Uncategorized

Gaston Receives Cultural Treasure Award

Published

13 years ago

January 18, 2013

Top photo: Posing around the qward plaque is Cheryl Jennings, Anchor of ABC7 KGO-TV, Felecia Gaston, Executive Director of Performing Stars and Marin Center Cultural Treasures Award winner, and Dr. Wyna Barron, memebr, Performing Stars Board of Directors. Lower photo: Supervisor Judy Arnold, Al Boro, former Mayor City of San Rafael and Marin Center Cultural Arts Commissioner Felecia Gaston, and Brian Snell, who was the drummajor for Drumline Live. (Photos by Godfrey Lee).

By Godfrey Lee
Felecia Gaston, who has earned a reputation for bringing the arts to the community and especially to children who are underserved, on Friday, Jan. 11 received the 2013 Cultural Treasure of Marin County Award from the Marin County Cultural Services Commission.
The award was based on Gaston´s contributions to her community in Marin City, to the community as a whole and also to the Marin County Fair.
The ceremony took place in the Green Room at the Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium at an event attended by about100 people.
Supervisor Susan Arnold and Cultural Services Commission Chair Al Boro talked about how much Gaston has opened up the arts to children living in Southern Marin through her organization, Performing Arts of Marin, which started in about1990.
Gaston has collaborated with many county organizations, including Probation, Sheriff, District Attorney, Public Defender and cultural services, in her service to the community.
She began her work, she said, because, “It was very important to know that Marin City had a bright future. There were many kids who needed opportunities, and Marin County had much to offer them.
“We had to get out to make it happen,” said Gaston, who thanked individuals and organizations that helped her with Performing Stars.
A plaque is hanging in the Green Room acknowledging Gaston as a Cultural Treasure of Marin County.
The event featured a performance by Drumline Live, a touring group that is representative of the marching bands of the Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The performers are from 11 schools but mostly from Florida A&M University.
Sheriff Seeks Information on
Lavanial Williams Shooting
Lavanial Williams, 17, was shot numerous times in the 300 block of Drake Avenue in Marin City early Friday.
He died at the scene, lying on the sidewalk.
Williams, who lived with his father in Weed, CA, recently arrived in Marin City to visit his mother Yolanda Arceneaux when the fatal shooting occurred. Arceneaux was still living in the apartment at which an unknown shooter fired six shots in July.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the help of the community. They are currently looking for witnesses or anyone with information related to Williams’ murder.
Anyone with information may call or text information to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Investigations cellphone at (415) 497-4245. Voice mail, text or direct contact with detectives will be accepted. This will be a 24-hour hotline.
Or call the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at (415) 479-2311, which will be direct to a dispatcher 24-hours a day.
Callers may remain anonymous. All information will be investigated.
Lavanial Williams
Continued on Page 10
Jesse Jackson

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Uncategorized

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

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

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

Published

10 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

Posts by Oakland Post

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.