Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
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Weekly Edition November 26 - December 2, 2025
62nd Year, No. 51
Mayor Lee Thanks Mistah FAB and the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back Volunteers After They Donated Thanksgiving Meals to Needy Families
By Carla Thomas
Mistah FAB’s DOPE Era Company hosted the “Let’s Go Oakland 21st Annual Turkey and Food Giveaway” on Tuesday outside North Side Market at 45th and Market streets in North Oakland. DOPE, which stands for “Developing Opportunity for People to Evolve,” lived up to its name as Mistah FAB and 10 collaborating organizations distributed food and essential supplies to the community. With enough donations to serve nearly 1,000 families, Mistah FAB shared his gratitude. “This is the most we’ve ever had to give away,” he said. “We also appreciate all the generous donations of food, toiletries, and supplies that made this possible.”
DOPE Era and Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back give away turkeys, sides, supplies and more in North Oakland. Photo by Jonathan Fitness Jones.
Mistah FAB emphasized the challenges many families face during the holidays — whether missing deceased loved ones or not having enough money for gifts or food. “We’re stepping up to help and uplift our community, because people right here in our own
neighborhoods are struggling with basic needs. We’re here to ease that pressure and show that we care. We want everyone to know that together, we can make it.” Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee attended the event, thanking the many volunteers, community members, and organizations who
came together to make a difference in Oakland. In addition to food, attendees received new coats, blankets, socks, and toiletries. Collaborating organizations included the Oakland Private Industry Council, One Nation Dream Makers, Side Door, the African American Sports and
Entertainment Group, Cell Block to City Block, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Grown Sexy Divas, Prison Focus, Cage University, Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB), and the Oakland Post. Richard Johnson, the CEO
of FIGB said he assured Mayor Lee that he would continue to encourage his vast network of prisoner returnees, churches and non-profit groups to work with Mr. FAB, businesses, agencies and churches to help feed the needy and to remove trash from the streets of Oakland.
Chase Bank and Oakland Police Warn of Increase in Holiday Scams in Fraud Prevention Workshop Flock surveillance camera. Courtesy photo.
Marshall Williams (left) of the Bay Area One Health Coalition and Project Pet at the Community Harvest Food Giveaway with Oakland Ballers General Manager Laura Geist (center), and giveaway founder LaMel Smith. Photo by Tone Oliver.
Oakland Council Divided Over Police Surveillance Cameras on City Steets
By Post Staff
Many local residents are opposing a proposal backed by the Oakland Police Department and supporters on the City Council to hire an out-of-state company to operate surveillance cameras on city streets, which failed to pass on Nov. 18 at the City Council’s Public Safety Committee. The proposal failed on a 2-2 tie vote. If it had passed, the resolution would have been forwarded to the
City Council for a final decision. Councilmembers Carroll Fife and Rowena Brown voted against the $2.25 million contract with Flock Safety. Councilmembers Charlene Wang and Ken Houston voted in favor. Some supporters of the Flock resolution hope to bypass the Public Safety Committee and take the proposal directly to the full City Council, where Flock may have a greater Continued on page 8
Chase Vice President - Community Manager Myesha Brown leads a presentation on fraud prevention, sharing tips and insights on fraud prevention at the Chase Bank’s Broadway branch in downtown Oakland. Photo courtesy of Chase Bank. By Carla Thomas As the holiday shopping season ramps up, so do scams targeting consumers, especially online
and through mobile devices. In recognition of International Fraud Awareness Week, Chase Bank hosted a free, in-person fraud preContinued on page 8
Oakland School District Under Pressure to Cut $100 Million from Budget by Dec. 10
H. Rap Brown. Facebook photo. Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin. Scoop News USA photo.
H. Rap Brown, Civil Rights Era Advocate for Black Power, Dies at 82 roughly 20% of the district’s gen-
School Board President Jennifer Brouhard (left) and Vice President Valarie Bachelor (right). File photos. By Post Staff The Board of Education of the Oakland Unified School District will have to make hard decisions in the next few weeks as it struggles to cut spending by $100 million,
eral fund, for the 2026-2027 school year. At its Nov. 19 board meeting, the board examined two proposals that mostly look at layoffs and restrucContinued on page 8
By Post Staff
Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, known as H. Rap Brown, the fiery orator who led the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was minister of jus-
tice during an alliance with the Black Panther Party in the 1960s, has died. He was 82. His advocacy for the Black community ranged widely in impact – from the national stage as Continued on page 8
Oakland Ballers Join with ICAC for Harvest and Toy Giveaway at Westside Missionary Baptist Church
By Tone Oliver and Pastor Ken Chambers Special to The Post
More than 500 community members gathered on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) Hub for a major Community Harvest Food Giveaway organized by Helping Others Win, founded by LaMel Smith. “My mission,” said Smith, a long-standing leader in Oakland’s grassroots service community, “is rooted in the belief that if you love people, you feed them — just as scripture teaches.” The event, held at West Side Missionary Baptist Church (WSMBC) at 732 Willow St. in West Oakland, drew families, volunteers, and partner organizations including the Oakland Ballers, Project Pet, Bay Area One Health Coalition, HIV Education and Prevention Project of Alameda County (HEPPAC), Bay Area Association of Black
Psychologists, Inc. (ABPsi), Maddie’s Fund, and ICAC. The Ballers’ commitment to showing up for Oakland families was clear throughout the event. With rising needs across the region, the Oakland Ballers and their nonprofit partners are working to ensure families not only receive holiday cheer but also access to essential support, resources, and community care,” said Laura Geist, Oakland Ballers’ general manager. Marshall Williams, executive director of the Bay Area One Health Coalition and Project Pet, emphasized the importance of united partnerships: “Project Pet and The Bay Area One Health Coalition were proud to stand by Helping Others Win, WSMBC, ICAC, HEPPAC, ABPsi, Maddie’s Fund, and The Oakland Ballers for a successful, responsive Community Harvest session,” Williams said. The event also featured live music, bringing joy and energy Continued on page 8
Mount Zion Baptist Church Blessed Families with Over 800 Turkeys and Food for Thanksgiving!
Shelly Tatum (left) joins the Honorable Mayor Barbara Lee (center) and Pastor Michael Wallace (right) at the giveaway. Photo courtesy of Shelly Tatum. By Post Staff
where hundreds of people lined up in
“…There was the spirit of thanksgiv-
The Honorable Mayor of Oakland Barbara Lee was among the throng at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church’s Annual Thanksgiving Turkey and Food Give-Away on Tuesday
cars or on foot at 1203 Willow St. in
ing in the air! It was electric!” he said.
West Oakland.
“The people were so grateful, and, as
Mount Zion’s Pastor Michael Wal-
Mayor Lee moved among the people,
lace participated in the event and en-
she was moved by the people. Their
couraged the people and volunteers.
admiration and appreciation for her
The bags of turkeys and other food lined up for distribution. Photo courtesy of Shelly Tatum. was something to behold.” More than 100 volunteers from various churches and diverse communities joined in and distributed 827 turkeys, 650 bags of vegetables and fruit and 650 bags of non-perishable food at the church.
“This is the first time that we ran out of turkeys and food and had to turn a few people away,” Wallace said. He shared his appreciation for the Impact Oakland Now (ION), Dr. Dwight Webster of Beth Eden Baptist
Church, Dr. Anthony Braxton and Pastor Sean Mapp of Harmony Baptist Church, Alameda County Community Food Bank and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) for partnering and serving with him this year.