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Oakland’s Clergy Leaders Say ‘No’ Vote to Recall of Mayor Sheng Thao

“The recall of the mayor is not needed and ill-founded. Oakland does not need chaos. Oakland does not need coal dust in the air,” said Pastor Jim Hopkins of Lake Shore Avenue Baptist Church. The pastor was referring to recall funder and hedge fund partner Phillip Dreyfuss, whose company has several billions of dollars invested in the coal industry at a time when Oakland is resisting the construction of a coal export terminal in the city.

Published

1 year ago

October 28, 2024

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao thanked more than 100 faith leaders who say a recall is unfair. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

By Post Staff

Local faith leaders spoke out at a press conference this week at the Democratic Party Election Headquarters office in Oakland to express their support for Mayor Sheng Thao.

They also urged Oakland residents to vote “No” on the recall on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The leaders in this interfaith coalition, representing the diversity of Oakland’s religious community, organized the press conference on Oct. 22 to show they are standing united against the recall. Speakers said they were concerned that a successful recall would throw the city and its finances into chaos.

If the recall were successful, the city would have five mayors in three years, creating dysfunction at a time the city desperately needs stable leadership to focus on its budget and continue to make progress on public safety, the leaders emphasized.

“The recall of the mayor is not needed and ill-founded. Oakland does not need chaos. Oakland does not need coal dust in the air,” said Pastor Jim Hopkins of Lake Shore Avenue Baptist Church.

The pastor was referring to recall funder and hedge fund partner Phillip Dreyfuss, whose company has several billions of dollars invested in the coal industry at a time when Oakland is resisting the construction of a coal export terminal in the city.

“I love Oakland, and we need to get behind our leadership. I’m excited we have a mayor who is concerned about the people of Oakland,” said Bishop Greg Payton of St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in West Oakland.

Said Pastor Joe Smith of Good Hope Baptist Church in East Oakland, “Our homicides are down. Police force not fully staffed. She has the rate down. Black and Brown boys not getting killed. Mayor Thao has done this. United we stand, divided we fall. I’m here to say ‘No’ on the recall. I don’t believe in recalls. We have a good Mayor. Let’s stand with her.”

Speaking at the press conference, Mayor Sheng Thao said she has taken major steps to increase public safety, significantly reducing crime in the city. In addition, Thao added. “In less than two years, I’ve already invested in West Oakland, and in Deep East Oakland, (and) new investments are set to bring billions to the city,” Mayor Thao said

Many community organizations and leaders have stood with the mayor since the “No on the Recall” campaign launched on Oct. 6.

Those opposing the recall include the Alameda County Democratic Party, Rep Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, former Assemblymember Sandré Swanson, Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember Dan Kalb, and 12 of the 16 candidates running for Oakland City Council.

In addition, a range of unions and political organizations have taken a stand against the recall effort, including the Alameda Labor Council, SEIU 1021, IFPTE Local 21, Alameda County Fire Fighters, NorCal Carpenters Union, as well as Oakland Rising Action, APEN (Asian Pacific Environmental Network), John George Democratic Club, Wellstone Democratic Club, the Latino Task Force, and others.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

4 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.