Bay Area

CEO of Oakland A’s Addresses Community Concerns

Oakland A’s CEO Dave Kaval said he understands that the A’s parallel process of courting two cities simultaneously appears disingenuous to the public. “We’ve been in Oakland for 55 years and we want to stay here but we must be realistic. We’re spending $2 million a month to keep this project going and we’re running out of time, and still have not got approval. The League is putting pressure on us, our lease is through in 2024, and these projects take time. We hope something comes to fruition and we have a resolution this summer.”

Published

4 years ago

May 9, 2022

Oakland Post

Oakland Ballpark Project Part 3

By Tanya Dennis

Oakland A’s President David Kaval was surprised to learn that concerns expressed by the original designers of the Howard Terminal had all but been ignored by city and business leaders who are pressing to build a new stadium and housing at the site and has vowed to investigate.

Amid the flurry of lawsuits, protests and community concerns regarding the City of Oakland and Oakland A’s stadium project at the Port of Oakland, the most worrisome issue was posed by Frederick Jordan, CEO of FEJA, the engineers that designed the Howard Terminal.

According to Jordan, the Environmental Impact Report reveals what he described as a lack of information regarding safety with the quay wall that supports Howard Terminal, where the largest cranes in North America operate. The terminal also provides a turning basin for ships as large as high-rise buildings.

Kaval wonders why there has been no response to Jordan’s concerns, despite the fact that Jordan reaching out to the City, the A’s and the Port last year.

“It is problematic to me that Jordan was never contacted, and I don’t have an answer why he wasn’t, but I’ll investigate,” Kaval said. “The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers are making an assessment, and one of the key concessions on the table is 10 acres of land to be set aside to accommodate these large container ships.”

When informed of Kaval’s response, Jordan expressed relief. “I feel assured knowing the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is making an assessment, as they cannot be bought nor influenced.”

Kaval also indicated that the SSA terminals and the Old America Seaport at the Oakland Army Base can be utilized for the larger containers. Also, 30 acres of the outer Port area will be dedicated for the same purpose so that the community concerns on the project negatively impacting Chinatown, Fruitvale and the Lower Bottoms are addressed.

“Trucks are currently going through the neighborhood to get to Howard Terminal,” Kaval said. “Enforcement of established truck staging areas that are not in people’s neighborhoods must occur, and the ballpark project is going to force the Port and the City to build those areas out, which probably won’t happen if this project doesn’t go forward.

“We’ve worked closely with the City for four years to address the concerns of the public because the last thing we want is to repeat the mistakes of past sports entities in Oakland when they left the City,” Kaval said.

Another important concern for Kaval is race and equity-based jobs and opportunities. “We’ve worked with the city to establish critical criteria to address internal staffing at the A’s to assure diversity, small business support and minority hiring. Our baseline report addressed the glaring need of countering gentrification and displacement, with $50 million going towards displacement, money to help local homeowners renovate their homes, including 35% of housing construction for low-income citizens. Our mix of grants and loans will help keep people in their homes and retain the cultural relevance of the neighborhood.”

Kaval indicated that despite opponents’ concerns of gentrification, he believes it will happen naturally if not for the money this project will generate to retain the existing culture. “Good-paying jobs will help people maintain and stay in their homes.”

Kaval said he understands that the A’s parallel process of courting two cities simultaneously appears disingenuous to the public. “We’ve been in Oakland for 55 years and we want to stay here but we must be realistic. We’re spending $2 million a month to keep this project going and we’re running out of time, and still have not got approval. The League is putting pressure on us, our lease is through in 2024, and these projects take time. We hope something comes to fruition and we have a resolution this summer.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

California Agencies Say They Want More Black Californians to Access Jobs, Training

Don't Miss

National Small Business Week Starts with a Bang in the Bay Area

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

Published

5 days ago

March 7, 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.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

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

2 weeks 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.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

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

3 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.