Oakland

Opinion: What Are We Waiting For?

Published

7 years ago

June 8, 2017

Three City Councilmembers sponsored a very successful forum in February in support of the Public Bank of Oakland.

So far, although no opposition arguments have been raised, only two councilmembers are clearly in favor of funding the bank’s feasibility study.
City staff and the other six councilmembers are equivocating: the money needs to be spent other ways; maybe the Bank should be regional; let’s wait and see what San Francisco will do.
What are we waiting for?
This Tuesday, June 13, the City Council’s Finance Committee will face a simple decision: spend $100,000 now to start moving toward the Public Bank of Oakland or sheepishly follow the staff’s recommendation to wait some unspecified period of time for some unspecified thing to change.
Other municipalities have already expressed interest in partnering with our Bank. If Oakland shows some courage, we will find support.
What are we waiting for?
If Oakland doesn’t start a public bank, the City Council will always be making the hard decisions they’re stuck with now: do we allocate our money to the homeless or to keeping long-time housed residents in the city? Do we rebuild the pier that the rowing club needs, or do we get the rats out of the parks?
At the same meeting where they do or don’t allocate that $100,000, the Finance Committee will almost certainly approve an $86 million note financed by Bank of America.
B of A will earn $2.5 million for that note. If that $2.5 million went to the Public Bank of Oakland, we could use it to rebuild the pier and get the rats out of the parks and have plenty left over to help our community banks finance small businesses and student loans.
If the $56 million we paid in interest to Wall Street last year went to our Bank instead, we’d be able to address many more of our competing problems.

Last year the Bank of North Dakota (BND) earned $136 million in profits. Oakland is about half the size of North Dakota, so once our Bank is up and running, it could earn about half what BND earned, or $68 million.
That comes to $186,000 per day that we’re not earning without our Bank. What are we waiting for?
Why should we be missing these financial opportunities?
The Finance Committee members are Abel Guillén (238-7002), Dan Kalb (238-7001), Annie Campbell Washington (238-7004), and Noel Gallo (238-7005).
Please call them and ask, “What are we waiting for?”

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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

6 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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Bay Area

BART to Retire Legacy Trains in Public Ceremony April 20

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

The Richmond Standard

Bay Area Rapid Transit’s final dispatch of legacy trains will take place on Saturday, April 20, and will be accompanied by a retirement ceremony and a final legacy ride.

At 1 p.m., the public is invited to celebrate the last run of BART’s legacy trains during a ceremony that will take place in the free area of the plaza at MacArthur Station in Oakland.

Following the ceremony, the public is invited to board a legacy train and ride from MacArthur to Fremont Station, mirroring the initial service BART provided when it opened Sept. 11, 1972.

“It’s a 45-minute trip that travels along approximately 24 miles of the original section of tracks,” BART officials said.

Multiple legacy trains will run for the event, and all will make station stops and may turn around at Bay Fair depending on the number of attendees waiting to ride. Regular fares will apply.

“These train cars are part of the history of the Bay Area,” said Bob Powers, BART general manager. “While we are excited to modernize the system, we recognize the profound cultural importance of these cars, and we want to celebrate their rich history and give them a proper send off.”

BART is now running train cars from its Fleet of the Future project.

Those nostalgic for the older trains will be able to view three of them soon at Western Railway Museum in Suisun City.

A handful of other legacy cars will be transferred to be repurposed for short-term rentals, entertainment venues, and training facilities, according to BART. Most of the legacy cars have been recycled.

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Mind, Body, and Spiritual Well-Being for Women Addressed in NAACP Forum in Oakland

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church. Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

The panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental and emotional well-being and relationships. iStock photo by Jorge Elizaquibel.

Special to The Post

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church.

Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66^th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

The forum will feature renowned experts, healthcare professionals, and advocates from Genentech, John Muir Health, Sutter Health of The East Bay, Kaiser Permanente, and the Alameda County Public Health Department.

Our expert panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and healthy relationships. The forum will encompass a wide range of topics such as breast cancer, menopause, reproductive health, nutrition, mental health awareness, preventive care, and much more.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend informative sessions, interactive workshops, and panel discussions led by experts in their respective fields. Additionally, there will be wellness activities, screenings, and informational booths offering valuable resources and support.

This forum is open to women of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging inclusivity and diversity in the conversation surrounding women’s health. Whether you’re seeking information for yourself, a loved one, or simply looking to connect with other women, this event promises to be enlightening and empowering.

For more information and to register for the Total You Women’s Health Forum, please visit https://www.naacpoakland.org/ or contact Dr. Delores Thompson. WIN chairwoman at (510) 328-3638.

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is dedicated to empowering women, and young teen girls. We look forward to your participation in this important event.

To register, go to https://www.naacpoakland.org/events/the-total-you-womens-health-forum