City Government
Black Panther Party Co-Founder Bobby Seale Endorses Desley Brooks
Desley Brooks’ campaign for reelection to the District 6 seat on the Oakland City Council was endorsed this week by prominent activist Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense.
“I endorse sister Desley Brooks for reelection to Oakland City Council,” said Seale in a press statement.
“Desley has been a vital voice in the fight for people’s economic, ecological and social justice empowerment,” said Seale.
“She is truly innovative in both thought and action.”
Seale is an organizer with over 50 years of experience. He co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense with Huey P. Newton in 1966 in Oakland.
The organization aimed to combat police brutality and create self-determined communities for Oakland’s Black residents.
The organization also famously provided programs filling basic needs for people neglected by government efforts and cut off locally funded efforts.
Seale said Desley Brooks is the only candidate working towards these same goals today.
“Her legislation on jobs, housing, environmental injustices and community development have ensured that the people of Oakland have a chance to grow with the city, not be pushed out of it,” said Seale.
Brooks works for equity in all areas of Oakland governance, according to her backers.
She authored the nation’s first Cannabis Equity Program, designed to open access to the rapidly expanding industry to Oakland residents who have borne the brunt of the racialized war on drugs.
Brooks introduced legislation that created the Department of Race and Equity, which ensures that all city departments look at whether their plans and programs produce equitable outcomes for city workers, contractors and residents.
She also supported the family members of police shooting victims and community calls for accountability of the Oakland Police Department, pushing for meaningful reform from her position as the chair of Oakland’s Public Safety Committee.
“I’m honored to have the support of such an iconic leader.” said Councilmember Brooks. “The foundation laid by Bobby Seale and others continuously inspires me to place the most vulnerable people in our communities at the center of our progress.”
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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