Activism

Anti-Trafficking Group Leads Activists in Demand to Repeal California Law Decriminalizing Loitering

“Repeal was necessary as the previous law was discriminatory and targeted and profiled Black, Brown and trans women,” said State Sen. Scott Weiner who proposed the law. Vanessa Russell, CEO of the non-profit Love Never Fails (LNF) cites a 100% increase in prostitution arrests since the bill was passed six weeks ago. “I met with Senator Weiner before this bill was passed and begged him not to go forward,” Russell said. “This Bill ties the hands of law enforcement and activists trying to curb prostitution.”

Published

3 years ago

September 11, 2022

Oakland Post

A new state law outlawing loitering doesn’t protect people forced into prostitution. (iStock photo)

By Tanya Dennis

On July 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Safer Streets for All Act, which is designed to protect all people from discriminatory arrests and harassment based on how they dress or their profession.

SB 357 repeals the crime of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution. The bill is also known as the “Walking While Trans” law.

“Repeal was necessary as the previous law was discriminatory and targeted and profiled Black, Brown and trans women,” said State Sen. Scott Weiner who proposed the law.

Vanessa Russell is the CEO of Love Never Fails, which helps get sex-trafficked men and women jobs, shelter, and services. Phito by Vanessa Russell.

Vanessa Russell, CEO of the non-profit Love Never Fails (LNF) cites a 100% increase in prostitution arrests since the bill was passed six weeks ago.

“I met with Senator Weiner before this bill was passed and begged him not to go forward,” Russell said. “This Bill ties the hands of law enforcement and activists trying to curb prostitution.”

Russell advocates putting more money into the community and offering opportunities and solutions rather than decriminalizing behavior that precedes sexual transactions.

SB 357 is not the ‘Safe Act’ that needs to be implemented, Russell continued. “Until you offer an alternative to sex work what they’re doing is sheer survival.”

Weiner says his bill supports exit strategies, but currently those only exist in Orange County. When Russell pointed out that the rest of California does not have exit strategies for sex workers, Weiner said that he wanted the bill passed and that exit strategies would be implemented later.

Currently ‘The Blade,’ a stretch of street in citites and towns where prostitution occurs, looks like a McDonald’s drive-thru since the bill was passed, Russell said. The bill has emboldened pimps, johns, and sex workers to openly transact in front of law enforcement without fear.

“This bill doesn’t prevent these girls from getting their eyes knocked out of their sockets or having hot water poured on them for not meeting quotas,” Russell said. “These sex workers have no rights, no advocacy. This is human trafficking, and those that have been indoctrinated for years and consider themselves independent have few options or choices.”

Love Never Fails, was founded 11 years ago after Russell’s 15-year-old student was sexually assaulted and sold to traffickers in Oakland. While looking for her, Russell talked to the District Attorney and anyone who would listen.

She soon discovered the lack of legal services, job opportunities, or mental health for the girls who were preyed upon, and learned it was happening to boys, too. She started opening homes for them.

LNF now has five homes containing 39 beds for men and women. Russell collaborates with social services and the Department of Violence Prevention, and employment development agencies.

“We do IT training, workforce development program and teach people in our program to make money and manage money,” Russell said.

Merritt College has hired LNF to teach cyber security, and those in the program receive college credit. “Our people get hired in tech positions at companies such as Nordstrom’s and Delta Airlines. Amazon Web Services, Cisco Systems and Google are providing industry certifications for our students.”

Russell said more needs to be done in workforce development rather than sex work. “This is not the only way they can get free from poverty. This Bill does not create a safe environment from the trauma and violence associated with sex work.”

Russell is reaching out to non-profits and community members to assist her in getting the bill repealed. “Repeal this law, redraft it so it protects sex workers and penalizes exploiters and we’re on board.”

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

4 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.