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Grassroots Efforts Growing To Address Public Health “Crises”

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Rupa Marya, M.D., a UCSF professor and co-founder of the #DoNoHarm Coalition, believes police violence must be addressed as a public health crisis.
Grassroots efforts around the Bay Area are growing as local organizations find that governmental efforts to address social problems are taking too long or are ineffective. Hunger, homelessness, systemic racism, police violence and more, are taking a toll on public health across the country, and people decide they are going to  “do something.”
In the 1990s, the Clinton “welfare reform” encouraged local communities to form non-profits to apply for state and federal grants to develop their own programs to address problems in their communities. The net effect was not sufficient to help those in need.
But now, there appears to be a resurgence of this spirit of “we’re going to do what we can to make a difference.”
Here are several examples of local initiatives:
The First Presbyterian Church of Oakland has had a meal program for a number of years and is now considering expanding that ministry to meet the broader needs of their service community.
According to the team leader of the food ministry, Bill Coburn, “We see the same people over and over and get acquainted with them. We want to help them navigate to places to meet all their needs, not just serving them two times a week.”
Pastor Deborah Avery of First Presbyterian heads a discussion group working on the possibility of forming a non-profit to expand the Food Ministry efforts.
Another effective community effort is centered in San Francisco with the #DoNoHarm Coalition.
#DoNoHarm publicly and effectively addressed San Francisco Police Department violence, leading to the termination of Police Chief Greg Suhr. Medical staff associated with the coalition wheeled hunger strikers from the Mission District to City Hall, and the public image of that was compelling.
UCSF professor Rupa Marya, M.D., worked with the coalition, and by invitation, she assisted at Standing Rock with medical aid during the pipeline stand-off.
She believes that many of the current social justice problems are really public health crises. The coalition is already doing research on the health effects of evictions.
“We are also in the preliminary stages of developing a nationwide survey of experiences people have when justice is not being served,” she said.
Addressing homelessness head-on in its public ministries cohort, Allen Temple Baptist Church recently pressured city and county elected officials to remove homeless encampments around the church at 85th Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland.
But they were removed “compassionately,” with counselors present and none of the “sweep” activity, which has caused trauma to so many.
For more information, go to:  www.donoharm.org.
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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

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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.

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District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones
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.

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

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