Community

Oakland Activist Seeks Funding to Join Democratic Party Platform Committee in Philadelphia

Published

8 years ago

July 1, 2016

Activist Carroll Fife recently received a message with some unexpected, exciting news.

“I got a text last week saying ‘congratulations,’” said Fife. “It had my name on a paper that said ‘Clinton and Sanders’ platform committee.’”

Fife quickly found out she had been elected to join the California delegation to the Platform Committee of the Democratic Party at this year’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, a rare and high honor that she said she did not advocate for or even know she was nominated for.

Nevertheless, Fife said she wants to be there. “I want to honor the people who thought it was important for my voice to be a part of the process,” she said.

Only now, Fife faces the challenge of paying for an unexpected and upcoming trip across the country. So, she has since started a GoFundMe page to help raise $6,000 to help bring Oakland to Philadelphia for the convention.

According to the fundraising page, “Grounded in local grassroots organizing, I have dedicated my life to bringing the needs of the people front and center. It’s my intention to bring Oakland to Philly – holding the people’s interests in my heart and representing our agenda in the process.”

In addition to the conference from July 25 to July 28, Fife is also planning a trip to Orlando, where she will be working with other platform committee members from California to finalize the platform that will go before the delegation in Florida.

“I was told by the Bernie (Sanders) campaign this would be the most critical work,” Fife said. “The platform committee work will dictate the direction of the party for the next four years.”

Crunched for time, Fife is now working to reach her goal of $6,000 by next week.

Although she remains optimistic that she will attend the convention, Fife said she may have to drop her plans to work on the platform in Florida if the fundraising goal is not met.

“When we have the opportunity to send one of our members whose work is in line with serving the people and has given back to the community, we should entrust her with the job of taking our grassroots message to these platforms that normally shut us out,” said Cat Brooks of the Anti Police-Terror Project.

To contribute to Fife’s online fundraising page, visit www.gofundme.com/fife2philly

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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

Published

2 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

6 days 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

6 days 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.