Community

Black Construction Workers Overcome Obstacles to Land Army Base Jobs

Published

10 years ago

May 30, 2014

Four experienced Oakland construction workers have been trying for years to qualify for jobs that have been promised to local residents on the Oakland Army Base development but have found themselves mired in union, bureaucratic and financial obstacles until now.

This week, Jeffery Duckett, Fernander Thompson, Johnny Evans, and Otis Duckett received a donation from a division of City Administrator Fred Blackwell’s office in answer to their call for help to purchase work equipment.

< p>The Post recently started a campaign advocating for jobs on the Army Base – pushing to make sure the city would fulfill its commitment to 50 percent local hire on the project – and helped set up a Worker Assistance Fund to assist job seekers in paying union dues and purchasing work supplies.

As a result, each job seeker received all their basic supplies: work boots, masks, tool bags and belts, gloves, helmets, knee pads, pliers, wrenches and a measuring tape.

The supplies were donated by the city’s Contract Compliance & Employment Services Division and organized by Jonothan Dumas, employment services supervisor, and Deborah Barnes, department manager.

“I’m appreciative of you stepping up and putting yourself in the position for someone to help you,” Dumas said to the job seekers. “You’re standing here and not having somebody carry you.”

Having himself worked in construction for 30 years, Dumas volunteered to be an “ongoing resource” for Duckett, Thompson, Evans, and Duckett as they continue working through the job process.

These four construction workers are the first to receive assistance from The Post’s Worker Assistance Fund, organized by a committee of six of the newspaper’s staffers: Paul Cobb, Ken Epstein, Ashley Chambers, Maxine Ussery, Majeedah Rakman and Tasion Kwamilele.

The group so far has raised $2,000.

The four workers said they grateful for the generosity of Dumas and Barnes, and committed to setting an example that with hard work and determination, opportunities can abound.

The Post looks forward to continuing to follow the progress of these workers and help others overcome the obstacles to employment in the future.

For more information or to make a contribution, call the Post at (510) 287-8220.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.