Berkeley

Nextdoor.com Remains at Center of Racial Profiling Controversy

Published

9 years ago

February 12, 2016

By Nikolas Zelinski

The social media website Nextdoor.com, designed to connect neighbors, is gradually making changes to its website in the wake of intense criticism for creating a cyber network that allows racial profiling to flourish.

The community controversy grew and reached the media after a number of complaints said that “crime and safety” posts on the platform provide a space for Oakland residents to amplify their racist fears that Black people are acting suspicious because they are simply walking down the street, entering an apartment building or sitting in a parked car.

Another issue for community members is that both the City of Oakland and the Oakland Police Department use the website to keep in contact with residents and hear their concerns.

In response, Oakland City Council members have been discussing whether the city should stop using the website as a public statement that it does not tolerate racial profiling.

Nextdoor representatives have been meeting for months with the city Life Enrichment Committee, 100 Black Men and a community group, Neighbors for Racial Justice (NRJ), to generate solutions.

Maryam Mohit, Nextdoor representative, told council members recently that the company has been working with “urgency” to solve the problem.

However, Councilmembers Desley Brooks and Anne Campbell Washington are unconvinced the issue has been handled in a timely manner. Brooks said she no longer uses the site because she sees the damage it is doing to the community.

Disagreeing with other council members, Abel J. Guillen said, “Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.” He said the platform is just another tool, and people should handle profiling by calling out racism when they see it.

“I’m not sure how to grapple with the idea of trying to legislate behavior, and I think that’s what we’re attempting to do here. I understand the intent, but I don’t think this legislative body can regulate that type of behavior,” Guillen said at the Jan. 26 Life Enrichment meeting.

According to Ravinder Singh, member of the Oakland Community Policing Advisory Board and Neighbors for Racial Justice, “Nextdoor is accurate in saying that they’ve been working with us for the last couple of months.”

“But to Councilmember Desley Brooks’ point, I think we’ve been wanting to see a lot more progress … The main thing that we want to see happen is that [someone] can’t issue a crime and safety alert with the only descriptor being race. If you want to add other descriptors alongside race, we are open to see how that goes.”

Singh encouraged the city council to gather data on crime and safety posts to corroborate whether or not posts lead to prosecutable criminal activity.

Karen Boyd, Oakland City Communications Director, said three departments in the city use Nextdoor.com: The Oakland Police Department, the City Administrators office and the Mayor’s office.

In a statement released in April 2014, Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent praised Nextdoor.com. “Utilizing this tool, we will have the ability to share crime trends and patterns, provide safety education, and encourage community partnerships,” he said.

The platform has 48,000 users across the city in 180 neighborhoods, with 20,000 posts per month, according to Boyd. There are more followers of city departments on Nextdoor.com than other websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The site is a one-way informational tool, which means the city cannot see discussions between neighbors, said Boyd.

Maryam Mohit said, “21 percent of Oakland households use the site. Of those users, 23 percent are African American, 10 percent Hispanic, and 46 percent white.”

A blog post that explained changes made to the site has been posted. Updates to the “Neighborly Behavior” section of guidelines include an explicit ban on racial profiling and the ability to flag posts that violate the ban.

The issue will scheduled again for discussion at the Life Enrichment committee.

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Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

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Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

2 months ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

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Activism

Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

3 months ago

March 23, 2025

Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.