Reginald F. Lewis: A Wall Street Titan Page 2
Bay Area Native Tied to Serial Killings in Stockton, Oakland Page 5
Youth Mental Health Care
Voting Matters is Not a Cliche
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Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
postnewsgroup.com
59th Year, No. 19
Weekly Edition. Edition. Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, 2022
D.A. Candidate Outlines Plan for Implementing California’s 2020 Racial Justice Act
Supervisor Nate Miley, Councilmember Loren Taylor, Supervisor Dave Brown, and Hilary Bass at press conference announcing new inter-agency food hub in East Oakland.
New Food Hub Coming to Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center
On Thursday last week, business leaders and city, county and state representatives gathered to celebrate the more than $1.7 million investment into an inter-agency food hub at Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center. Among those present were Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor, State Senator Nancy Skinner, Alameda County supervisors Dave Brown and Nate Miley; Hilary
Bass of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, Carolyn Johnson of the Black Cultural Zone Development, and Chef La Harrison of Jusla Eats. Although the project is still in the early development stage, local food entrepreneurs and caterers are already eager for the opportunity to cook and provide food for their community through the planned commercial kitchen. In an area with
high rates of poverty and food insecurity, this new food distribution and recovery center will create jobs, support local small business development, increase access to healthy food, and help counter the generational health disparities in the surrounding community. --- By Kiana Gums, communications director for Oakland City Council District 6.
Sheng Thao: The Leader Oakland Needs as its Next Mayor By State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Alameda County Assessor Phong La, and Alameda County Auditor-Controller/ClerkRecorder Melissa Wilk
We are financial professionals and elected officials who serve Alameda County and the State of California. It is our sworn duty to serve and protect the interests of taxpayers. We are also proud supporters of Oakland’s District 4 City Councilmember and President Pro Tem Sheng Thao for mayor of Oakland because we believe she is the leader Oakland needs at this critical time. She is the most qualified and effective candidate running. We are responding to the
Sheng Thao. Twitter photo.
false attack that Thao is somehow unqualified to serve as mayor, an age-old tactic used against women candidates. Other candidates and their supporters are perpetuating this false narrative and we want to set the record straight.
We know from working with Thao that her knowledge and experience will allow her to meet the critical needs of Oakland and get the City back on the right track. Thao’s understanding of property taxation, finance and budgets is above and beyond most elected officials. We’ve worked with Sheng on essential public policy matters and funding related to public services including public safety, housing, and street and park maintenance. Thao is well-prepared to address the challenges we face. Her collaboration with county and state leaders has secured millions of dollars in Continued on Page 14
California State Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), author and prime legislator for the California Racial Justice Act. Photo by Davis Vanguard.
Opinion
By Pamela Price Candidate for Alameda County District Attorney
In 2020, California took a huge step forward to reform our criminal justice system when the Legislature passed the Racial Justice Act (RJA). The RJA was passed based on the undeniable racial disparities that are pervasive and pronounced in the criminal justice system. It was a good start, but there needs to be a strong follow-up to be truly effective. Below, I describe the intended impact of the Act followed by my recommendations for the present and future. First Step - 2020 The RJA works to eliminate: • Intentional bias directed at the defendant by an attorney, judge, juror, law enforcement officer or expert witness. • Racially coded language in court. • Racial disparities in charges. • Racial disparities in convictions. • Racial disparities in sentences. The RJA makes it illegal for a prosecutor to pursue a criminal conviction or a sentence Continued on Page 14
Schaff Administration Proposes Rezoning Mills College Campus to Allow for Condos and Retail Development By Ken Epstein
Buried in a draft plan for future housing in Oakland, submitted to City Council by Mayor Libby Schaaf’s Administration, is a map of zoning changes that would rezone the beautiful park-like 135-acre campus at what is now known as Mills College at Northeastern University to allow for private real estate development, including condominiums and retail, the Oakland Post has learned. (Mills College officially merged with Northeastern University on June 30, 2022.) The map is part of a presentation supplementing a 54-page draft Housing Element that was submitted for discussion
Mills College in East Oakland at 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Photo courtesy of Forbes.
to the City Council last week. The draft will be discussed and modified and scheduled for a vote in January. The City is required by the state to update its
Housing Element every eight years as part of the City’s General Plan. The map shows the entire Mills campus in East Oakland
as changed from zoning designation “RM-4 Mixed Housing Type Residential – 4 Zone.” According to the City’s definition, “The intent of the RM-4 Zone is to create, maintain, and enhance residential areas typically located on or near the City’s major arterials and characterized by a mix of singlefamily homes, townhouses, small multi-unit buildings at somewhat higher densities than RM-3, and neighborhood businesses where appropriate.” City Council staff indicate that the RM-4 Zone would permit the development of the entire site with condominiums, townhouses and retail busiContinued on Page 14
Stanley “Mistah Fab” Cox and Richard Johnson at Dezi’s on Broadway where the Soulbeat TV network sponsored the largest Oakland election TownHall gathering of the year. Mr. FAB, Soulbeat TV and the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back org. are mutually uniting their efforts to increase voter awareness and participation.Jonathan”Fitness”Jones
Elections Are Not Popularity Contests: I Stand 2 Vote for the Best Candidate Commentary
By Richard Johnson
In choosing the right person to represent an official position, you must be mindful that your choice truly mirrors your concerns, values and, of course, your wishes for the community. Way too often we select and vote for reasons other than what is truly needed for that office. Be it palm-greasing, backdoor promises, or solely for ethnicity, we cannot afford to squander our votes. The choice should always be based on the best-qualified
person to handle that position, whoever they may be. Sure, favors are expected in a lot of instances, for this is certainly the nature of politics. However, no one should ever allow their selection to be motivated by emotions over capabilities. In your choice, it should be a prerequisite that candidates are able to deal with the job description over who they know and/or how much money they can raise. Voting is not a popularity contest. Choices have to be about the candidate having the correct skill Continued on Page 14
Rebecca Kaplan Welcomed By Bay Cities Baptist Ministers Union
Rev. Jeremiah Captain and Rev. Joe Smith of the Bay Cities Baptist Ministers Union (BCBMU)welcomed Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan who is also a candidate for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to discuss how the city of Oakland and Alameda County could become partners to make sure Oakland gets fair share of resources for the support of the more than 300 unhoused encampments throughout the city. They agreed that all of Oakland’s souls should journey to the polls to cast their votes in the upcoming November 8 election. Even though the BCBMU does not endorse candidates in keeping with IRS regulations, nearly all of the ministers individually embrace her and endorsed her as individuals. Photo by Jonathan”Fitness”Jones.
Velma Lee Turns 95!
Velma Lee (a.k.a. Auntie, Nana, Mama Lee, Sister Lee) was born in Farmhaven, Miss., on Nov. 27, 1927. Velma married Wilfred Lee, a World War II veteran in New Orleans, LA, and remained married 65 years until his death in 2017 at age 93. Velma has been a resident of Oakland for over 60 years and a member of Cornerstone M.B.C. in East Oakland since 1969. She and her late husband Wilfred worked with the Alameda County Food Bank for 25years. Her favorite pastime was fishing on the Delta and visiting Cache Creek Casino. She enjoys eating chicken wings
Velma Lee and fried catfish. Velma attributes her longevity to a life of hard work, prayer and her unwavering Faith in GOD! Velma Lee, we salute you -- a true pioneer!