Business

The Power of a President Standing on the Picket Line

The economy may be the No. 1 issue in the upcoming election. But it’s still a mystery. How can inflation be normalizing around 3%, going down from its peak from earlier this year, and prices are still going up?

Published

2 years ago

October 3, 2023

Oakland Post

Rather, it’s the symbolic gesture of Pres. Joe Biden making history going to Michigan to become the first president to ever join a union picket line. Hard to believe that’s never happened before. But it finally did this week.

By Emil Guillermo

COMMENTARY

The data shows the economy is good, even better. But personally, most of us feel worse.

Why? Because all the data is useless.

The economy is a psychological thing. You got a fat wallet. You feel good. You got a skinny wallet, you feel bad. When it’s always skinny, you look for a political scapegoat—the incumbent.

Most elected officials will never know that because I doubt, they ever think twice when going shopping for food.

Would they ever put back an item because it cost 20% more than the last time? Instead of a dollar, that thing in their basket is a $1.20. Do they put it back for the store brand?

I don’t know for sure. But I doubt you’ll see anyone putting back sirloin for ground chuck. Or trade the meat for the soup bones.

Frankly, I’d put all of it back. I’m vegan.

But my point is many elected officials don’t seem to feel what we feel in real life.

Can you see Trump pumping gas—and caring about it?

Or Biden at the checkout counter perplexed saying, “Ah, I thought those were a BOGO–‘Buy one get one’ free?”

That’s the level of honesty you’ll never see in a debate or in any exchange with a politician.

Because they aren’t ordinary folk.

If you watched the Republican debate this week, notice how far removed any of them are from any of us.

Even the ones that look like you and me.

Do you relate to Tim Scott, the Black conservative, whose strategy is to be the “nice” Black man? Specifically, he’s the “nice” Black man who is even nice to Donald Trump.

For Asian Americans, we have Vivek Ramaswamy who wants to be the second coming of Trump. He will gladly get rid of the Juneteenth holiday as being extraneous. If elected, Ramaswamy will repeat every hateful thing Donald Trump did the last time. With pleasure.

But who talks about flinching at the grocery store checkout, turning in a brand-name for a store brand? Who from the campaign stump is ready to be that normal, that honest?

And that’s why the political message of the week isn’t likely to be anything that was said on a debate stage.

Biden on the Picket Line

Rather, it’s the symbolic gesture of Pres. Joe Biden making history going to Michigan to become the first president to ever join a union picket line.

Hard to believe that’s never happened before.

But it finally did this week.

“You guys, the UAW (United Auto Workers), saved the auto industry in 2008,” said Biden holding a bullhorn. “You made a lot of sacrifices, gave them a lot. Companies were in trouble. Now they’re doing incredibly well. And guess what? You should be doing incredibly well, too.”

Biden stood on the picket line for the workers’ wage and benefit demands. And then he handed the bullhorn to Shawn Fain, the UAW president, who talked about how the union back in WWII built the B-24 Liberator bomber.

“Today, the enemy isn’t some foreign country miles away,” Fain said. “It’s right here. It’s corporate greed…and the true liberator is the working class people. All of you, working your butts off on those lines to deliver great products for our companies.

“We’re the people who make the world run. It’s not the billionaire class. It’s a working class of the billions of people who have been left behind. That’s what this battle is about and we’re changing that.”

Biden, who has centered his campaign on middle class values, stood with the workers as Fain spoke.

That’s why the leading Republican candidate will not be among the also-rans debating in California. Trump, who has a 30 to 40-point lead over his closest rival, will be in Michigan to woo working class voters.

Part of Trump’s surprising victory in 2016 was that he was able to convince working class people that a phony billionaire like him had their best interests at heart.

It was the contradiction that combined with the misogyny factor against Hillary Clinton, that helped Trump win the presidency.

Trump needs to continue to dupe white, blue-collar conservatives into thinking he is their guy.

But what did Trump really do for them? Increase their wages? No. Did he even act as a conservative? No. Cutting taxes to the rich and adding to the federal deficit is not an act of conservatism.

Trump simply appealed to a shameful racist, sexist side of those white, blue-collar voters, who then gladly cast their ballots against their own best interests for Trump.

Will Michigan Trumpers continue to vote in that way? Trump needs them to if he wants to win. If he doesn’t fool them again, it could be the beginning of seeing Trump for what he is: A twice-impeached, thrice criminally indicted former president who has no business running for a second term.

If Michigan shows a softening of support, it will be because of an historic act: The first sitting president ever who stood with striking Americans on a picket line.

It’s more important than you think.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. See his micro-talk show at www.amok.com

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Activism

Oak Temple Hill Hosts Interfaith Leaders from Across the Bay Area

Distinguished faith leaders Rev. Ken Chambers, executive director the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC); Michael Pappas, executive director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council; and Dr. Ejaz Naqzi, president of the Contra Costa County Interfaith Council addressed the group on key issues including homelessness, food insecurity, immigration, and meaningful opportunities to care for individuals and communities in need.

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Troy McCombs (from the state of Washington), Elder Mark Mortensen (from Irvine, CA), Michael Pappas, Rev. Ken Chambers, Dr. Ejaz Naqvi, Elder Sigfried Nauman (from the state of Washington), and Richard Kopf. Courtesy photo.

Special to the Post

Interfaith leaders from the Bay Area participated in a panel discussion at the annual meeting of communication leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held on Temple Hill in Oakland on May 31. Distinguished faith leaders Rev. Ken Chambers, executive director the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC); Michael Pappas, executive director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council; and Dr. Ejaz Naqzi, president of the Contra Costa County Interfaith Council addressed the group on key issues including homelessness, food insecurity, immigration, and meaningful opportunities to care for individuals and communities in need.

Chambers, said he is thankful for the leadership and support of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints’ global ministry, which recently worked with the interfaith congregations of ICAC to help Yasjmine Oeveraas a homeless Norwegian mother and her family find shelter and access to government services.

Oeveraas told the story of how she was assisted by ICAC to the Oakland Post. “I’m a Norwegian citizen who escaped an abusive marriage with nowhere to go. We’ve been homeless in Florida since January 2024. Recently, we came to California for my son’s passport, but my plan to drive for Uber fell through, leaving us homeless again. Through 2-1-1, I was connected to Rev. Ken Chambers, pastor of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County, and his car park program, which changed our lives. We spent about a week-and-a-half living in our car before being blessed with a trailer. After four years of uncertainty and 18 months of homelessness, this program has given us stability and hope again.

“Now, both my son and I have the opportunity to continue our education. I’m pursuing cyber analytics, something I couldn’t do while living in the car. My son can also complete his education, which is a huge relief. This program has given us the space to focus and regain our dignity. I am working harder than ever to reach my goals and give back to others in need.”

Richard Kopf, communication director for The Church of Jesus Christ in the Bay Area stated: “As followers of Jesus Christ, we embrace interfaith cooperation and are united in our efforts to show God’s love for all of his children.”

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Council Approves Budget to Invest in Core City Services, Save Fire Stations, Invest in Economic Development

I am most proud of our ability to fund these critical city services without the use of one-time fixes. We are still suffering the consequences of last year’s budget, where a majority of the Council, myself not included, chose to incorporate anticipated proceeds from the sale of the Coliseum to fund essential services. Since the sale has still not yet been completed, the lack of funds led to drastic cuts in city services, including the temporary closure of fire stations, staff layoffs, and the cancellations of many service contracts.

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2025

Oakland Post

District 4 Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran. Photo courtesy City of Oakland.

By Janani Ramachandran, District 4 Oakland City Councilmember

On Wednesday, June 11, City Council took a bold step to prioritize investing in essential city services to get our beautiful Town back on track. As Chair of the Finance Committee, I am proud to have led a collaborative process, alongside Councilmembers Rowena Brown, Zac Unger, and Charlene Wang, to develop a set of amendments to the proposed FY 2025-2027 budget which passed successfully with a vote of 6 – 1. Despite facing a $265 million structural budget deficit, we were able to restore funding to ensure that all 25 fire stations remain open, fund 5 police academies, invest millions of dollars to combat illegal dumping and sideshow prevention, improve our permitting processes, fund a “business incentives” program to revitalize our commercial corridors, improve upon our homelessness prevention work, amplify the city’s anti-trafficking programs, re-instate our tree services division, staff up our Auditor’s office – all while preventing any layoffs of city staff, keeping our senior centers and after-school programs open, and crisis services like MACRO funded.

Our budget comes in response to the widespread and consistent calls from across Oakland’s diverse communities asking us to prioritize funding solutions to the issues that have most directly impacted our residents’ safety and quality of life. Our priorities are also inspired by our belief that Oakland is on the way not only to financial recovery, but also to global recognition. Oakland can attract and preserve businesses of all sizes with safer, cleaner streets. We can and will have more large-scale festivals that celebrate our culture, concerts that uplift our incredible local musicians, conferences that attract patrons from across the world, and award-winning restaurants that top national charts. We are on our way to rebuilding a thriving economy and having a cultural renaissance will create more jobs for Oaklanders while also generating more revenue for the City through sales and business taxes.

I am grateful for the close partnership with our new Mayor Barbara Lee, and know that she shares our values of ensuring we are prioritizing keeping Oakland’s residents safe, our streets clean, and our businesses prosperous in an open and fiscally responsible manner. I am also thankful to our City Administrator, Jestin Johnson, and former Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins’ efforts to produce the initial proposal that our Council budget team used as a starting point for our amendments, and for their shared commitment to transparency and ethical government. I am especially grateful for every resident that took the time to make their voice heard throughout this rigorous budget process. I have no doubt that we are on the verge of true change, and that together we will bring Oakland back to being the world-class city I know it can be.