Bay Area

Over/Underpasses Proposed for Parchester Village and Point Richmond

Richmond City Councilmember Cesar Zepeda has identified possible federal funding for the construction of either overpasses or underpasses needed near Parchester Village and Canal Boulevard in Point Richmond, according to the July 11 Richmond City Council Agenda Report.

Published

3 years ago

July 19, 2023

Oakland Post

City of Richmond sign. Courtesy of Richmond Standard.

By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Standard

He recommended in the report, addressed to Mayor Eduardo Martinez and the City Council, that they “Direct staff to analyze the feasibility, cost and timeline of building the two under-or-overpasses near Parchester Village and Point Richmond at Canal Blvd. and return to the City Council with a report.”

Zepeda indicated that he would work with Congressman John Garamendi’s office to potentially fund this project.

He noted that Parchester Village would be the primary target for the funding since it currently only has one way in/out and is at risk of being blocked in an emergency situation.

He also indicated in the report that since Parchester Village “is considered a low-income community, it would much easier to qualify for federal funding.” However, he additionally underscored that “there is also a possibility that the City can do the same for Point Richmond at Canal Blvd.”

The councilmember recommended that the first step should be a conversation about the feasibility, a cost analysis and approval to apply for the funding for the two over/underpasses. “The documentation should be specific to both projects with separate costs and processes in case funding for one is provided and not the other.”

The next step, per Zepeda’s recommendation in the agenda report, would be for the City to determine the project’s timeline, specifications and any city approvals that are needed — a.k.a. permits — to illustrate that the City is poised for the funding.

“Congressman Garamendi’s office is available to discuss how they can assist with the projects should the City decide to move forward,” Zepeda said in the report. He noted that the planning and project review must be completed by September so that staff can present it to the Congressman’s office by October, when the application process opens.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.