Commentary
Commentary: Local Unions Proposal Will Shut Out Black, Contractors, Workers in Oakland Construction Projects
The City of Oakland tried to sell an audience of primarily Black residents and a handful of Black contractors on establishing a Project Labor Agreement on all construction projects over $1 million at a meeting hosted by the Office of the Administrator Office of Contract Compliance on July 25, 2019.
The proposed PLA is being sponsored by the Alameda County Building Trades Council (ACBTC), which is the umbrella organization for all unions operating in the county.
ACBTC’s actions will result in insuring work for their membership while it effectively locks out Black contractors who are not dues-paying members of a local. Since Black contractors won’t get contracts on projects funded and subsidized by the city, whether by design or not, neither will Black men and women get opportunities to work.
Of the approximately 120 people in attendance, 80 were Black people seeking employment in the construction industry. There were three Black developers and eight Black construction sub- contractors. The City staff told the Black unemployed residents if they joined the union the chances they would get a good-paying job would be greatly increased. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In the real world people cannot just join a local. You have to have a sponsor (a firm that recommends you). You must be employed by the sponsor, that means you must have a job first before you are eligible to join a union local. In order to be in the construction industry you must go through an apprenticeship program and there are NO apprenticeship programs in Oakland, I repeat there are no apprenticeship program in Oakland. The last apprenticeship program in Oakland was the Skill Center on San Pablo avenue in the ’80s. It closed in the ’90s.
Elaine Brown, developer of affordable housing in West Oakland asked the staff if the PLA would apply to all Oakland projects and staff replied that the proposed PLA would only apply to projects that had a City of Oakland subsidy of some form, either land or money.
Another participant asked if all the projects using large building cranes in downtown Oakland would be subject to the PLA and staff replied that because the projects are privately financed the City has no control over who the hire. No local business participation requirement and no local hire requirements on these projects.
Robert Browning, a member of the East Bay Small Business Council and small black contractor, stated that ACBTC has been asked for 10 years to provide a breakdown by its 37 locals of the number of Oakland residents who are ethnic minorities. According to Browning, 20 locals have no Black members and the remaining 17 locals have less than 10 percent Black Oakland workers.
Browning also said that unions have abandoned training Oakland Blacks in construction and moved their training facilities to Sacramento, Concord, Benicia, Pleasanton and San Jose, well out of reach for Oakland residents. Until the unions start recruiting, training, and placing Oakland Black residents in jobs the unions don’t deserve special privileges, Browning said.
The reality of the proposed PLA is further complicated by the ill-conceived Surplus Public Lands policy that staff is circulating around the City and due for consideration by the City Council in September. This effort by City Councilmember Dan Kalb is a concept of designing a program to sell public land for the highest and best use.
The City should delay consideration of a city wide PLA until the City Disparity Study currently being conducted is released and shape the Surplus Land Policy based on the finding of the study.
There were no council members present at the July 25 meeting, and, to date, very few of the Council members have been actively engaged in the community outreach efforts.
Deborah Flynn, director of the Department of Equity and Race said that the “the Council is looking for (public) input before they decide whether to mandate a PLA and what elements should be included.”
The City will host another PLA outreach meeting at the West Oakland Senior Center in August. Some City Council members should be present. The Oakland Black Contractors should have their voices heard.
Black History
IN MEMORIAM: The Rev. Leon “Sonny” Clark, Longtime Orange County Pastor and Community Leader, Dies at 72
Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, the longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a prominent faith and community leader in Orange County, passed away on September 9 at the age of 72. Born in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who dedicated his life to service. He served various Southern California churches before leading New Spirit Baptist Church for over 22 years, extending his work into counseling, mentoring, and civic engagement, and supporting the African American community. To learn more about his life and contributions, read more.
Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a respected faith and community leader in Orange County, died Sept. 9. He was 72.
Born Oct. 2, 1953, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who later built a life of service centered on family, faith, ministry, and community.
Clark began his formal ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena in 1978. After acknowledging his call to ministry in 1980, he preached his first sermon and went on to serve churches throughout Southern California, including Second Baptist Church in Riverside, Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Rubidoux, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona, and Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda.
In November 2003, Clark was called to lead New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana, where he served as pastor for more than 22 years. His work extended beyond the pulpit through counseling, mentoring, civic engagement, and efforts to strengthen Orange County’s African American community.
Clark served on the Orange County Heritage Council and supported efforts to preserve and celebrate African American history and culture. He helped organize the Orange County Black History Parade and Unity Festival, served on the Interfaith Committee and the Orange County Transit Authority, and served as president of the Orange County Ministers Conference.
In 2024, the City of Santa Ana recognized Clark for his contributions to the community. He also received the Orange County Southern Baptist Association Hall of Faith Award and was previously honored as Pastor of the Year by the Orange County Heritage Council.
Clark is survived by his wife, Andrea Joyles Clark; six children, Shawn Williams, Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Kyla Coward, Joshua Clark, Marissa Clark and Ashley Clark; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings; extended family; and the New Spirit Baptist Church congregation.
A wake will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at New Spirit Baptist Church, 701 S. Sullivan St. in Santa Ana, with a remembrance service from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Oct. 2, at Friendship Baptist Church, 17145 Bastanchury Road in Yorba Linda. Viewing begins at noon, followed by the service at 1 p.m.
Burial will take place Monday, Oct. 5, at 10:15 a.m. at Riverside National Cemetery.
Clark often shared a guiding principle that shaped his ministry: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Black History
Remembering Chauncey Bailey as Student Journalists Face Threats to Truth-Telling
Nearly two decades ago, Oakland Post reporter and editor-in-chief Chauncey Bailey was tragically murdered for investigating a crooked business. His assassination shocked the journalism world and is remembered as student journalists today face increasing threats and censorship. A former classmate of Bailey and chair of the Student Press Law Center notes a significant rise in calls from students seeking legal advice amid a hostile environment. This situation highlights the importance of protecting young journalists and their pursuit of truth. Read more to learn about Bailey’s legacy and current challenges facing student press.
It is nearly 20 years since Chauncey Bailey, a crusading journalist, was murdered
on an Oakland street corner, gunned down to prevent him from writing stories about a
crooked business.
I hope people remember Bailey, a reporter and editor-in-chief for the
Oakland Post, the city’s Black newspaper. He had already written several articles about
the problems of a business called Your Muslim Bakery and was working on another
when the bakery’s owner ordered an employee to kill Bailey.
His murder shocked the journalism world that found the idea of an American
reporter killed for doing his job unfathomable. For me, the shock and sadness were also
personal.
I knew Bailey. In the mid-1970s we were classmates in the Michelle Clark Memorial
Foundation program, the precursor to the Institute for Journalism Education Summer
Program. A program, backed by the Ford Foundation, that provided intensive training
for fledgling minority journalism students and then placed them in jobs at newspapers
and television stations.
I’m reminded of Bailey and that program when I visit the East Bay at the end of
September to discuss the future of student journalism. To me, the visit will not only
evoke memories of Bailey. It will also be an opportunity to hone strategies to protect and
support student journalists who are under attack today, maybe not in the way that took away Chauncey Bailey, but an attack, nonetheless.
Spurred by the hostility toward the free press emanating out of Washington, high
school and college journalists are facing a barrage of censorship and harassment from
school administrators and local officials.
The 24-hour hotline staffed by the Student Press Law Center (SPLC), the non-profit I chair, has seen a 35% increase in calls from student journalists seeking legal advice on censorship, libel and copyright issues during the past two years, as well as a tripling in the number of complaints of harassment, including threats of firing, of faculty advisors.
I am not suggesting today’s national climate is as dangerous as the murderous
intentions of Yusef Bey IV, the man who ordered Bailey’s assassination. But the
harassment of student journalists does kill something else. It can destroy the desire of
student journalists to continue their growth to become professional news gatherers and
producers – something the country will always need.
It is that professional maturation that I’m reminded of when I think back on Chauncey
Bailey.
Truth be told, when we were classmates back in 1974 Bailey was the class clown,
known more for his sardonic wit than his writing or reporting talent. I have vivid
memories of Bailey sitting at his desk in the back of the room regaling us with sarcastic
comments. Sure, he was funny.
And he didn’t exhibit the level of reporting skills of our other classmates such as Milton Coleman who went on to be the Deputy Managing Editor of the Washington Post or Alexis Scott who for years has run the Atlanta Daily World.
After a series of reporting jobs in Hartford, Connecticut, Detroit, Michigan, and Oakland, Bailey had risen in talent and skill to helm this very newspaper. A tip from a source led Bailey to look into the possibility that Bey was running Your Muslim Bakery into bankruptcy. Word that Bailey was working on that story filtered back to Bey who ordered the journalist killed.
On August 2, 2007, Bailey was shot three times at point-blank range as he walked to work.
So, when I think of my trip to the East Bay my thoughts go to journalism’s past
represented by Chauncey Bailey’s sacrifice and what the staff and the board of SPLC
can do to secure the current and future work of student journalists.
Steven A. Holmes is a former Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. His novel “Black Messiahs” was published in May this year.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026
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.
Asm. Corey Jackson Announces Launch of 24-Hour Childcare in His District
IN MEMORIAM: The Rev. Leon “Sonny” Clark, Longtime Orange County Pastor and Community Leader, Dies at 72
Poll: Becerra Widens His Lead Over Hilton; Californians Split on Wealth Tax
From Historic Memories to New Possibilities: Oakland Celebrates Coliseum 60
County Office of Education Says OUSD Finances Are Getting Healthier, Materially Stronger
LIVE FREE Sunday Dinner Brings Faith, Fellowship and Civic Conversation to Oakland
Remembering Chauncey Bailey as Student Journalists Face Threats to Truth-Telling
BLACspace Cooperative Invites Bay Area to Experience Oakland’s Black Cultural Ecosystem Through a BLAC Map Tour + Party
In Wake of Death on Doorstep, Williams Chapel Baptist Church Calls for Better Care, Funding for Unhoused
Oakland Centenarian Nuna McKee Honored!
Caribbean Nations Produce Action Plan Calling for UK Reparations Over Slavery
Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026
Doulas Are Helping Black California Moms Navigate Pregnancy–Even as High Mortality Rates Persist
Newsom Signs Addictive Social Media Law to Protect Kids
On Your November Ballot: Prop 38 Would Allocate $8.4 Billion to Immunology and Immunotherapy Funding
Four Candidates, Including Incumbent Barbara Lee, Qualify for Oakland Mayor’s Race
Standoff for Justice: Our Homes Are Worth Fighting For
Oakland Post: Week of August 26 – September 1, 2026
Frontier Airlines’ Return to Oakland Airport Brings Flights, Jobs and Opportunity
Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Blasts California New Tire Rules; Newsom Hits Back
Chef Sharon Lee Blends Culinary Excellence, Education and Empowerment
Jackie Wright Champions Bay Area Stories, Filmmakers and Cultural Institutions
Big City Mayors Ask for “Yes” Vote on Housing Bond Measure; Conservatives Say “No”
Gov. Newsom’s Latest Appointees Include Sacramento Advocate for Formerly Incarcerated Students; State’s New Tech Chief
Oakland Coliseum Project Opens Door for Small Businesses to Build Bigger
Misnamed ‘Parent’ PAC Seeks to Influence Oakland School Board Elections
Longtime BWOPA Member Brendalyn Goodall Appointed to California Workforce Development Board
Gov. Newsom Signs Law Shielding Immigration Aid Workers From Doxing Threats
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Urges Californians to Vote Early as Voter ID Battle Intensifies
From Palestine to Oakland: Seeds for Liberation Examines Shared Struggles for Freedom
The Conversation With Al McFarlane 6/23/26
Media Monday 6/22/26
LIVE! ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.23.26 7PM EST
Car Buying Secrets: 4 Hidden Checks Before You Sign!
Is This 550 HP Charger Worth YOUR Money? AutoNetwork Review
Celebrating Juneteenth – Frederick Douglass on education and resistance
LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.19.26 7PM EST
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Parking, Safety, and 360 View #shorts
2025 Ioniq 5 New Wiper & Powerful Performance! #shorts
Electric SUV Range: Is 259 Miles Enough? #shorts
EV Charging: How Fast Can You Charge an Electric Vehicle? #shorts
Biometric Cooling… Messaging Seats…Come on! 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph 4WD
Charged Up: Witness the Magic of a Fully Electric Car! #shorts
Range Rover Sport PHEV Included…: See What’s Inside This Luxury SUV! #shorts
Invisible Hood View: Perfect Parking with X-Ray Vision! #shorts
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Business4 weeks agoFrontier Airlines’ Return to Oakland Airport Brings Flights, Jobs and Opportunity
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Business4 weeks agoGubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Blasts California New Tire Rules; Newsom Hits Back
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Business4 weeks agoChef Sharon Lee Blends Culinary Excellence, Education and Empowerment
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Black History4 weeks agoJackie Wright Champions Bay Area Stories, Filmmakers and Cultural Institutions
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Community4 weeks agoBig City Mayors Ask for “Yes” Vote on Housing Bond Measure; Conservatives Say “No”
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Community2 weeks agoMisnamed ‘Parent’ PAC Seeks to Influence Oakland School Board Elections
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Business4 weeks agoLongtime BWOPA Member Brendalyn Goodall Appointed to California Workforce Development Board
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Community4 weeks agoGov. Newsom Signs Law Shielding Immigration Aid Workers From Doxing Threats
