Crime

OHA Helps to Fund Mayor Summer Jobs Program

Published

11 years ago

July 28, 2013

This summer, over 1,000 youth will be working through the Mayors Summer Jobs Program, thanks to a major donation from the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA).

After federal funding for the program dwindled, OHA along with other major donors stepped in to make up the difference and this year 40 percent more youth will have summer jobs.

The program has partnered with local agencies including the George P. Scotlan Center Youth & Family Center, Lao Family Community Development, The Unity Council, the East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation, Youth Uprising, and Youth Employment Partnership to employ over 1,300 young people. Jobs will last six weeks with youth working in office administration, childcare, recreation centers, and other city jobs.

Courtesy of the Oakland Housing Authority

“This effort to provide our young men and women the access to their first job, is something that can have a profound impact on them for the rest of their lives,” said OHA Executive Director Eric Johnson.

Seeking to grow the program, the Mayor’s Office fundraised and received help from donors including OHA, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, East Bay Community Foundation, Ramsell, Recology, Kaiser Permanente, and The Clorox Company. This was the first year OHA worked with the program as the largest donor providing stipends for 300 OHA youth residents to support job training.

However, none of the funds towards the program came directly from the city and local agencies say more funding is still needed to serve the youth of Oakland. Berkeley and Richmond both have a program, YouthWorks, that offers summer employment to youth funded directly through the city.

“We want the city to have more funding for us to serve every youth so they can get the work experience they need,” said Tracy Vo, a youth counselor at Lao Family Community Development which is employing 35 youth this year.

“Many youth do not have summer jobs. We need year-round funding to keep the program running for those who are interested.”

The Scotlan Center, a multiple partner in the Mayors Summer Jobs Program, hired youth through the program this summer. Last year, the center did not participate due to a lack of funding.

“The city is really concentrating on youth having sustainable employment during the summer,” said Morris Larry, fiscal officer at the Scotlan Center. “The need is so great that it can never be enough to keep the kids in a safe and workable environment. We’re going to need some local and private funding inside the city to help out.”

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

13 hours ago

April 26, 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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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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California Black Media

Anti-Theft Bill with Jail-Time Requirement Gets Wide Ranging Support

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24. Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Published

6 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman speaks as Asm. James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), left, stands beside him at a news conference in Sacramento concerning retail theft across the state.

By California Black Media

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24.

Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Co-authored by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), AB 1772 would require jail time “of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances.

“Offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft,” the bill language reads.

Ramos said the need to act is urgent.

“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic. Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said Ramos.

Prop 47 is the California initiative, approved by voters in 2014, that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the minimum amount for most misdemeanor thefts from $400 to $950.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, the rate of occurrence of petty crimes like shoplifting and commercial burglaries have increased by double digits over the last four years.

In Orange County alone, commercial burglaries have spiked by 54%.

“Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators,” Valencia said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus thanked Ramos.

“This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities,” he said.

AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce.