Dis County Community Food Bank Hosts Conversations Alameda on Justice: Food is a Human Right with Activists Dr. Angela Davis and Ericka Huggins ... see page 2
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Lovely One’: A Memoir Adapted for Young Adults ... see page 4
Medi-Cal Cares for You and Your Baby Every Step of the Way ... see page 2
5 Tips for Oakland ‘Solopreneurs’ to Grow Their Businesses in 2026 ... see page 7
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
Weekly Edition January 28 - February 3, 2026
postnewsgroup.com
63rd Year, No. 4
Coliseum Deal Moves Closer to Composer Mark Miller Featured Completion at Black History Month Program by First Presbyterian Church City and County Eye Joint Meeting to Discuss Ownership Transition
Special to The Post
Mayor Barbara Lee signs executive orders Thursday, Jan. 29 directing city departments to protect residents from a threatened federal surge in immigration enforcement. Photo courtesy of the City of Oakland.
Mayor Lee Signs Executive Orders to Protect Oakland Residents from Federal Immigration Enforcement Surge
By Post Staff
Mayor Barbara Lee signed two executive orders on Thursday, directing City departments to protect Oakland residents and resources in response to the Trump administration’s threats to deploy National Guard troops and surge immigration enforcement operations in the city. The executive orders take effect immediately. The orders come as the Trump
By Ken Epstein
Dr. Kimberly Mayfield, a longtime education leader in Oakland, has been hired as the dean of the Kalmanovitz School of Education at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, scheduled to start in July. “St. Mary’s is a primary resource for people who wish to enter education or seek an advanced education degree in the East Bay,” Mayfield said in an interview with the Oakland Post. “It’s a primary destination for those who are seeking careers in Continued on page 8
Mark Miller is a conductor, keyboardist, and professor at Drew University and Yale. Courtesy photo. By Post Staff The First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, located at 2619 Broadway in Oakland, is hosting a special Black History Month musical celebration on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m. The event features guest artist, composer, and keyboardist Mark Miller, alongside the choirs of First Presbyterian Church and Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church. In addition to being a conductor, keyboardist, and professor at Drew University and Yale, Miller is one of the most prolific composers of Christian music working today. His music reflects social justice
administration threatens to deploy National Guard troops and significantly expand immigration enforcement operations in cities including Oakland. The deployment of federal tactical units for civil immigration enforcement would exacerbate harms facing Oakland’s historically underserved residents, including unsheltered people, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and immigrant communities. Continued on page 8
Dr. Kimberly Mayfield Hired as Dean of St. Mary’s College School of Education
Dr. Kimberly Mayfield is a former special education teacher and policy advisor on education issues. Courtesy photo.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors and the African American Sports and Entertainment Group/Oakland Acquisition Company (AASEG/OAC) are entering the final stages of their negotiations to complete the disposition of the County’s 50% interest in the Coliseum Complex. OAC is an affiliate of the AASEG. During the Coliseum Joint Powers Authority (JPA) meeting
on Jan. 16, the president of the Oakland City Council and the president of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, who both serve on the JPA Board, publicly agreed to organize a cooperative meeting to discuss how to best expedite the completion of the Coliseum deal and plan an efficient operational transition. The planning for that meeting was formally proposed in a letter that was circulated on Monday, Continued on page 8
(l.-r.) Zakiya Jendayi, Tanya Dennis, Venus Gist, co-hosts and leaders of the Probate Reform Townhall on Jan. 22. Photo courtesy Zakia Jendayi.
themes and is inflected by classical, contemporary, and gospel styles alike. The words he writes are more relevant than ever in a time of rising discord and violence, such as in his song “Prayer Chant”: “We resist. We refuse to let hatred in. We rise up. We won’t back down. We’re in this ‘til the end.” Some songs touch on recent events in Black history, such as his “Lament,” which was written in response to the murder of George Floyd. Others reflect the need for community unity in times of strife: “Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song: no one stands alone.” The latter song is the source of the concert’s title: “Drawing the Circle Wide.” A free-will offering will be taken up during the concert to support and appreciate the life coaches of Ceasefire, an anti-violence program. According to First Church music director Jake Fontana, this concert is just the start of the celebration. “The planning for Black History Month has been in full swing for months, and the committee has put together a fantastic schedule,” he said. Continued on page 8
Community Groups to Take on Impact of Dumping on Health of Oakland Residents at Youth Uprising Meeting
Post Newspaper Launches National Movement for Probate Reform
By Tanya Dennis
lion-estate intact, while the oth-
The Post Newspaper has been
ers wanted to sell. After more
in the forefront of probate reform
than a decade of court hearings
since 2016, when the family of
and court orders, the Ussery fam-
newspaper
Maxine
ily was forced to sell all proper-
Ussery entered probate to settle
ties and relinquish cash to pay off
the family dispute over their fa-
court fees. When the case was
secretary
ther’s estate. Two siblings wanted to keep their parents estimated $9 mil-
dismissed, the siblings received $20,000 each. Continued on page 8
Left to right: Tracy Lambert ( Lulu house),Mr. Charles (Lifers), Dr Geoffrey Watson, Zirl Wilson ( Lulu house ), Photo by Jonathan Fitness Jones. Special to The Post More than 50 years ago, Marvin Gay’s iconic song “Mercy, Mercy Me,” placed the then-new ecology movement alongside Black liberation efforts, but freedom from the
long-term impacts of civic neglect on health and equity in the Black community persist. Several Oakland community groups including Lifers LeavContinued on page 8
Marin City’s Black Community Has Shorter Life Spans
Marin City community leaders (L to R): Ms. Terrie Green, executive director, Marin City Climate Resilience (MCCR); Wambua Musyoki, Stanford University; Khamil Callahan,Santa Rosa JC; Serenity Allen, Xavier University; and Chinaka Green, MCCR Associate Director. Courtesy photo. By Ken Epstein
ference in life expectancy between
counties in California, with Black
People may be aware of the existence of Marin City and know a little about its history as a center of U.S. resistance to fascism in World War II. But fewer know of the community’s ongoing struggles to survive potential displacement while facing severe toxic health and environmental conditions on a daily basis. These conditions cause chronic disease and premature death, dramatically shown in the sharp dif-
Black and white people living in
residents being the most impacted,
households only a few miles apart.
according to the Advancement
A historically African Ameri-
Project, a civil rights organiza-
can enclave Marin City, occupies
tion,.
a 0.5-square mile area between
The community owes its con-
Mill Valley and Sausalito with its
tinued existence to the World War
own freeway exit near the Golden
II generation that came to the Bay
Gate Bridge. In contrast, the rest
Area from the South to work in the
of Marin County rates among the
shipyards and to the resiliency of
healthiest, wealthiest, and most
its residents. Despite often facing
environmentally friendly coun-
discriminatory practices, such as
ties in the country. However, it is
redlining and a segregated school
one of the least racially equitable
district, Marin City residents have
continually created a strong community rich in culture, spirituality, and community values. The current statistics are brutal. At present, Marin City residents face more than a 17-year difference in life expectancy compared to neighboring cities and towns. Contributing to these conditions are a lack of investment in public housing and infrastructure: unsafe drinking water, air pollution caused by proximity to the U.S. 101 freeway, unsanitary stormwater drainage that produces mold and mildew, as well as old and broken lead pipes and sewage in homes. As an unincorporated community, Marin City residents must rely primarily on the elected Marin County Board of Supervisors, Department of Public Works, Transportation Authority of Marin and Caltrans for the decisions and investments that impact their lives. “Marin City residents have been fighting for years just to stay here. Residents live with the fear
of being forced out, public housing torn down and rebuilt for the wealthy. Due to ongoing issues continually being ignored, residents feel they must be empowered to make their own decisions for the future survival and protection of their community,” said Terrie Green, a lifelong resident and executive director of Marin City Climate Resilience (MCCR). MCCR’s focus is on environmental justice. Its purpose is to empower and advocate for individuals to embrace sustainable living, envision a future free of environmental harm and collectively work towards a better Marin City. MCCR’s motto is “Forever Marin City.” MCCR has created a unique team of Marin City youth environmentalists who have studied and researched environmental issues impacting the health of the community. Serenity Allen is an MCCR youth coordinator/young environmentalist studying to be a
medical social worker at Xavier University. She has been working in the community for six years. “I strongly believe that where you live should not determine how long you are able to live,” she said. Allen referred to the work done by former Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis, who stated that Marin City has a 17-year life expectancy difference between residents of Marin City (77 years) and more affluent areas like Ross (94 years). “The research shows this gap is heavily correlated with race and socioeconomic status. Sausalito, which is not even two miles outside of Marin City, has a life expectancy of 92 years,” Allen said. “Many elements contribute to this gap,” she said. “A major factor may be the 12 acres of toxic flood waters that pour down off the highway into low-lying Marin City. In addition, “We do not have a barrier wall protecting us along Continued on page 7