Dis Barbara Lee — Endorsed By Dolores Huerta, Rob Bonta, Fiona Ma, London Breed, AC Building Trades Council
Sandre Swanson — Endorsed By Fiona Ma, Tony Thurmond, CA. Leg. Black Caucus, Oak Police Officers Assoc.
Nate Miley — Endorsed By Nancy Skinner, Rob Bonta, Alameda Labor Council, Eric Swallwell, Mia Bonta
Michael P. Johnson — Endorsed By Hon. Charles Smiley, Presiding Judge, Hon. Winifred Y. Smith (ret.)
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
postnewsgroup.com
61st Year, No. 8
Weekly Edition. Edition. February 21 - 27, 2024
City Needs to Support BlackOwned Businesses, Says Councilmember Kaplan
Protesters Opposing Mayor Sheng Thao Disrupt Press Conference on Community Safety Grant
Pamela Price, left, with Rev. Wanda Johnson, mother of Oscar Grant III, who was killed on Jan. 1, 2009. Courtesy photo.
D.A. Pamela Price Returns Oscar Grant’s Personal Property to Family 15 Years After His Death
By Post Staff
Members of the recall campaign against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao disrupt a press conference announcing a grant to improve community safety. Photo by Magaly Muñoz. By Magaly Muñoz Post Staff A press conference on Wednesday morning announcing a grant to improve community safety in Oakland was interrupted by protesters both for and against the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao. Shortly before the mayor and other city leaders arrived at the press conference at Latham Square Plaza, leaders of the recall campaign against Thao walked toward the group of speakers, displaying signs that read “Hire Armstrong. Fire Sheng Thao” and “Failed Policies.” Simultaneously, a different group of people, who had just finished their own press conference supporting Thao in front of City Hall, arrived at the mayor’s press conference. Almost immediately both groups began yelling and arguing with each other as the rest of the crowd waited for Thao and her team to start their conference. A physical altercation between members of the opposing groups broke out during the conference and police arrived shortly on the scene. Reports from city leaders say no one was hurt, and those involved were separated to opposite sides of the street. It remains unclear who started the altercation. “I know that there’s a lot of people out here today and I just want to say I love every single one of you. You all with signs, you all here standing
behind us, this is our democracy,” Thao said addressing the crowd. As the groups continued to argue in the background, Thao announced that the City of Oakland has been awarded a $3.5 million grant by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) under the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems (C.R.I.S.E.S.) Act Grant Pilot Program. The C.R.I.S.E.S Act Pilot Program, established under AB 118, allocated $9.5 million to community organizations statewide to develop emergency response pilot programs. The other recipients of the grant were the City of Marin ($1.3 million), Sacramento County ($2 million) and Santa Cruz County ($2.5 million). The grant will be used in partnership with Family Bridges — a nonprofit that empowers low-income, limited-English proficient immigrant families to lead self-sufficient, independent lives — and their Community Ambassador program to provide more Oakland safety ambassadors into downtown, Chinatown, Jack London Square, Little Saigon and Lake Merritt in the ensuing years. Thao stated that the Oakland C.R.I.S.E.S Pilot Program will deploy mediators trained in de-escalation and trauma informed care Continued on page 10
More than 15 years after Oscar Grant III was shot and killed by a BART police officer, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price returned the 22-year-old victim’s belongings to his mother, Rev. Wanda Johnson. At a press meeting held on Feb. 22 at 7677 Oakport St. in Oakland, Johnson was seen holding the two cell phones her son had been carrying when he was shot on the platform of Fruitvale Station in the early morning of Jan. 1, 2009. She was looking forward to seeing
the photos he would have taken in the last days of his life. The return of Grant’s belongings follows a victim’s rights discussion sponsored by Price in November of 2023. There, Johnson described how painful it was not to have Grant’s clothing, cell phones, and wallet returned to her despite several requests. Grant’s shooting, recorded on bystanders’ cell phones, prompted a public outcry in Oakland leading to the arrest and 2010 conviction Continued on page 10
Advocates Weigh in on Calif. Black Caucus Reparations Package
Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D- Suisun City) speaks at the press conference with all CLBC members in attendance discussing their 2024 Reparations legislative priority bills. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media.
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
On Feb. 21, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) held a press conference at the state Capitol to introduce a package of reparations legislation the lawmakers call “a starting point” to atone for the state’s legacy of discrimination. All 12 members of the CLBC
were present to explain their efforts to rectify the damages caused by systemic discrimination against Black Californians detailed in the 1,100-page report by the first-inthe-nation California reparations task force. The nine-member panel submitted the recommendations on June 28, 2023. Continued on page 10
Alameda County is Hosting Free Blood Pressure Checks for Healthy Heart Month
By Magaly Muñoz
Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) is hosting free blood pressure checks and educating residents about heart health information throughout the county for Healthy Heart Month. In addition to the resources, ACPHD is encouraging residents to be mindful of their diets by eating more fresh foods high in fiber, protein, calcium, potassium, and magnesium and lower in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats can help prevent high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. They state that most of the excess salt in diets comes from packaged, processed, store-bought, and restaurant foods. The ACPHD are saying residents should also be mindful of their stress levels as it can significantly impact their heart health as well. Additionally, maintaining a regular schedule of physical activities is crucial to re-
ducing the risk of a heart attack. “Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in Alameda County, and it is in the top five leading cause of death for all communities ,especially in communities of color. Monitoring hypertension and high-blood pressure are key components of heart health,” ACPHD Director Kimi WatkinsTartt said. The CDC considers February American Health Month, a time when all people, especially women, are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health. Heart health deepens when combined with race, ethnicity, and other social factors. Black individuals in Alameda County are at an above average rate to the national rate for being hospitalized for heart diseases and strokes, according to CDC data. Until the end of the month, ACPHD officials will host a series Continued on page 10
The 26th Ave. apartment building where an electrical wiring fire took place that left tenants temporarily unhoused for more than a month.
Oakland Tenants Become Temporarily Unhoused After a Basement Fire in an Apartment Complex
By Magaly Muñoz
Tenants of the 26th Ave. apartments in Oakland experienced a month-long disruption of hot water and electricity in their homes following an electrical fire at the complex in early January. On the night of Jan. 5, tenants were alarmed to find firefight-
ers outside of their building. They learned that faulty wiring in the basement caused a small fire. Multiple residents stated that their fire alarms had not gone off during the incident, despite them constantly beeping at random times of the day, and if they hadn’t seen the Continued on page 10
Geoffrey’s Inner Circle. File photo.
By Post Staff
In creating and maintaining a vibrant Oakland community, Black-owned businesses play a pivotal role, according to Councilmember-at-Large Rebecca Kaplan in a recent media release. “These enterprises are not just places to shop or dine but pillars of resilience, creativity and cultural heritage,” she said. Supporting Black-owned businesses is crucial because they “face unique challenges, including historical disparities in access to capital. By supporting them, we contribute to their financial resilience. When these businesses thrive, they create jobs, foster innovation and strengthen our local economy,” Kaplan said. Black-owned businesses con-
tribute to community empowerment, she continued. “(They) are often deeply connected to our neighborhoods. When we patronize them, we invest in our community’s well-being. These businesses sponsor local events, mentor youth, and provide spaces for cultural expression.” These businesses also “preserve cultural traditions, art, and cuisine. They celebrate diversity and contribute to the rich tapestry of Oakland’s identity. From soul food restaurants to Afrocentric boutiques, each establishment tells a story,” she said. Councilmember Kaplan’s office shared a list of Black-owned restaurants in Oakland. The list was created by Kaplan’s ofContinued on page 10
Faces Around the Bay: Helena P. Hill
Helena P. Hill. Photo by Brian Anthony Butler. By Barbara Fluhrer Special to The Post Helena P. Hill, 92, was born and raised on her grandfather’s farm in Plaquemine, Louisiana. “We had cows, chickens and horses. I even picked cotton.” She was the third-oldest child of Louis and Louella Brown, and one of 11 siblings. The closest school was eight miles away, so they home-schooled. Hill remembers her earliest “job” was assigned by her mother: “I was put in charge of the kitchen and stood on a chair to wash dishes and clean the counters.” She moved to California in 1950 and has been a resident and property owner in Berkeley and Oakland. “My first job in California was as a waitress at the California Hotel. I later went to the booths (set up by local employers) that were set up in Oakland and got a referral for a domestic position. They charged $10.” She did domestic work for a few years, worked for the U.S. Post Office, and spent seven years at the Hunt Brothers Cannery in Hayward. She was employed by the U.S. government in San Francisco as a typist in the 1970s, and from 1978-92 worked for the American
National Insurance Company until retirement. Hill is a Legacy Lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and has served as past president of its East Bay Area section. With NCNW, she coordinated voter registration campaigns and traveled to South Africa as a delegate to the South African Unification Conference. In the political arena, she opened her home to campaign for Tom Bradley’s first historic run for the first Black Mayor of Los Angeles in the early 1970s and traveled there to campaign on his behalf. She worked tirelessly for Barack Obama’s campaign and was later named a member of Obama’s honorary Kitchen Cabinet. She assisted Linda Shepherd, the late AC Transit Board president, with her struggles with AC Transit in the early 1980s. Hill is a board member of the Black Repertory Group and an avid supporter of the Four Seasons Arts, Inc. She continues to enjoy the Four Seasons door-to-door transportation to their concerts. Her philanthropy includes contributions to the Democratic Party. She has one daughter and two grandchildren. She lives in Oakland and her home church is Acts Full Gospel. Hill paraphrases her favorite scripture: Corinthians calls us to be ambassadors, sent out to work as a citizen of God’s Kingdom, representing truth and light in a world of deceit and darkness.