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Hundreds Come to Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Assembly Hall for Three-Day Program of ‘Good News’ in Fremont ... see page 2
Betty Harris: Inventor of Spot Test That Revolutionized Chemical Detection ... see page 7
The Center for ArtEsteem Opens a New Space in West Oakland, Returning Home ... see page 8
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
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Hate Crimes Increased by 159% Over Last Decade, According to New DOJ Report
While crime rates have decreased in many areas, hate crimes have increased over the last decade, Rob Bonta’s DOJ report reveals. File Photo
By Magaly Muñoz The California Department of Justice (DOJ) released its 2023 Hate Crimes report in late June revealing that while some years had drops in crime including between 2022 and 2023, overall hate crimes rose by 159% since 2013. A hate crime is defined as a criminal act or attempted criminal act against an individual or group because of their actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability. The DOJ is required to collect and
review hate crime cases on a regular basis, and publish that data in an annual report. The data is evaluated and investigated only by crimes that are reported to law enforcement, so the data may appear different from other agencies who collect this information. Underreporting of hate crimes is a larger issue across the country because many people often do not know that they are a victim or do not feel safe reporting to the authorities. The DOJ data showed several increases and decreases over Continued on page 10
Leaders of Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao, Brenda Harbin-Forte and Seneca Scott, held a press conference Thursday, July 11 to call out Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission for using their recent investigation against the group for political gain. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.
Recall Group Says They Have ‘Nothing to Hide’ From Oakland Public Ethics Commission’s Investigation
By Magaly Muñoz
The group advocating for the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao held a press conference Thursday morning defending themselves on why they will not hand over documents the Public Ethics Commission (PEC) requested for an investigation on the group. Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) is the focus of an investigation by the PEC for
allegations that the group violated campaign finance laws. Simon Russell, the enforcement chief for the PEC, filed a complaint in May that suggests that OUST used Foundational Oakland Unites (FOU), a newly founded nonprofit and alleged political action committee (PAC), to hide the origins of certain donations which would be in violation Continued on page 10
Oakland Youth May Be Able to Vote in the Upcoming November School Board Elections
By Magaly Muñoz
Four years after passing Measure QQ, which advocated for youth voting in school board elections, Alameda County is progressing towards granting 16 and 17 year olds the opportunity to vote for their district directors in the upcoming November election. The process for this outcome has been frustrating and somewhat slow for those who advocated for the measure. Two school board elections came and went since the measure was passed by 67% of the vote in 2020- one in 2022 and
a special election in 2023- with many saying that would’ve been the perfect opportunity to test out the voting process. At the time of the fall special election, the county Registrar of Voters (ROV) missed the deadline to introduce new voting systems, which were required in order to register the eligible teens for the election. Sources told the Post that there had been considerable back and forth between the ROV and the city council, who needed to pass an orContinued on page 10
61st Year, No. 28
Weekly Edition. Edition. July 10 - 16, 2024
OPINION
Senate Bill 966 Threatens Health Equity in East Bay
Oakland pastors at the White House to End Gun Violence. (L-R) Pastors Darnell Hammock, Bishop Keith Clark, Pastor Michael Wallace, and Pastor Zachary Carey. Photo courtesy of ION (Impact Oakland Now).
Faith Leaders to End Gun Violence Convene at White House Oakland Pastors join in to show leadership on public safety responses
Special to The Post
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced on June 25 a Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence, declaring “firearm violence in America to be a public health crisis.” A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public statement that calls the American people’s attention to an urgent public health issue. This advisory is the first publication from the Office of the Surgeon General dedicated to gun violence, and it outlines the devastating and farreaching consequences that firearm violence poses to the health and well-being of the country. The advisory states since 2020, firearm related injury has been the leading cause of death for U.S. children. On June 26, Live Free CA Cler-
gy Table served as co-conveners of a National Clergy Emergency Strategic Planning Meeting at the White House with Gregory Jackson, Jr., special assistant to the President and deputy director of The Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Rev. Thomas Bowen, senior advisor for Public Engagement for the White House and over 40 faith leaders from around the country to begin the process of developing a wholistic plan of action. Local clergy leaders Pastor Michael W. Wallace, Pastor Zachary Carey, Bishop Keith Clark of Impact Oakland Now (ION), and Pastor Darnell Hammock of Oakland and Pastor Les Simmons of Sacramento participated in the meeting. Pastor Wallace spoke at the White House meeting to emphasize Continued on page 10
Oakland Awarded $15 Million by CPUC to Expand Broadband Access
(From left:) Patrick Messac, Oakland Undivided director. OaklandUndivided photo. City of Oakland Chief Information Officer Tony Batalla. Courtesy photo. Mayor Sheng Thao. File photo. Courtesy of the Mayor’s Press Office
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has awarded the City of Oakland $15 million as part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program. This significant investment aims to enhance broadband access for underserved and unserved communities across Oakland, bringing the city one step closer to achieving digital equity. Mayor Sheng Thao expressed her gratitude for the grant, emphasizing the collaborative efforts that led to this achievement. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and partners. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the CPUC
for their investment in Oakland. “I also want to recognize Tony Batalla, our chief information officer, for his leadership and Patrick Messac from OaklandUndivided for his relentless commitment to bridging the digital divide," said Thao. “Last Fall, I hosted a meeting in my office with the CPUC, City, and community partners to discuss our vision for a more connected Oakland. This grant is a significant milestone in making that vision a reality.” Batalla stated, "I am extremely proud of the team that worked on this. I also want to thank the CPUC for selecting our project and providing this incredible opportunity to invest in underserved communities in Continued on page 10
Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook. Courtesy photo. By Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook Special to the Post My East Bay community is struggling to get by. A proposed State Senate bill would set us back even further. Serving the East Bay community has been my life’s work and my greatest joy. After leaving the Bay Area to complete my seminary, I returned home to found The Community Church in Oakland. From the outset of my time as the church’s pastor, I have been guided by the belief that my service
must extend beyond the pulpit, because the health and economic needs of my community are so great. Our church has organized free food banks, COVID-19 testing clinics, and a housing and re-entry program for those suffering from addiction. Through my service, I have seen the challenges that our community members are facing. Oakland, my hometown, has the third-highest rate of violent crime in the state. The local economy is strained. Oakland-based businesses are leaving our community because they’re struggling to get ahead. Continued on page 2
Oakland Native Brea Hammonds’ ‘No Love Lost’ Makes It to Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival
Brea Hammonds has returned to Oakland after 12 years in Los Angeles to help boost filmmaking in the Bay Area. Courtesy photo.
Special to the Post
Brea Nicole Hammonds is no stranger to the Oakland community. Over the years, the West Oakland native has had her significant achievements highlighted across various editions of the Oakland Post. From her first feature at age 11 as the Miss Pre-Teen American State Finalist, to her time on the Golden State Warriors Junior Jam Squad, to her departure for Loyola Marymount University in 2012 to pursue acting and filmmaking, Hammonds’ journey has been well-documented. Over a decade later, the rising filmmaker is now headed to the Oscar-qualifying Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. Hammonds has immersed herself in playwriting, filmmaking, and acting since leaving Oakland and pursuing her dreams in Los Angeles. She graduated from Loyola Marymount with a double
major in Communication Studies and Theater Arts. Like many young artists, she’s juggled more than one day job while honing her craft. The young artist still managed to write a play nationally recognized by the Kennedy Center for its exploration of the Black experience within predominantly white institutions. She released the documentary “Growing Up a Black Girl in America,” which delves into the experiences of Black women from childhood to old age and earned the University’s first St. Ignatius Award for Theatre for Social Justice. Her efforts in challenging fellow artists to address societal issues commemorated the conclusion of her collegiate chapter. After a decade in the entertainment industry, Hammonds shifted her creative focus to a business venture. In 2022, she and her busiContinued on page 10