Victory for Oakland

Kamala Harris is running for President of the United States and attended the opening of her campaign office in Oakland, CA on Sunday 9/29/2019 .  The office is located in Oakland's District 2 at 3909 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610. Photo credit: East Bay Times The opening was attended by high-profile elected in Oakland including Mayor Libby Schaaf, District 3 City Councilwoman Lynette Gibson-McElheney, and Rep. Barbara Lee who is Harris's California fundraising co-chair . As some may recall, Harris announced her run from President from the steps of Oakland City Hall in January of this year. However, Harris' campaign has faced several stumbles, hurdles, and backtracks when it comes to resonating with Oaklanders.  Many Oakland natives decry Harris claiming Oakland,CA as her hometown and campaign base because Harris was technically born in Oakland but spent most of her childhood abroad in Canada.  When Harris returned to California, it was as a prosec...

On Saturday October 5, 2019, the Oakland United Coalition will host a Townhall on Community Benefits for the Oakland A's proposed developments in Oakland.  The  Oakland United Coalition is an East Oakland   coalition of residents, workers, faith leaders, youth, community organizations and unions which was founded several years ago when the City and Oakland A's were discussing redevelopment of the existing Coliseum in east Oakland as a Coliseum City. The Coalition takes a slightly different approach from groups like the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union ("ILWU") when it comes to the A's proposed development in Oakland.  ILWU recently hosted a community forum on the proposed development at Howard Terminal in West Oakland with an clear demand that it not be approved or built at the site.  The Coalition will be hosting a townhall to discuss community benefits to demand from the A's no matter if or where the development is built. Community bene...

On Saturday 9/21/2019, I attended the Community Forum on the A's proposed Howard Terminal development in West Oakland. The forum was hosted by the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Workers Union ("ILWU") at the West Oakland Senior Center. The room was hot and packed with standing room only.  Attendees included local residents, ILWU and other union members, elders, and community leaders. Presenters raised concerns about the project in the following areas: racial equity in contracting and employment quality jobs that include job security and stability, full-time employment, union rights, benefits, and jobs that our community members are qualified for that will build their skill sets negative impact on jobs at the Port of Oakland which provides middle class incomes and that does not require higher education negative impact on ingress and egress to the Port of Oakland affecting the millions in commerce and jobs as the 5th largest port in the United State...

Verizon has launched its 5G service and plans to expand the tech to entire municipalities as 5G smart cities.  The company announced that it will be launching 5G in 30 cities across the country by the end of 2019. 5G smart cities carry  the fastest data speeds and  the  potential  for  more intelligent transportation and traffic applications, more bandwidth and greater network resources to first responders . However, s ome cities and residents already report concerns with services being available only in downtown and more affluent areas.  Others complain about the  devices that are required to be installed which including radiation emissions .  Verizon 5G has launched in California areas like San Diego  already.  It plans to do the same in Oakland, CA .  I attended a listening session in Oakland, CA on August 26, 2019 to talk with community stakeholders and Verizon leaders about what 5G can do to address pressing issues in...

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union ("ILWU") is hosting a community discussion on the Oakland A's proposed new stadium project called the "Howard Terminal"on September 21, 2019 from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the West Oakland Senior Center. The A's development is proposed to included a ballpark, transit, lodging, and commercial businesses.  The port of Oakland is the 5th largest port in the United States. The Port of Oakland handles 99% of all containerized goods moving through Northern California, representing $41 billion worth of international trade. ILWU is comprised of port workers at the port of Oakland.  The ILWU has been outspoken about the problems the proposed project presents to workers and residents in the area. They have taken a decisive position that the A's should remain in east Oakland at its current stadium instead of building in West Oakland.  They are garnering more support and visibility with regional activists like Dan...

The City of Oakland is engaging in a dangerous practice of repeated displacement, exclusion, and trauma of the City's most vulnerable residents. While the housing crisis is a statewide and national crisis, Oakland's houseless population has grown exponentially over the last several years and surging in recent years .  Reports estimate that up to 80% of those who are houseless are Black/African American residents . The City has initiated "solutions" including the Mayor's Tough Shed program and the overnight parking lot program in partnership with local churches.  However, these efforts expect to serve tens of residents and have barely put a dent in the visible tent cities and curbside communities that have been in existence for years with new ones popping up on almost every street in the City. The City's common "solution" for communities that either refuse the limited options offered by the City or have no other option is to evict them from t...

On Labor Day 2019, I joined thousands of Kaiser workers and patients at Oakland's Mosswood Park to advocate against Kaiser's proposed threats to workers as well as patient care. Kaiser's CEO resides in the Bay Area and earns $600,000.00 per month by conservative estimates.  Kaiser just entered a deal including naming rights for a Thrive City at the new Chase Center in San Francisco, CA.  Kaiser is also taking steps to erect a $900 Million office for its workforce in downtown Oakland and hopes it will be tallest in Oakland's skyline.  Kaiser benefits from tax exemptions due to its non-profit status but maintains billions of dollars in its reserves and reportedly grossed over $5 billion in the first half of 201 9. Kaiser workers are protesting the greed and corruption of Kaiser which include a proposed reduction in worker pay; creation of a two-tiered classification system that will provide less job protections and rights to the lower tier; and increase of workers...