City Government
Oakland Bans Misleading Anti-Abortion Ads
Oakland City Council unanimously passed an ordinance recently tightening regulations around false advertisements by fake pregnancy clinics who suggest they perform abortions and instead try to dissuade people from having abortions.
The ordinance was put forward by Councilmembers Annie Campbell Washington, Rebecca Kaplan, Abel Guillén and City Attorney Barbara Parker.
As of last week, Oakland is the second city in the country to ban ads by socalled crisis pregnancy clinics that hold an anti-abortion agenda, focusing mainly on billboards and online ads.
The ordinance, which is effective immediately, fines clinics $50 to $500 per violation.
San Francisco passed a similar law in 2011.
According to Amy Everitt, NARAL Pro-Choice California director, a simple Google search for local abortion clinics near Oakland results in many centers that do not provide the service and are not registered with authorities.
“When (people) are seeking reproductive health care, it is time-sensitive and urgent,” Everitt told the Huffington Post.
When you put an entity or organization in the way that’s specifically targeting (reproductive health care seekers) to deceive them into wasting their time and delay them from accessing other care, what that creates for the women and families of California is a public harm.”
According to a Planned Parenthood spokesperson, anti-abortion centers outnumber Planned Parenthood’s 115 clinics in California.
Oakland City Attorney Parker also cited websites of several crisis pregnancy clinics that list false health risks of contraception and strongly discourage abortion.
“(Crisis pregnancy clinics) are a growing strategy in the anti-choice movement,” according to a statement by Councilmember Campbell Washington.
With national news around the presidential election focusing on reproductive rights, “we believe this cause is more important than ever,” she said.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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