City Government

Army Base Jobs and Small Businesses Win Reprieve

Published

13 years ago

August 30, 2013

Community members scored a big victory this week in their ongoing struggle to keep big rig polluting trucks out of West Oakland. Bill Aboudi of Oakland Maritime Support Services (OMSS) finally signed a lease to move to five acres of city-owned Army Base land.

Casting a shadow on that victory, however, the city is moving ahead with plans to evict OMSS and other small businesses at the Army Base property. The city also so far has not found 10 acres to replace the truck parking that will be lost when OMSS moves.

Aboudi signed the lease Monday to relocate OMSS from its current 15-acre property, where 18 small businesses provide services and truck parking for drivers coming through the Port of Oakland 24 hours a day.

The work to make the lease happen was the result of efforts by Assistant City Administrator Fred Blackwell, master developer Phil Tagami, City Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney and community groups.

The lease to OMSS means that one of Aboudi’s tenants, Horizon Trucking owned by Miguel Silva, will be able to continue its contract with Apple Inc. As reported last week in the Post, Silva has a three-year agreement with Apple to provide German-made glass for the new Apple headquarters in Cupertino.

That contact was in jeopardy, until this week, because OMSS and Horizon were about to lose their property at the Army Base, which must be vacated by Sept. 3 so the city’s massive development project can start.

“The city is stepping up,” said Silva. “It’s given me a great solution; we’ll be able to do our job. We are excited and thankful,” he said.

While OMSS is already busy weed whacking and cleaning its five acres, Aboudi is negotiating with Blackwell to secure the additional 10 acres of truck parking he needs for the hundreds of drivers who have been parking at his old site.

The meetings with officials are continuing, and the resolution of these negotiations is still in flux. One possibility is that the port has offered the city over 11 acres, according to Robert Bernardo, communications manager for the port. Whether some of this land will be offered to OMSS to accommodate truck parking is still undetermined.

If Aboudi’s request for additional space goes unanswered, more and more truckers may be forced to park on the streets of West Oakland. Already community leaders say they are witnessing increased traffic and parking in the community.

According to Ces Butner, president of the Port Commission, the port already provides parking for trucks, and any additional spaces are the responsibility of the city, not the port.

“Our responsibility is to provide 15 acres. We’re already doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” said Butner.

The city has said tenants must be off the Army Base property by Sept. 3 or face eviction. On Wednesday, Alameda County Sheriff deputies served a “Notice to Vacate” on Aboudi, which indicated the eviction would proceed on Friday, Sept. 6.

However, John Monetta, project manager in the city’s real estate services division, told Aboudi on Wednesday that the eviction would not proceed until Friday, Sept. 13.

“Were working hard to move. What will happen if were not ready by Sept. 13?” Aboudi asked Monetta.

“We’ll talk about it when we get to Sept. 13,” Monetta told him.

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Alameda County

The Marin City Flea Market Is Back

The Marin City Flea Market returns on May 23, offering arts, crafts, vintage items, and collectibles. The market aims to uplift local vendors and celebrate cultural diversity.

Published

13 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Customers shopping in Marin City Flea Market. Photo courtesy of marincityflea.org.

By Godfrey Lee

After a long absence, Marin City will once again hold its flea market. The market will have its grand opening on Saturday, May 23, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church parking lot on 101 Donahue St. It will be held every fourth Saturday of the month

The market will be free to the public

There will be arts, crafts, vintage, collectibles, and other items on sale at the market. Interested vendors can contact info@marincityflea.org or text (415) 484-2984 for more information.

“The Marin City Flea Market’s mission is to uplift local vendors, celebrate cultural diversity, and provide an accessible community space where creativity, entrepreneurship, and connection can thrive,” says their website, marincityflea.org.

The flea market is sponsored and run by the Rotary Club of Marin City.

For more information, contact info@marincityflea.org. Or text to (415) 484-2984

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Amsterdam News

School District Extends Supt. Dr. Denise Saddler’s Contract for a Second Year

The Oakland Board of Education has extended Superintendent Denise Saddler’s contract through June 2027, promoting her from interim to permanent superintendent with a salary of $367,765.45 per year.

Published

59 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Supt. Dr. Denise Saddler. File photo.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Board of Education voted this week to extend Superintendent Denise Saddler’s contract for another year, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Under the new agreement, Saddler’s job title will become “superintendent”; she will no longer be called “interim.”

Along with the new title, she will receive full superintendent benefits and salary at $367,765.45 per year, according to the employment agreement.

The vote to approve the new contract passed 5-2 at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

Saddler’s original interim contract was for one year. The school board was planning to select a permanent superintendent by the fall but earlier this year decided to delay the search.

The new contract reflects the Board of Education’s “determination that continuity in executive leadership is in the best interests of the district as Oakland Unified continues implementation of its fiscal stabilization strategies, academic priorities, labor relations initiatives, and operational improvements,” the employment agreement reads.

In November, the board approved a $150,000 contract with a consulting firm to carry out that search, but Board President Jennifer Brouhard told KQED last month that the process never got off the ground.

“No work was done, no money has been paid for the work (to) the search firm for the superintendent search,” Brouhard said. “Hopefully, we’ll be resuming that in the early part of the fall.”

Dr. Saddler was born and raised in Oakland, attended local schools, and has dedicated more than 45 years of her career to serving Oakland students and families.

She began her career in 1979 as a teacher of students with disabilities. Over the years, she has served as a teacher, principal, district leader, and teachers’ union president.

While working in OUSD, she has served as principal at Chabot Elementary, area auperintendent, and executive leader for Community Engagement and Educational Transitions. She has also supported schools as a principal coach and substitute principal and taught at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Saddler holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Mills College and master’s degrees in special education and in Staff Development and Administration.

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Activism

Mayor Barbara Lee Joins National Public Safety Leaders to Advance Proven Violence Reduction Strategies

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee attends a two-day meeting with other mayors and public safety leaders to discuss violence reduction strategies; Oakland has seen a 39% drop in homicides.

Published

1 hour ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Oakland was one of four cities participating in a public safety convening. Courtesy image.

By Post Staff

Mayor Barbara Lee this week joined Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and public safety leaders from Oakland for a two-day meeting focused on advancing cutting-edge public safety strategies, including focused deterrence and violence reduction.

The meeting brought together civic and public safety leaders from Oakland and Indianapolis to locations in Baltimore and Philadelphia to share lessons learned and identify innovative approaches to crime prevention, intervention, and enforcement.

The participating cities are widely recognized for pioneering community-centered public safety models that prioritize prevention, accountability, and sustained investment in neighborhood-based solutions

Oakland’s delegation included Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) Chief Holly Joshi, Oakland Police Department Assistant Chief Casey Johnson, and Ceasefire Director Annette Jointer.

Oakland’s participation underscores its continued leadership in advancing evidence-based violence reduction strategies and building a public safety system that integrates law enforcement with community intervention and prevention programs.

Oakland continues to see historic reductions in violence, reflecting coordinated efforts across the Department of Violence Prevention, Oakland Police Department, Ceasefire, and community-based partners, including:

Violent crime down 22%
Homicides down 39%
Lowest homicide total in nearly 60 years

These gains reflect sustained investment in focused deterrence strategies, real-time intervention, and expanded community violence interruption programs.

“Public safety is not achieved by any one agency alone—it requires coordination, trust, and a shared commitment to prevention and accountability,” said Lee. “We are proud to stand alongside cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis that are proving what works. We are seeing real progress in reducing violence in our communities, and we remain committed to building on that momentum through strategies that center prevention, intervention, and strong partnerships with residents.”

“Oakland’s progress shows what is possible when cities invest in focused deterrence and wraparound supports that reach people most at risk,” said Joshi. “Our work is grounded in building trust, responding quickly to emerging conflicts, and connecting individuals to services that interrupt cycles of violence. This convening was an opportunity to strengthen that work through shared learning with peers who are advancing similar strategies nationwide.”

Said Johnson, “Effective public safety requires a balanced approach that combines accountability with deep collaboration across agencies and communities.”

“We are seeing meaningful reductions in violent crime because of strong partnerships between law enforcement, DVP, Ceasefire, and community organizations,” said Johnson. “Engaging with peer cities allows us to refine and improve the strategies that are making Oakland safer.”