Dis
Gov. Newsom Signs Executive Order Putting New Limits on AI ... see page 2
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Charles B. Brooks: Cleaning Things Up! ... see page 4
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
63rd Year, No. 14
Weekly Edition April 8 - 14, 2026
postnewsgroup.com
Close the Contracting Gap
From Firearms to Flowers: Oakland’s ‘Guns to Gardens’ Returns in April as Mayor Barbara Lee Hosts Gun Buyback in East Oakland
Front row seated, left to right: Councilember Carroll Fife, Darlen Flynn, and Emylene Aspilla. Middle row, left to right: Felicia Verdin, Jestin Johnson, Len Turner, and Jasmine Chan. Back row: Rachel Tavistock (with the glasses), Juliet Huang, Dasco Munoz, Chadwick Spell, Marcus Lawson, Derek Barnes, Cathy Adams, Ahku Mitchell, and Mario Wagner. Photo by Ahku Mitchell.
In Wake of Disparity Study, Oakland May Finally Give Local Businesses Fair Shot at City Contracts
By Post Staff
The City of Oakland’s leadership and community stakeholders are taking critical steps to implement reforms based on the findings in the recently released 2024 Disparity Study, which exposed longstanding,
institutionalized
discrimination that has kept Blackand
women-owned
businesses
from having a fair shot at contracts with the City. City
Administrator
Jestin
Darlene Flynn, and City Council-
Bay Rental Housing Association
disparity study provides that docu-
member Carroll Fife met with a co-
(EBRHA).
mentation and starts the count-
alition of community organizations
It is overwhelmingly clear to the
on April 2 to advance implementa-
coalition that immediate action and
Failure to act would be a choice
tion of Oakland’s disparity reme-
policy changes are needed and con-
with legal and economic conse-
diation framework and to prioritize
cerns remain about what will occur
quences.
the City’s equity commitments and
if no concrete steps are taken before
This equity work aligns with
enforcement actions.
the 90-day deadline for action ex-
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s
pires.
10-Point Plan, particularly her
The community coalition in-
down.
cluded representatives from the
The legal stakes are high. Under
focus on economic opportunity,
Oakland African American Cham-
the Croson framework based on
small business support, workforce
ber of Commerce (OAACC), the
the1989 Supreme Court decision
development, and equitable invest-
Construction
Center
governing disparity remediation,
ment in Oakland communities. The
Resource
(CRC), the National Association
once a government documents ra-
Johnson, Workplace & Employ-
of Minority Contractors (NAMC
cial and gender disparities in con-
ment Standards Director Emylene
NorCal), Cypress Mandela Train-
tracting, it has a compelling duty to
Aspilla, Race and Equity Director
ing Center (CMTC) and the East
act. The recent release of Oakland’s
Firearms collected on a previous ‘Guns to Gardens’ event in Oakland. Courtesy photo. City of Oakland Special to The Post In partnership with Mayor Barbara Lee, Oakland’s “Guns to Gardens” program returns on Saturday, April 18, advancing a community-centered approach to reducing gun violence and promoting healing across the city.
Hosted by At Thy Word Ministries, the site of its inaugural 2022 launch, the event offers residents a safe, anonymous way to surrender firearms in exchange for lifeaffirming tools, including garden supplies and financial gift cards. Led by Pastor Billy Dixon, Jr., a respected violence prevention Continued on page 8
disparity remediation effort represents a tangible pathway to advancing those priorities, ensuring that Continued on page 8
Powerful Women of the Bay Honors Eight Leaders at 17th Annual Awards Luncheon in Oakland View of Oakland City Hall from 14th Street. iStock .
Mayor Lee, Council President Jenkins Support Charter Reform Recommendations, Strongly Backed by Voters in Recent Poll
By Post Staff From left to right: Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, 6th District; LaNiece Jones, Executive Director/CEO of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA); Sarah Chavez-Yoell, Pacific Gas & Electric; and Cathy D. Adams, President and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce. By Carla Thomas OAKLAND — More than 300 guests gathered at Scott’s Seafood Pavilion in Jack London Square on March 26 for the 17th Annual Powerful Women of the Bay (PWB) Awards Luncheon, a Women’s History Month celebration recognizing women whose leadership and service are shaping communities across the Bay Area.
The annual event brought together city leaders, elected officials, business executives and community advocates for an afternoon of recognition, networking and inspiration. This year’s honorees were Sarah Chavez-Yoell of Pacific Gas & Electric; Zaileen Janmohamed of the Bay Area Host Committee; Dr. Carolyn “C.J.” Johnson of Black Cultural Zone; Mona Pasquil Rogers of Meta,
Cathy D. Adams, President and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce with Mayor Dionne Adams, City of Pittsburg. Megan Schoettmer of PNC Bank; Sonya V. Trac of Comerica; Adriane Hopper Williams of DNA Media Group; and Cheryl Brownlee of CB Communications. They were recognized for their impact across sectors including corporate leadership, community development, media and public service. Emmy Award-winning journalist Reyna Harvey of KRON 4 served as mistress of ceremonies, guiding a program that blended
celebration with purpose. The event also featured remarks from Oakland City Councilmember Charlene Wang and was hosted by LaNiece Jones, Executive Director/CEO of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), with Cathy D. Adams, President and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, serving as founder and event producer. “The Powerful Women of Continued on page 8
Mayor Barbara Lee and City Council President Kevin Jenkins this week announced their joint support for the Charter Reform Working Group’s recommendations, following the release last week of new polling that shows strong and growing voter support for modernizing Oakland’s government. “Oaklanders deserve a government that works for them, and after months of community engagement, we are proud to jointly support the Charter Reform Working Group’s recommendations as a roadmap to get there,” said Lee. “These reforms reflect what
we heard directly from residents and will bring clearer accountability, stronger oversight, and better delivery of core services in every neighborhood,” she said. “I am proud to support the Working Group’s recommendations, which are grounded in community input and designed to make City Hall work better for the people we serve,” said Jenkins. “By clarifying roles and strengthening oversight tools, these reforms will help ensure every district sees real improvements in services and accountability,” he said. The Charter Reform Working Group’s recommendations were Continued on page 8