City Government

Preparing for the Future

As I move around the community, I constantly find people who feel the recent election results mainly benefit certain powerful groups that had spent a lot of money to get their candidates or issues supported. When some voters, especially some first-time voters, see the results of how these powerful groups use their money, they become dismayed, and they feel that the election results are flawed and tainted.

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2023

Oakland Post

The Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) organization seeks to change this sense of powerlessness by creating a new narrative of hope. FIGB by going out and registering and educating more voters. This door-to-door, person-to-person approach will increase turnout and give them their own platform and voice at the polls. There is a huge population of potential voters that for the most part have been ignored and left out of the voting process.

By Richard Johnson

When some voters, especially some first-time voters, see the results of how these powerful groups use their money, they become dismayed, and they feel that the election results are flawed and tainted.

And, at the end of the day, they feel like they are held hostage and those harmed are mainly the people.

To be frank, these feelings come from realizing that we the people lack a voice that is heard and respected.

The Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) organization seeks to change this sense of powerlessness by creating a new narrative of hope.

FIGB by going out and registering and educating more voters. This door-to-door, person-to-person approach will increase turnout and give them their own platform and voice at the polls. There is a huge population of potential voters that for the most part have been ignored and left out of the voting process.

Recently, laws have changed that allow for empowering formerly incarcerated men and women the right to vote and express their concerns in matters that affect their lives as well.

FIGB is in collaboration with Charles Reed, a formerly incarcerated advocate, along with the aid of volunteers such as Maureen Forney and Ruth Schoenbach, are on the front lines daily to make this happen daily.

They certainly would welcome and appreciate other volunteers that want to assist as well. Voting is a right that could potentially correct the wrongs which confront society in every manner. However, unless we take full advantage of this protected right, nothing will happen to halt the trajectory of wrong that is permeating our culture and our society.

Voting is the key to a much-needed change in the electoral process because we have a vested interest in the outcomes that promote the betterment of communities.

The Third Act Organization of FIGB, Charles Reed, and associates is dedicated to working diligently to achieve these goals.

They need the help of volunteers who also share their belief that increased voter participation can strengthen our democracy.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

13 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Bay Area

Grand Jury: Richmond Police Short-staffed Amid Budget Cuts, Council Inaction

In recent years, RPD was described as severely understaffed in two independent reports, one by Raftelis Financial Consulting (2024) and another by Matrix Consulting Group (2023). Raftelis recommended the hiring of 27 more officers and Matrix recommended hiring 30. Despite these findings, “neither report has been fully discussed by the City Council in a public meeting,” the Grand Jury report notes.

Published

25 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

RPD headquarters. Courtesy image.

The Richmond Standard

A newly released Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury report raised concerns about public safety in Richmond caused by an understaffed police department.

The Grand Jury ultimately recommended that the Richmond City Council reverse its actions to defund the Richmond Police Department, which remains below the approved level of 146 sworn officers with a current vacancy of 23 officers, according to the report.

In 2014, when the RPD under Chief Chris Magnus gained national recognition for implementing a community policing model that drove down crime, the department boasted 196 sworn officers.

Meanwhile, crime is on the rise. While homicides were down from 18 in 2021 to 11 in 2024, violent crimes overall jumped 22.6% in that time. Robbery and aggravated assault both increased by nearly 20%, with sexual assaults up 21%, according to the grand jury report’s findings.

Those numbers are likely higher since RPD’s limited staffing means police are unable to respond to all calls for service, according to RPD authorities.

The Grand Jury report noted a pivotal moment for the police department occurred in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

Jumping aboard a national trend to defund police, the City Council, led by the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA), reallocated $3 million away from the RPD budget, leading to downsizing or elimination of RPD’s specialized investigative units.

The funds were redirected to support the YouthWORKS Program, unhoused services, the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), and a new alternative non-police community response team.

The latter strategy, known as the Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP), aims to reduce the number of calls to dispatch that require a law enforcement response. But the program has yet to be fully implemented and is being challenged by the RPD’s union, which takes issue with CCRP employees becoming members of SEIU Local 1021, a separate city union that routinely helps to elect RPA members to the City Council.

The Grand Jury recommends that the city use a portion of the $550 million Chevron settlement funds to hire and retain more officers. The City Council recently expressed interest in using those funds to address the city’s unfunded pension liabilities. To read the full, 10-page Grand Jury report, go to https://www.cc-courts.org/civil/docs/grandjury/2024-2025/2503/2503-DiminishingFundsandFewerOfficers.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawKR1AVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFxeW1vUTFXNWNWazZCZmxIAR6FJYmFEfK098FXFhC4lvSCMSbHr5aEVno_sZqukzhZKI9iEvsu8kr_KoKX6g_aem_Xp15VG4_irpJqDWBcAI7-g

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Bay Area

WCCUSD Reinstates Pinole Valley High Baseball Coaches

The WCCUSD stated that an internal review found that both coaches followed the appropriate process when they were made aware of the allegations. However, the district said its investigation was unable to confirm exactly who made the racist remarks. “Reports indicate that the inappropriate remarks may have come from the stands; however, the exact source has not been confirmed,” the district said in the statement.

Published

38 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

West Contra Costa Unified School District headquarters. Photo by Kathy Chouteau of the Richmond Standard.

The Richmond Standard

The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) announced Tuesday the reinstatement of Pinole Valley High School coaches who were placed on leave while the district investigated allegations of racist remarks made by their team during games.

“Reports indicate that the inappropriate remarks may have come from the stands; however, the exact source has not been confirmed,” the district said in the statement.

The district said that in response to the incident, it will have a school administrator and the athletic director present at all remaining Pinole Valley High School baseball games this season. The district says it is also reinforcing behavioral expectations to student-athletes, staff, families, and spectators.

“The behavior displayed by individuals during the April 23 varsity baseball game between Pinole Valley High School and Albany High School was unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our district, our schools, or our athletic programs,” the district stated.

In cellphone video captured by an Albany High parent at the April 23 game, one or more people can be heard shouting comments including “P.F. Chang is that you” and “Baljeet” to separate Albany pitchers of Asian descent.

According to news reports, the Pinole Valley baseball coach apologized to the Albany team days after the game. Pinole Valley High also faced allegations of inappropriate remarks made at the April 16 game against El Cerrito High.