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Council Recognizes East Bay Dragons, East Bay Warriors Youth Football

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The Oakland City Council honored the East Bay Warriors (EBW) Pop Warner Football and Cheer teams Tuesday night for their participation in the Pop Warner Super Bowl And National Cheerleading Championships in Florida

Councilmember Larry Reid honored the teams for their efforts to promote athletics and academics in Oakland.

 

“I want to thank the coaches for all of their hard work and diligence shaping these young men and women,” he said, urging the young athletes to “make sure you surround yourself with people that are loving, caring and positive.”

The East Bay Warriors Junior Pee Wee, Junior Midget and Midget football teams and cheer squads range in age from 9-14 and often represent the Warriors at the annual Florida championship.

Each team has its own name, such as the Wolves, Wildcats and Wranglers.

“Thank you all so much for the continued support. We couldn’t have gotten this far without help from the community,” said Fredrick Pugh, president of the East Bay Warriors. “We look forward to having [another] successful season and program.”

Players are required to submit progress reports and their report cards. Last season, team members had over 100 Pop Warner National Scholars and earned an overall grade-point-average of 3.4.

The council also honored members of the East Bay Dragons Motorcycle Club for 55 years of

East Bay Dragons founder Tobie Gene Livingston  stands with council members Desley Brooks and Larry Reid as they honor the East Bay Dragons during a city council meeting. Photo by Spencer Whitney

East Bay Dragons founder Tobie Gene Livingston stands with council members Desley Brooks and Larry Reid as they honor the East Bay Dragons during a city council meeting. Photo by Spencer Whitney

service to the community.

“The East Bay Dragons have been a positive social outlet for African American men in Oakland and have a long and fond record of service in the community,” said Councilmember Desley Brooks during the presentation.

“They have supported many charitable organizations and movements including a cure for breast cancer, AIDS awareness, and violence prevention,” Brooks said.

Councilmember Larry Reid added that he was proud of what the organization has accomplished. He urged the group to help the city find a solution to youth gun violence.

The motorcycle club was founded in the 1950s, originally as a car club, by Tobie Gene Livingston, who dealt with street disputes with rival clubs, ethnic stereotypes, and racial tensions.

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Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of June 18 – 24, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 18 – 24, 2025

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OPINION: California’s Legislature Has the Wrong Prescription for the Affordability Crisis — Gov. Newsom’s Plan Hits the Mark

Last month, Gov. Newsom included measures in his budget that would encourage greater transparency, accountability, and affordability across the prescription drug supply chain. His plan would deliver real relief to struggling Californians. It would also help expose the hidden markups and practices by big drug companies that push the prices of prescription drugs higher and higher. The legislature should follow the Governor’s lead and embrace sensible, fair regulations that will not raise the cost of medications.

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Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook. Courtesy of Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook.
Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook. Courtesy of Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook.

By Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. VanHook

As a pastor and East Bay resident, I see firsthand how my community struggles with the rising cost of everyday living. A fellow pastor in Oakland recently told me he cuts his pills in half to make them last longer because of the crushing costs of drugs.

Meanwhile, community members are contending with skyrocketing grocery prices and a lack of affordable healthcare options, while businesses are being forced to close their doors.

Our community is hurting. Things have to change.

The most pressing issue that demands our leaders’ attention is rising healthcare costs, and particularly the rising cost of medications. Annual prescription drug costs in California have spiked by nearly 50% since 2018, from $9.1 billion to $13.6 billion.

Last month, Gov. Newsom included measures in his budget that would encourage greater transparency, accountability, and affordability across the prescription drug supply chain. His plan would deliver real relief to struggling Californians. It would also help expose the hidden markups and practices by big drug companies that push the prices of prescription drugs higher and higher. The legislature should follow the Governor’s lead and embrace sensible, fair regulations that will not raise the cost of medications.

Some lawmakers, however, have advanced legislation that would drive up healthcare costs and set communities like mine back further.

I’m particularly concerned with Senate Bill (SB) 41, sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), a carbon copy of a 2024 bill that I strongly opposed and Gov. Newsom rightly vetoed. This bill would impose significant healthcare costs on patients, small businesses, and working families, while allowing big drug companies to increase their profits.

SB 41 would impose a new $10.05 pharmacy fee for every prescription filled in California. This new fee, which would apply to millions of Californians, is roughly five times higher than the current average of $2.

For example, a Bay Area family with five monthly prescriptions would be forced to shoulder about $500 more in annual health costs. If a small business covers 25 employees, each with four prescription fills per month (the national average), that would add nearly $10,000 per year in health care costs.

This bill would also restrict how health plan sponsors — like employers, unions, state plans, Medicare, and Medicaid — partner with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to negotiate against big drug companies and deliver the lowest possible costs for employees and members. By mandating a flat fee for pharmacy benefit services, this misguided legislation would undercut your health plan’s ability to drive down costs while handing more profits to pharmaceutical manufacturers.

This bill would also endanger patients by eliminating safety requirements for pharmacies that dispense complex and costly specialty medications. Additionally, it would restrict home delivery for prescriptions, a convenient and affordable service that many families rely on.

Instead of repeating the same tired plan laid out in the big pharma-backed playbook, lawmakers should embrace Newsom’s transparency-first approach and prioritize our communities.

Let’s urge our state legislators to reject policies like SB 41 that would make a difficult situation even worse for communities like ours.

About the Author

Rev. Dr. VanHook is the founder and pastor of The Community Church in Oakland and the founder of The Charis House, a re-entry facility for men recovering from alcohol and drug abuse.

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