City Government

Rep. Barbara Lee Promotes Innovative Manufacturing in San Leandro

Published

12 years ago

October 19, 2014

Congresswoman Barbara Lee was in Leandro last week to promote innovative manufacturing in the East Bay.

Speaking at the West Gate last Thursday at a “Make it in America” press event, Lee said, “Jump-starting the middle class is really what this is all about.”

Other speakers included San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy, Rep. Steny Hoyer, and CEO & co-founder of Type A Machines Espen Siversten.

Each spoke about innovation and manufacturing at The Gate.

Cassidy said that the first industrial wave arrived in San Leandro around the end of World War II. The city became an industrial hotbed, a “mini industrial powerhouse,” he said

All this was possible due to investment into city infrastructure, mainly sewer lines. The city once boasted 20,000 jobs in the sector, and 25 percent of city land is still industrially zoned.

Currently, there are about 7,000 manufacturing jobs in San Leandro, according to Cassidy.

In the past, West Gate produced Dodges, Caterpillars, and Chrysler engines until the factory finally closed in the 1970s and was converted into a shopping mall and warehouse.

Since then, the building has seen its share of good and bad days and almost had to close its doors.

But that changed when Lit San Leandro installed a 10-gigabit fiber optic line into the building, which connected the business and art center to the 11.5-mile network installed throughout San Leandro in 2012.

After this installation, The Gate became a 3D printing hub. A coalition of 12 companies, dubbed BAAM (Bay Area Advanced Manufacturing Hub), is the world’s “Largest cluster of 3D-printing-related companies under one roof.”

The companies that are a part of BAAM have already proved beneficial for the local business community. Copper Harbor, a chemical plant, saved 95 percent on production for a new part by using modern and locally sourced methods.

The Gate is not only a technological hub but an artistic one as well. Cheryl Edison, community director, says they two are not necessarily exclusive. C

Cross-pollination of ideas is perhaps the best catalyst for innovation, said Edison.

Edison goes further to say it was not until the inception of the “Art-Tech-Makers” motto at The Gate that created demand for space. Now, demand for space far exceeds capacity in the building.

West Gate is located at 1933 Davis St. in San Leandro near Freeway 880. For more information go to http://www.westgatesanleandro.com/

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IN MEMORIAM: Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73

Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73 Caption: Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo. Special to The Post Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love i

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo.

Special to The Post

Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love in the comfort of her home. To her children, she was royalty, grace, strength, and unconditional love embodied.

Debra Diane Edgar was born on May 28, 1952, in San Francisco, California, to Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar. She was raised alongside her younger brother, Charles Edgar Jr., affectionately known as “Little Brother” or “Lil Bruh.” She also shared close bonds with her older siblings Carol Edgar-Lang, Maryann Edgar Calloway, and Lonnie Lewis Sr.

A proud product of San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District, Debra attended Andrew Jackson Elementary School, where she met her lifelong best friend and adopted sister, Lynn Green, in the fifth grade. She later attended Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Thomas Jefferson High School.

Debra’s mother transitioned when she was only 17 years old, and her father transitioned when she was 23. Despite these profound losses, Debra remained grounded through the love and support of extended family and lifelong family friends,

In 1971, she married Harold King. On Sept. 24, 1972, they welcomed their first son, Dajuan Artese King, affectionately called “Pop” or “Poppa.” On Aug. 5, 1976, they welcomed their second son, Dante Dupree King, affectionately called “Tay” or “Taboocoo the Baby.”

After her divorce in 1982, Debra assumed full responsibility for raising her sons.

She supported Dajuan’s passion for football by purchasing sports equipment and attending games faithfully. She supported Dante’s love of music by enrolling him in the San Francisco Boys Choir, Oakland Boys Choir, and the Castlemont Castleers.

Professionally, Debra built an exceptional career. She worked at Blue Shield of California from 1973 until 1994, earning multiple promotions.

She later joined the Oakland Unified School District, initially in a temporary role before being promoted into management within the Labor Relations Department. She retired from OUSD in 2015 after years of distinguished service. During her years at OUSD, she built meaningful friendships with her colleagues.

Faith was central to Debra’s life. During the 1980s, following personal hardship, she joined Love Center Church under the leadership of Bishop Walter Hawkins, where she brought her children regularly. She later became a member of Triumphant: A Church Without Walls Ministries under Pastor Dr. Larry Short, who became a beloved spiritual mentor.

After Triumphant closed in 1992, Debra joined Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Oakland under the leadership of Pastor Larry Ashley, where she remained for the rest of her life.

At Cosmopolitan, she worked in numerous ministries. She served on the usher board, sang in the choir, participated in the AIDS ministry during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, helped feed and support unhoused community members, and mentored and supported a group of young girls.

After retirement, she cared for older adults in her church community, driving them to appointments, cleaning their homes, managing finances, preparing meals, and helping families navigate funeral arrangements after loved ones transitioned.

Even while battling Stage 4 cancer herself, she continued caring for others.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar; her brothers, Lonnie Lewis Sr. and Charles Edgar Jr.; her sisters, Maryann Edgar Calloway and Victoria Stephenson Knight; and her adopted mother, Clara Oliver.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved sons, Dajuan King and Dante King; grandson, Tiyler Dajuan Artese King; sister, Carol Edgar-Lang; goddaughters Monique Belle and Ricketa Matthews Jones (Leonard); daughter-in-love Quiona Sullivan; son-in-love Marcel Walker; sister-in-law Delores Lewis; adopted sisters and lifelong friends Lynn Green, Barbara Stephenson Hill, and Sarah Fine; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members, her church family and dear friends.