The Oakland A’s and the Oakland City Council must not make a backroom deal to sell public land to billionaire John Fisher and cost taxpayers millions for a Stadium
Keep the A’s at the Coliseum
The Oakland City Council is considering whether to sell its half interest in the Oakland Coliseum property to the A’s at the below‑market rate of $85 million. The Coliseum is some of the most valuable land in the entire Bay Area. This public land should not be handed over without full, public deliberation — especially when the sale would be at a discounted price. At a minimum, the City must require that, if the A’s buy the land, they must actually build their stadium at the Coliseum site.
Oakland Always Gets the Short End of the Deal
Among American cities with major‑league sports franchises, Oakland has ended up on the short end of the stick more than any other — at least financially speaking. The Raiders moved to Las Vegas, leaving behind a $65 million tab for Oakland taxpayers. When the Warriors left for San Francisco, they left us on the hook for $40 million in arena improvements. …
Public Land should not be handed over to a billionaire family without full transparency — especially when selling at a discounted price
Municipalities everywhere are grappling with the economic fallout of COVID-19. Oakland is no exception. The city is understandably looking everywhere for ways to fill the budget hole.
But it is gravely concerning that the City Council met behind closed doors last week to hammer out a plan to sell the city’s half of the Oakland Coliseum property to the A’s at the below-market rate of $85 million.
The Coliseum is some of the most valuable land in the entire Bay Area. This public land should not be handed over without full, public deliberation — especially when the sale would be at a discounted price. …
Follow The Money gives “the 411” on how law enforcement unions buy protection from local DAs and elected officials and how to stop it!
This week, San Francisco is leaning way forward in criminal justice reform in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.
San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, joined by Diane Becton, the first Black woman District Attorney in Contra Costa County, George Gascon, the former SF District Attorney and San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar called for the California State Bar to pass an ethics rule prohibiting prosecutors from accepting political donations and endorsements from law enforcement agencies and police unions.
Wow! This hits home in Alameda County. They decided to “Follow the Money!”
Follow The Money
In 2018, Republican Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern gave $50,000 to a campaign committee supporting incumbent District Attorney Nancy O’Malley. Ahern has been widely criticized for his cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. He gives immigration status information on people in the county jail to ICE, and sets releasees up to be picked up by ICE. He also signed a letter in support of Trump’s appointment of Jeff Sessions to Attorney General. …
America is not so beautiful as we experience the staggering death toll of COVID-19 and struggle to maintain stability in the midst of total economic chaos and a dying democracy
Credit: Yilmaz Akin / Provided by Subminimal
Warning: this is a dark piece in a dark time.
As I think about what to write this morning, I recognize the need to express the shame, horror and fear of this moment. Almost 100,000 people dead from COVID-19. Millions of people have no way to pay for food or rent. Millions of elders are at risk of death or homelessness. Yet, we cling to the shreds of a dying democracy and a fantasy called “getting back to normal.”
The shame is that we as a nation seem oblivious to the tragedy of so many unnecessary deaths in our midst. Part of struggling to stay sane in this season means trying to maintain some sense of normal life for ourselves and our loved ones. …
San Leandro police’s shooting of Steven Taylor will test California’s new law for use of deadly force by police and could result in a statewide police accountability standard if the Attorney General steps into the case
I live in Oakland California about 3 miles from San Leandro, California. San Leandro is what some call a “bedroom community” to Oakland. It’s a City where restrictive covenants and land use permits were used to stop Black people from moving from Oakland to San Leandro. Local celebrity Brian Copeland tells the story of how he grew up in San Leandro when it was 94% white. Copeland wrote a play and a book about it.
Most folks in the East Bay know San Leandro’s history. So when San Leandro police shot and killed Steven Taylor in a Walmart store on a Saturday afternoon, it was not a surprise. Steven Taylor was allegedly mentally ill, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He appears to be in a mental health crisis when 2 San Leandro police officers approach him. He refused to put down a bat and pulled away as the officers tased him. They then shot and killed him in front of dozens of shoppers. …
As Bernie Sanders suspends his presidential campaign, I feel like going on even knowing the “beloved community” will not come in my lifetime
This was a rough week. It started on Saturday, April 4th as I remember the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. That awful night in Memphis traumatized the entire country. It was such a game-changer for me personally. Yet, here we are, some 52 years later and barely a mention of the event that shook America to its core. It seems that the pandemic “trumps” everything.
Fast forward to April 8, 2020 — a day that will live in infamy for me and so many others. The day that Bernie Sanders “suspended” his campaign for the U.S. Presidency.
The end of Bernie Sanders’ campaign marks a sobering reality. The American economy is in shambles. The federal government is under the control of the tangerine reincarnation of Hitler and the federal bench is infested with far-right-wing fanatics appointed for life. For me, the inescapable reality is that the “beloved community” that Dr. King preached about will not come to pass in my lifetime. …
50 Years ago, a stranger opened her heart and home to become a foster Mom for a kid she did not know. Honoring her in my journey from juvenile hall to the US Supreme Court.
50 Years Today, it’s February 24th. I’m in juvenile hall. For at least the 3rd time. 50 years ago today I was a foster kid with no where to go. So, they put me in juvenile hall. And 50 years today, my foster Mom, Alice Aaron, decided to open her heart and her home to take a chance on me. Known affectionately as “GinaMama”, she was every kid’s dream grandmother — she loved all of us unconditionally.
Still, it’s 1970. This is not a good year for me. Or our country. The country is at war — both externally and internally. As US troops fought a losing battle in Vietnam, the US government fought a winning battle against the people. I jumped feet-first into the fray at the young age of 13, not realizing the danger or the full scope of the battle. …
Dante’ Roberson was wrongfully convicted in 2015 and the Alameda County DA has the power to release him or retry the case. Her decision?
For over 17 years, Dante’ “Taz” Roberson was a 1st call drummer for gigs of every genre in the Bay Area. He’s worked with artists such as The Whispers, Alicia Keys, Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Kem, Emily King, Anthony David, India Arie, Marcus Johnson, Frank McComb, Envogue, Evelyn Champagne King, Trevor Wesley, El Debarge, Eric Benet, Joe, Najee, Phil Perry, Gerald Albright, Mariah Carey, Cameo, DL Hughley, and B.L.A.C.K.E.
In 2011, Dante Roberson’s 2 year-old son suffered severe burns to his hands while visiting his father. Dante was charged and convicted of felony child abuse and sentenced to 9 years in state prison. …
Mayor Pete’s untenable candidacy for US President reflects a double standard for privilege, sex and race in American politics
In 2019, the number of people running for President was overwhelming. The running joke of any politician was “I’m not running for President.” Of all the candidates who survived 2019, Mayor Pete is not The One.
First, let me disclose. I am an ardent supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders. I committed early to support Sen. Sanders because I believe that he is the person in the presidential race whose agenda is most closely aligned with the values of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Now let me speak my truth.
A Double Standard
Mayor Pete is the Mayor of South Bend Indiana. South Bend is an American city with a population of roughly 100,000 people. He was elected as Mayor for a second term in November 2015. Voter turnout was a low 14%. Mayor Pete was elected with a whopping total of 8,515 votes. …
For my sisters and brothers who are in despair because Kamala withdrew, please know that Kamala Harris was not with us nor for us. We must “watch what they do, not what they say.”
This is a love letter to Black women: Kamala is Not “The One.”
Many Black women across the US are quite disturbed in the days since Kamala Harris dropped out of the Presidential race. Some Black women are even devastated by her decision. Others are crying “foul” and shame on the Democratic Party. I’m writing to you because your anguished despair about Kamala troubles me.
I am a Black woman who has been on the front lines of the fight for civil and human rights for more than 50 years. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a strident advocate for the leadership of Black women. I know how transformative our leadership can be. …
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