Connect with us

Bay Area

Oakland Doctors Question Vandalism

Published

on

Dr. Geoffrey Watson surveyed the damage to his North Oakland medical facility caused by looters Saturday and Sunday nights.

On Monday, Dr. Geoffrey Watson surveyed the damage to his North Oakland medical facility caused by looters Saturday and Sunday nights, under the guise of protesting the brutal murder of George Floyd on May 25th by four Minneapolis police officers.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Ralph Peterson’s East Oakland office located at 10520 MacArthur Blvd was also vandalized. Peterson questions why people responsible for healing and caring for the community are being targeted.

“The security video shows it wasn’t the population we serve. They were young, largely Hispanic and white, all under the age of 23, and were organized with cars pulling up to take what they could.” said Peterson.  “Thank goodness our doors held with only three getting through two windows.” Peterson feels the broken glass deterred the group of 15 milling outside who, he observed by video footage, were very organized in their intent.

The James A Watson Wellness Center, located at 5709 Market Street and Peterson’s office continue to remain open to serve the community while other doctors have closed their offices because of COVID-19.

“We’re one of the few facilities still seeing patients,” said Dr. Watson, “Most doctors are teleconferencing with their patients.  In addition to being open, as a member of the Oakland Frontline Healers organization, we’re testing, distributing food and PPE.”

A neighbor reported seeing six to eight African American men break down the front door, knocking the door off its hinges.  They managed to access and break a second gate, ransacking the office and stealing two computers.

A saddened Watson noted, ”Whoever broke in knew this was a Black business as soon as they stepped in the door.  Pictures of past doctors are on the walls as well as African artwork.

“(People need to realize that) Black Lives Matter, Black businesses matter and Black businesses take care of Black lives.”

“It’s unfortunate the very population we’re serving would prey upon Dr. Watson who is providing valuable service to them,” said Tanya Dennis an Oakland Frontline Healer leader “Oakland Frontline Healers is one of the most powerful organizations our people have in the community right now.  We’re on the front line distributing PPE, food and testing.

“We represent the leadership the Oakland community has been seeking,” she continued.  “As important as our work is right now, what we will be doing to rebuild the Black community after COVID-19 will be essential.  We need the community to support us, not undermine our efforts by looting.  Looters are dishonoring George Floyd’s memory.”

When you think about police shootings, there are more of us shooting each other,” Watson said. “We want the police to do their job, but we have to do our job and respect each other.  This is the time to come together and stop destroying property and killing each other.  It’s time for Black-on-Black support.  People are not thinking.  When we had the Panthers and the NAACP we had a 10-point plan and we had direction.  I joined Oakland Frontline Healers because they are our new leadership in the community.  Please respect the movement.”

Dr. Peterson shared his observances about the vandalism. “We’re Black doctors and all we do is heal.  We were targeted because they don’t know us.  I’ve been serving the community since 1983, Dr. Watson’s office even longer.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 13 – 19, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 13 – 19, 2024

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 6 – 12, 2024

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Activism

Who are the Alameda County District 4 Supervisor Candidates’ Top Campaign Contributors?

Below, we’ve listed each candidate’s 10 highest campaign contributors. For Miley, two of his top campaign donors also bought their own advertisements to support him and/or oppose Esteen through independent expenditures. Such expenditures, though separate from campaign donations, are also public record, and we listed them. Additionally, the National Organization of Realtors has spent about $70,500 on their own independent expenditures to support Miley.

Published

on

Jennifer Esteen. (Campaign photo) and Supervisor Nate Miley. (Official photo).
Jennifer Esteen. (Campaign photo) and Supervisor Nate Miley. (Official photo).

By Zack Haber

Nate Miley, who has served on Alameda County’s Board of Supervisors since 2000, is running for reelection to the District 4 supervisor seat.

Jennifer Esteen, a nurse and activist, is seeking to unseat him and become one of the five members of the powerful board that sets the county’s budget, governs its unincorporated areas, and oversees the sheriff, Alameda Health System, and mental health system.

District 4 includes most of East Oakland’s hills and flatlands beyond Fruitvale, part of Pleasanton and unincorporated areas south of San Leandro like Ashland and Castro Valley.

Voting is open and will remain open until March 5.

In California, campaign donations of $100 or more are public record. The records show that Miley has received about $550,000 in total campaign donations since he won the previous District 4 election in March 2020. Esteen has raised about $255,000 in total campaign donations since she started collecting them last July. All figures are accurate through Feb. 20.

While Miley has raised more money, Esteen has received donations from more sources. Miley received donations of $100 or more from 439 different sources. Esteen received such donations from 507 different sources.

Below, we’ve listed each candidate’s 10 highest campaign contributors. For Miley, two of his top campaign donors also bought their own advertisements to support him and/or oppose Esteen through independent expenditures. Such expenditures, though separate from campaign donations, are also public record, and we listed them. Additionally, the National Organization of Realtors has spent about $70,500 on their own independent expenditures to support Miley.

Nate Miley’s top campaign contributors:

The California Apartment Association, a trade group representing landlords and investors in California’s rental housing business, has spent about $129,500 supporting Miley’s election bid through about $59,500 in ads against Esteen$55,000 in ads supporting Miley, and $15,000 in campaign donations.

The independent expenditure committee Preserve Agriculture in Alameda County has spent about $46,025 supporting Miley through about $27,200 in their own ads, and $18,825 in donations to his campaign. Preserve Agriculture has supported reelection efforts for former Alameda County DA Nancy O’Malley, and Sheriff Greg Ahern, a republican. It’s received funding from ChevronPG&E, and a the California Apartment Association.

Organizations associated with the Laborers’ International Union of North America, or LiUNA, have donated about $35,000 in total. Construction and General Laborers Local 304, a local chapter of the union representing which represents over 4,000 workers, donated $20,000.

Laborers Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition, which represents 70,000 LiUNA members in Arizona, California, Hawaii and New Mexico, donated $15,000.

William ‘Bill’ Crotinger and the East Oakland-based company Argent Materials have donated $26,000. Crotinger is the president and founder of Argent, a concrete and asphalt recycling yard. Argent’s website says it is an eco-friendly company that diverts materials from landfills. In 2018, Argent paid the EPA $27,000 under a settlement for committing Clean Water Act violations.

Michael Morgan of Hayward, owner of We Are Hemp, a marijuana dispensary in Ashland, has donated $21,500.

Alameda County District 1 Supervisor David Haubert has donated $21,250 from his 2024 reelection campaign. He’s running unopposed for the District 1 seat.

SEIU 1021which represents over 60,000 workers in local governments, non-profit agencies, healthcare programs, and schools in Northern California, has donated $20,000.

UA Local 342, which represents around 4,000 pipe trades industry workers in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, donated $20,000.

The union representing the county’s deputy sheriffs, Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Alameda County, has donated $17,000.

Becton Healthcare Resources and its managers have donated $14,625. Becton’s mission statement says it provides “behavioral health management services to organizations and groups that serve the serious and persistent mentally ill population.”

Jennifer Esteen’s top campaign contributors:

Mary Quinn Delaney of Piedmont, founder of Akonadi Foundation, has donated $20,000. Akonadi Foundation gives grants to nonprofit organizations, especially focusing on racial justice organizing,

Bridget Galli of Castro Valley has donated $7,000. Galli is a yoga instructor and a co-owner of Castro Valley Yoga.

Rachel Gelman of Oakland has donated $5,000. Gelman is an activist who has vowed to redistribute her inherited wealth to working class, Indigenous and Black communities.

California Worker Families Party has donated $5,000. The organization’s website describes itself as a “grassroots party for the multiracial working class.”

David Stern of Albany has donated $5,000. Stern is a retired UC Berkeley Professor of Education.

Oakland Rising Committee—a collaborative of racial, economic, and environmental justice organizations—has donated about $3,050.

Fredeke Von Bothmer-Goodyear, an unemployed resident of San Francisco, has donated $2,600.

Robert Britton of Castro Valley has donated $2,500. Britton is retired and worked in the labor movement for decades.

Progressive Era PAC has donated about $2,400. Its mission statement says it “exists to elect governing majorities of leaders in California committed to building a progressive era for people of color.”

East Bay Stonewall Democrats Club has donated $2,250. The club was founded in 1982 to give voice to the East Bay LGBTQIA+ communities.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.