Bay Area
Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Visits Oakland Restaurant on Super Tuesday
Staying true to his appeal for the olden days, former Vice President Joe Biden visited Downtown Oakland’s nostalgic Buttercup Diner on Super Tuesday while campaigning for the Democratic National Primary.
On March 3, the family-style restaurant was transformed into a shoulder-to-shoulder engagement venue with Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden.
Owned by Debbie, from Virginia, and David Shahvar, from Israel, who met in a diner Debbie worked in while finishing at Cal Poly Pomona, The Buttercup Diner, has been in business since the 1988 opening of their flagship Walnut Creek restaurant. They launched the second location on Broadway near Jack London Square in Downtown Oakland in 1991.
A loose crowd began to gather around 9:30 a.m. including one man with a team Bloomberg shirt, a sprinkle of Bernie Sanders supporters holding signs, and five newscasters. By 11 a.m. more people filled the parking lot including an influx of Sanders supporters who took over every corner of 3rd and Broadway to chant calls for climate change and Medicare for All.
Jason Gallagher, 35, of Oakland stood nearby holding a “JOE IS SENILE” sign and was assaulted by a man who asked why he didn’t put “Bernie had a heart attack” on the other side of it. The Oakland police took statements from both men but neither was arrested.
When Biden arrived, he glanced at and ignored the damaged sign as Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff lead him into the diner. Biden ordered a slice of Coconut Crème Pie and tipped the cashier the change from his twenty as both reporters and stunned patrons crowded him to take pictures. He declined questions from the press.
Former City Council President and current city council member Lynette Gibson McElhaney were also in attendance adorned with a necklace with the image of her late son, Victor McElhaney, a student who fell victim to gun violence in Los Angeles last year. Surprisingly, famed pilot Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, heralded for his successful landing of Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, was also at the diner to meet Vice President Biden.
Former Vice President Biden was assisted by his current presidential campaign senior advisor, Symone Sanders, who abruptly left her position as press secretary for the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign. After ordering the pie, Biden spent almost an hour wadding through the crowd and stopping at each booth to speak with Buttercup diner patrons. He took selfies, shook hands, and saluted a veteran.
Some individual protestors shouted criticisms to the supporters as they lined the exit door. They mentioned dead Afghans from the Iraq war as well as other controversial Biden votes. The majority of the crowd booed the lone protestors and began chanting “Let’s Go, Joe!” As he exited the Butter Cup diner, Biden quickly traveled through the tunnel of onlookers to his awaiting white Suburban but shook a few more hands-on the way.
Results from Tuesday nights primary left Biden with 93 delegates from California, second to Bernie Sanders 155 but Biden sweep many important states and has become the Democratic primary front runner.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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.
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.
Bay Area
State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference
California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.
By Carla Thomas
California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco.
The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.
“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.
ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.
More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.
Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.
“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.
“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.
“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.
By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”
Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”
Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.
“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”
-
Community2 weeks ago
Financial Assistance Bill for Descendants of Enslaved Persons to Help Them Purchase, Own, or Maintain a Home
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 3 – 6, 2024
-
Community2 weeks ago
AG Bonta Says Oakland School Leaders Should Comply with State Laws to Avoid ‘Disparate Harm’ When Closing or Merging Schools
-
Business2 weeks ago
V.P. Kamala Harris: Americans With Criminal Records Will Soon Be Eligible for SBA Loans
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 10 – 16, 2024
-
Community2 weeks ago
Oakland WNBA Player to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame
-
Community2 weeks ago
Richmond Nonprofit Helps Ex-Felons Get Back on Their Feet
-
Community2 weeks ago
RPAL to Rename Technology Center for Retired Police Captain Arthur Lee Johnson