Oakland Faith Leaders Welcome New Police Chief, Mobilize Around Housing and Civic Action
While attendees socialized, the sound of drums set a different tone in a court called “Indaba.” Left to right: Eliyahu Salaam, Brotherhood of Elders Network CEO Greg Hodge and Kelvin Potts, CEO of Positive Communication Practices, Inc. Courtesy photo. Left to right: Oakland Police Department’s new chief James Beere, D.r Ken Chambers, Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) President and Dr. Jim Hopkins, Pastor Emeritus, Lake Shore Avenue Baptist Church, and ICAC founding former board member. By Oakland Post Staff Newly appointed Oakland Police Chief James Beere joined faith leaders, nonprofit representatives
22 for a wide-ranging discussion on public safety, affordable housing, homelessness and civic engagement. Hosted by the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC), the
meeting brought together clergy, businesses and residents to identify practical resources, strengthen community partnerships and coordinate action on issues affecting Continued on page 8
Brotherhood of Elders Network Sets in Motion Alternative Journey to Justice for Youth Ubuntu Justice Initiative holds first session of ‘court’ in Deep East Oakland Read the story on page 8
Oakland Post
and community advocates on July
“Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
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Weekly Edition July 29 - August 4, 2026
63nd Year, No. 30
After Meeting with California Attorney General, Probate Reform Coalition Charts New Course for Reform By Tanya Dennis
The delegation going to the International Children’s Games in Taiwan includes (from left) Dewayne Littlepage, Gia Goodlow, Abisewolu Redmond, Mahari Moore, Marvin Thomas, Najae Ellison, Royal Moore, Sir.Kamryn Lloyd, and Jasani Highsmith. The delegation’s coaching leadership includes Head Coach Dr. Tommie Smith, Senior Coach Margaret Dixon, Girls Coach Evangela Dixon, Strength and Conditioning Coach Nola Turnage, and Boys Coach Michael Flood, Jr. Photo courtesy of 100 Black Men of the Bay Area.
100 Black Wings’ Team Oakland Sends Youth Athletes to Taiwan for 2026 International Children’s Games
By Post Staff The Bay Area Chapter of 100 Black Men is sending nine youth athletes from its 100 Black Wings’ Team Oakland Delegation to Taiwan on Thursday, July 30, to represent the City of Oakland at the 58th International Children’s Games (IGC) in Hualien County, Taiwan. The Games will bring together young athletes ages 12 to 15 from 76 city delegations around the world. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 2, and athletic competitions take place Aug. 3-5. While many international com-
petitions center around national teams, the ICG brings young people together as representatives of their respective cities. This year’s theme – “Shining Hualien, Shining Together!” — reflects the host city’s vision of using sports, education, culture, and tourism to promote friendship, peace, inclusion, and sustainable development. “Team Oakland’s participation demonstrates what can happen when young people are given opportunity, preparation, and a community that believes in them,” said Danny L. Williams, chairman of 100 Black Men of the Bay Area,
Inc. “These athletes will carry Oakland’s talent, strength, and spirit onto an international stage while building relationships that can extend far beyond the competition,” he said. Team Oakland will compete in track and field events including the 100-meter and 400-meter races, hurdles, long jump, shot put, javelin, and traditional and mixed 4x100-meter relays. The athletes representing Oakland are: DeWayne Littlepage, Gia Goodlow, Abisewolu Redmond, Continued on page 8
Commentary: Councilmember Ken Houston Stands Up for Oakland’s Small Businesses for City Contracts
OAACC President Cathy Adams. File photo. Part 1 By Post Staff Concerned about how Oaklandbased and/or minority firms have been “systematically omitted from bidding on millions of dollars of city work through the ‘waiver process’ and through neglect,” Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston challenged an agenda item at Tuesday’s
council meeting that would have awarded more than $6 million to suburban contractors for body and fender work on City vehicles. Houston said, “I was concerned that, of the contracts presented, only one was awarded to a small, homegrown Oakland business—Quality Body & Fender located on Martin Luther King Jr., Way. The remaining contracts—with the exception of one additional contract added— were awarded to vendors located outside of city of Oakland (Dixon, Concord and San Leandro), leaving out certified Oakland businesses, some whom have been here for over 30 years. “As both a City Councilmember and someone who was born and raised in Oakland, I believe we have a responsibility to invest in the businesses that invest in our community. When qualified local companies have the expertise and capacity to perform the work, they deserve a fair opportunity to compete for City contracts. “I am proud to see Oakland’s
Quality Body & Fender receive a $1.05 million City contract. This award recognizes a longstanding Oakland business and reflects the values that local companies bring to our community. Supporting qualified local vendors helps strengthen our local economy, creates opportunities for Oakland, job, businesses, and keeps public investment circulating within our city,” he said. Houston’s comments bring to mind the recent disparity study by Mason Tillman Associates for Oakland, which concluded that African American and women-owned businesses did not receive contracts comparable to their populations but moreover nearly 65% of the city’s prime contracts were awarded to non-Oakland businesses. The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in keeping the issue in the public eye. “Supporting local businesses means investing in our own economy,” Houston said. “When we Continued on page 8
Kingfish is a member of the National Probate Reform Coalition and leader of the Tsunami Outreach Mission. Courtesy photo.
The National Probate Reform Coalition (NPRC) met with California Assistant Attorney General Eleanor Blume and her team last Monday seeking meaningful collaboration to address long-standing concerns about California’s probate and conservatorship system. Coalition members left the meeting with a clearer understanding of the state’s enforcement structure, but also with the realization that no single agency provides comprehensive oversight of probate courts. During the discussion, Attorney General representatives ex-
plained that allegations involving elder abuse, financial exploitation, Medi-Cal fraud, or criminal misconduct must fall within specific legal jurisdictions and are typically handled by specialized divisions, local district attorneys, or other agencies. While the California Department of Justice welcomed future complaints, educational materials, and referrals, officials made no commitment to investigate probate courts as a system or establish statewide oversight. For many advocates, the meeting confirmed what families across California have experiContinued on page 8
Congresswoman Simon Demands Investigation into Trump’s Abuse of Emergency Powers for Coal Export Terminal in West Oakland By Post Staff U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (DCA-12) joined California senators and other members of the California delegation to Congress to call on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the Trump administration’s use of Defense Production Act and other taxpayer funds to support coal projects, including the proposed coal export terminal in West Oakland. Defense Production Act funding is for national defense emergencies, like the ability to authorize private car companies to build
parts for tanks or ships. Since President Donald Trump’s announcement of $75 million in funding for the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal on June 4, Simon has opposed and worked to stop the proposed coal terminal. She filed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would have prohibited funding for the proposed Oakland coal export terminal project; however, House Republicans blocked the amendment. Last week, in a letter to the GAO Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown, Simon and her
Port Commissioner and Maritime Attorney Derrick Muhammad delivers a speech at Youth Uprising in East Oakland on Saturday, July 25. Photo by Graig Brooks.
Oakland Port Serves as a Powerful Engine for Good Jobs and Economic Development
By Post Staff
In a speech to an audience of local residents and community leaders, Port Commissioner and Maritime Attorney Derrick Muhammad delivered a presentation recently to answer a question that might seem simple on it surface but one that has many aspects that are crucial for the future of the East Bay. “What does it mean for the City of Oakland to be a port
city?” Summing up the theme of his talk on Saturday, July 25, at Youth Uprising in East Oakland, Mr. Muhammad said, “Rather than advocating a particular policy, the presentation sought to increase public understanding of one of Oakland’s most important public assets by connecting the city’s history, labor movement, transportation network,
Rep. Lateefah Simon. File photo. colleagues questioned the Department of Energy’s plan to use up to $425 million in DPA funds to supContinued on page 8 and global economy into a single narrative.” In attendance were many East Bay residents and community leaders, including retired thirdgeneration longshoreman, and prominent Black labor leader Clarence Thomas, civil rights attorney and former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, Secretary Treasurer of Alameda Labor Council Keith Brown, Isaac Kos-Read of KosRead Group, president of the National Council of Negro Women, Alameda County Aisha Williams. Quiana Canada, C.O.O. of Youth UpRising said she was excited to learn about the pathways and workforce development opportunities for our youth. “This weekend provided a wonderful introduction to the history and impact of what it really means to be a Port City. We thank all of the organizers and sponsors for their ongoing commitment to the future of our youth,” she sad. Commissioner Muhammad explored the evolution of Oakland as a Port City, how rail, the waterfront and wartime expansion was a catalyst for the growth of West Oakland, locally as well as a force for the development of Continued on page 8