Commentary

Standing Room Only in Raleigh with Leader Sydney Batch and Stacey Abrams

THE CAROLINIAN — North Carolina Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch and national voting rights champion Stacey Abrams held a data-driven discussion in Raleigh on critical policy issues facing North Carolina and the nation. The event, framed as a Jeopardy-themed fundraiser, explored topics such as systemic healthcare failures and threats to the judiciary and voting infrastructure.

Published

2 months ago

July 15, 2026

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Standing Room Only in Raleigh with Leader Sydney Batch and Stacey Abrams

By Jheri Hardaway, Staff Writer | The Carolinian

Raleigh, NC — It was a standing-room-only crowd in Raleigh as North Carolina Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch took the stage alongside national voting rights champion, attorney, and author Stacey Abrams for an intensive, data-driven Jeopardy-themed conversation on the political landscape. Way more innovative than standard campaign events, the fundraiser served as an evidence-based dissection of the most critical policy issues facing North Carolina and the nation, from structural failures in the healthcare system to coordinated threats against the judiciary and voting infrastructure.

The forum underscored a singular theme: true leadership does not distort the facts for comfort; it empowers communities by confronting brutal truths with an actionable strategy for progress. The evening kicked off with audience members selecting policy categories to guide the discussion. The first critical issue raised concerned the North Carolina State Health Plan and the state’s obligation to provide affordable, accessible healthcare to public employees and retirees without shifting the burden to them through increased premiums and co-pays.

Leader Batch addressed the crisis directly, pointing to fifteen years of fiscal management under opposing legislative leadership that failed to protect the state’s infrastructure. “We waited over a decade to have Medicaid expansion,” Batch stated, drawing a direct line between systemic policy delays and rising costs for private policyholders. “It isn’t about the fact that it’s going to just go down because all of a sudden we remove people from the rolls. All of us with private insurance are going to continue to pay the price because the uninsured are the most vulnerable.”

Batch, a cancer survivor who received treatment at UNC, shared a profound personal perspective on the geographic disparities embedded in the healthcare system, noting she met patients traveling from Nash County and the coast because vast swathes of North Carolina have become medical deserts.

The policy conversation grew sharper when analyzing the raw data of the current state budget. Batch highlighted the stark economic reality of a state maintaining a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, amounting to just $15,080 a year for an individual working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks without a single day off. Despite this, she noted, the legislature’s current budgetary trajectory imposes higher co-pays and premiums on the expansion population and state employees.

Stacey Abrams echoed these concerns by providing data from Georgia, a state that spent $80 million on a partial Medicaid expansion model, two-thirds of which was swallowed by administrative costs rather than direct patient care. “Medicaid expansion is life-saving care,” Abrams urged, noting that Georgia’s refusal to fully expand Medicaid has left it with some of the worst maternal mortality rates in the nation and led to the systemic closure of rural and metropolitan hospitals alike.

In North Carolina, Batch noted that while progress has been made, such as extending postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant women from 60 days to 12 months. New hurdles, such as retrogressive three-month lookback periods and complex work requirements, threaten to deter families from seeking care. “When you are turned down once, you are unlikely to ever sign up again,” Batch warned. “That is not going to reduce the cost of medical care and treatment; it’s only going to increase it.”

The dialogue shifted to the legal and community protections necessary to combat stringent voting laws, including the strategic removal of polling places from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority communities. When asked what concrete measures can prevent voter intimidation at the ballot box, Leader Batch called for radical civic participation and the deployment of human infrastructure. She recalled past election cycles where voters in her own district faced intimidating displays, including oversized Confederate flags and armed individuals at polling sites. Batch emphasized the necessity of trained, nonpartisan observers and volunteer attorneys. “What we need to do as a people, and so many of you in this room with privilege need to do, is be there at these polling places,” Batch asserted. “You need to be those nonpartisan observers. You need to be the line that holds… We are doing our very best to make sure that we are hiring and we have a lot of volunteer attorneys to be on this line.”

Abrams contextualized this fight by emphasizing the practical, block-by-block mechanics of election security. “Help people make a plan to vote, make certain they know what day the election is,” Abrams advised, reminding the audience that working-class voters often carry logistical burdens that obscure election timelines. “We owe it to our ancestors. They’ve been through worse. So now it’s our turn.”

A central focus of the evening was a granular breakdown of what it takes to break the legislative supermajority in North Carolina and protect the judiciary from hyperpartisan overreach. The financial and strategic calculus laid out by Leader Batch presented a compelling argument for the efficiency of investing in state legislative races:

The U.S. Senate Math: A competitive, top-of-the-ticket statewide race in North Carolina can easily command a staggering $800 million in collective spending.

The NC Senate Math: By contrast, the entire Senate Democratic Caucus can mount a highly competitive battle to build a working majority for roughly $12 million.

“That is 1.5% of the entire U.S. Senate spend,” Batch calculated, demonstrating how direct financial resources go significantly further in targeted local legislative districts. To break the current Republican supermajority, the Senate Democratic Caucus needs to net just one seat to reach 21, while a “great year” could push the caucus to 23 or 25 seats, securing a functional tiebreaker alongside the executive branch.

Abrams backed this strategy by pointing to historical data from her 2018 gubernatorial run in Georgia. While she narrowly missed the executive mark by 53,794 votes, the targeted, down-ballot investment successfully flipped 14 legislative seats and broke a devastating supermajority. “All of the evil that they do that they cannot get through an impotent Congress is coming to a state near you,” Abrams warned, framing state legislatures as the primary battlegrounds for modern policy warfare.

Furthermore, both leaders stressed that legislative majorities are the ultimate defense mechanism for the judiciary. Batch raised the alarm regarding partisan maneuvers across the country, such as the introduction of recall mechanisms targeting independent judiciaries, and warned that maintaining seats like Justice Anita Earls’ on the North Carolina Supreme Court is crucial to preventing the systematic dismantling of democratic oversight.

Closing the night under the banner of “Keeping Hope Alive,” Abrams shifted the perspective from defensive posturing to a proactive framework for civic engagement. She contrasted the mechanics of authoritarianism, which she defined as taking power, hoarding power, and avoiding accountability. Democracy, which requires sharing power, leveraging power for the collective benefit, and maintaining strict accountability. Abrams challenged the audience to push back against the weaponization of language, specifically the targeted attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) frameworks. “They see DEI for what it is: Diversity is people, Equity means fair access to opportunity, and Inclusion means respect for belonging,” Abrams declared. “In a democracy, that’s the DNA… We can’t let them seize our language and scare us into not calling the truth out. When they do that, we lose. When we refuse to let them take our language, we win.”

To counter structural voter fatigue, Abrams directed attendees to the 10 Steps Campaign, an action-oriented initiative designed to provide everyday citizens with an explicit plan for local resistance. The strategy hinges on executing practical steps: hosting and sharing informational narratives, organizing locally, litigating in both the courts and the court of public opinion, utilizing nonviolent disruption, and consistently engaging elected officials up and down the ballot.

As the standing-room crowd dispersed, the mandates left behind by both leaders were clear: fundraising is not merely an aggregation of dollars, and democracy is not a passive experiment. It is a continuous, disciplined application of hope, labor, and strategy.

Based on reporting by The Carolinian.

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Commentary

Standoff for Justice: Our Homes Are Worth Fighting For

Jendayi refused to leave her home on Tuesday as approximately 15 to 19 deputies arrived to enforce a court order removing her from the property. The order followed a decision by Judge Sandra Bean of the Alameda County Probate Court, a ruling Jendayi has repeatedly described as unjust and based on what she alleges are serious errors in the court record.

Published

3 hours ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

By Tanya Dennis

Sheriff Covers Lens of Resident’s Security Camera as Alameda County Deputies Enter House with Guns Drawn

What began as a long-running legal battle over the home she has lived in for 13 years escalated Tuesday into a dramatic confrontation between Zakiya Jendayi and Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies—one that has raised urgent questions about probate court decisions, due process, and whether a pending bankruptcy filing should have halted the removal.

Jendayi refused to leave her home Tuesday as approximately 15 to 19 deputies arrived to enforce a court order removing her from the property. The order followed a decision by Judge Sandra Bean of the Alameda County Probate Court, a ruling Jendayi has repeatedly described as unjust and based on what she alleges are serious errors in the court record.

Deputies noticed a Ring camera recording their actions and taped over the lens.

Fifteen to 19 Sheriff’s deputies placed tape over her security cameras, before breaking the locks and entering her home despite the bankruptcy filing taped to the door. Courtesy photo.

Adding to the controversy, Jendayi and her supporters state that opposing counsel, attorney Phillip Campbell, had the property placed in his name in October 2025 without notice to Jendayi. Campbell’s attorney, Alana Grice Conner, filed an opposition in connection with Jendayi’s bankruptcy case. Hours later, sheriff’s deputies arrived at Jendayi’s door.

The confrontation was not simply about one woman refusing to leave her home. For Jendayi and her supporters, it represented the culmination of years of litigation and a larger fight over whether courts have the power to overturn the expressed wishes contained in a person’s will or trust.

Last November, The Post published portions of court transcripts that Jendayi says demonstrate a pattern of false and erroneous rulings. Jendayi states that Bean made 45 rulings in the case, 35 of which she characterizes as false, while she contends that others were legally erroneous.

Bean’s judgment in Jendayi’s case, Hamlin v.

Approximately 25 to 30 of Jendayi’s neighbors came out in massive support on Tuesday observing, streaming and challenging the deputies’ actions on Tuesday. Regarding their show of support, on Wednesday, NBC Bay Area interviewed (left to right) Irene Sip, Elaine Chuck, Irene Yamasato, Joan Rosenberg, Joan Rosenberg, Jade Le, Arianna Angel, and David De Hart. Courtesy photo.

Jendayi, was later upheld on appeal, a development that Jendayi and her supporters say only deepened their concerns about whether the underlying record received meaningful review.

Tuesday’s events brought those concerns from the courtroom to her doorstep.

After covering the lens of Jendayi’s security camera, deputies broke the lock on the front door and entered the residence after she did not respond. Fearing for her safety, Jendayi had retreated to her bedroom. She later emerged nude with her hands raised as an officer entered the home with his gun drawn while other deputies remained outside and on the porch.

Officers reportedly stated that their legal department had determined that the bankruptcy filing did not protect Jendayi from eviction. Deputy Sheriff S. White #2198 of the Court Services/Civil Unit showed a Post reporter what appeared to be incomplete bankruptcy documents that suggested the case had been dismissed. However, when the reporter independently accessed the bankruptcy docket, two additional entries reflected future hearing dates.

The significance and legal effect of those docket entries remain matters for the bankruptcy court and other appropriate legal authorities to determine.

Facing an officer with a gun drawn, Jendayi retreated back into her bedroom, locked the door, and refused to come out, stating that she was suicidal.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., an officer read a warning to Jendayi’s neighbors concerning law enforcement’s duty and response when a person is believed to be threatening to take their own life. The officers then left the premises.

Adding another layer of legal controversy to the confrontation, Jendayi and her supporters contend that the bankruptcy filing made before the attempted removal should have triggered protections against further collection or eviction activity.

Zakia Jendayi was interviewed by NBC Bay Area reporter Velena Jones regarding what led to Tuesday’s stand-off with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. Courtesy photo.

Questions surrounding the legal effect of the filing—and whether the Sheriff’s Office was legally permitted to proceed—are now expected to become central issues in the continuing dispute.

Jendayi remained inside for some time after the officers left.

Outside, neighbors gathered in growing numbers. Angry, alarmed, and deeply engaged, they voiced support for Jendayi and began reaching out to Alameda County District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley, asking him to intervene while questions about the bankruptcy filing and law enforcement actions are investigated.

Although she remains in possession of her home for now, for Jendayi the events of Tuesday are only the latest chapter in a battle she says has exposed something much larger than the loss of her home.

“The probate court is corrupt. It ignored Dr. Head’s wishes that were written into her will and trust, which made me the sole beneficiary of her home,” Jendayi said, referring to the trust established by Dr. Laura Dean Head upon her death in 2013, that made Jendayi executor of the estate. The trust was challenged by Head’s estranged sisters.

Jendayi says she is not alone in her battle with the probate court. “Over 100 other Black families in Alameda County have lost their homes in probate court over the past decade. This is an injustice. Our homes are worth fighting for.”

For background on the case:

The Post News Group, “The Truth Is in the Transcripts,” Week of November 12–18, 2025.

Post News Group archive: https://postnewsgroup.com/week-of-november-12-18-2025/

Additional information: www.protectyourtrust.org

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Black History

Arnold Perkins: At 85, a Life of Service, Faith and Giving Back

Perkins believes that health is not simply physical. It is emotional, mental, and spiritual. And for much of his life, he says, his faith and philosophy of service have kept him vibrant, happy and connected to the world around him.

Published

3 hours ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

By Tanya Dennis

The Post’s Healthy Aging Series addresses key components for healthy aging: mind, body and spirit. This article addresses the importance of having a strong spiritual or religious foundation.

As America’s population grows older, conversations about healthy aging often focus on diet, exercise and medical care. But for Dr. Arnold Xavier Cornelius Perkins, who will celebrate his 85th birthday next month, another ingredient has been equally important: a spiritual foundation and a lifelong commitment to serving others.

“I am my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper,” Perkins said. “I am a ‘we’ person,” and referenced the South African expression of ‘Ubuntu,’ which means ‘I am because we all are.”

Born in Miami, Florida, Perkins came to California in 1954 with his family to attend a Seventh-day Adventist General Conference. His family ultimately decided to remain in California, unwilling to return to the harsh racism of the segregated South.

He grew up in Berkeley, attending Golden Gate Academy, Willard School, and Berkeley High School before joining the Navy during the Vietnam War era. He later attended Merritt College when the Black Panther Party was emerging in Oakland, where he became involved as a volunteer for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He graduated from San Francisco State University and completed additional coursework at Cal State East Bay.

His professional career became a remarkable journey through public service. Perkins served as Alameda County’s homeless coordinator, became a program officer with the San Francisco Foundation, headed a drug and alcohol program, and ultimately served as director of the Alameda County Public Health Department for 12 years before retiring in 2006.

But retirement did not mean stepping away from service.

Perkins jokingly describes this stage of his life as being in “preferment,” doing what he pleases. What he pleases, however, is continuing to help people.

He has worked with young people, served on San Quentin Prison’s warden advisory council, previously served on the Oakland Police Department Selection Commission, and completed two terms as chair of the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission. He chaired the University of San Francisco’s Helen Diller Stanley Comprehensive Cancer Center for 10 years and is now in his 11th year serving on the California Wellness Foundation board.

Perkins even views a hereditary heart defect through the lens of his spiritual philosophy.

“I have a hole in my heart, so I’m not physically perfect,” he said. “But I look at it as I have a hole because I pour my heart out to people.”

That perspective may be one of his greatest lessons about healthy living. Perkins believes that kindness, compassion and community have a direct impact on a person’s emotional and spiritual well-being.

“If I see an unsheltered relative, I’d give them that $20,” he said. “My responsibility is to take care.”

For Perkins, giving does not deplete a person; it gives life back. “My life’s mission is to give,” he said. “And what I get back is life.”

He knows firsthand that one person can change another person’s destiny. As a young man, Perkins stuttered and often fought in response to the teasing and humiliation he experienced. A teacher, Jeff Tedisco, defended him and changed the direction of his life.

“If it hadn’t been for him,” Perkins said, “I would have been in San Quentin.”

Instead, Perkins now goes to Indaba Court, a restorative justice program, to help young people who have made wrong choices understand that they are part of a larger community.

“When they harm one person, they harm the community,” he said.

His prescription for a vibrant life is simple: be understanding, be kind and remember that life is not all about you.

“When we fold our arms, we can’t receive anything,” Perkins said. “But when we stretch out our arms and serve one another, we build community.”

At nearly 85, Arnold Perkins continues to prove that a life rooted in faith, service and love may be one of the most powerful foundations for healthy aging.

Next Week: Brenda Dennis Harris “The Body Temple.”