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“42” is a Masterpiece!

Published

13 years ago

April 10, 2013

Sandra Varner/Talk2SV for Post Newspaper Group

Watching “42” on a giant movie screen feels surreal–like sitting in the crowded stands cheering for your hometown hero– but the reality of this epic masterpiece starring Chadwick Boseman, Nicole Beharie and Oscar nominee Harrison Ford, allows fans to relive the course of sports most iconic figure: Jackie Robinson and his emboldened triumph that ended segregation in major league baseball in the 1940s.

Helmed by Oscar winner, writer, director Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Man on Fire, Mystic River), “42” is told with a quality of realism rarely seen in contemporary films. Distributed and produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, the filmmakers chose to illuminate a snapshot of Robinson’s ascension to world renowned status, shepherded by Branch Rickey, then general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

“42” is more than a history lesson, bigger than a moment in time, more powerful than a Hall of Fame distinction. Arguably, “42” holds a mirror up to what America was and what she is capable of becoming, a nation able to right its wrongs and celebrate our collective success.

Further, “42” does not compromise its powerful message in an attempt to entertain. After all, baseball remains one of America’s favorite pastimes; the film’s beauty, athleticism and intensity are equal rivals and the cast seemed born to inhabit their portrayals.

Boseman (Daytime TV’s All My Children) as Jackie Robinson was a brilliant choice: his silhouette, stance and facial features are spot on; Beharie (American Violet, T.D. Jakes’ Woman Thou Art Loosed: the 7^th Day) as Robinson’s devoted wife Rachel, bring resolute tenacity, intelligence, with quiet elegance and; Ford as Branch Rickey is the big surprise.

Dashing as ever, the successful box office star of film franchises Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Ford completely surrenders to a gruffer Rickey– the indomitable, power-wielding though sensitized real life hero– who by comparison looms larger than the aggregate of Ford’s onscreen heroic characters that have catapulted his movie career for decades.

Regarding his first big leading role, Boseman explained that he had to meet the approval of Robinson’s widow, stating, “I had to prove to her that the way I wanted to tell the story was the right way to tell the story. She had the rights and wasn’t going to just sell them so I had to go and meet with her and break down how I was going to tell the story.”

Highly recommended family viewing, “42” opens in theaters April 12, 2013, in time to commemorate the 66th anniversary of Jackie Robinson Day, on April 15th.

Oakland Post

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Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

6 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

11 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

11 months ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.