Oakland Focus News | Oakland News Online Blog

In the At-Large Oakland City Council race,  Kerry Hamill's switch from supporting to opposing Measure NN to establish a new tax for police may have been the nail in the coffin of her backing from some persons and news groups. That's certainly true for the East Bay Express, which backed Hamill in the primary but then switched to Kaplan for the general election.  The Express also backed Tom Bates for Mayor of Berkeley.   I will make my video explaining my endorsement choices on Saturday.   

This is an update of my first video on a clash between supporters of state Prop 8 and those opposing it. I went back to the same MacArthur and Lakeshore corner featured in the first video.  

Assemblyman Mark Leno lays out the case for supporting both state Proposition 8 and San Francisco Proposition H, the SF clean energy initiative on the ballot.  Leno, a former SF supervisor explains refutes many of the fears that PG&E will be "taken over."

Say, remember my post on how I was not supporting the state proposition 1A calling for High Speed Rail because the route did not come through Oakland as I worked to have done when I represented then-Mayor Elihu Harris?   Well, I waa able to partcipate in a debate on the matter at The Commonwealth Club's SF Debate program Tuesday night, and where the prop started out with more yes votes than no votes.  But after my insistance that it was not the right plan and that there were CalTrain plans that were rejected for no good reason , the initiative lost 10 to 7 with a number of undecided observers. The basic problem is that the plan is the plaything of politics -- whoever cries the loudest gets the route and that trumps a system that rightly serves the state in way where poor communities are represented. But what bothered me was the claim by a supporter involved in the project that Oakland's Ron Dellums and staff had done nothing to argue for Oakland. What the hell were...

This video presents Day One of the case of Bowoto v. Chevron at U.S. District Court, Northern California, San Francisco. Here Larry Bowoto from Nigeria is accusing Chevron of harming him and his mates and violating their civil rights, and Chevron's counter is that Bowoto and his mates entered there oil production facility and attempted to kidnap Chevron employees. In calling the Nigerian Military police, a skermish unfolded where Bowoto and his mates were alledgely harmed. In this video Chevron's Don Campbell presents Chevron's side of the case; there was no spokesperson for Botwoto's side available.

In my video i observe that Ted Stevens conviction does not mean he was a bad elected official. I also say that America itself is socialist and explain why

The Oakland Raiders are a team in dire straits. There is no need to reproduce the win loss record that is haunting the Raider Nation. It is starting to seem like the losing is bothering the fans more than it is bothering the team, and that is a huge problem. read more | digg story

There was a protest at a Mormon temple yesterday, and I was hoping that the SF Chronicle would tell us about it! So that the GLBT community could see that we aren't letting religious legislation that will destroy families, be proposed and sponsored by a faith. We protested and they should have reported it. Instead they called DKos witch hunters. read more | digg story

I read about the stabbing of Elnora Caldwell today. This is such a horrible story. OAKLAND — An Oakland woman who was stabbed to death Saturday evening had taken out a restraining order against her estranged husband, who was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of her slaying, authorities said.... Read the full story here.

Why does PG&E oppose clean energy and Proposition H in San Francisco?  The SF Clean Energy Gal asks that very question.  See the many guises of Mary, the Clean Energy Gal here and support Clean Energy in San Francisco.

The elections fast approaching and the campaign to elect Senator Barack Obama for President is heating up with a great GOTV effort.  You can early vote and find an "early voting" rally near you with a click here:  http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/caearlyvote

  http://zennie62.com This is a video capturing two warring factions - Oaklanders in support of "Proposition 8" which would make Gay Marriage illegal, and those in opposition to the measure. On CNN iReport

Most people don't know that prostitution has only been criminalized in modern times. Selling sex is not a crime. Sex is sold everyday through corporate and independent mediums. Like drugs, legalizing it, allows you to control it, keep it safe, and free up law enforcement resources for more pertinent, non controversial criminal activities. Take the example of Nevada, where some prostitution is legal. It is controlled, reduces the need for pimping, and keeps the girls tested often. Furthermore, who the hell says you can't sell your body for money?? Bodies are sold all the time for money. Look at the porn industry, look at television. Sex is a sold product. Why cant we allow women to sell it for themselves for their own benefit. If corporate America could get between the prostitute and the sale they would. Market forces have no problem making money off sex. Let's understand and move closer to legalizing prostitution.

The question here is where should we put our tax dollars?? Do we put our money into reacting to a crime? Or making sure that crime doesn't happen in the first place? I think we should put our money into preventing crime from happening in the first place. For example, Oakland's new program; Green Jobs Corps. has the right idea. The aim is to offer these training programs in the inner city and in forgotten rural and once-industrial towns where idleness and crime have replaced factory work. There are many programs, not to mention our broken education system, where money is needed to stablize our community which in turn will reduce crime for the long hall. Yes, we need to tax and invest into Oakland but measure NN funnels our money into treatment and not a cure. So Vote 'NO' on Measure NN.

Just a few days removed from beating the New York Jets 16-13 on Sebastian Janikowski's 57-yard field goal in overtime, the Raiders turn their attention to the Baltimore Ravens and their vaunted defense. Oakland will travel cross country to face the top ranked D at M&T Stadium on Sunday as they look to inch closer to first place in the AFC... read more | digg story

Police Preparing For Election Day Unrest "Are we anticipating it will be a riot situation? No. But will we be prepared if it goes awry? Yes," said Oakland Police Department spokesman Jeff Thomason.Wednesday, October 22, 2008 read more | digg story

While the $700 billion bailout and presidential election have dominated the news, the U.S. House passed a major piece of credit card reform legislation. The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008 passed the House on Sept. 23 by a vote of 312-112 (with nine members not voting). read more | digg story

My commentary on the RNC's expenditure of $150,000 for Governor Palin and her family, and my assertion that the McCain / Palin Campaign's charge that Senator Obama is socialist is a racist claim that has it's basis in American civil rights history.

Yesterday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sat for an interview with KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado. In response to a question sent to the network by a third grader at a local elementary school "What does the Vice President do?", Palin erroneously argued that the Vice President is "in charge of the United States Senate". Reporter asked her... read more | digg story

The rare appearance by the Apple CEO produces a few more pithy quotes than you would usually hear on an earnings call. Here are a few... read more | digg story

The stage was set for what appeared to be yet another late collapse for the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders were holding on to a 13-10 lead and had just set the Jets back at their own five yard line after failing to convert a first down following an interception. read more | digg story

Images of Obama from around Oakland, CA: on poster outside of democratic headquarters, in tags from a graffiti contest, and on children's signs at a rally read more | digg story

Tom Cable has been preaching the gospel of "1-0" since his ascension to head coach nearly three weeks ago. The concept of this is that each week is independent of the results of the previous week, therefore his goal for the team is to be 1-0 every week. read more | digg story

As part of our effort to promote clean energy for San Francisco, I am very proud to report that Van Jones, the author of "The Green Collar Economy" has endorsed Prop H for clean energy.

Today is marked the 17 year anniversary of worst fire in California, which occured in the Oakland Hills. So many homes and lives were lost that tragic day. Oakland's Fire Department finally came out with a custom made fire truck that is specifically designed to nagivate it way through the Oakland Hills. Te read the whole story by the Oakland Tribune, click here.

   This is my blog report on "Joe The Plumber", where I point out that he's actually not part of of the labor force, but a member of the growing underground economy in America. Then I praise Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's appearance on Saturday Night Live and state that she's got the wrong job -- she should be a political comedian. Finally I look at what is the largest crowd in American Political history. 100,000 people came out in St. Louis to see Senator Barack Obama.

There's an interesting but not reported on item -- ignored by the Oakland Tribune -- coming up on the Oakland City Council agenda, and it's called the "East Oakland Sports Complex Development." The resolution "on the table" will transfer $2 million from the Oakland Redevelopment Agency to the City of Oakland to fund the construction of this proposed project. There's nothing that's online about it that's immediately obvious to the lay person. which is terrible. But that written, and before I discuss the ELS website information, this is a project I know about and that Councilmember Larry Reid has spent years -- years -- trying to get moving. It started in 1996 with an idea Councilmember Reid had with then-Otis Spunkmier founder and CEO Ken Rawlings.  Both wanted to change the fact that while East Oakland had a population of familes with kids and teenagers, there was very little for them to do, if anything. To the end of changing that st...

CleanEnergyGal.com

tour of the local office market read more | digg story

Another Sunday, and another game against a team struggling to make anything work. The 3-2 New York Jets will be traveling to Oakland to face the 1-4 Raiders. It's always easy for fans to dismiss a team during an unfortunate season... read more | digg story

Will this be the first time in Oakland's modern political history that all bond measures fail at the election booth? Given the rocky road of Measure NN, which doesn't seem to excite the same electorate that wants more police on the street, it seems that we may see a window to such a future. On Tuesday, a proposal by Councilmember Pat Kernighan met its Waterloo, with opposition. Here's what happened according to the Trib: No deal on Oakland landlord, renter tax split By Kelly Rayburn Oakland Tribune Article Last Updated: 10/17/2008 04:55:22 AM PDT OAKLAND — City renters will help decide Nov. 4 whether Oakland will create a parcel tax to give the police department a personnel boost — but, for now, those same renters won't be asked to share in paying if the new tax is approved. A proposal from Councilmember Patricia Kernighan (Grand Lake-Chinatown) to amend the city's rental laws so landlords would have been allowed to split their portion of the proposed...

This video takes us into a great "VIP Party" held for the band "Cake" ( http://www.cakemusic.com) and the San Francisco Prop H Campaign for Clean Energy. It features Mary, The Clean Energy Gal.

Van Jones is an Oakland-based author, activist, and spokesperghts who's known for his work in civil rights and against violence in Oakland. But I went to talk with him about his newest work: a book he wrote called The Green Collar Economy.

Who won the final Presidential Debate? I asked that question -- well more what they thought of the debate -- of Obama supporters at the Temple Lounge in San Francisco. My thanks to the staff of the Temple Lounge. Great place; great people. Here On CNN iReport

A community forum held recently in Oakland, with the cast of the popular gay African-American now defunct television show that ran on Logo. The actors do not directly talk about No on Prop 8 but conversations were indirectly related to the controversial ballot initiative in California in this years National Election. read more | digg story

A community forum held recently in Oakland, with the cast of the popular gay African-American now defunct television show that ran on Logo. The actors do not directly talk about No on Prop 8 but conversations were indirectly related to the controversial ballot initiative in California in this years National Election. read more | digg story

A community forum held recently in Oakland, with the cast of the popular gay African-American now defunct television show that ran on Logo. The actors do not directly talk about No on Prop 8 but conversations were indirectly related to the controversial ballot initiative in California in this years National Election. read more | digg story

On Oct. 15, 1981, Krazy George Henderson led the first audience wave at an Oakland Athletics game. read more | digg story

In the following interview, Renay Jackson discusses his new book, Sweetpea’s Secret, addresses the controversy surrounding the genre of urban lit, and talks about keeping it real by representing the poverty, crime, hopelessness, and despair of inner city life. read more | digg story

In the following interview, Renay Jackson discusses his new book, Sweetpea’s Secret, addresses the controversy surrounding the genre of urban lit, and talks about keeping it real by representing the poverty, crime, hopelessness, and despair of inner city life. read more | digg story

After much study, I've come to the conclusion, which I present in this video: ..that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is stabbing Senator John McCain in the back. Often, Palin has approved of views that were taken by Senator Barack Obama, causing McCain to rein her in with a press statement that makes the campaign look like a keystone cops routine.   Consider how Palin has went against McCain in these following examples.   1) Pakistan - Palin favored the Obama-Biden assertion of going into that country to "get" a known terrorist even if that government would not cooperate.  2) Bankruptcy - Palin favors the Obama-Biden approach of allowing the homeowner to be protected against losing their dwelling after filing for Bankruptcy.   3) Korea - Palin agrees with the current action of the U.S. dropping Korea from the state terrorist list, even as McCain opposes this.  Obama also backs the Bush Administration action. 4) Palin Administration - Governor Pa...

1. Portland, OR - 85.08 2. San Francisco - 81.82 3. Seattle - 79.64 4. Chicago - 70.64 5. Oakland - 69.18 6. New York City - 68.20 7. Boston - 68.18 8. Philadelphia - 67.28 9. Denver - 66.72 10. Minneapolis - 66.60 read more | digg story

Black Rock City Ballet was born of the imaginations of several professional dancers from Bay Area dance companies: Smuin Ballet, Sacramento Ballet and the Oakland Ballet Company in an effort to bring the dance for to a new audience and debunk ballet's elitist image. read more | digg story

Just one week after a projected $42 million deficit prompted Oakland officials to announce the possible layoff of 200 city workers and the closing down of city services on Fridays, Mayor Ron Dellums jetted off to Palm Beach, Fla., for a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting on arts and tourism. read more | digg story

A planning student at U.C. Berkeley wrote a 19 page paper about the Oakland General Plan and the Design Review Committee. I don't know who the student is, because they didn't put there name where it could be easily noted. It's worth reading; so much so I posted it here for you to see and evaluate: Oakland: report on General Plan and DRC - Upload a Document to Scribd

I can't disagree more with my friend Chip Johnson on the idea of replacing district elections in Oakland with an all-at-large system. The simple reason is that having people represent a district means that economic resources are better targeted and people are more engaged than in an at-large system. Think about it. While the current system certainly has problems, what Chip forgets is that the ability to influence councilmembers in an at-large system will be left more to the rich and powerful than to small neighborhood activists and groups. What did he say? That's right. If you think that politics exists without the need or attempt to influence is some way, then you're dreaming. Big time. The fact is that the district process brings power closer to the common person. It takes less money, effort, and time when the geographic area is smaller and that produces better and more engaged citizens at the grass roots level. There's a reason the district election sy...

With all of the crime problems Oakland faces it's almost funny to think that cutting police overtime charged would actually cause the city's $42 million deficit to decrease. It will not over a period of time because the workload that is attached to police overtime will not magically go away. Indeed, the move could result in more work not done or crimes not solved or criminals not apprehended, which means that the problems that exist will not go away. I have another solution: merge ALL of the City of Oakland Redevelopment Project areas and release some of that money reserved for projects to pay for police overtime. Between the Coliseum Redevelopment Area, the Downtown Redevelopment Area, and the West Oakland Redevelopment Area most of Oakland's flatlands are under the view of the Redevelopment Agency. Before someone says "you can't use Redevelopment revenue for services" that's simply not true; such can be done if the money is declared for such ...

This video posted today features a news story on a growing contributor to Oakland's homicide rate: the emergence of Latino gangs.

Last year, San Francisco Magazine devoted an e ntire issue to Oakland . It was a great work and I don't write that because I was in it. It did try to cover the base, although I felt it could have focused more on Oakland's African American businesses than it did. My overall impression was that the publisher wanted to present Oakland to the monied White establishment of San Francisco. I kind of said that in this video: But still it was a great work. One of the articles was on Mayor Ron Dellums and there I said that the good Mayor could do more. So Friday, I was contacted for my comments in preparation for this new article and I pretty much said the same thing. But what was of interest to me was what the reporter said OTHERS were saying about the Mayor. His supporters feels Dellums is doing a good job but that others don't know it. But what they point to are small projects, when Oakland really needs big projects and a coherent downtown development plan (We ha...

When I worked for Elihu Harris as Economic Advisor between 1995 and 1999, Goldman Sachs responded to an RFP issued by our then-treasurer Jan Myzck to issue municipal bonds for Oakland projects. At the time, Goldman was competing with an organization I favored, the minority firm Pryor McClendon Counts (PMC). Goldman proposed using a kind of "swap-option" bond, where our payments were essentially swapped with those of another party -- a counterparty -- with the idea that we would be under the rate of interest of the other bond when it was lower. I prefered PMC's more basic proposal because it had less risk attached, but Goldman won the competition and was the sole-source organization with zero minority participation -- a situation I just plain didn't like at all and since Jan was Black, I was really steamed that she handled matters the way she did. PMC had a good -- great =- proposal but she was in Goldman's back pocket. Elihu hated the outcome of the dea...

Does PG&E wanto to screw San Francisco? If you consider that the utility doesn't back using clean energy sources and has not met State of California guidelines for renewable energy, it sure seems so. You can change that with the passage of Proposition H - "Yes on H." It's the first initiative of its kind; tell your friends around America about it and have them call friends in San Francisco and tell them to vote "Yes On H".

Sarah Palin thought it was a good idea to hire Liddy to promote drilling in ANWR. Did she know Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary, wiretapping, contempt of court and contempt of Congress; was willing to kill a janitor and a journalist as part of the Watergate break-in; admitted plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution? Kidnap plans? read more | digg story

Proposition H on the November 4th ballot would put San Francisco on the path to 100% renewable energy. Don't buy PG&E's lies. Learn more about Prop H at http://www.sfcleanenergy.com/ read more | digg story

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) who after a quarter century on Capitol Hill surely knows the political etiquette, did not refer to Senator Obama as respectfully as he would would any other colleague. If Obama had referred to McCain as "that one," he'd have been attacked for showing disrespect or ridiculed. THAT ONE? No wonder Obama is America's choice read more | digg story

This video was created just before the debate, but my prediction seems to have held and for the reasons I state here. This American Economy is in trouble. It's in bad straights for three basic reasons: 1) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate topped out 10 years ago and then decreased and continued to do so through to present day. What that means is that more and more people basically stopped looking for jobs and working at jobs than ever before for the first time. 2) The total rate of job growth started to increase at a rapidly smaller rate in the late 1990s and that continues today. You can see the BLS data I collected right on the video. We added about 20 million jobs each decade from the 60s to the 90s, but again in 1999, the job growth party stopped cold. We added just barely 5 million jobs in ten years, that's a drop of 75 percent over what we've produced in the past. 3) During the period of the job los...

This is from the Adams Point Yahoo! Message Board. Hello. On very short notice, City Attorney John Russo's office was able to arrange for Mr. Russo to join us at our meeting next week. He will take questions, and present some information about a new joint effort between the OPD, the Alameda County DA's office, and the Oakland City Attorney's office to crack down on "chronic non-felony crimes" such as disorderly conduct, illegal dumping, drug-related offenses, disturbing the peace and selling stolen property. See the website for the City Attorney: http://www.oaklandcityattorney.org/. Beat 14X Problem Solving Officer Madlansacay will be joining us for the first time in a few months as well, so if you have questions about recent crimes or related matters, please bring those to his attention during the Q&A with him. Below is the text of the meeting agenda. I will also post a copy in Word Document format in the Files section of the Yahoo Group. Incid...

Here is the text of a letter provided by the Oakland Raiders that owner Al Davis said he gave to Lane Kiffin on Sept. 12, telling him that if he violated terms of his contract he would be fired for cause. read more | digg story

GOP wealth doesn't -but GOVERNMENT budget woes trickle down and public housing still problematic. AND big business who are bailing. read more | digg story

Retired defensive lineman Warren Sapp apparently had one more crushing tackle left in him, unleashing an attack on Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis during a television appearance. read more | digg story

Al Davis is known for loathing disciplinarians as coaches. He believes that it is important for the locker room to police itself. Once upon a time that idea worked perfectly. The Raiders had their zany characters, but the core of the team was the solid vets with names like Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, and Art Shell. read more | digg story

This video presents a new tax that pays for Oakland Teacher salaries. The woman giving the "pro" argument is my friend Libby Schaaf. The act reads... To attract and retain highly qualified and credentialed teachers for Oakland's District-run public schools, and to support successful educational programs at Oakland's public charter schools, shall Oakland Unified School District levy $10 per parcel per month ($120 per year) for 10 years with an exemption for low-income residents, mandatory annual audits, an independent citizens' oversight committee, and all money spent to benefit Oakland Schools and all Oakland students?

This League of Women Voters video gives two views on the proposed parcel tax for the City of Oakland Called Measure NN. The basic argument is that this pays for much needed more police officers. The measure on the ballot reads: To provide more police services to neighborhoods and businesses for the purpose of preventing crime and enhancing resources for investigation of crimes, shall the City of Oakland authorize a parcel tax to fund the cost of (1) adding a total of 105 police officers and 75 police services technicians; (2) a crime data management system for crime analysis; and (3) mandatory independent annual audits and evaluations with performance standards?

This is totally wacky. I had to add it. These guys have done too many drugs. But check out the event. Jousting on Freak Bikes. Bring your friends and participate! Its a huge party at: 4401 san leandro oakland ca 94601 SATURDAY OCTOBER 11TH @ PARTY O'CLOCK

The Obama campaign's new documentary about John McCain and the Keating 5 scandal airs today! read more | digg story

I sat down with Oakland's Top Lawyer and friend John Russo just a day after the Vice Presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and to talk about who won the debate, and what Palin's assendency says about American Government and Culture. We have a difference of views and it centers on the idea that Palin did a terrible job -- my contention. Russo says that in debates one must "hold their ground" make sure their point is gotten across. He says she did that. Russo's observation is that Palin used a "game show" approach to the debate, comparing her to the legendary game show host Wink Matindale, where she uses the eye wink and assured finger "gun" point to connect with the audience. My point was that she just repeated talking points and failed on many occasions to answer questions Gwen Ifel asked of her. What do you think? Watch the video and let me know here.

I agree that we need more police, but will people vote for a new tax in this economic climate?  I guess is "yes."   Here's the Tribune  ... Oakland chamber backs tax to boost city police force By Kelly Rayburn Oakland Tribune Article Last Updated: 10/02/2008 11:00:57 PM PDT OAKLAND — Measure NN, the city's ballot measure to impose a parcel tax in exchange for more police officers, will have the support this fall of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, whose CEO called it key to attracting business and changing the perception of Oakland as an unsafe city. The ballot measure would add 105 police officers and 75 police services technicians over a three-year period. It would also mandate use of a new crime-data management system. "The chamber has been a vocal and consistent advocate for improving public safety," chamber Chief Executive Officer Joe Haraburda said in a statement. "Getting more cops on the street will help reduce crime, increase inc...

I missed the game -- working -- but glad to see Cal get a commanding victory.    Here's the details from the Tribune: Cal Bears Beat Arizona State 24 to 14 By Jonathan Okanes Staff writer Article Last Updated: 10/05/2008 08:04:09 AM PDT Click photo to enlarge California Golden Bears LaReylle Cunningham, #85, makes a catch and is tackled by Arizona State... 1 2 » Slideshow Slideshow:  Cal vs. Arizona Related Oct 4: Follett sack seals win, earns payback Longshore likely to keep job BERKELEY — How well did Cal's defense play Saturday afternoon against Arizona State? Nate Longshore replaced Kevin Riley as the team's starting quarterback and it still wasn't the prevailing storyline. The Bears' defense continues to flourish in its new 3-4 scheme. It dominated the Sun Devils, holding them to 236 yards while forcing three turnovers in a 24-14 victory in front of 58,302 at Memorial Stadium. "I love watching our defense. They're on fire right now,...

Proposition H on the November 4th ballot would put San Francisco on the path to 100% renewable energy. Don't buy PG&E's lies. Learn more about Prop H at http://www.sfcleanenergy.com/ read more | digg story

OAKLAND — The Oakland Green Jobs Corps, an ambitious plan to lift at-risk youths out of lives of poverty and violence and place them into jobs helping the environment, this month is recruiting its first students as a contract gets finalized between the city of Oakland and three organizations chosen to run the training. more....

Chris is a 10-year-old boy who is currently paralyzed from the waist down after being hit by a stray bullet while attending a piano lesson on January 10th, 2008. Chris and his family face a difficult road ahead. A fraternal motorcycle club of local law-enforcement officers is donating some of the proceeds from its fifth annual open house and poker run Sunday to Christopher Rodriguez and his family. Click here for the story

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have for the first time engineered 3-D materials that can reverse the natural direction of visible and near-infrared light, a development that could help form the basis for higher resolution optical imaging, nanocircuits for high-powered computers, and, to the delight of science-fiction and fant read more | digg story

On a warm weekend in mid-September, some 1,000 people offered incense to their ancestors at a new temple in East Oakland, the same weekend that Catholics welcomed their new cathedral by Lake Merritt. Except here, the people were celebrating a religion much less well known. read more | digg story

On a warm weekend in mid-September, some 1,000 people offered incense to their ancestors at a new temple in East Oakland, the same weekend that Catholics welcomed their new cathedral by Lake Merritt. Except here, the people were celebrating a religion much less well known. read more | digg story

  At the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, Congressional Candidate Cindy Sheehan took time to talk with me about how her campaign was going and what she's learned along the way. Her son was killled fighting in the Iraw War.

http://www.zennie62.com - Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader took time to talk with me specifically about what kind of form he would like to see the Baillout Bill take before he could support it.  Nader appeared today at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, California as part of a California and Bay Area event swing which saw the consumer crusader take in 10 events in one day. On CNN iReport Thanks to Mary Lee for her help.