Barbara Lee Appoints Interim Chief James Beere as New Chief of Oakland Police Department
(Left to right) ACA/NSA Constitutional Administrator Michelle Phillips; Daniel Hahn, Ralph Peterson & Associates Recruiting Firm; Mayor Barbara Lee; Interim Police Chief James Beere; Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Ken Houston, Charlene Wang, Zac Unger, and Carroll Fife. By Post Staff
Oakland’s permanent chief of po-
our commitment to the people of
oversight and constitutional po-
staff, my advisory group, and the
embraced the values of our com-
Following a recruitment process led by the Police Commission and retired Chief Daniel Hahn, Mayor Barbara Lee announced the selection of Interim Chief James Beere as the City of
lice.
Oakland,” said Lee.
licing, values collaboration with
many Oakland stakeholders and
munity.”
“Public safety and justice are
“Our city has experienced too
our neighborhoods, businesses,
residents whose voices guided
Beere has served with the Oak-
strongest when they advance to-
much turnover in police leader-
and faith leaders, and is fully pre-
this robust process. I also want to
land Police Department (OPD)
gether, and today’s appointment
ship over the years, and Oakland
pared to lead on day one.”
extend my gratitude to the highly
since 1997. A decorated Marine
is about more than selecting a
deserves stability. James Beere
Lee added, “I want to thank
qualified candidates who stepped
police chief – it is about renewing
embraces meaningful civilian
the Police Commission, City
forward to serve Oakland and
Corps combat veteran, his extenContinued on page 10
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
City Council Confirms Betsy Lake as Oakland’s Interim City Administrator
Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Lake. Courtesy photo. By Post Staff The Oakland City Council this week voted 6-2 to confirm Elizabeth “Betsy” Lake as interim city
administrator. Mayor Barbara Lee made the appointment two months after former City Administrator Jestin Johnson resigned in the wake of a text message scandal. Lake has served as a city staffer since 2018, working both as deputy and assistant city administrator. She took over the city administrator position on an acting basis when Johnson left. The vote at Tuesday’s Council meeting places her in the temporary position until Jan. 15, 2027, while the Mayor’s Office conducts a search for a new city administrator. Lee praised Lake’s expertise and experience on Tuesday, Continued on page 10
‘No Coal in Oakland’ Mobilizes Against Environmental Threat to Bay Area
Margaret Gordon – co-founder and former co-director of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, now a Community Scholar with the Just Cities Institute – speaks at a press conference on the urgent need for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to act decisively on the proposed West Oakland coal terminal. April 1 at the West Side Missionary Baptist Church. Photo courtesy of No Coal in Oakland. By Post Staff
forts all along the route coal trains
Responding to President Trump’s recently announced attempt to revive the dying coal industry, the East Bay’s No Coal in Oakland (NCIO) campaign is stepping up its organizing ef-
would take to the proposed West Oakland terminal – from Martinez to Pinole and south through Richmond, El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley, and Emeryville. Continued on page 10
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63nd Year, No. 27
Weekly Edition July 8 - 14, 2026
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Congresswoman Simon Secures Federal Funding for Laney College and College of Alameda Derrick H. Muhammad. Photo courtesy of Port of Long Beach.
Oakland Presentation Explores How the Port Shapes the City’s Economy, Neighborhoods and Future
By Oakland Post Staff
Residents will have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how Oakland’s waterfront influences the city’s economy, history and future during “The Waterfront: A Conversation About What It Means to Be a Port City,” a community education presentation by Derrick H. Muhammad on July 25 at Youth Uprising. The presentation is designed to help community members better understand the Port of Oakland’s role beyond its shipping terminals, explaining how the waterfront affects employment, international trade, housing, transportation, land use, environmental policy and public investment. “Too often, people see ships and cargo but don’t see how the waterfront shapes everyday life,” Muhammad said. “This presentation is about helping residents understand that the Port is an economic ecosystem connected to our neighborhoods, our jobs and our future.” Using Oakland as a case study, Muhammad will trace the evolution of the city’s waterfront through historical photographs and storytelling while explaining how the Port developed into one of the nation’s leading maritime gateways.
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The presentation also examines how cargo moves through the modern supply chain—from ships and marine terminals to railroads, trucks, warehouses, retailers and ultimately consumers throughout Northern California and beyond. Organizers say the goal is to make complex maritime operations understandable for a general audience. In addition to explaining how ports function, the program highlights the people whose work built Oakland’s maritime economy, emphasizing the contributions of longshore workers, labor organizations and the broader waterfront community. Muhammad will also discuss the legal and public policy framework that governs waterfront property, helping attendees understand why ports are managed differently from conventional commercial developments and why public participation matters in decisions affecting the waterfront. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the future of Oakland’s waterfront and encourages residents to become more engaged in conversations about the city’s economic development and maritime industry. Continued on page 10
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. File photo. By Post Staff Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) has secured $250,000 in federal Community Project Funding (CPF) for the Peralta Community College District, specifically the Manufacturing and Fabrication Pathway Lab (FabLab) facilities at Laney College and the College of Alameda. “This funding will help prepare the next generation of Oaklanders for successful careers so they can continue to support themselves and their families and thrive in the city. I look forward to seeing the facilities and program upgrades this funding will support, and all the doors it will open for our students,” Simon said. “Education is one of the most important tools we can give our young people to set them on a path to success,” she continued. “It is critical our local colleges have adequate resources to provide students with the education they deserve.” Congresswoman announced the funding Wednesday at Laney College alongside Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Laney College President Rebecca Opsata, and College of Al-
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ameda President Melanie Dixon. She also toured the FabLab facilities at both colleges to discuss the planned facilities upgrades. The FabLabs serve as essential experiential learning spaces where students, local entrepreneurs, and makers utilize advanced technologies—such as 3D printers, CNC routers, laser cutters, and robotics tools—to bring their designs to life. This federal funding will be used to purchase new equipment and implement structured training programs for students to enhance their digital fabrication skills and prepare for high-demand careers in fields like manufacturing, construction, biomedical, and healthcare. The federal funding will expand educational and job training opportunities for Oakland’s young people as they enter the local workforce and prepare to give back to their communities and the local economy. This Community Project Funding (CPF) is a part of the $11.2 million that Simon secured for 15 projects across the East Bay in Fiscal Year 2026. “We are incredibly thrilled about this investment in our stuContinued on page 10
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