warm/hot bath/shower with Epsom salt helps)
• Headaches
Learning how to properly ground ourselves will be a great asset as we continue to ascend. Crystals are great for grounding and balancing chakras.
Tyra:
Well, thank you for sharing that with us, Raine. OK, Raine, my next question to you is what is your story of how you got to be at EBALDC?
Raine:
Well, my story started when I studied the field of urban planning because I wanted to do something with communities. I wanted to do a job that supports communities. As a hobby, I also was teaching art kind of as a side gig. I was also working in the housing research field. I did not like having a fully remote job where I was behind a desk and rarely interacting with anyone except for my cat who I love. I saw the job at EBALDC, and I thought it was cool the way it brought together my interest in bringing people together around creativity.
Tyra:
Thank you for that wonderful input. We appreciate that. And the next question would be what are you up to now?
Raine:
I am working right now as a library aide at the Oakland Public Library. I also taught groups for kids and families at the Asian branch in Eastmont branch. I like being able to be present in a space that’s open and public. I felt like it would have a lot of opportunities to do some of the programs I was interested in doing. I also wanted to do sewing programs for teens. The library has many families that come, so it could be fun to do programs for kids and families.
Tyra:
We thank you for that. And the last question of it all, what is one of your favorite moments?
I will provide the basics but for a more detailed summary on ascension, grounding, the use of crystals from mother earth will be on my Youtube Channel.
Here Are Some Tips to Help Ground Yourself:
• While you are grounding you want t release to the Universe what is no longer serving your highest good.
• Meditation • Nature Walks
• Aroma Therapy
• Deep Breathing Exercises
• Walking Bare Foot on Grass, Sand, Water
• Use of Crystals
• Eating Clean with Green Leafy Veggies and Green Fruit
Crystals That Are Good for Grounding:
• Black Tourmaline
• Clear Quartz
• Black Obsidian
• Moss Agate
• Amethyst, Red Jasper, Hematite
Raine:
Oh my gosh, it’s almost hard to choose. I think Edition 3 and just seeing the growth of the newspaper team. The work that we’re doing and just the Editions getting longer, people trying new things especially seeing team members align. I really enjoyed our holiday party. I feel like that also was both fun, favorite moment, but also just moments of being like, “wow, we really like have such a community together”. So I have a lot of favorite moments and just I don’t know, like even just the beginning and end of meetings, like just chatting, catching up. I want to add passing out the newspaper and seeing people be in awe and saying oh that is so cool and wanting to participate in the newspaper. It feels like we were very successful in like, speaking to our community.
Tyra:
Thank you for joining us, Raine!
Photo by: K Wine, Raine at her final meeting
Local Sports
Interview with the Oakland Ballers:
By: Craig Richardson
Hello San Pablo newspaper readers. I am Craig Richardson, the Local Sports writer for the paper. I had an interview with Tim Koide, spokesman for the Ballers, the new sports team in Oakland. Here is how that interview went:
Craig:
Where are you guys from? What is the origin of the Ballers? Is this a Minor League, affiliate with a certain team?
Tim:
The idea was hatched by our two principal founders, Paul Freedman and Bryan Carmel. They are old friends from high school who grew up here in the area and were both big A’s fans. When the announcement was made last year that the A’s would be leaving, they put their heads together and they wanted to do something. They kind of looked around for a little bit and found this opportunity in the Pioneer League, which is an 85-year-old (est. 1939) independent minor league, so not affiliated, but major league partnered. The teams are historically all in the Mountain West, so Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado, and they wanted to expand into California. There was a chance here to start a team in the Pioneer League. I met Paul through Angela Tsay, who owns Oaklandish. I talked to her after the announcement of the A’s departing, knowing that she had been involved with the roots early on. I just asked her, what does it take to start a professional sports team? And she kind of quickly said, “You know, it’s a pain in the butt”. Then a couple of months later, she called me up. She says, “You need to meet my new friend Paul. He’s starting a baseball team in Oakland”. We officially launched in November, and we started our first season on May 21st. It’s been a whirlwind.
Craig:
Alright, so seeing how they’re not really affiliated with a team, how do the players get looked at?
Tim:
independent league. For example, draftees can’t have 3 or more professional experience in the league. Most Pioneer league players are fresh out of school and in their 20’s. Our roster ranges from 22 to 25 years old.
“There are a lot of people doing exceptional work in the community, and we are trying to bring something good to the community. We want to be another venue where people can come, be safe, have a great time, cheer for Oakland”.
Craig:
What’s the Ballers’ vision for Oakland, I looked at your schedule, and you have a lot of community-based events going on certaindays.
Tim:
This team goes beyond baseball. This is about the value of professional sports teams and their ability to bring people together. Being inside a stadium is a metaphor for that idea because when you’re in the stadium, you’re cheering for your team, and there’s a person in front of you, a person behind you, a person next to you, on either side, you don’t know who they voted for, you don’t know how much money they have, you don’t know where they grew up, but in that moment, you’re together. There are a lot of people doing exceptional work in the community, and we are trying to bring something good to the community. We want to be another venue where people can come, be safe, have a great time, cheer for Oakland, and
to our games, and you see this in the then that’s where the VIP car park is. There’s a big, covered area in the warehouse that we use for parking. Then a lot of people just park on the street, 20th, 18th, Camp-
it’s just a two-round of playoffs. They take their top four teams. There are two in California. There’s one out in Davis, the Yolo High Wheelers.
Craig:
What’s your record? We want to be able to say we’re the best around here.
Tim:
We are 16 and 14 against the High Wheeler.
Craig:
Who picked the colors and who designed the uniforms, anybody specific?
Tim:
We went with the colors of Oakland. It’s leaning gold and green, and the designer of the uniforms was Dustin Canal. Dustin is a local boy who grew up in Alameda, but he is in New York now, a well-known designer. He did the like the “Like the Town” jersey for the Warriors. He has a clothing line called Trophy Hunting. The team has three fits that we wear regularly, and then we’ve got a couple of alternative uniforms coming down. We have a fit that honors the activism in Oakland which is a black uniform with a fist with a baseball in the hand. It pays homage to the Black Panthers. We have another alternative, one coming August 17, which is Dia De Los Ballers with Mexican national colors.
Craig:
Sounds like you guys are doing a bang-up job.
Tim:
The players get looked at by professional scouts the same way any college player would get looked at. We’ve had officially four signings into affiliate ball since we started the season, four pitchers. These days everything is digital, right? Kids’ films get out there for recruitment and every one of our games is broadcast and streamed on a platform called Flow Sports. Every Friday home games are broadcast on KPIX. Of course, with social media, it’s hard to keep anybody’s per formance about anything contained. We are going through the same channels that any kid would be pre-drafted. The Pioneer League has unique things by being an
Yeah, we have three sections around home plate that are regular seats. Then we have a big grand stand that goes down first base line down into right field, that’s all - bleacher seating. Then we have another grand stand kind of down third base line into left field; and that’s all bleacher seats. The stadium seats 4,200 people.
What’s your win/lose streak and do you go
There are 12 teams in the league, and
You know, we’re trying. It’s a startup, though, you know, so we make plenty of mistakes, and we’re learning as we go. It’s a very lean staff.
Craig:
We appreciated the time that you’re spending with us.
It’s great to have sports teams alive in Oakland and the Ballers give Oaklanders that opportunity to catch a great game experience. Get out and catch some games when you can. You will enjoy it.
Find Tickets to the Next Ballers Game Here
C C ‘ s orner
“The Painting” The Art of Friendship Heals”
Writen by Susan Werner
by Jesse Williams
Clyde Thomas and Jose Iuerdo are long time participants and respected leaders at St. Mary’s Center. These elders have dedicated themselves to bettering the lives of seniors in our Oakland community.
Jose has been an outspoken advocate for affordable housing and the needs of low-income seniors. He now thrives as a self-taught painter. Clyde thrives through service to others and has served as a pillar of faith, friendship and ever-ready assistance to elders at St. Mary’s Center.
When I met Jose and Clyde at an art making gathering, I was amazed to see a work of art they co-created. I wanted to find out about their connection, how their art happened, and the mean-
ing the art work held for each of them. In my interview with them, they shared how they met, became friends and were inspired to entrust their inner worlds to the paint and paper.
Jose and Clyde first met in 2000 in Recovery 55 group meetings at St. Mary’s Center; they had both hit bottom. There they discovered they were “homeboys” who had run the same streets of West Oakland. Recovery 55 had a profound impact on both of them. Clyde enjoyed sharing the spirituality of recovery with other seniors.
He was amazed by: “The sincerity of the people, the truthfulness of their testimonies, and their willingness to do whatever they had to do to get their lives back together.” He “needed to be with people with similar experiences of being a slave to addiction.” Jose recalls how influential Recovery 55 was to the seniors: “Us dreamers were so truthful about our experiences.
We all wanted to let the past go and rejuvenate the good part of our lives. Different human beings, different actions—but we’re all the same inside. They put all of us knuckleheads together, running the same streets, and somehow goodness came out of us. For some reason, when we participated in Recovery 55, we made a choice to let our souls touch each other.”
When Jose and Clyde riffed off one another in the art group, they birthed “The Painting.” The red
odyssey, a battle against an invisible adversary.
background of the painting originally appeared to Clyde. While in a state of rest, “an engulfing red came to my mind. So powerful. So beautiful. It stayed in my mind, and overwhelmed my consciousness.”
The higher power brought different visions to Jose and me. Our putting them on paper opened both of us to see in new ways.”
When Clyde came to the art group, he wanted to see if he could capture the red. Sitting next to Jose, he chose to paint on a small piece of paper, not a canvas. He wanted to experiment, not sure if he could render his vision. When he added black to the red it became: “Deep, like blood. Blood on the street. Dark.” His painting didn’t capture the intensity and beauty of the engulfing red.
Clyde felt done experimenting and ready to throw his effort away. Clyde’s red sparked Jose’s imagination. To Jose, “the red looked like a river of blood.” He took the red paper before it was trashed. He “knew there was more to be seen” and “wanted to work with the painting.”
When Jose returned to art group the following month, the red paper featured a warship. Jose shared: “This is a destroyer sailing towards cancer.
This is the blood traveling in my veins. The cancer is in my blood. The captain of that boat is heading towards the cancer. He is going to shoot and destroy the cancer—if it disintegrates there is no more.”
Clyde’s red gave Jose: “the means to see the cancer in me can be taken care of by my gift of spirituality and imagination. I artistically showed a way to obliterate the cancer within me.” Clyde says "I now see way more than I had seen” in the painting. “I’m amazed by the painting that evolved, glad that red skipped the trashcan. Thank you Clyde and Jose for this amazing story, and allowing me to share it with our community.
Artist Statement by Jose
I see the color red like a blood vessel flowing down and up and down. I feel blood traveling through my veins. In my imagination I see a warship, I paint a warship. Whatever it strikes is obliterated. The enemy is no more. Cancer is my enemy. Chemotherapy flows in my blood stream with the accuracy of warship fire power. It obliterates the cancer cells, and I live my life with get up and go!
-Jose Iuerdo
Photographed
Description: The canvas depicted a solitary boat, its black mast billowing against a blood red sky. The vessel cut through the water, its bow pointed resolutely toward an unseen destination. But this was no ordinary voyage, it was a metaphorical
WOEIP Takes on Insight Terminal Solutions Leading the Battle for West Oakland’s Right to Breathe Clean Air, Live in A Healthy Environment, and Envision the Future of Their Neighborhood
Classic Clash -- Environmental Justice Versus Powerful Economic Interests
By Tim Fisher
West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP) is a grassroots organization dedicated to tackling the serious environmental challenges faced by West Oakland. Its mission is to empower the traditionally African American community with the tools and knowledge needed to advocate for cleaner air, better health, and equitable treatment in a neighborhood burdened by pollution and neglect. WOEIP’s advocacy has been instrumental in bringing attention to these issues and driving policy changes that prioritize community health.
Currently, WOEIP is a key player in opposing a proposed industrial development at the Port of Oakland—a marine terminal that includes a controversial coal transfer facility. This project, which has been the subject of legal battles since 2016, involves the handling and exporting of coal, raising serious concerns about its environmental impact.
“Coal is not a necessary commodity for the inner city,” said Margaret Gordon, co-founder of WOEIP alongside Brian Beveridge and a longtime West Oakland resident. “An investigation found that some industries in West Oakland use coal for filtration, but it’s not used as an energy source. So, why would such a harmful commodity be stored at the Port of Oakland, especially without plans to cover these coal piles? The last thing we need in West Oakland is more toxins blowing across our neighborhood.”
The health risks associated with coal are well-documented. A recent UC Davis study on coal handling at the Levin Richmond Terminal highlighted numerous health risks, including increased rates of asthma, heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer among nearby residents. These health concerns are especially pressing in West Oakland, where air quality is among the worst in California, and residents already face elevated rates of respiratory illnesses.
WOEIP faces stiff opposition from Insight Terminal Solutions (ITS), led by CEO Jonathan M. Brooks, a hedge fund manager from Los Angeles. Brooks is pushing for the coal terminal as part of the larger Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT) project, located on the former Oakland Army Base. Against fierce opposition from residents and environmental advocates, Brooks has continued to pursue the terminal, even suing the City of Oakland for $1 billion in alleged financial losses after the city terminated the lease for the project.
The dispute between ITS and the city highlights the broader tension between economic development and environmental protection. Brooks, despite his philanthropic involvement with organizations like the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, remains a central figure in the push to develop the coal terminal, making the fight a high stakes battle between corporate interests and community health.
“This is a classic case of big money versus the people,” said Ray Kidd, a board member of West Oakland Neighbors and member
of No Coal in Oakland. “Every other port on the West Coast has rejected coal shipping, with only Canada still operating a major coal port. Oakland is the last U.S. port to be exploited.”
Kidd also pointed out the global implications of such a terminal, with 86% of coal-generated power plants being built in India and China. “The terminal in Oakland has the potential to make a lot of money for investors,” he said.
As the legal battle continues, WOEIP remains steadfast in its mission to protect West Oakland residents. Their fight against the coal terminal is a reflection of a broader commitment to clean air, safe environments, and community involvement in decision-making. While the outcome remains uncertain, WOEIP’s resilience is a reminder that grassroots activism can be a powerful force for justice.
In a city grappling with complex issues of development, environmental sustainability, and economic need, the fight against the ITS coal terminal will have far-reaching implications—not just for Oakland, but for communities around the world facing similar challenges. WOEIP’s continued advocacy is a beacon of hope for a healthier, more equitable future.
SIDEBAR
West Oakland Environmental indicators Project (WOEIP) – a grassroots community advocacy organization takes on issues to ensure a safe and healthy neighborhood for generations to come.
1) Bring Safer Sidewalks to West Oakland: OakDOT has state funding to repair up to two miles of West Oakland’s sidewalks, beginning in late 2024. WOEIP is working with the City to identify and prioritize stretches of sidewalk to ensure repairs are effective for the people who rely on them most.
2) The West Oakland Air Quality Monitoring Network (WOAQ): With I-580 running across the neighborhood and I-880 close by, West Oakland is subjected to road dust from trucks and cars driving through the area. A community-owned network of air quality sensors help the community advocate for stronger environmental policies and enforcement by telling a detailed story of the neighborhood’s exposure to air pollution.
3) California State Senate Bill 1234 Pulled: West Oakland is impacted by pollution from metal recycling facilities like Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel). Significant pressure from community organizations, including WOEIP, resulted in pulling of State Senator Bill Allen’s proposed Bill 1234. The bill intended to strip local agencies of their regulatory power and classify numerous toxic emissions as non-hazardous at facilities such as metal shredders.
4) Turning Basin Project at Port of Oakland: WOEIP opposes the Turning Basin project to dredge the channel between Oakland and Alameda in order to bring mega cargo ships (with as many as 19,000 containers) to the Port of Oakland. A traffic study has yet to be done to determine the impact of up to 500 trucks unloading the mega ships and transporting materials through West Oakland and onto freeways.
Link Tree: Coal Studies, Surveys, and Resources!
What is deep Learning.
Deep learning is a specialized subset of machine learning. It’s like giving a computer the ability to learn from examples, much like how humans learn. Imagine teaching a computer to recognize cats: instead of explicitly telling it to look for whiskers, ears, and a tail, you show it thousands of cat pictures. The computer then discovers common patterns on its own and learns how to identify a cat. This process lies at the heart of deep learning. To mimic human-like learning.
How AI Uses Deep Learning:
Technologic
The World of Artificial Intelegence
By Jesse Williams with help from ChatGP
Predictive Modeling: Deep learning plays a crucial role in predictive modeling. It collects massive amounts of data and analyzes it to create predictive models. Events that would take a human brain years to predict, AI can predict in a nano-second.
Pattern Recognition: Deep learning models excel at recognizing complex patterns and trends within data.
Automation: AI systems powered by deep learning can perform tasks without human intervention.
Digital Assistants: Think of Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant—they use deep learning to understand and respond to user queries.
Voice-Enabled Devices: Remotes that respond to voice commands rely on deep learning.
Fraud Detection: Credit card companies use deep learning to detect fraudulent transactions.
Self-Driving Cars: Deep learning enables autonomous vehicles to perceive their surroundings and make driving decisions.
Generative AI: Deep learning models can generate realistic images, music, and text.
Ruby Interview Continued From Front Page ...
Everyday Applications:
Everyday products and services benefit from deep learning:
Digital Assistants: They understand natural language and provide relevant answers.
Recommendation Systems: Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon use deep learning to recommend content.
Healthcare: Deep learning aids in medical image analysis and disease diagnosis.
Finance: Stock market predictions and risk assessment benefit from deep learning.
Deep Learning Overview:
A process used by Artificial intelligence (AI). It’s inspired by the structure of the human brain and aims to mimic human-like learning and decision-making processes.
In summary, deep learning empowers AI systems to learn from data, recognize patterns, and automate tasks—making our lives more efficient and convenient! people it serves.
participants, including seniors, affordable housing providers, and community activists. Our goal has been to equip these individuals with essential skills, such as public speaking, storytelling, and conducting a power mapping exercise. These trainings have significantly strengthened our advocacy efforts. Participants have not only gained confidence in sharing their experiences but have been advocating for the bond amongst their networks. Furthermore, we’ve collaborated to lead Alameda County efforts in securing organizational endorsements for the Regional Bond, ensuring broader community support for initiatives aimed at addressing housing challenges”
Interviewer: “What motivates you to continue this work?”
Ruby Rodriguez: “I draw motivation from the resilience and strength of the seniors I collaborate with daily. Their stories and experiences inspire me to advocate passionately for policies that can enhance their quality of life and that of others facing similar challenges. The impact of our work is reflected in the level of engagement we receive from policymakers and community stakeholders in addressing equity concerns and securing an annual study for the production of extremely low-income housing for the Housing Regional Bond. As a result of the tenacity of our senior advocates in showing up at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission board meetings held in San Francisco since February 14, we challenged the ‘financial feasibility’ of the production of acutely low-income housing. The annual study was only possible because of the visibility and clarity of the senior advocate’s message: we need to prioritize funding acutely low-income housing. That is why we will continue to fight in Alameda County and Oakland for these priorities to be reflected in the expenditure plans. By amplifying the voices of seniors with lived experiences of homelessness to be at the decision-making table advocating for policy reforms, we can move toward JUSTICE. I encourage everyone to join us in this journey, whether through supporting our advocacy efforts, raising awareness, or engaging in constructive.
Chicken Ceasar Salad With Croutons, Graham Crackets w/ Fresh Fruit, and Iced Tea
By Chef Dave
• Head of Romaine Lettuce (Washed)
• 1/2 Cup Shredded Fresh Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 Cup Croutons (Your Choice)
• 1/2 Cup Ceasar Salad Dressing
• Shressed or Diced Chicken
• Salad Tongs
• Spoon
• Fork
• Medium Bowl
• Large Salad Bowl
Instructions:
Wash hands. Break up and even romaine lettuce in your bowl. Add cheese and chicken. Use your salad tongs to mix salad dressing in your salad mixture until salad dressing is evenly coatedt through out salad mixture. You can add croutons on top for crunch.
Chef Fel Mango Black Bean Salsa:
• 1 Cup Cooked Black Beans
• 1 Cup Whole Yellow Corn
• 1 Cup Diced Roma Tomatoes
• 1 Cup Diced Jalepeno
• 1 Cup Dices Mango
• 1 Cup Yellow Onion
• 1 Cup Chopped Cilantro
• 2 Tsp Lemon Juice
For Extra Taste: Onion Powder, Creole Seasoning, Lemon Pepper Seasoning. In your medium bowl mix all ingredients together. Let chill for 1 hour. You can serve with mini corn chip bowls or tortilla chips. Yum and easy quick healthy and delicious!
The Fight
By: Descaro Hester
Photo by: K Wine, Newspaper Crew during one of our final meetings (above), Our very own Minister Felicia Williams Sunday Services (below)
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT.
LOCAL POET HONORED TO READ SPOKEN WORD AT THE OAKLAND BALLERS GAME! AND THE CROWD WENT WILD!
By: Cindi Sharp
This city is on its’ own
Purse snatchings, car jackings
911 so busy they can’t answer the phone.
The police are short-staffed, no leader in sight
The so-called leader in place with no muscle to fight.
This city is on its’ own.
Electoral promises made to the people not kept Citizens getting shot in their beds while they slept. Sideshows blocking traffic creating mayhem everywhere
The smoke, the noise, not to mention risking injury being there.
This city is on its’ own.
Gun violence increasing hour by hour, day by day
People leaving the Golden State for someplace far away. Children dying while trying to have fun
Shot by someone who thinks the answer is a gun.
This city is on its’ own.
So while the city slowly, painfully, violently dies
A mother and a mother and another still wail bitterly as she cries. Young people, old people, toddlers too Continue to fall victim to criminals as they do what they do. This city is on its’ own.
We need leaders with the competence and the experience it takes Decision makers not listeners of the special interest fakes. Whose opinion is taken which only makes a leader a minion And all matters of interest take on the foul stench of old onion.
This city is on its’ own.
Someone please save us regular folks who help a city thrive Who vote for politicians in hopes they have the proper drive. Our streets are unsafe and we walk them daily in conscious fear Knowing things are not the same, remembering bringing a tear. We don’t want to be, can’t stand to be walking all alone It just brings home the feeling that this city is on its’ own.
NEWSPAPER TEAM
Outreach Team
Sister CC, Community Outreach Specialist and Licensed Peer Counselor
Annette Miller, Outreach Manager and Community Member
CC, Community Outreach Specialist, and Resource Manager
Tyra Rhodes, Community Outreach
Newspaper Partners Include:
Oakland Citizens Combat Illegal Dumping
By: Julia Grinkrug
On May 11, 2024 the community led research group, Oakland Allied Knowledge for Climate Action or O.A.K., concluded their first 10-weeks round of participatory action research, addressing the illegal dumping crisis in Oakland. During the final conversation, resident researchers shared their findings about the issue and expressed their unwavering commitment to reclaim the knowledge about waste management practices in their city and to spread awareness about it in their communities, inspiring others to take action.
One team member said, “Our project investigated the environmental, social and health impacts of inequitable waste management in Oakland by conducting interviews and surveying community members at various occasions and events to better understand and document their first-hand experiences with the issue”. Another team member said, “We expanded our network to include local business owners, residents and community groups to represent the needs and experiences of diverse and intergenerational communities”.
Through this project, the team discovered the intersectional impacts of untreated waste in Oakland, which are made worse by other problems, such as the housing crisis, inequitable law enforcement and reckless behavior of large corporations, such as fast food, and others. The research also raised questions about the relationship between the city and its corporate contractors that are treating its waste, namely Waste Management and California Waste Solutions.
This experience affirmed the team’s belief that our community has the power to combat some wicked problems of our town with the wealth of invested and passionate people about environmental and social justice. O.A.K. collaborative continues working on expanding environmental education in Oakland communities and is always welcoming new collaborators and participants.
Artistic Team
K Wine, Photographer
Chef Fel, Holistic Health & Wellness
Practitioner/Holistic Medicine Fellow
James Lockett, Mental Health Specialist and Theory Orator
David Peters, WOCAN
Craig Richardson, Community Sports Writer
Cindi Sharp, Writer/Photo Journalist
Tim Fisher, Writer
Chef Dave, Youth Leader, Writer
To learn about O.A.K.’s future adventures, please get on our mailing list through this link:
Design Team
Leyla Dualeh, Graphic Designer
Julia Grinkrug, Academic Partner
Lindsay Guinan, Graphic Designer
Jesse Williams, Lead Graphic Designer
Photo by: Jesse Williams continued from Cindi’s Poem
Blessings All,
If You Are Reading My Article, THANK YOU!!! All Who Are In Father/ Mother GOD’s Light Are Ascending…I Want To Ensure You Are Aware Of Updates When It Comes To Us As Our “Collective” And “Individually”. The Important Factor Is We Are Experiencing Not Only Ascension Symptoms And Upgrades, {Changes In Our Eating, Rest, Energy, Work, Vibrations, Frequencies, Family/Families,
