Bay Area

Oakland and Richmond Mayors Announce 2020 Census Challenge

Published

4 years ago

July 15, 2020

Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland and Mayor Tom Butt of Richmond have agreed to a friendly intercity challenge: get as many of their residents to respond to the 2020 Census as humanly possible.

The challenge between the East Bay mayors comes as residents have just over a month left to respond to the 2020 Census as the nation approaches the Aug. 10 reporting deadline.

The two cities’ self-response rates are currently neck and neck. Oakland’s self-response rate is 63.3% and Richmond’s is 63.4%. For both cities, the goal is to achieve a self-response rate of 100%.

“An accurate census count is critical for Oakland to receive its fair share of federal funding for vital public services,” said Schaaf. “Bring it on Richmond, let’s make sure everyone gets counted! Just 10 questions can make a huge difference in our community.”

For Schaaf and Butt, getting their communities fully counted is essential to secure their respective city’s fair share of federal funds for the next 10 years.

Those dollars fund critical services like hospitals and clinics, school lunches, road repair and more. It’s safe, confidential, and there is no citizenship question on the 2020 census.

“Completing the 2020 Census is all about equity of resources and further improving quality of life in our city,” said Butt. “Let’s show Oakland how it’s done! Complete the Census and help bring federal funding to Richmond for the next 10 years.”

Although Oakland is about 3.8 times the size of Richmond, both cities are considered “hard-to-count” communities with populations that are at risk of being undercounted. That makes it even more important to get the word out that the Census is still going and that anyone can respond online at www.my2020census.gov

Everyone can also respond to the Census through regular mail using a paper questionnaire that was mailed to all households with a regular mailing address in mid-April. Another easy way is to call 844-330-2020 (Español: 844-468-2020) and complete the census form with the help of an assistant. The phone lines are supported in 12 non-English languages, with the full list available at https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html.

The winner of the friendly challenge will accept a gift basket of local goods from their opponent. The winner will be announced on August 10, 2020.

Submitted by Christopher Whitmore

Chief of Staff | Office of Mayor Tom Butt

Posts by Submitted by Christopher Whitmore

Related Topics:featured Mayor Libby Schaaf Mayor Tom Butt

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Bay Area

Faces Around the Bay: Jim Brosnahan, Esq.

James J. Brosnahan, ESQ, an international trial lawyer and trial advocacy teacher, has remained unshaken in his fervent belief in the power of the law to right injustices. Brosnahan has fought to open the legal profession to those previously excluded and worked to provide lawyers to the millions who go without.

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

By Barbara Fluhrer “Isn’t this what old men are supposed to do… sit on a bench in the park?”

By Barbara Fluhrer

James J. Brosnahan, ESQ, an international trial lawyer and trial advocacy teacher, has remained unshaken in his fervent belief in the power of the law to right injustices.

Brosnahan has fought to open the legal profession to those previously excluded and worked to provide lawyers to the millions who go without. He has argued for the administrators of justice to represent the whole community. He’s tried 150 cases to conclusion and is ranked among the top 30 trial lawyers in the U.S. (Legal 500 US). He’s been called “scrappy,” “a lion in the courtroom,” and “ultra- liberal.”

One of his earliest cases (1962) involved two Navajo children shot by a White man on a reservation in Arizona. “The legal system needed to work as well for Native Americans as for White people,” he said. “The defendant was found guilty of second-degree murder.”

In 1963, U.S. Attorney Cecil Poole hired him as U.S. Attorney from a list of 200 applicants.

He and Poole, as federal observers, led the Vietnam protesters as they marched. The purpose: to avoid violence.

“Poole taught me preventative law in a chaotic situation and became one of my strongest mentors,” remembers Brosnahan.

In 1964, Brosnahan served on the NAACP’s Housing Committee in S.F., when 70% of the city’s housing was not available to Blacks. They sued racial discriminators, fought for reform and opposed the displacement of minorities in the Western Addition. They won and they lost, but they became the racial conscience of San Francisco in the fight for fair housing.

In 1969, two Black community workers in Oakland were indicted for stealing federal money.

“My two clients were activists in Oakland. I believed there was an element of racism running through Washington’s decision to indict two Black men who worked every day to help the poor,” he said.

The case was eventually dismissed. In the early 70s, he responded to a subpoena and testified against Judge Rehnquists’ confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court. He had witnessed Rehnquist obstructing voting at a polling place. Amid threats on his life, he was the chief defense lawyer for the American who joined the Taliban in 2002.

Brosnahan, his wife Carol and three children moved from S.F. to Berkeley in 1964, in part, to participate in the Berkeley school integration program. She is a retired Alameda County Superior Court judge.

Brosnahan, 90, checks in to his San Francisco firm, Morrison & Foerster often. He paints, reads, walks a mile a day, journals, and lectures, while writing another book: “Cultural History of Trials over the Centuries.”

His last book “Justice at Trial,” published in 2023, details his life and battles.

He reflects, “Over my career I have come to realize that one secret for enriching your own life is trying to help others. What better way to do that than to represent them in court.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Obituary: Social Justice Leader, the Rev. Cecil Williams, Passes at 94

On April 22, community leader and social justice advocate Reverend Cecil Williams died at his home in San Francisco surrounded by his loved ones, according to his family. He was 94 years old.

Published

4 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

The Rev. Cecil Williams, civil rights activist and social justice leader was the head pastor of San Francisco’s non-denominational GLIDE Memorial United Methodist Church.

By California Black Media

On April 22, community leader and social justice advocate Reverend Cecil Williams died at his home in San Francisco surrounded by his loved ones, according to his family.

He was 94 years old.

The reverend was a civil rights leader who advocated for the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in the Bay Area.

Williams was the head pastor of the non-denominational GLIDE Memorial United Methodist Church. The church welcomed individuals from the queer community and people struggling with homelessness, housing instability and substance use disorder (SUD).

Through his work, Rev. Williams attracted national attention. Prominent political and cultural leaders such as Maya Angelou, Bono, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Clinton all attended church services at Glide.

Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) said she is deeply saddened about the passing of her dear friend.

“The Reverend changed the lives of millions through radical love, support, inclusivity, and a commitment to service to the most marginalized,” Lee said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the reverend inspired people across California to embody the values of generosity and acceptance.

Rev. Williams was, “a visionary leader whose legendary compassion and love for his community transformed the lives of people from all walks of life,” Newsom said.

Rev. Williams served as the chief executive officer of the Glide Foundation until his retirement in 2023.