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Bay Area Leaders and Community Are Rallying Behind Vice President Harris’ Recent Presidential Race News

In a wild turn of events that many had been speculating about and asking for over the last several weeks, President Joe Biden decided over the weekend that he would be stepping down from running for reelection and instead endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee to fight against former President Donald Trump. Shortly after Biden’s announcement, Harris proudly declared that she would indeed be throwing her hat in the ring to run for president. The news immediately created a frenzy of excitement and hope from voters.

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Leading up to the announcement, Democrats had been calling for Biden to step down, especially after his debate with Trump, where slip ups in speech and body language had many questioning whether he was in the right physical and mental state to carry on for four more years as president. Democratic political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly were having conversations with Biden to step down, fearing he would lose in November. Big donors like George Clooney also felt that the president was no longer a viable option, going as far as writing an opinion piece in the New York Times expressing his concerns.
Leading up to the announcement, Democrats had been calling for Biden to step down, especially after his debate with Trump, where slip ups in speech and body language had many questioning whether he was in the right physical and mental state to carry on for four more years as president. Democratic political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly were having conversations with Biden to step down, fearing he would lose in November. Big donors like George Clooney also felt that the president was no longer a viable option, going as far as writing an opinion piece in the New York Times expressing his concerns.

By Magaly Muñoz

In a wild turn of events that many had been speculating about and asking for over the last several weeks, President Joe Biden decided over the weekend that he would be stepping down from running for reelection and instead endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee to fight against former President Donald Trump.

Shortly after Biden’s announcement, Harris proudly declared that she would indeed be throwing her hat in the ring to run for president. The news immediately created a frenzy of excitement and hope from voters.

Leading up to the announcement, Democrats had been calling for Biden to step down, especially after his debate with Trump, where slip ups in speech and body language had many questioning whether he was in the right physical and mental state to carry on for four more years as president.

Democratic political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly were having conversations with Biden to step down, fearing he would lose in November. Big donors like George Clooney also felt that the president was no longer a viable option, going as far as writing an opinion piece in the New York Times expressing his concerns.

But the support for Harris has been overwhelmingly positive over the last several days.

In the first 24 hours since her announcement, her campaign raised over $81 million, the largest donation day in history, Harris’ campaign team said.

Local Bay Area leaders quickly took to social media in the hours and days following the news to endorse Harris for president.

“I am thrilled to give my support to Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid to win the presidency and defeat Donald Trump. VP Harris is an Oakland native, a fighter, and a visionary leader who is THE VOICE we need in the White House. Her dedication to justice, equality, and progress reflects the very spirit of Oakland, and I am confident she will bring the same passion and tenacity to the presidency,” Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Miles away, San Francisco Mayor London Breed expressed her support for the former San Francisco District Attorney and California Attorney General.

“I am confident that my friend, Vice President Harris, has the experience, the strength, the judgment and the integrity to defeat Donald Trump and serve as our next President,” Breed said on Instagram.

Oakland city council members Treva Reid and Nikki Fortunato-Bas also shared their excitement to have Harris as a contender for president.

Residents also have expressed their immense happiness at seeing a Black woman as the first to potentially hold the title as president.

The Sunday of the announcement, a political coalition called Win With Black Women held their weekly Zoom meeting to discuss the news and attracted an estimated 44,000 participants eager to join the conversation.

This meeting, which typically has a few hundred participants on the call, had people waiting up to an hour to get into the online webinar.

Patrice Berry, who’s currently running for an Oakland Unified School Board seat, told the Post that the Zoom meeting was “the conjuring of ancestral wisdom, love and power.”

Berry had not previously attended the Win With Black Women conversation but was feeling uneasy after reading the news about Biden not seeking reelection so she wanted to hear what others had to say about the matter.

She was in awe at the number of people that had shown up to begin organizing and rallying behind Harris. People prayed, spoke words of encouragement, and recognized the Black female leaders in their own communities that were making a difference.

Harris’s potential presidency would create opportunities to hold people accountable and “build the world we want to see” because it would be the first time a Black woman was elected as president, Berry said.

“Even as I talk to my daughter, who is thinking about imagining herself as a president, that’s been wild. I didn’t think I would see that in my lifetime,” Berry shared.

$1.6 million was raised for the Harris campaign during the Zoom call, organizers of the event have reported.

A similar organization called Win With Black Men met Monday night and had an attendance of about 53,000 participants who raised $1.3 million in four hours, attendees said on social media.

“The BLACK COMMUNITY is uniting in ways we have not seen in politics before,” one participant wrote on X.

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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.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo Courtesy of California Governor’s Office.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo Courtesy of California Governor’s Office.

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.

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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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To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Her Career as She Bids Farewell to Congress

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

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Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.
Rep. Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Outgoing Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) expressed deep gratitude to her constituents and marked the end of her 26-year career in public service.

Lee, who is succeeded by Lateefah Simon, a civil rights and racial justice activist, praised people in her community for their support. She also highlighted her dedication to promoting peace, justice, and equity.

“Together, we have raised our voices and pushed the envelope for peace, justice and equity. It has been the honor of a lifetime to provide constituent services, deliver federal investments to my district, speak out, and often times be the only one to take tough votes against the tide. I have, and will continue to, fight for working families, the middle class, low income and poor people,” said Lee On her final day in Congress.

Throughout her tenure, Lee earned a reputation as a principled lawmaker known for taking bold and sometimes unpopular stances. One of her defining moments came in 2001 when she was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force in response to the September 11 attacks. This decision led to death threats but ultimately cemented her legacy of courage.

Lee’s leadership extended beyond her district, where she fought for social justice, the rights of low-income communities, and global health initiatives. She was a key figure in pushing for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She was a vocal critic of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding for abortion services.

The Congresswoman also faced significant challenges in her career, including a failed Senate bid in 2024. Yet, Lee’s efforts have paved the way for more excellent representation, with more Black women now elected to Congress. She worked closely with organizations like Representation Matters to encourage more women of color to run for office.

Lee says she looks to the future, confident that the next generation of leaders will continue her unfinished work, particularly on issues like military force and reproductive rights.

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