Community
Day of Service at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church
Things were abuzz at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church for a Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 18.
Over 30 AmeriCorps volunteers and former Peace Corps volunteers and their host agency Super Stars Literacy helped organize books for the Maya Angelou Library and Literacy Center and perform a myriad of chores inside the church and on the grounds.
A total of 67 people participated, including which members of the church and Super Stars Literacy staff who worked alongside the volunteers.
The AmeriCorps volunteers are here from various parts of the country working in schools in underserved areas of Oakland, Fremont and Hayward. They listened intently as former Peace Corps volunteers shared their service experiences from assignments each had in various parts of the world.
The Super Stars Literacy coordinator for the day’s event was Katie Brym, AmeriCorps and Government Contracts Manager.
The Care Ministry of the Evergreen Missionary Baptist commemorated Dr. King’s birthday with its annual “Blessings & Blankets” drive in the neighboring communities of Oakland and Berkeley on Sunday, Jan. 17.
Participants weathered the rain to provide new blankets, socks, food, hot cocoa and personal hygiene items to the needy. An Oakland Police Department officer provided an escort as volunteers went out into streets.
Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church is located at 408 W. MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland.
Art
Mario Van Peebles’ ‘Outlaw Posse’ Screened at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre
The Oakland International Film Festival hosted a screening of “Outlaw Posse” at the Grand Lake Theatre on Monday. Special guests included director/actor Mario Van Peebles and his co-star, Oakland native Scytorya Rhodes. The film is Peebles’ second western, the first being ‘Posse,’ 13 years ago.
By Carla Thomas
The Oakland International Film Festival hosted a screening of “Outlaw Posse” at the Grand Lake Theatre on Monday. Special guests included director/actor Mario Van Peebles and his co-star, Oakland native Scytorya Rhodes. The film is Peebles’ second western, the first being ‘Posse,’ 13 years ago. Filmmaker Van Peebles shared his passion for independent artistry and producing projects with his son, Mandela, who also starred in the film, along with Whoopi Goldberg and Cedric the Entertainer. Next week, The Post will publish an in-depth interview featuring Peebles’ reflections on his work, future projects, and continuing his father’s legacy and Rhodes on her grandfather, a real-life cowboy.
Community
Swim to fight cancer
City Government
Court Throws Out Law That Allowed Californians to Build Duplexes, Triplexes and RDUs on Their Properties
Charter cities in California won a lawsuit last week against the state that declared Senate Bill (SB) 9, a pro-housing bill, unconstitutional. Passed in 2021, SB 9 is also known as the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act (HOME). That law permits up to four residential units — counting individual units of duplexes, triplexes and residential dwelling units (RDUs) – to be built on properties in neighborhoods that were previously zoned for only single-family homes.
Charter cities in California won a lawsuit last week against the state that declared Senate Bill (SB) 9, a pro-housing bill, unconstitutional.
Passed in 2021, SB 9 is also known as the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act (HOME). That law permits up to four residential units — counting individual units of duplexes, triplexes and residential dwelling units (RDUs) – to be built on properties in neighborhoods that were previously zoned for only single-family homes.
A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ruled in favor of the cities, pointing out that SB 9 discredited charter cities that were granted jurisdiction to create new governance systems and enact policy reforms. The court ruling affects 121 charter cities that have local constitutions.
Attorney Pam Lee represented five Southern California cities in the lawsuit against the state and Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“This is a monumental victory for all charter cities in California,” Lee said.
However, general law cities are excluded from the court ruling as state housing laws still apply in residential areas.
Attorney General Bonta and his team are working to review the decision and consider all options that will protect SB 9 as a state law. Bonta said the law has helped provide affordable housing for residents in California.
“Our statewide housing shortage and affordability crisis requires collaboration, innovation, and a good faith effort by local governments to increase the housing supply,” Bonta said.
“SB9 is an important tool in this effort, and we’re going to make sure homeowners have the opportunity to utilize it,” he said.
Charter cities remain adamant that the state should refrain from making land-use decisions on their behalf. In the lawsuit, city representatives argued that SB 9 eliminates local authority to create single-family zoning districts and approve housing developments.
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