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Jael Myrick Goes “STRONG” for His City

Published

13 years ago

March 22, 2013

Oakland Post

Jael Myrick. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, Black American Political Action Committee.

By Danielle
Savage

From an early age, Jael Myrick seemed destined for a life in politics.
He remembers how his mother signed him up for the debate team before his freshman year at Kennedy High School in Richmond.
“That summer I wanted to go to KMEL Summer Jam, but my mom made me go to debate camp,” he said. He stayed on the team, participating in tournaments all the way through high school. “It was helpful, and I can say it would be very unlikely that I’d be doing what I’m doing if I weren’t on the debate team,” he said.
At 21, he co-founded an organization, “Standing To Represent Our Next Generation (STRONG),” to encourage young people to be more active in politics. He later went to work for the League of Conservation Voters, where he lobbied politicians to pass environmental laws.
“[There were] times when we would watch someone change their vote within one hour because they would get so many calls to their office,” he said. It was a lesson in exercising political power he would not forget.
Myrick, now 27, is the youngest and newest member of the Richmond City Council. He was appointed by the council on Feb. 4. He is also senior field representative for Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner.
Myrick, whose seat will be up for election in 2014, was raised in San Pablo. His parents and grandparents live in Richmond. He has one brother.
While growing up, he had the opportunity to live in a diverse community, where everyone was all very working class. These experiences and friends helped form his view of society, he said.
He says it was when he went to work in 2009 for Assemblymember Skinner that he learned the intricacies of politics. But according to Skinner, he already had a profound grasp of political life in Richmond.
“I was impressed early on with his knowledge of politics, history, districts, races, campaigns; he’s a student of politics,” she said.
Though Richmond City Council has become known for its acrimonious conflicts, Myrick views the differences as something he can navigate.
He said many people see his appointment as a hopeful light, and he has good relationships with everyone on the council. He said he has found something in common with each of them.
“Are we going to have differences? Yes, and that’s fine. Some of the spirited debate is necessary,” he said. But by focusing on the needs of the community, some of the bickering can be set aside.
Health issues are important, especially improving air quality, he said, emphasizing the importance of holding Chevron accountable for the decisions it makes.
People have to take into account the influence that Chevron has as a major employer and the largest taxpayer in the city, he said, “Politically they have a lot of clout, and that makes it easy for them to get their way sometimes.”
Public safety is also an ongoing issue in the city, he said. Richmond’s high crime rate has been coming down, partly because of the improving economy, he said, as well as the efforts of community-based programs and the police department.
At the top of his agenda are youth issues. Long-term, he is looking for a way to solve crime and foster a healthy community by creating a practical program that provides money so every young person in Richmond can go to college, said Myrick. “We need to invest in all our young folks so they feel confident and have a plan for the future.”

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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

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

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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.