Oakland

Opinion: Where Are the Oakland A’s?

Published

7 years ago

October 26, 2017

On Sept. 13, the Oakland A’s announced their choice for a new baseball stadium with much pageantry.

The A’s unveiled their desire to build a new baseball stadium at the Laney College site. The site is adjacent to the college’s main facilities and will require the relocation of the administration building.

There were a few weeks of fanfare and animated discussion with citizens and city officials offering a variety of viewpoints.

Worried about another potential gentrification tidal wave flowing from the Brooklyn Basin/Estuary area, some students and faculty wonder if their neighborhoods and Laney College will be drowned by the real estate prices flooding the housing market with unreal property value increases.

Local Chinese merchants in the surrounding neighborhood’s welcome the idea of a stadium in their backyard, hoping to reap the economic benefits of a desperately needed boost to neighborhood businesses.

Laney students question whether a stadium bordering their school will impede their education. Some community activists voice concerns about displacement and gentrification of the neighborhood. Many say this stadium proposal will widen the gap between those that have and those that don’t.

Ironically, they single out John Fisher, the son of The Gap store owners, who chairs the board of a Kipp charter school network and a Charter School Growth Fund as the poster boy for merging real estate development with alternative education.

They ask questions about why can’t that same creativity and support from the governor also be employed to develop truly affordable housing for teachers and working families.

But we have heard little from the A’s in the month and a half since their announcement, begging he question, so the A’s really understand Oakland? Will they present a community benefits plan that’s tantamount to a grand slam home run that could land on the bottom of 9th avenue?

Local business representatives Carl Chan and Jose Macias want to see progress with improved public safety, business opportunities, jobs and workforce housing.

There are huge benefits associated with the construction of a new stadium, which will offer many jobs in the short and long-run. In the near -term, thousands of construction jobs will be available. Oakland residents, with the aid of the City Council’s new race and equity policy, should be the first in line to receive these jobs.

In the long run, the revitalization of the neighborhood could yield a variety of jobs in blossoming local businesses.

A lackluster performance by most of our city and county’s elected leadership allowed our world champion sports franchises to leave.

We offer the A’s a chance to publish their community benefits plans in the Post and El Mundo as we cover both sides of the debate over relocation plan.

With the election season on the horizon many would-be leaders will be offering themselves as “pinch hitters with a plan” to score big for Oakland.

As the Warriors are leaving for San Francisco, and the Raiders are departing for Las Vegas, the A’s are Oakland’s one remaining professional sports team. The A’s have pledged that they are staying in Oakland, with their “Rooted in Oakland” advertising campaign.

We hope they succeed. Yet we wonder, what’s going on? Where are the A’s?

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Related Topics:A's Oakland Athletics Opinion stadium

Up Next

Oakland African American Chamber Hosts 14th Business Luncheon

Don't Miss

“A Safe Place” and Domestic Violence Month

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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

Published

2 days 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.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Bay Area

BART to Retire Legacy Trains in Public Ceremony April 20

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

The Richmond Standard

Bay Area Rapid Transit’s final dispatch of legacy trains will take place on Saturday, April 20, and will be accompanied by a retirement ceremony and a final legacy ride.

At 1 p.m., the public is invited to celebrate the last run of BART’s legacy trains during a ceremony that will take place in the free area of the plaza at MacArthur Station in Oakland.

Following the ceremony, the public is invited to board a legacy train and ride from MacArthur to Fremont Station, mirroring the initial service BART provided when it opened Sept. 11, 1972.

“It’s a 45-minute trip that travels along approximately 24 miles of the original section of tracks,” BART officials said.

Multiple legacy trains will run for the event, and all will make station stops and may turn around at Bay Fair depending on the number of attendees waiting to ride. Regular fares will apply.

“These train cars are part of the history of the Bay Area,” said Bob Powers, BART general manager. “While we are excited to modernize the system, we recognize the profound cultural importance of these cars, and we want to celebrate their rich history and give them a proper send off.”

BART is now running train cars from its Fleet of the Future project.

Those nostalgic for the older trains will be able to view three of them soon at Western Railway Museum in Suisun City.

A handful of other legacy cars will be transferred to be repurposed for short-term rentals, entertainment venues, and training facilities, according to BART. Most of the legacy cars have been recycled.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Bay Area

Mind, Body, and Spiritual Well-Being for Women Addressed in NAACP Forum in Oakland

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church. Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

The panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental and emotional well-being and relationships. iStock photo by Jorge Elizaquibel.

Special to The Post

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church.

Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66^th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

The forum will feature renowned experts, healthcare professionals, and advocates from Genentech, John Muir Health, Sutter Health of The East Bay, Kaiser Permanente, and the Alameda County Public Health Department.

Our expert panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and healthy relationships. The forum will encompass a wide range of topics such as breast cancer, menopause, reproductive health, nutrition, mental health awareness, preventive care, and much more.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend informative sessions, interactive workshops, and panel discussions led by experts in their respective fields. Additionally, there will be wellness activities, screenings, and informational booths offering valuable resources and support.

This forum is open to women of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging inclusivity and diversity in the conversation surrounding women’s health. Whether you’re seeking information for yourself, a loved one, or simply looking to connect with other women, this event promises to be enlightening and empowering.

For more information and to register for the Total You Women’s Health Forum, please visit https://www.naacpoakland.org/ or contact Dr. Delores Thompson. WIN chairwoman at (510) 328-3638.

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is dedicated to empowering women, and young teen girls. We look forward to your participation in this important event.

To register, go to https://www.naacpoakland.org/events/the-total-you-womens-health-forum