Activism

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Fails to OK Charter Amendment on Recall Process

In October, the board introduced the amendment after Alameda County Counsel Donna Zieglar brought forward that the existing charter is outdated and needs to align with California’s current recall process. The supervisors had originally planned to vote on the matter at their final October meeting but postponed the conversation when it became clear that there was too much confusion about the implications of the measure.

Published

2 years ago

December 4, 2023

Magaly Muñoz

By Magaly Muñoz | Post Staff

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors rejected, by a 3-2 vote, the proposal to place a measure on the March 2024 ballot to change the county’s recall process to match that of the state’s.

The supervisors had originally planned to vote on the matter at their final October meeting but postponed the conversation when it became clear that there was too much confusion about the implications of the measure.

They recommended that the county counsel develop a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQ) section about the charter amendment to answer questions that were being raised by the public.

The FAQ featured answers to questions about timelines before and after petitions are signed, signature amounts, and an alternate proposal recommendation on who could be subject to a recall.

The original item that the board discussed and voted on at their previous meeting would change the charter to read: “California state law applicable to the recall of county officers shall govern the recall of county of Alameda elected and appointed officers.”

The alternate item that was newly introduced and added at the Tuesday meeting would change the language from “Alameda elected and appointed officers” to only “Alameda elected officers” meaning that officials who were appointed to their positions would not be subjected to recall attempts.

Attendees in person and online spoke out against the amendment change, saying that it was taking their power away as voters and that even with the FAQ, there remains a degree of confusion.

Chris Moore, a member of Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE), which is currently spearheading the recall efforts against Alameda D.A. Pamela Price, said that their current petition is extremely popular and they believe they can gather all the required signatures before the March deadline.

“The public wants this to happen,” Moore said.

With the current charter, only 73,000 signatures are needed to trigger a recall election, but if the amended charter were to be approved, almost 20,000 more signatures would be required.

Following the conclusion of public comments, SAFE held a press conference outside of the County Administration Building. Carl Chan, a key officer of SAFE, announced that in just five weeks they were able to collect over 70,000 signatures and affirmed that SAFE will not stop until they have 110,000 signatures, keeping in mind the potential changes to the charter.

Price is facing a recall despite her victory at the polls last year when she ran on a platform of judicial reform, defeating Terry Wiley who had been supported by Price’s predecessor, Nancy O’Malley.

Assertions that she is ‘soft on crime’ reached a fervor earlier this year as a surge of theft, robberies and shoplifting crimes alarmed residents in Oakland and other major cities in the Bay Area, the state, and the nation.

Price has had to remind media and citizens alike, that the district attorney can only charge and prosecute criminals after police arrest them.

“DA Price has been working as a civil rights attorney for over 40 years, she’s a fighter for justice and will continue to fight for the safety of the people across Alameda County, no matter how much money they spend trying to take her out.” said William Fitzgerald, campaign spokesperson for “Protect The Win” campaign, in a press release about the county charter amendment.

In contrast, despite Board President Nate Miley telling KQED that he’s “pretty confident the board is going to align our charter with state law,” he spoke and voted in opposition to both amendment recommendations.

Because there is still a lot of confusion on the charter amendment and because it as if the board is taking a side on the matter, Miley said it was unfair to put this measure in front of voters in March.

“I think at this point it doesn’t serve the public interest to move ahead with this at this time only because we would be placing ourselves in the way of an effort to move ahead with a particular recall and tainting that process,” Miley added.

Miley, alongside Board Vice President David Haubert, recommended tabling the discussion until after March 2024.

On the other hand, board members Keith Carson and Elisa Marquez argued that as public officials, they have an obligation to voters to allow them to decide for themselves if they want to change the charter to align it with the state’s. Tabling the issue would only delay a process that they know needs to happen soon.

Board members Miley, Haubert, and Lena Tam voted ‘no’ on the recommendation, while Carson and Marquez voted ‘yes.’

Although the vote to modify the charter to include “Alameda elected and appointed officers” failed, the alternate recommendation for the language to exclude “appointed officials” was approved for further discussion.

The Board of Supervisors will discuss and vote on the alternate recommendation at their Nov. 28 regular meeting.

Magaly Muñoz

A graduate of Sacramento State University, Magaly Muñoz’s journalism experience includes working for the State Hornet, the university’s student-run newspaper and conducting research and producing projects for “All Things Considered” at National Public Radio. She also was a community reporter for El Timpano, serving Latino and Mayan communities, and contributed to the Sacramento Observer, the area’s African American newspaper.

Muñoz is one of 40 early career journalists who are part of the California Local News Fellowship program, a state-funded initiative designed to strengthen local news reporting in California, with a focus on underserved communities.

The fellowship program places journalism fellows throughout the state in two-year, full-time reporting positions.

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Magaly Muñoz

A graduate of Sacramento State University, Magaly Muñoz’s journalism experience includes working for the State Hornet, the university’s student-run newspaper and conducting research and producing projects for “All Things Considered” at National Public Radio. She also was a community reporter for El Timpano, serving Latino and Mayan communities, and contributed to the Sacramento Observer, the area’s African American newspaper. Muñoz is one of 40 early career journalists who are part of the California Local News Fellowship program, a state-funded initiative designed to strengthen local news reporting in California, with a focus on underserved communities. The fellowship program places journalism fellows throughout the state in two-year, full-time reporting positions.

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#NNPA BlackPress

COMMENTARY: The National Protest Must Be Accompanied with Our Votes

Just as Trump is gathering election data like having the FBI take all the election data in Georgia from the 2020 election, so must we organize in preparation for the coming primary season to have the right people on ballots in each Republican district, so that we can regain control of the House of Representatives and by doing so, restore the separation of powers and balance that our democracy is being deprived of.

Published

15 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper. File photo..

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

As thousands of Americans march every week in cities across this great nation, it must be remembered that the protest without the vote is of no concern to Donald Trump and his administration.

In every city, there is a personal connection to the U.S. Congress. In too many cases, the member of Congress representing the people of that city and the congressional district in which it sits, is a Republican. It is the Republicans who are giving silent support to the destructive actions of those persons like the U.S. Attorney General, the Director of Homeland Security, and the National Intelligence Director, who are carrying out the revenge campaign of the President rather than upholding the oath of office each of them took “to Defend The Constitution of the United States.”

In California, the primary comes in June 2026. The congressional races must be a priority just as much as the local election of people has been so important in keeping ICE from acquiring facilities to build more prisons around the country.

“We the People” are winning this battle, even though it might not look like it. Each of us must get involved now, right where we are.

In this Black History month, it is important to remember that all we have accomplished in this nation has been “in spite of” and not “because of.” Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without a struggle.”

Today, the struggle is to maintain our very institutions and history. Our strength in this struggle rests in our “collectiveness.” Our newspapers and journalists are at the greatest risk. We must not personally add to the attack by ignoring those who have been our very foundation, our Black press.

Are you spending your dollars this Black History Month with those who salute and honor contributions by supporting those who tell our stories? Remember that silence is the same as consent and support for the opposition. Where do you stand and where will your dollars go?

Oakland Post

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Activism

Congresswoman Simon Votes Against Department of Homeland Security, ICE Funding

“They need accountability. Republicans already gave these agencies an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement, funding they have used to conduct raids at schools, separate families, and deploy a masked paramilitary who refuse to identify themselves on American streets. This bill gives them more funding without a single reform to stop unconstitutional, immoral abuses,” she said.

Published

16 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12). File photo.

By Post Staff

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) released a statement after voting against legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB).

“Today, I voted NO on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 13, 2026.

“ICE and CBP do not need more funding to terrorize communities or kill more people,” she said in the media release.

“They need accountability. Republicans already gave these agencies an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement, funding they have used to conduct raids at schools, separate families, and deploy a masked paramilitary who refuse to identify themselves on American streets. This bill gives them more funding without a single reform to stop unconstitutional, immoral abuses,” she said.

“The American people are demanding change. Poll after poll of Americans’ opinions show overwhelming support for requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras and prohibiting them from hiding their faces during enforcement actions. This is the bare minimum transparency standard, and this funding legislation does not even meet this low bar,” Simon said.

“Republicans in Congress are not serious about reining in these lawless agencies. Their refusal to make meaningful changes to the DHS funding bill has consequences that go beyond immigration enforcement. TSA agents who keep our airports safe and FEMA workers who help our communities recover from disasters are stuck in limbo due to Republican inaction.

“The Constitution does not have an exception for immigrants. Every person on American soil has rights, and federal agencies must respect them. The East Bay has made clear at the Alameda County and city level that we will hold the line against a violent ICE force and support our immigrant communities – I will continue to hold the line and our values with my votes in Congress.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Post Newspaper Invites NNPA to Join Nationwide Probate Reform Initiative

The Post’s Probate Reform Group meets the first Thursday of every month via Zoom and invites the public to attend. The Post is making the initiative national and will submit information from its monthly meeting to the NNPA to educate, advocate, and inform its readers.

Published

16 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Tanya Dennis

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) represents the Black press with over 200 newspapers nationwide.

Last night the Post announced that it is actively recruiting the Black press to inform the public that there is a probate “five-alarm fire” occurring in Black communities and invited every Black newspaper starting from the Birmingham Times in Alabama to the Milwaukee Times Weekly in Wisconsin, to join the Post in our “Year of Action” for probate reform.

Reporter Tanya Dennis says, “The adage that ‘When America catches a cold, Black folks catch the flu” is too true in practice; that’s why we’re engaging the Black Press to not only warn, but educate the Black community regarding the criminal actions we see in probate court: Thousands are losing generational wealth to strangers. It’s a travesty that happens daily.”

Venus Gist, a co-host of the reform group, states, “ Unfortunately, people are their own worst enemy when it comes to speaking with loved ones regarding their demise. It’s an uncomfortable subject that most avoid, but they do so at their peril. The courts rely on dissention between family members, so I encourage not only a will and trust [be created] but also videotape the reading of your documents so you can show you’re of sound mind.”

In better times, drafting a will was enough; then a trust was an added requirement to ‘iron-clad’ documents and to assure easy transference of wealth.

No longer.

As the courts became underfunded in the last 20 years, predatory behavior emerged to the extent that criminality is now occurring at alarming rates with no oversight, with courts isolating the conserved, and, I’ve heard, many times killing conservatees for profit. Plundering the assets of estates until beneficiaries are penniless is also common.”

Post Newspaper Publisher Paul Cobb says, “The simple solution is to avoid probate at all costs. If beneficiaries can’t agree, hire a private mediator and attorney to work things out. The moment you walk into court, you are vulnerable to the whims of the court. Your will and trust mean nothing.”

Zakiya Jendayi, a co-host of the Probate Reform Group and a victim herself, says, “In my case, the will and trust were clear that I am the beneficiary of the estate, but the opposing attorney said I used undue influence to make myself beneficiary. He said that without proof, and the judge upheld the attorney’s baseless assertion. In court, the will and trust is easily discounted.”

The Black press reaches out to 47 million Black Americans with one voice. The power of the press has never been so important as it is now in this national movement to save Black generational wealth from predatory attorneys, guardians and judges.

The next probate reform meeting is on March 5, from 7 – 9 p.m. PST. Zoom Details:
Meeting ID: 825 0367 1750
Passcode: 475480

All are welcome.