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Former Marin County Probation Dept. Chief Mike Daly Reflects on Work in New Film

In the film, Fairfax native and former Marin County Chief Probation Officer Mike Daly, gave an account of his 30-year career in the Probation Department, where he became chief in 2009 and retired in 2020, the same year he received the Camarena Award.

Published

1 year ago

November 6, 2022

Oakland Post

From left: Carl Laur, Mark Reischel, Lynn Fox, Mike Daly, Lori Frugoli, Jeffrey Schaub, and Mark Dale. Photo by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

As part of their drug awareness programming, the San Rafael Elks 1108 showed a film about former Marin County Chief Probation Officer Mike Daly at their hall at 1312 Mission Ave. on Oct. 18, 2022.

In the wide-ranging interview conducted by Jeffrey Schaub, a news anchor and reporter for KCBS, KPIX, and KGO, Daly revealed how his career got started and his concerns about the long-term impact of drugs on individuals and communities.

In the film, the Fairfax native gave an account of his 30-year career in the Probation Department, where he became chief in 2009 and retired in 2020, the same year he received the Camarena Award.

According to the Elks’ web site, the interview “[t]opics included the importance of parental guidance, the immediate and deadly threat of illicit Fentanyl, and the fact that “driving under the influence” can include marijuana. In fact, “under the influence” of drugs and alcohol applies to almost every probationer Daly encountered during his decades-long career.”

In 1990, Daly was working at the Petrini’s Supermarket in Greenbrae as a journeyman butcher and looking for a change.

Daly knew Joe Coffrini, the treasurer-tax collector at the time, and asked him for career advice. Coffrini directed Daly to then-Marin County Probation Department Chief Ron Baylo, who then set up a job interview for Daly. He was hired to be a part of the department’s parole unit, according to Kristina Houch of The Patch newspaper.

Being a probation officer was a way for Daly to help people and give back to the community. “I really enjoy helping somebody whether in sports and life. We are all there to help each other, make corrections to our wisdom and what we have learned in our careers,” Daly said.

The ‘Wall of Change’ in the Probation Department office has pictures and stories of people who have overcome their challenges. Many who are struggling with their challenges told Daly that they wanted to be on that wall.

Daly recalls Homer Hall of Marin City as one who “has gone through the system, been in prison and come out.” Hall went on to start the Marin City Boxing Club. Daly also talked about Darrell Roary, who was hired to work for the Public Defender’s office as a “recovery coach,” providing peer support as well as help getting resources to those trying to get their lives back on track.

People need to get off drugs, Daly said, as 85% of those who commit crime were on drugs. “Drugs and alcohol change your behavior, and you make very poor decisions when you are under the influence of drugs and alcohol” Daly said.

The Probation Department will do everything in its power to get people back on their feet, but people still need to have accountability, Daly said. Simply putting people in jail does not work. They also need be held accountable for how they hurt and wronged others.

These actions are more complicated than the “Just Say No,” campaign that former first lady Nancy Reagan promoted in the 1980s. Many people are mentally ill, have suffered violence and physical and substance abuse, Daly said. Many of them will die on the street from exposure from cold because authorities can’t force them into shelter. They may also need medical help.

The film was produced for the Elks 1108 Drug Awareness Program (DAP) by Lynn Fox, PhD., and recorded last spring at the Community Media Center of Marin. Carl Wilson Laur was the director, editor, set designer and lighting engineer; Mary Keydash was the audio engineer and Gaby Bransgrove led the production crew.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

4 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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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Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.

Published

4 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Fred Korematsu. Courtesy of OUSD.

By Post Staff

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.

His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.

Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.

The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.

Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”

Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

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WOMEN IMPACTING THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

Published

5 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Juanita Matthews

Sister Juanita Matthews

55 Years with Oakland Public School District

The Teacher, Mother, Community Outreach Champion, And Child of God

Juanita Matthews, better known as “Sister Teacher,” is a walking Bible scholar. She moved to California from the great state of Arkansas in 1971. Sister Teacher has a passion for teaching. She has been a member of Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church since 1971. She followed her passion for teaching, and in 1977 became the lead teacher for Adult Class #6. Her motto still today is “Once My Student, Always My Student”.

Beyond her remarkable love for the Lord, Sister Teacher has showcased her love for teaching by working for the Oakland Unified School District for 55 years, all but four of those years spent at Emerson Elementary and Child Development School. She truly cares about her students, making sure they have the tools/supplies needed to learn either at OUSD or Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

She’s also had a “Clothes Closet Ministry” for 51 years, making sure her students have sufficient clothing for school. The Clothes Closet Ministry extends past her students, she has been clothing the community for over 50 years as well. She loves the Lord and is a servant on a mission. She is a loving mother to two beautiful children, Sandra and Andre. This is the impact this woman of God has on her church and the community.