Dis Axe the Tax: Cali’s Marijuana Store Owners Say New Increase Will Break Them ... see page 2
On Its 160th Anniversary, the Celebration of Juneteenth Grows in Bay Area... see page 2
Strings and Struggle: The Story of Black Violin ... see page 4
Beebe’s Pastor Rev. Dr. Kenneth D. Miller ... see page 7
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
Weekly Edition June 4 - 10, 2025
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School District Hires Veteran Administrator and Principal Denise Gail Saddler as Interim Superintendent
Denise Gail Saddler, Ed.D. Courtesy photo. By Ken Epstein The Oakland Board of Education has hired Oakland native Denise Gail Saddler, a veteran educa-
tor with 40 years’ experience as a classroom teacher, principal and administrator, to lead the district as interim superintendent for the 2025-2026 school year. Dr. Saddler’s contract is still being finalized by the board. Besides working for the school district, she also served as president of the Oakland Education Association (OEA), the teachers’ union from 1986-1992, where she was the first African American and first special education teacher to lead the union. In an interview this week with the Oakland Post, she discussed her goals for the coming year and her life-long commitment to Oakland Continued on page 8
Oakland Police Commission Speaks Out on Tragic Death of OUSD Teacher Marvin Boomer and Police Pursuit Policy
By Post Staff
The Oakland Police Commission issued a statement offering “its deepest condolences to the family of Castlemont High School teacher, Dr. Marvin Boomer,” who was killed last week in the aftermath of a California Highway Patrol highspeed police pursuit and called for a review and revision of Oakland’s police pursuit policy. The death of Boomer, “(which) has profoundly affected not only his family and friends, but the entire City of Oakland, highlights the complexity of the challenges sur-
Oakland Residents Share Their Feelings About This Year’s Budget Proposal at Budget Forums
Oakland leaders and staff hosted multiple forums across the city to hear from residents about their questions and concerns regarding the 2025-27 budget proposal. The city will navigate a nearly $260 million deficit in the next two years. iStock photo. By Magaly Muñoz Zakiya Jendayi (l) and Dr. Laura Dean Hean (r). Zakiya Jendayi, was appointed sole beneficiary of Laura Dean Head’s estate by Dr. Head. Unfortunately, Head’s two estranged sisters contested Head’s will and trust, which forced Jendayi into the probate court system. Courtesy photo.
The Case Against Probate Court: Silenced, Misdirected, and Burdened
Another example of the danger of high-speed chases was last December when two BART Police SUVs and a medical supply vehicle responding to an overdose call at the West Oakland station were in involved in a crash. Three BART police officers and the medical supply driver were injured. Photo courtesy of SFist.
62nd Year, No. 23
By Tanya Dennis
Part 4
my case was the silencing in my own hearing, having to be judged
This week, Zakiya Folami Jen-
in the wrong court in the wrong
dayi, beneficiary of the Dr. Laura
jurisdiction, and in a stunning de-
Dean Head trust, will file a Peti-
parture from legal norms Judge
tion Writ of Certiorari to the Unit-
Sandra Bean shifted the burden of
ed States Court of Appeals for the
proof onto me to disprove baseless
Ninth Circuit after losing benefi-
accusations and defend claims
ciary status in Probate Court.
brought by parties with no legal
A writ of certiorari is a formal
standing,” Jendayi said.
request made to a higher court,
rounding pursuits and public safety in Oakland,” according to the June 2 statement, which was signed by Ricardo Garcia-Acosta, chair of the Oakland Police Commission. “We must respond with urgency to ensure that Dr. Boomer’s passing serves as a catalyst for meaningful change, transforming these ripples of trauma into waves of solutions and hope for our city, both through systemic reforms and individual support,” the statement said. Continuing, the Commission said that Oakland Police Chief
What Jendayi experienced is
typically the Supreme Court of the
not novel. Maxine Ussery, Ron
United States, to review the deci-
Lindo, Charlotte Franklin, Allen
sion of a lower court.
Jackson and a multitude of other
Continued on page 8
court failed to uphold the law in
Jendayi says, “My experience in the California probate system
people who have gone through probate make the same claim.
reveals deep cracks in our legal
Maxine Ussery, who entered
institutions, cracks that dispropor-
probate court with an estate of
tionately harm Black families and
over $5 million and left with less
strip away generational wealth. “As the sole beneficiary and trustee of a legally executed trust, I expected due process. What I received was injustice. The three most disturbing ways the probate
than $35,000 shares said: “They wouldn’t let us speak, we had to get an attorney and even then, we weren’t allowed to inform the court regarding facts and pertinent details.”
Continued on page 8
As Oakland faces another hefty budget cycle, residents are sharing their concerns and hopes for what they want to see the city spend and prioritize over the next two years. The city hosted a series of forums across each district focused on the budget process and answering peoples’ most asked questions on city spending, such as public safety, measure funding, and Oakland’s financial stability. When asked to describe how they felt about the budget in one word, residents said controversial, mismanaged, misprioritized, corrupt, confusing, accountability, fairness, sustainability, and family. Oakland is facing a $260 million deficit over the next twoyear cycle, having just balanced a $130 million deficit in the latest budget term. Balancing the budget meant temporarily closing fire stations, reducing overtime police spending, and cutting community grants and programs. The new budget proposal will cut 400 city jobs, the majority of which have been or will be vacant in the coming years, and some anticipated to come from layoffs. One fire and three police academies will be funded through this next budget, along with all fire stations, and the Department of
Violence Prevention. The biggest concern on residents’ minds has been stability. “Is Oakland going broke?” one person asked. “No, the city of Oakland is not going broke,” City Administrator Jestin Johnson said to the crowd of people at District 2’s budget forum. Johnson explained that the issues the city has been experiencing started back in 2012 and have been a challenge to stabilize year after year, leading to hard decisions like the ones to public safety and community organizations back in December. The greatest cost to Oakland comes from personnel salaries and overhead fees, city staff said. Benefits, such as pension payouts, also contribute largely to how much money is leaving the city, and costs are looking to increase by $70 million in the next few years. Budget Administrator Bradley Johnson compared the budget problems to rising rent costs without rising income. “We have been living in a household whose rent has been going up faster than our income. And while we have a solution for the coming two years to make sure our income is balanced, that continuing pressure of rent growing faster than income is Continued on page 8
Interfaith Prayer Service Blesses Mayor Barbara Lee’s Leadership at Allen Temple Baptist Church
Special to The Post
wisdom, and guidance. The emo-
More than 40 faith leaders from diverse spiritual traditions—including Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, New Thought, and Catholic communities—gathered in unity on Sunday, June 1 at Allen Temple Baptist Church to offer prayers and blessings for newly elected Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson, senior pastor of Allen Temple at 8501 International Blvd. in Oakland, hosted the powerful and spiritually rich service, which was attended by more than 200 people. The clergy, adorned in their ceremonial vestments, processed into the sanctuary, led by Dr. Har-
tion in the room was palpable, moving both attendees and the mayor herself. The service concluded with baritone
Lawrence
Beamon’s
rousing performance of “The Impossible Dream” which brought the congregation to its feet in celebration and solidarity. Lee offered emotional clos-
Photos by Jamila Buckner. Special to The Post. old Mayberry, presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Dr. Eloise Oliver, pastor emeritus of the East Bay Church of Religious Science. Leaders from each tradition offered heartfelt prayers, reflecting
the spiritual diversity and inclusive spirit of Oakland. Chris Poston of the Oakland Symphony Chorus electrified the audience with a soul-stirring rendition of the O’Jays classic, “Love Train,” setting a tone of unity and
joy. Rev. Cheryl Ward, one of the organizers, remarked, “We wanted to show a representation of the community the mayor represents—intentionally inclusive of everyone. That’s why we invited
all ethnicities, cultures, and religious beliefs to the table to plan this service.” In a poignant moment of collective support, the assembled clergy encircled Lee, laying hands on her in a communal prayer of strength,
ing remarks, expressing her deep spiritual calling and commitment to lead Oakland through its fiscal challenges and toward a safer, more unified future. “This is a sacred task,” she said, “and I do not carry it alone.”