Community
Marshawn Lynch, Baron Davis Host Black Santa at Beast Mode Store
NBA Star, Baron Davis, CEO of the Black Santa Company poses with Black Santa and Mrs. C. with a child at their Christmas celebration at Beast Mode clothing store in downtown Oakland. Photo by Carla Thomas.
Black Santa ushered in the Christmas spirit last Friday in downtown Oakland.Co-hosted by NBA star, Baron Davis, founder of the Black Santa Company, Children and their parents lined up along Broadway between 7th and 8th streets outside of Marshawn Lynch’s Beast Mode store to take pictures with Black Santa and Mrs.
The toy drive meet and greet featured a pop up shop, Christmas tree giveaway, tree lighting ceremony and a live performance of “Can’t Sleep” by Jason Clas.
“Marshawn and I just wanted to share Christmas with the community and hosting it at his shop was a great fit,” said Davis.
Davis considers Lynch a brother and said the two decided last year to do something different for the community. By hosting the Black Santa event, they want to just take control of the imagery commonly associated with Christmas.
Davis says he created the caricatures and brand to reflect the community, after experiencing the joy of being Santa for his own family and friends.
“With the Black Santa Company we want to be responsible for painting and creating the images our kids see, we want to inspire the youth and show that we are lovely people, we are a beautiful people and we stand together. I want kids and my own children to have characters and stories customized for them that have positive storylines and characters,” he added.
In addition, by expanding the concept to include gifts items and clothing he has big plans for Black Santa and Mrs. C. in the film, music and storytelling arenas.
“This is great for the community and we appreciate Marshawn and Baron for having the vision and continuing to support the community, especially during this time of year,” said Regina Jackson, president of the EOYDC.
Attendees included community leaders such as Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney, Kim Caldwell and Shawn Granberry. The event was also supported by a dozen community partners including the Black Bay Area, the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), SUDA, Serenity House, and Starbucks.
For more information, visit www.BlackSanta.com
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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