Dis COMMENTARY: When Trump’s White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Tells the Truth ... see page 2
What’s Behind the Medicare Advantage Care Gap for California’s Black Seniors ... see page 2
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Ask an Expert: Q&A on Trauma and Aging with Dr. Lenore A. Tate ... see page 6
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
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Weekly Edition December 17 - 23, 2025
62nd Year, No. 54
Oakland Council Expands Citywide Security Cameras Despite Major Opposition
NCAA football history was made this year when Head Coach from Mississippi Valley State, Tirell Buckley and Head Coach Desmond Gumbs both had starting kickers that were women. This picture was taken after the game. Courtesy photo.
Desmond Gumbs — Visionary Founder, Mentor, and Builder of Opportunity
Special to the Post
For more than 25 years, Desmond Gumbs has been a cornerstone of Bay Area education and athletics — not simply as a coach, but as a mentor, founder, and architect of opportunity. While recent media narratives have focused narrowly on challenges, they fail to capture the far more important truth: Gumbs’ life’s work has been dedicated to building pathways to college, character, and long-term success for hundreds of young people. A Career Defined by Impact Gumbs’ coaching and leadership journey spans Bishop O’Dowd High School, Oakland High School, and Stellar Prep High School. Over the decades, hundreds of his students have gone on to college, earning academic and athletic scholarships and developing life skills that extend well beyond sports. One of his most enduring contributions is his role as founder of Stellar Prep High School, a non-traditional, mission-driven institution
created to serve students who needed additional structure, belief, and opportunity. Through Stellar Prep, numerous students have advanced to college — many with scholarships — demonstrating Gumbs’ deep commitment to education as the foundation for athletic and personal success. A Personal Testament to the Mission: Addison Gumbs Perhaps no example better reflects Desmond Gumbs’ philosophy than the journey of his son, Addison Gumbs. Addison became an Army All-American, one of the highest honors in high school football — and notably, the last Army AllAmericans produced by the Bay Area, alongside Najee Harris. Both young men went on to compete at the highest levels of college football — Addison Gumbs at the University of Oklahoma, and Najee Harris at the University of Alabama — representing the Bay Area on a national level. Continued on page 8
Black Arts Movement Business District Named New Cultural District in California
At the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, Flock Safety introduces new public safety technology – Amplified Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered tools designed to improve law enforcement investigations. Courtesy photo. By Post Staff The Oakland City Council this week approved a $2.25 million contract with Flock Safety for a mass surveillance network of hundreds of security cameras to track vehicles in the city. In a 7-1 vote in favor of the contract, with only District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife voting no, the Council agreed to maintain its existing network of 291 cameras and add
40 new “pan-tilt-zoom cameras.” In recent weeks hundreds of local residents have spoken against the camera system, raising concerns that data will be shared with immigration authorities and other federal agencies at a time when mass surveillance is growing across the country with little regard for individual rights. The Flock network, supported Continued on page 8
Affordable housing is the greatest concern for consumers, followed by the cost of groceries. Courtesy photo.
Families Across the U.S. Are Facing an ‘Affordability Crisis,’ Says United Way Bay Area
By Post Staff
A national poll released this week by Marist shows that 61% of Americans say the economy is not working well for them, while 70% report that their local area is not affordable. This marks the highest share of respondents expressing concern since the question was first asked in 2011.
According to United Way Bay Area (UWBA), the data underscores a growing reality in the region: more than 600,000 Bay Area households are working hard yet still cannot afford their basic needs. Nationally, the Marist Poll found that rising prices are the top economic concern for 45% of AmeriContinued on page 8
Oakland’s Black Arts Movement Business District (BAMBD) has been selected as one of California’s 10 new state-designated Cultural Districts, a distinction awarded by the California Arts Council (CAC), according to a media statement released by Councilmember Carroll Fife. The BAMBD now joins 23 other districts across the state recognized for their deep cultural legacy, artistic excellence, and contributions to California’s creative economy. Located in the heart of District 3, the BAMBD is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most important centers of Black cultural production — a space where artists, entrepreneurs, organizers, and cultural workers have shaped generations of local
and national identity. The state’s recognition affirms the district’s historic importance and its future promise. “This designation is a testament to what Black Oakland has built — and what we continue to build when we insist on investing in our own cultural and economic power,” said Fife. “For years, our community has fought for meaningful recognition and resources for the Black Arts Movement Business District,” she said. “This announcement validates that work and ensures that BAMBD receives the support it needs to grow, thrive, and continue shaping the cultural fabric of California.” Since taking office, Fife has led and supported multiple initiatives that strengthened the groundwork for this achievement, including: Continued on page 8•
Lu Lu’s House is Not Just Toying Around with the Community
Special to the Post
Lu Lu’s House is a 501c3 organization based in Oakland, founded by Mr. Zirl Wilson and Mr. Tracy Lambert, both previously incarcerated. After their release from jail, they wanted to change things for the better in the community — and wow, have they done that! The duo developed housing for previously incarcerated people, calling it “Lu Lu’s House,” after Wilson’s wonderful wife. At a time when many young people were robbing, looting, and involved in shootings, Wilson and Lambert took it upon themselves to risk their lives to engage young gang members and teach them about nonviolence, safety, cleanliness, business, education, and the importance of health and longevity.
Lambert sold hats and T-shirts at the Eastmont Mall and was visited by his friend Wilson. At the mall, they witnessed gangs of young people running into the stores, stealing whatever they could get their hands on and then rushing out. Wilson tried to stop them after numerous robberies and finally called the police, who Wilson said, “did not respond.” Having been incarcerated previously, they realized that if the young people were allowed to continue to rob the stores, they could receive multiple criminal counts, which would take their case from misdemeanors to felonies, resulting in incarceration. Wilson took it upon himself to follow the young people home and when he arrived at their subsidized homes, he realized the importance Continued on page 8
First 5 Alameda County Distributes More Than $8 Million in First Wave of Critical Relief Funds for Historically Underpaid Caregivers Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers Can Now Opt Into $4,000 Grants to Help Bolster Economic Stability and Strengthen Early Learning Experiences
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Councilmember Carroll Fife celebrates major milestone for Black arts, culture, and economic power in Oakland. Courtesy photo. By Post Staff
Tania Fuller Bryant, Zirl Wilson, Dremont Wilkes, Tracy Lambert and Dr. Geoffrey Watson. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry,
By Post Staff Christmas lights on a house near the writer’s residence in Oakland. Photo by Joseph Shangosola.
Bling It On: Holiday Lights Brighten Dark Nights All Around the Bay
By Wanda Ravernell I have always liked Christmas lights. From my desk at my front window, I feel a quiet joy when the lights on the house across the street come on just as night falls. On the block where I grew up in the 1960s, it was an unwritten agreement among the owners of those row homes to put up holiday
lights: around the front window and door, along the porch banister, etc. Some put the Christmas tree in the window, and you could see it through the open slats of the blinds. My father, the renegade of the block, made no effort with lights, so my mother hung a wreath with two bells in the window. Just enough to let you know someone was at home. Continued on page 8
Today, First 5 Alameda County announced the distribution of $4,000 in relief grants to more than 2,000 Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, totaling over $8 million in the first round of funding. Over the full course of the funding initiative, First 5 Alameda County anticipates supporting more than 3,000 FFN caregivers, who collectively care for an estimated 5,200 children across Alameda County. These grants are only a portion of the estimated $190 million being invested into expanding our early childcare system through direct caregiver relief to upcoming facilities, shelter, and long-term sustainability investments for providers from Measure C in its first year. This investment builds on the early rollout of Measure C and
reflects a comprehensive, systemwide strategy to strengthen Alameda County’s early childhood ecosystem so families can rely on sustainable, accessible care. These important caregivers provide child care in Alameda County to their relatives, friends, and neighbors. While public benefits continue to decrease for families, and inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, these grants provide direct economic support for FFN caregivers, whose wages have historically been very low or nonexistent, and very few of whom receive benefits. As families continue to face growing financial pressures, especially during the winter and holiday season, these grants will help these caregivers with living expenses such as rent, utilities, supplies, and food. Continued on page 8