Featured

Julián Castro Visits Fruitvale BART Station, Oscar Grant Mural, Homeless Encampments

Published

5 years ago

September 26, 2019

Presidential candidate Julian Castro visited Oakland on Wednesday Sept. 25. Hosted by Councilman Noel Gallo, Castro was provided a tour of the Fruitvale district where he took photos at the Oscar Grant mural, held a reception at Guadalajara Restaurant and spent over an hour with the homeless.While walking with Gallo in a homeless encampment at High Street and Alameda Street, adjacent to Home Depot, Castro saw first hand the desperate need for affordable housing in the Bay Area. Previously serving the Housing Department under the Obama Administration, Castro is well aware of the crisis.

“As Housing Secretary under the Obama Administration, I travelled to 100 different communities in 39 states to work toward solutions…Housing is a right and these people are in dire need which is why I support a robust housing program,” said Castro.“This crisis needs to be placed on the presidential debates. So far the networks have not added this to the agenda.” From trash and debris to a colorful zone of cleanliness for kids, the tour put faces on the generic term “homeless.”

“We are people in need of a permanent solution, not just a temporary solution,” said Markaya Spikes who lives in the encampment with her 8 year old daughter. She said she’s lived there for 5 years and that there is also a 3 month old living in the enclave. “We need help with water, we often have to use the fire hydrants on the property for water,” said Spikes

About 15 media outlets representing radio, television and print trailed Gallo, his wife, Julian Castro and his press team.

Maria Fuentes, the mother of three children; ages seven, nine and 14, says her family ended up homeless when her undocumented husband was laid off. She says she has been camped there for five years.

“We lived in an apartment in Alameda before becoming homeless,” she said. “We want people to know that we are not just homeless, we are people and we need solutions,” said Fuentes, who had a few minutes to share her story with Castro and offered to assist him in helping the encampment.

Councilman Noel Gallo said the crisis is personal. “I went to high school with some of people living here, and we have to place them in safe, livable homes.”

According to Gallo, the property is privately owned but the long-time owner recently died. “The owners children recently leased the property to Carls, Jr. so everyone living here will have to move by December,” he said.

Gallo also explained that a vacant area across the street owned by the City will be used to relocate some some of them ,and a nearby motel will become senior and veteran housing. “But so much more needs to be done,” he said.

Carla Thomas

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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

1 day 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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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.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

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.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

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.