Black District Attorneys, Supreme Court Justices Bring Justice to Bay Area and throughout California (page 2)
Pamela Price, D.A. Diana Becton, D.A. Alameda County, pg 2 Contra Costa County, pg 2
Brooke Jenkins, D.A. San Francisco, pg 2
Associate Justice Kelli Evans, pg 2
Associate Justices Martin Jenkins, pg 2
Associate Justice Leondra Kruger, pg 2
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
postnewsgroup.com
Weekly Edition. Edition. November 30 - December 6, 2022
59th Year, No. 24
Attorney Hakeem Jeffries to Lead Democratic Congressional Delegation tions by acclamation. In his first statement after the Democrats chose him, Jeffries said, “House Democrats fight for the people. That’s our story. That’s our legacy. That’s our values. That’s our commitment.” On the eve of the party meeting, Jeffries told reporters, “It’s a solemn responsibility that we are all inheriting. And the best thing that we can do as a result of the seriousness and solemnity of the moment is lean in hard and do the best damn job that we can for the people.” Hakeem Jeffries. Photo courtesy CNN.
By Post Staff House Democrats this week elected New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries as their new leader, making him the first Black American to lead a major political party in Congress. He was elected after Nancy Pelosi, the current speaker, announced that she and her leadership team were stepping aside next year for a new generation. Jeffries, 52, will assume his role as minority leader when Congress is sworn in early next year, assuming the position that Nancy Pelosi held for nearly 20 years as a powerful leader and the first woman speaker. In a show of unity, Democrats unanimously approved Jeffries and two other top leadership posi-
The three new top Democratic leaders will include Jeffries, Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark, 59, as whip and Pete Aguilar of California, 43, as caucus chair, in charge of messaging, and James Clyburn, 82, the whip from South Carolina. Referring to the Democratic caucus as a “beautiful mosaic of the country,” Aguilar said, “Having an opportunity to help guide this caucus is a great responsibility and I don’t take it lightly.” The unity of the Democrats stands in contrast to the fractured House Republicans, who are yet to unite around Kevin McCarthy. With only a few votes to spare, McCarthy is attempting to shore up enough support to become speaker. Vowing to “get stuff done,” Jeffries said his caucus would look for op-
Continued on Page 12
Black Attorney Joel Young Voted to Lead AC Transit Board
By Post Staff
Joel Young, an East Bay attorney and member of the AlamedaContra Costa (AC) Transit District Board of Directors, was chosen recently to serve as interim president of AC Transit, a position he will hold until January when new officers are elected by the board. Young, who is African American, Joel Young was recommended for the interim position by the board’s nominat- fill one of the district’s two at-large ing committee at the Nov. 16 board positions. He was elected by voters meeting. Speaking in favor of the in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. He recommendation was Director has a bachelor’s degree from UC and Nominating Committee Chair Berkeley and a Juris Doctor from the UC Berkeley School of Law. H.E. Christian “Chris” Peeples. The nominating committee unani- Chris Peeples, who has served on mously recommended Young as the AC Transit Board for 24 years, interim president and Board Direc- is a longtime advocate for public transit and AC Transit bus service. tor Diane Shaw as vice president. “Joel (Young) has been the vice Peeples has been actively involved president for the last two years, so in the AC Bus Riders Union, Alliis quite familiar with the duties of ance for AC Transit, Regional Allithe president,” a written statement submitted by the nominating committee reads. “He is a long-time director who is always well prepared for meetings but has never been president. He was extensively involved in AC’s last parcel tax campaign. He recently received a substantial vote of confidence from his constituents (in his campaign for Chris Peeples reelection).” The nominating committee also recommended that Young and Shaw be elected in January as Board President and Vice President. Young, who was reelected to the board in November, originally was appointed by the AC Transit Board of Directors in February 2009 to
ance for Transit, Alliance for Sensible Transit, Coalition for A One Stop Terminal, and many other transit groups. He is also active in local community affairs, having served on the Oakland Ethics Commission and community and political bodies.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Ismail Ramsey. Ramsey & Ehrlic LLC web site photo.
Lee Applauds Election of Democratic Leadership ”Today is a historic day. Congratulations to my friend, colleague, and our new Democratic Leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, on becoming the first Black lawmaker to head a major party in Congress. From surviving the longest government shutdown in history to the impeachment of a lawless president, Congressman Jeffries has led our Democratic Caucus as Chair through countless peaks and valleys. I have no doubt he will be an excellent leader and fierce advocate for our communities, putting people over politics. “I would also like to congratulate Rep. Katherine Clark and Rep. Pete Aguilar on their new roles as Democratic Whip and Democratic Caucus Chair, respectively. They both bring a wealth of experience to the positions. I look forward to working with these skilled lawmakers in ur new era of Democratic leadership to create a better future for this country in the 118th Congress.
Rev. Ron Swisher’s Second Coming to Taylor Memorial
Oakland Ballerina, Angela Watson, Dances the SF Nutcracker, From In 2016, a young dance student graced the stage of SF Opera House as the first African American in four decades to dance the leading role of Clara in SF’s Nutcracker Ballet since Angela Taylor circa 1975. Now 19, Angela Watson, SF Ballet Company Apprentice hits the stage for a 7th season of Nutcracker. She’ll dance Snowflake and Flower, which she danced previously as a student. Now a professional ballerina, Angela also debuts a new role, Spanish Dancer, on Dec. 10. She dances in opening week Dec. 8-11 and throughout the Nutcracker season. Tickets available at www. sfballet.org/nutcracker. The SF Nutcracker Ballet runs through Dec. 27. began his career as a community organizer at Taylor before becoming pastor in the 1990s.
Rev. Ron Swisher is back in town for his second coming to the pulpit as pastor to the Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church congregation at 12th and Adeline streets in Oakland. He said he has been appointed as interim pastor at Taylor Memorial beginning this Sunday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. “I know I will be interim at least until June 2023,” he said. He will be serving as pastor since Rev. Anthony Jenkins is on disability leave. During the 1970s, Rev. Swisher
By Post Staff
Pres. Joe Biden’s Administration announced Tuesday the appointment of Berkeley criminal defense Ismail Ramsey to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. Ramsey is replacing Stephanie Hinds in the esteemed position: there are only 93 nationwide, broken down geographically. “These individuals were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials, their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all, and their commitment to the independence of the Department of Justice,” the White House statement read. Ramsey, a graduate of Harvard
Law School who also holds a master’s degree in business from UC Berkeley, had previously served in the Northern District as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1999-2003. In the course of his 26-year career, the 1985 Berkeley High School graduate became known for prosecuting and defending people accused of whitecollar crimes. In 2006, he became a founding partner in Berkeley’s criminal law firm Ramsey & Ehrlic. Just last year he was the defense attorney in a fraud case for Muhammad Nuru, former director of San Francisco’s Department of Public Works, and before that he defended engineer Andrew Lewandowski, who eventually pled guilty to stealing trade se-
Continued on Page 12
Mistah Fab Celebrates: The Community at its Best
A couple of years after he became pastor of Taylor the first time, he began co-hosting Mosaic on KPIX-TV, which he has done for the last 20 years. Rev. Swisher is a native of the Bay Area born at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland in 1946. He was raised in Alameda, where he spent over 20 years. After graduating from Encinal High School in Alameda, he worked as park director for four years while attending the University of San Francisco.
By Paul Cobb Religion Editor
Biden Names Ismail Ramsey as US Attorney for Northern California
He received a BA Degree in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of San Francisco, He received a Master of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley. He was a community organizer under the aegis of the United Methodist National church program called Black Community Developers. He functioned as liaison with church and community and was assigned to Taylor Memorial in 1970-1972. “Although I was in Seminary, considered my intern years, it was extremely significant because I was able to work with the Oakland Black Caucus, which was cochaired by Paul Cobb and Elijah Turner, Oakland Black Panthers, NAACP of which I am a Life
Continued on Page 12
Mistah FAB, Pamela Price and Richard Johnson (L-R)
By Richard Johnson On Tuesday, Nov. 22, one of Oakland’s finest, known as Mistah F.A.B., a rapper, businessman, and artivist sponsored his annual celebration to bring the community together at the corner of 45th and Market Streets in North/ West Oakland. The Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) and the African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG) joined in collaboration with Mistah F.A.B. to help provide and distribute gifts, food, and plenty of love to help create harmonious feelings with good music and laughter as our expression of good tidings throughout the community at large. Several Clergy and elected officials that included DA-elect Pamela Price, City Councilmember
Dan Kalb, OPD Inspector General Michelle Phillips, Ellie Lefiti from She Bliss Transitions, Rev. Ken Lackey and his Tiny Homes Project Team of Rev. Hamilton, Pastor Bea Williams, and Dr. Maritony Yamot told the Post that they look forward to connecting with and extending Mistah F.A.B.’s vision and energy to help provide tiny homes for families and children, formerly incarcerated, homeless seniors, and veterans. The Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) and AASEG leaders Ray Bobbitt, Samantha Wise, and Jonathan “Fitness” Jones of AASEG along with the distinguished Dr. Maritony Yamot, the International Ambassador of Tiny Homes communities told public officials and the Post that they will work together to ad-
Continued on Page 12