Bay Area

Black New Deal Receives Agenda Approval from Oakland City Council

Published

4 years ago

June 3, 2020

Last Tuesday, Oakland City Council unanimously approved an agenda item acknowledging the impact of the current health emergency on the African American community, yet declined to adopt a proposal by Black community leaders entitled the Black New Deal that is designed to mitigate COVID-19’s decimation of the Black community.

Black New Deal advocates requested that the Board of Education and the City Council work together to provide internet access and computers to impoverished children.

In addition, the Black New Deal would;
• provide free COVID-19 testing for all of Oakland’s 400,000 citizens;
• immediately shelter every unhoused person in hotels, utilizing FEMA funds;
• call for the release of all Black people incarcerated in Alameda County, and upon their release that they be tested, provided medical care, housing and other services.

Carroll Fife of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) said that Black folks were left out of the New Deal in the 1930s and 1940s under Pres. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. So the Black New Deal was created out of concern for people left behind who became victims of institutional racism, which is now directly responsible for Blacks dying of the virus at a 300% higher rate than others.

The City Council deferred adopting the Black New Deal (BND), stating the need for more time to consider all plans before moving forward.

Justin Lee, a member of Oakland Frontline Healers (OFH), advocated for the council’s support of the BND and noted that, “in April, OFH collectively served over 7,000 residents with services ranging from food delivery and distribution to case management and shelter stays. We recognize that sheltering in place is a privilege not everyone can afford and we are proud to have played a part in the Bay Area’s rapid response.

“However, to continue this good work, many of our member organizations are in need of financial support and PPE. Of our 27 organizations, 14 do not have City or County contracts and are paying for those costs out of their pockets.

“As service providers working day in and day out, these organizations have been put in the difficult situation of having to work with diminishing resources to meet ever greater demand. We are eager to work with this Council to devise solutions and bolster the City’s COVID-19 response.”

Councilmembers Taylor, McElhaney, Reid and Gallo have formed an Equity Caucus with the intent to present a plan for the African and Latino community.

Tanya Dennis

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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

Published

3 days 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.

Oakland Post

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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

7 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.

Oakland Post

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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.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

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.”