"Help Save The Oakland Stables" - A Video Call For Help

This video is simply a call to help save the Oakland Stables, which always seem to be on the City of Oakland's chopping block when the budget is low. For more information, go to Oaklandcitystables.org

Ignacio De La Fuente: Gilda Gonzales, Jose Duenas, Dan Boggan, Carl Chan, and Others Condem Racist Attack On Council President - Tribune

City leaders condemn remarks to De La Fuente

Some say inauguration incident shows tension between Latino, African-American communities too seldom discussed
By Heather MacDonald, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE
Article Last Updated: 01/12/2007 03:15:50 AM PST

OAKLAND — About a dozen community and civic leaders gathered Thursday to denounce the treatment of Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente at Monday's public inauguration of Mayor Ron Dellums, saying that racism has no place in Oakland.

Gilda Gonzales, CEO of the Unity Council, called what happened when De La Fuente beat back a challenge from occasional ally Councilmember Larry Reid (Elmhurst-East Oakland) "shameful and damaging.

"This level of racism hurts us all," Gonzales said, adding that it is unacceptable for the city's highest-ranking Latino elected official to be shown disrespect and verbally assaulted.

The crowd at the Paramount Theatre erupted in jeers when De La Fuente won a 6-2 victory over Reid to be renamed council president. Some in the crowd made racialslurs and mocked De La Fuente's Mexican accent, urging him to return to his native land.

De La Fuente said he felt racially attacked.

Before taking the oath of office, Dellums stepped to the podium and calmed the crowd, exhorting them to discuss political differences with mutual respect to set a good example for Oakland's children.

On Thursday, Dellums said bigotry has no place in Oakland, which he has vowed to turn into a model city.

Dan Boggan, his chief of staff, attended the news conference and pledged that the mayor would raise the level of public discourse in Oakland.

While some at the City Hall news conference called what happened an isolated incident, others said racial tension, especially between the African-American and Latino communities, has long been the "white elephant" in the room, always present but rarely discussed.

"This has been under the rug too long," said Frank Rose, a resident of East Oakland.

Oaklanders often point with pride to the city's multicultural, multiracial, multiethnic diversity, and Dellums has often said it is the source of the city's greatest strength.

Gonzales urged Dellums and the council to lead a rigorous, ongoing discussion about race in an effort to expose the source of the anger that shocked and alarmed so many people Monday.

Others said the actions of a few individuals should not divide Oakland along racial and ethnic lines and distract from the real issues confronting Oakland.

"What happened does not reflect the African-American community in Oakland," said Brenda Crawford, a longtime community activist. "It is not Oakland."

Several of the speakers said they were ashamed of what happened.

Carl Chan, a member of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, said several members of his community left the ceremony early because they felt threatened and were concerned that a "riot" could break out.

Jose Duenas, president of the Bay Area World Trade Center, said he was embarrassed that several foreign dignitaries he invited to the ceremony had to witness the uproar.

"I had to explain to them that this wasn't representative of Oakland," Duenas said.

David Kakishiba, president of the Oakland school board, said he was shocked by the rancor and hostility displayed Monday, and was most disturbed that some are writing it off as another example of Oakland's no-holds-barred politics.

"How we treat each other is at the center of the model city," Kakishiba said.

Smitty's Focus Of Robbery

Smitty's
Originally uploaded by lunchmeat.

As silent as the media has been about this, I figured I should report that Smitty's -- a local watering hole on Grand Avenue -- was the focus of a robbery two weeks ago on Tuesday.

My good friend who owns an establishment on Grand Avenue told me that just before closing two people walked in with guns and held up the patrons, while a third person was behind the wheel of the car. To my knoweldge, they are still at large.

I've not been to Smitty's in a long time -- over a year at least, I guess. But given occurences like that one, it makes you wonder if it's a good time to start going. I think I'll stick to home movies.

Just kidding. Actually more people out should deter crime, right?

It's best for all to be watchful and observant as there have been a large number of robberies and assaults along Grand Avenue.

Why all of this is happening, in my view, is due to a large class of underemployed -- not unemployed -- people. They aren't making enough to pay the rent or utilities and so some resort to terrible acts like the one I'm reporting.

Pat Kernighan With "Mcjohnnyz"

Victory for downtown!
Originally uploaded by mcjohnnyz.

I had to post this because it actually is the best photo of Pat Kernighan I have seen to date. It captures her as natural and happy. It's not a campaign photo at all. I can't agree with "Mcjohnnyz's" assertion that Aimee Allison is anti-growth, however. And the tag of "extremist" is a bit, well, extreme.

Aimee Allison And Ron Dellums

aimee_RonDellums.JPG
Originally uploaded by oaklandcentric.

Well, from this photo you'd think she got his support but then with his hands clasped rather than loose, perhaps that's a tell-take sign. At any rate, one wonders how the District Two election would have turned if Ron came out for her and Aimee was a Dem rather than a Green Party member.

Pretty Colors In Front Of Radio On 13th Street

Pretty Colors
Originally uploaded by mcjohnnyz.

This is the new face of Oakland, well, sort of. But if you've been here since 1974 and saw that facade contain various types of businesses, then it is. For a long time before it was the bar called Radio that door was the entry to a total dive no one would be caught dead it. It was a haven for people who were totally on the edge, and a total smoke-filled room to boot. Now, at least it's a clean joint just next to the Tribune Tower.

Oakland Ice Sculpture At The Dellums Black-Tie Party

Oakland Ice Sculpture
Originally uploaded by mcjohnnyz.

No, I missed this party due to family matters -- Mom in town -- but mcjonnyz didn't. Thus this photo of the amazing Oakland Ice Sculpture that graced the middle of the party room. I wonder if it's melted?

The Mormon Temple

Oakland Temple 2
Originally uploaded by Chapter 1.

Regardless of your religious background or interest, it's hard to argue with the sheer beauty and grandure of the Mormon Temple off Lincoln Avenue in the Oakland Hills. It was the first structure I noticed when I moved here from Chicago at 12 years old. It has the look and feel of permanence. While the Palm trees always reminded me of LA, they just seem to fit the style of the building.

Jetset - Zennie Abraham At The Vloggies

Jetset
Originally uploaded by theclipshow.

Someone managed to capture me doing what I do best -- talking. This was at last year's very successful event called "The Vloggies." The Vloggies is a first-of-its-kind awards show for video-bloggers, which I guess includes me. The person who took this elected to entitle it "Jetset" which I guess explains how someone I don't know sees me. That's interesting.

At any rate, Oakland should have its own vlog meetup. It would be nice to know who's doing what around here. It would also be very cool to have an awards show in Oakland as well. Maybe I could coax Irina Slutsky -- the creator of The Vloggies -- into having it here in 2007.