Barbara Lee Gains in New Independent Poll
Special to the Post
Barbara Lee supporting the Screenwriters Guild.
According to a Public Policy Institute of California Poll (PPIC) released in July, Congresswoman Barbara Lee has picked up significant momentum and is statistically tied in the race to be
California’s next senator.
top-two primary system.
within the survey’s margin of error of
paign released the following statement
tion, enough to earn her a spot in the No-
“Pretty much every poll we see con-
According to the PPIC poll, Lee is
second place in the March primary elecvember general election in California’s
The Barbara Lee for Senate Cam-
in response to the poll results:
Continued on page 10
PPI Senator Poll Results: Katie Porter 19% Adam Schiff 16% Barbara Lee 13%
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
60th Year, No. 310
Weekly Edition. Edition. August 16 - 22, 2023
postnewsgroup.com
‘Rise in Crime Due to Firing of Chief Armstrong,’ Says NAACP
Ucal Kenard is the first graduate of the Oakland Barber Academy, founded by the Oakland Jobs Foundation. Courtesy photo.
The Collective Co-owner Wesley Dawan shown packing up and closing their business.
By Mimi Rohr
Story and Photo By Jonathan Fitness Jones
Black-Owned Downtown Business Closes Due to Crime and Fear
Oakland Barber Academy Gains Support from Jobs Foundation
The Oakland Jobs Foundation (OJF) is pleased to announce its support for the Oakland Barber Academy (O.B.A.). We are providing a full scholarship to O.B.A.’s first student, Ucal Kenard. O.B.A is the brainchild of Master Barber Chris Colter, who launched the academy in April of 2023. Colter, an Oakland resident and business owner, is a graduate of Howard University and has been a professional barber for 16 years. “It saddens me to see Black people gentrified, incarcerated, and killed on a regular basis in our community,” said Colter. “I see the negative impacts of unemployment, the lack of job training, and business illiteracy. I believe that learning barbering skills, earning a living, and ultimately starting their
own barbering business will have a positive generational impact in the local community.” “It has been my dream to cut hair since I was 15 years old,” said Kenard, an Oakland native. “It’s always been my passion to help people feel confident and boost their self-worth. Barbering is a great way to do this. It also nurtures my creative side.” Kenard discovered O.B.A. on social media and was thrilled when he learned he could get his state license by attending the academy. “I didn’t see this coming at all,” said Kenard, “It’s been in the back of my head for a long-time.” When the opportunity presented itself, Kenard immediately enrolled. Kenard is studying at the academy while simultaneously attending Continued on page 10
Oakland’s African American Museum and Library Opens Exhibit in Tribute to Dr. Marcus Foster
The co-owners of ‘The Collective Oakland’ and ‘Loyal to the Soil Oakland,’ located at 811 Broadway in Oakland are facing the harrowing reality of several locally-owned businesses as surg(Clockwise from top left:) Former Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong; ing crime rates take a crippling toll Oakland NAACP President Cynthia Adams; California Governer Gavin on the community. Newsom; and Barry Donelan, president of the Oakland Police Officers’ Fearing for the safety of their Association. By Keith Burbank Bay City News Crime is surging in Oakland because Mayor Sheng Thao fired Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong in February, according to a letter released over the weekend by the Oakland branch of the NAACP. The organization’s letter points out that the mayor has said she wants to get at the root causes of crime in the city. If Thao wants to do that,
NAACP leaders said, she should look in the mirror. “Crime has mushroomed since she fired Chief Armstrong,” according to the NAACP’s letter. Data from the Oakland Police Department shows crime is up 28% overall this year compared with the same period last year. Violent crime is up 17% while slayings are down 8%.
By Daisha Williams Post Staff A tribute to the late Dr. Marcus Foster opened recently at the African American Museum and Library of Oakland. After the opening reception on Aug. 3, this exhibit will be open from 12-5:30 on Fridays and 105:30 on Saturdays-Thursdays from now until Nov. 30. With about 50 people attending, the reception began with a recording of an excerpt of a famous speech by Foster. After sharing this with the audience, curator Patanisha Williams talked about her pro-
cess creating this exhibit, and her connections to Foster and the work he did while he was alive. Williams, a local artist and storyteller, is intimately familiar with Foster’s career, and spent a lot of time going through the public archives. Growing up in the 1980s, she was aware of his work, but previously did not recognize the gravity of his influence. “I was aware of him as an educator, but it was not until this exhibition did I understand how heavy he’s marked Oakland in a positive way,” said Williams. Continued on page 10
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Opponents of District Attorney Serve Notice of a Recall Drive
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Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Courtesy photo. By Bay City News
California Attorney General Rob Bonta. File photo.. Curator Patanisha Williams, right, with an attendee at the opening of the exhibit at the African American Museum and Library on Aug. 3. Photo courtesy Ariana Morales.
customers and themselves, Michelle Walton and Wesley Dawan have made the heart-wrenching decision to permanently close their doors on Aug. 18 even though they opened with bright hopes in September 2022. With frustration, Walton relates the insurmountable challenges that have forced their hand. “How are
AG Bonta Releases Gun Violence Data
Special to the Post
California Attorney General Rob Bonta Monday released the first “Office of Gun Violence Prevention Data Report,” shedding further light on the impact of gun violence in California and the nation. The report provides a robust review of gun violence data in California and throughout the U.S. to help guide policy and strategy discussions related to reducing gun violence. The California Department of Justice’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) hosted a webinar event for the public to discuss the report and other efforts being led by OGVP on Aug. 16.. “Gun violence is America’s
disease, and it’s infecting our communities and traumatizing our families. Protecting public safety and preventing further devastation from these tragedies is my top priority—both as California’s chief law enforcement officer and as a concerned father,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “That work begins with illuminating the complex problem before us. By increasing our understanding of this issue, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention’s report will aid our continued efforts to innovate bold and effective strategies, strengthen and defend our nationleading gun-safety laws, and get illegal guns off the streets. Good data Continued on page 10
Opponents of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price have given formal notification that they intend to remove her from office. A notice of intention to circulate a recall petition was filed Tuesday with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. The notice, addressed to Price, said she “is failing us in her responsibility to enforce the law, prosecute criminals, and keep violent offenders off our streets.” Proponents call themselves
Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE), defined as “a broad coalition of Alameda County residents, business owners, victims, victims’ families and concerned citizens.” Price was elected in November on a platform of criminal justice reform. Her campaign office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Price has previously described the recall effort as coming from a Republican-backed group who “refuse to accept the results of a legitimate, democratic election to remove the status quo.”