City Government
Oakland Council to Review Proposal City’s First Public Access TV Station
On Tuesday, September 12th the Oakland City Council Finance Committee to discuss a proposal, that if approved, would establish Oakland’s first public access television station.
While the City has two educational channels, KDOL and Peralta College TV, and one government channel, KTOP, there is a growing need for a public access station.
Bishop J.E. Watkins operates OWH Studios (Overcomers With Hope), a local television media production and training studio in the historical Liberty Hall-Marcus Garvey Building in West Oakland. He says his students and his facility is well prepared to fill the void.
“We are proposing the City approves a public access television station be added that has the sole intention of serving the community of Oakland citizens,” said Watkins. “This will be our first hearing and we have the support of Councilmembers Lynette McElhaney and Rebecca Kaplan, so far and hope to gain even more support.”
Cable companies contribute up to five percent of their profits to the city fund to support public access channels. According to Watkins, a public access station in Oakland will be a great necessity in the community, providing a creative outlet, viable job training.
“We have the capacity to generate jobs and opportunity for people living right here,” said Watkins. “Funding is ear marked for a public access station, so why doesn’t Oakland have a public access channel?”
Having recently upgraded his studio with state of the art equipment, Watkins believes his students can create broadcast quality programming for the public “right now.”
“When media surrounds us and influences every aspect of modern life, doesn’t it make sense for Oakland to have a platform of expression via public access television,” said Watkins. “Please join us at the hearing and support our efforts to ensure Oakland has a public access station.”
The Finance Committee hearing will take place at City Hall on Tuesday, September 12 at 4 p.m.
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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