Community
After Worker Strike Threat, East Bay Regional Park District Raises Wages
Parks workers announced their win during a press conference on Tuesday at noon. Melissa Fowlks stressed the cooperative nature of their labor struggle.

Following threats of a worker strike over Labor Day weekend, around 600 workers with the East Bay Regional Park District came to a tentative agreement with the district’s board and management on August 31 that raises salaries, putting all workers at or just above median wages for similar jobs in the region.
“I’m feeling not only elated and exhilarated but also really tired,” said Sergio Huerta, a park supervisor and firefighter who has worked with the district for over 30 years. “I’m really proud of the work that we’ve all done.”
Starting about eight months ago, workers had been negotiating with the district through their union, AFSCME 2428, to raise salaries. Huerta said the struggle was hard and long, adding 12-16 extra hours to his work week. During a press conference on Tuesday, district naturalist Melissa Fowlks said “getting to fair, equitable compensation has been a mountain of a struggle.” But, Park workers felt they had much to gain, because their previous contract had them making a lower salary than they felt was fair.
“I love my job, but I don’t want to have to choose between my job and providing for my family,” said Pia Loft in an interview with The Oakland Post several days before workers announced their win. “I want respect and I want fair pay.”
Loft is an educator with the district who is raising two children.
While parks workers fulfill a vast array of jobs to maintain and improve the park and its community including education, firefighting, life guarding, and accounting, almost all park workers take home a lower salary than those doing similar jobs in the area.
According to a report Ralph Andersen & Associates released in 2019 that analyzed the salaries of 37 different park positions, 34 of these positions make less than the median salary for similar jobs in the region and seven make over 20% less than the regional median salary. On average, parks workers make 10% less than the median regional income.
Workers say the low salaries cause people to leave the district, which has resulted in vacancies in over 40 positions. Loft said if these positions were filled, visitors would likely see an improvement in park services including cleaner bathrooms, visitor centers that are open more consistently, and more educational and volunteer opportunities.
Huerta continues to hear stories about workers leaving the district because of salaries lower than those who work nearby. On average, a firefighter with the district makes about $40 an hour, but elsewhere in the region, firefighters make about $44 an hour. Rangers with the district make about $34 an hour, while rangers in other parts of the region make about $36 an hour. Those in senior admin positions with the district make about $36 an hour but would make about $41 an hour working the same job elsewhere in the region. One of Huerta’s close friends recently told him he is leaving the district for a better paying job.
“It hurts because these are really good people who are dedicated to their work,” he said.
But the workers’ recent win will improve salaries, which they hope will lead to vacancies being filled. The new contract, which will go into effect the first week of November, will bring all salaries to at least the regional median rate.
Workers also secured retroactive pay, although not as much as they hoped they would. While workers had initially asked to receive back pay which amounted to the median regional salary since their previous contract expired on April 1, they negotiated back pay to 3% of their salaries since that date.
The East Bay Regional Park District covers both Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and members of these communities showed support to the workers during their struggle for higher pay. Over 5,000 people wrote e-mails to the parks board in support of the workers.
“Don’t try to shortchange the workers!” wrote Oakland resident Miguel Duarte.
Starting on August 20, workers announced they might strike on Labor Day weekend if their demands for median regional pay were not met.
Facing the threat of a strike that had broad support from the surrounding community, the parks board scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, August 26. At the meeting, which took place on Zoom, around 250 workers showed up and over 50 spoke out against what they saw as unfair pay.
Some spoke of excess funds the board had that could be used to pay workers. Their union, AFCME 2428, has pointed out that the district’s mid-year report from this year shows over $140 million in cash reserves and investment holdings as well as a $26 million budget surplus in 2020. Workers claimed to feel disrespected by their less than median wages while they saw funds were available to pay them better.
“It is disheartening to know that our well-being is an afterthought,” said parks worker Justin Irwin at the meeting. “I work multiple jobs to support myself and my family.”
Community members also showed up. Oakland resident E Connor told the board that “Oakland is a union town” and the community would support a strike.
During the meeting the district board and management listened to speakers but did not respond. At the end of the meeting board president Dee Rosario thanked the speakers and said, “Your board has heard your stories, and now it is the board’s turn to go to work.”
The day after the meeting, on the morning of August 27, The Oakland Post e-mailed both Rosario and the district’s general manager Sabrina Landreth questions about employee pay, vacancies, and the budget surplus. Neither Rosario nor Landreth responded to the questions.
On Monday, the district’s executive director, Carol Johnson, responded on behalf of Landreth. She also did not answer the questions posed but wrote that after working on “a few remaining issues” the district and AFCME 2428 were close to an agreement that would avoid a strike.
Parks workers announced their win during a press conference on Tuesday at noon. Melissa Fowlks stressed the cooperative nature of their labor struggle.
“No one person alone could make this happen,” she said. “We did this collectively as a group and everyone pulled their weight.”
The Oakland Post’s coverage of local news in Alameda County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.
Bay Area
Gov. Newsom Looks Back at 2024 Milestones; Presents Vision for 2025
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

By Joe W. Bowers, California Black Media
In a recent video address, Gov. Gavin Newsom shared key moments that shaped California in 2024. He emphasized achievements in tourism, technology, public safety, and environmental resilience while underscoring the state’s ability to tackle challenges head-on.
Newsom opened by recounting his announcement atop the Golden Gate Bridge of $150.4 billion in record-breaking visitor spending. He reflected on signing a bill with singer Demi Lovato to protect young content creators from financial exploitation. He celebrated the Olympic flag transfer ceremony, signifying California’s preparation for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Focusing on innovation, Newsom praised NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for his leadership in advancing generative AI. He showcased the transformation of an abandoned mall into a quantum computing center in L.A. that addresses global challenges.
He also highlighted the ARCHES coalition’s work on green hydrogen, aiming to decarbonize California’s industries.
Newsom emphasized California’s leadership on clean transportation with over 2 million electric vehicles sold and a statewide network of 150,000 public chargers. He spoke about joining Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to celebrate the long-awaited electrification of Caltrain, linking San Francisco to San Jose.
In climate resilience, Newsom spotlighted removing the Klamath Dam, the largest project in U.S. history, restoring salmon migration and tribal lands. He discussed agreements with Italy and Pope Francis to address greenhouse gas emissions and praised the legislature’s action to increase transparency and hold oil companies accountable for gas price spikes.
Turning to health, housing, and education, Newsom outlined progress on Proposition 1 to improve mental health care, legislative efforts to increase housing construction, and the expansion of universal free school meals for all public school students.
Public safety highlights included combating fentanyl trafficking, expanding the California Highway Patrol, and addressing organized retail theft through new legislation.
Newsom also celebrated the state’s balanced budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years. He joked about his detailed budget presentations as his “yearly Super Bowl,” highlighting the importance he places on fiscal responsibility.
The Governor closed by reflecting on 2024 as a year defined by resilience and optimism, crediting California’s ability to navigate polarization and overcome challenges. He emphasized the importance of preserving California’s values of innovation and inclusiveness while continuing to invest in communities, infrastructure, and equity as the state looks ahead to 2025.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 12 – 18, 2025

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#NNPA BlackPress
NAACP Sues Trump Administration Over Dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease.

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
The NAACP has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The civil rights organization argues that the move undermines protections for Black, elderly, and vulnerable consumers, leaving them exposed to financial exploitation. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson condemned the administration’s actions, calling them a reckless assault on consumer protections. “Once again, we are witnessing the dangerous impacts of an overreaching executive office. The Trump Administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opens the floodgates for unethical and predatory practices to run rampant,” Johnson stated. “We refuse to stand idly by as our most vulnerable communities are left unprotected due to irresponsible leaders. From seniors and retirees, disabled people, and victims of disaster to so many more, our nation stands to face immense financial hardship and adversity as a result of the elimination of the CFPB. If our President refuses to put people over profit, the NAACP will use every tool possible to put Americans first.”
The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease. Vought also suspended all investigations, rulemaking, public communications, and enforcement actions. Keisha D. Bross, NAACP Director of Opportunity, Race, and Justice, said the organization maintains its commitment to restoring the bureau’s critical role in protecting consumers. “The CFPB is an agency of the people. From the protection from junk fees to fighting excessive overdraft fees, providing assistance to impacted victims of natural disasters, and holding predatory practices accountable, the NAACP stands firm in bringing back the CFPB,” Bross said. “The NAACP will fight to hold financial entities responsible for the years of inequitable practices from big banks and lenders.”
The lawsuit, filed alongside the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the National Consumer Law Center, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the CFPB Employee Association, argues that the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. According to the complaint, the Trump administration has taken deliberate steps to dismantle the CFPB, including firing 70 employees via form email, canceling over $100 million in vendor contracts, and shutting down the agency’s consumer complaint system, which processes hundreds of thousands of cases monthly. The plaintiffs warn that these actions will leave millions of Americans defenseless against financial fraud and predatory lending practices. The lawsuit details the harm already inflicted by the agency’s closure. Among those affected is Rev. Eva Steege, an 83-year-old pastor with a terminal illness who was seeking student loan forgiveness through a CFPB-facilitated program. Her meeting with CFPB staff was abruptly canceled, leaving her without recourse to resolve her debt before passing.
The NAACP and other plaintiffs seek an immediate injunction to halt the administration’s actions and restore the CFPB’s operations. The legal challenge argues that the President has no unilateral authority to dismantle an agency created by Congress and that Vought’s appointment as acting director is unlawful. President Trump has made no secret of his desire to eliminate the CFPB, confirming last week that his administration was working to “totally eliminate” the agency. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a key player in Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” celebrated the move with a social media post reading “CFPB RIP.”
If successful, the lawsuit could force the administration to reinstate the agency and resume its enforcement actions against financial institutions accused of predatory practices. “Neither the President nor the head of the CFPB has the power to dismantle an agency that Congress established,” the plaintiffs argue. “With each day the agency remains shut down, financial institutions that seek to prey on consumers are emboldened—harming their law-abiding competitors and the consumers who fall victim to them.”
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