Community
Secretary of State Weber Launches Voter Registration ‘Ballot Bowl’ for Cal College Students
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber launched the 2021 Ballot Bowl: Registration Rumble, an inter-collegiate competition organized to drive voter registration among students attending all of California’s major institutions of higher learning.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber launched the 2021 Ballot Bowl: Registration Rumble, an inter-collegiate competition organized to drive voter registration among students attending all of California’s major institutions of higher learning.
The competition, which began August 2 and ends September 14, is intended to “incentivize campuses to adopt policies and practices that boost civic engagement, to inspire students to get involved in voter registration campaigns, and to acknowledge those who are leading the way on civic engagement at California’s colleges and universities,” according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Weber says it is important that all Californians, including students, exercise their right to vote and they should prepare to participate in the gubernatorial recall election set to take place on September 14.
“As an educator, I understand the great potential of California’s students to lead, to be active and to be engaged,” said Weber. “It is incumbent on public servants to ensure that student voices are heard when decisions are made and to foster a culture of civic engagement in California’s youth. I look forward to honoring the winners and champion of the 2021 Ballot Bowl competition.”
The Ballot Bowl has had a positive impact on student voter registration since it began in 2018. According to the Secretary of State, nearly 11,000 students registered to vote that year. The success of the competition continued in 2020 with 82,000 newly registered student voters.
Approximately 234 schools are eligible to compete across the California Community College (CCC), California State University (CSU), University of California (UC), and Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) campuses.
During the competition, college campuses across the state compete against one another for most students registered to vote and highest percentage of the student body registered to vote.
There will be a total of nine winners. One overall winner that registers the most students to vote and one winner from each category across the CCC, CSU, UC, and AICCU schools.
Students are encouraged to leverage various groups across their campuses to extend the reach of registration to potential new voters. This would allow groups to come together to determine the most impactful way to educate their peers on the importance of voting and civic engagement.
Across the United States, voter turnout is historically low among 18 to 25-year-olds when compared to other developed countries, according to the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems.
Toni Molle, CSU director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, says the university system educates approximately 486,000 students each year with African Americans making up about 4.0% of the student body.
“In addition to receiving a quality education, students also learn the importance of ethical leadership and civic engagement” said Molle. “The Ballot Bowl is an opportunity to help boost students’ awareness of issues facing their respective communities.”
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.
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.
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of March 27 – April 2, 2024
-
#NNPA BlackPress4 weeks ago
Beloved Actor and Activist Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. Dies at 87
-
Community1 week ago
Financial Assistance Bill for Descendants of Enslaved Persons to Help Them Purchase, Own, or Maintain a Home
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 3 – 6, 2024
-
Business1 week ago
V.P. Kamala Harris: Americans With Criminal Records Will Soon Be Eligible for SBA Loans
-
Activism2 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 10 – 16, 2024
-
Community1 week ago
AG Bonta Says Oakland School Leaders Should Comply with State Laws to Avoid ‘Disparate Harm’ When Closing or Merging Schools
-
Community6 days ago
Oakland WNBA Player to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame