News

Oakland Council Steps Up to Provide Clean Drinking Water for Oakland’s Students

Published

6 years ago

May 14, 2018

Ribbon-cutting for the new hydration station at Joaquin Miller Elementary School. Funding to come from Oakland Soda Tax and Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

The Oakland City Council voted to approve the purchase and installation of new hydration stations in 110 schools in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), which will help ensure students throughout the district have access to clean drinking water at school.

The project was initiated after OUSD found elevated lead levels in certain water fountains at McClymonds High School in Summer 2017. The district then moved quickly to remove all fountains with elevated lead at all OUSD schools and replaced them with lead-free fixtures.

Soon after, OUSD requested assistance in funding for water stations at 15 high schools, 14 middle schools, 54 elementary schools, and 28 child development centers.

Oakland’s Sugar Sweetened Beverage tax, established by Measure HH, will provide $371,000 in funding for the stations. Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan is also allocating $100,000 from Measure A discretionary funds toward the cause.

The combined funds provide the school district with the necessary dollars to purchase and install water stations.

“Children and youth are better prepared to learn when they are drinking water instead of sugar sweetened beverages,” said Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan. “It was an easy choice to propose $100,000 from the County for Oakland schools. The bottle filling stations will make drinking water even more attractive.”

“The goal of the soda tax funding is to provide children with healthy choices and educate the public on the risks associated with soda and other sugary beverages,” said Oakland Councilmember Annie Campbell Washington, author of the soda tax.

“These new hydration stations not only ensure students drink safe water, but it encourages students to drink water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages,” she said.

The new hydration stations will allow students to fill reusable water bottles and cups. The stations will provide clean drinking water to students and discourage the use of disposable water bottles, thereby having a positive environmental impact.

“Brita has already donated 12 hydration stations to Oakland Unified for 10 schools and those that have already been installed are very popular with students,” said John Sasaki, OUSD Communications Director.

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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

5 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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California Black Media

Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Published

6 days ago

April 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Nyerere Robinson (Courtesy Photo)

By California Black Media

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.

The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.

The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.

Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.