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‘Jobs Are Not Easy to Come By’

THE AFRO — Last week Mayor Jack Young re-ignited the controversy over squeegee kids, the mostly African-American teens who work busy intersections seeking to wash car windows for cash. But, now some of them are hitting back.

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By Stephen Janis and Taya Graham

Last week Mayor Jack Young re-ignited the controversy over squeegee kids, the mostly African-American teens who work busy intersections seeking to wash car windows for cash.

But, now some of them are hitting back.

During his weekly press briefing Young said the teens who plie drivers for money in exchange for a quick window cleaning are clearly breaking the law.

“Right now, it is illegal to impede traffic,” Young said. “You have young men in the middle of the street which is illegal, and we must address it.”

The mayor also raised the prospect of fearful tourists subjected to unwanted window washing amid a safety hazard near some of the city’s most iconic destinations.

“Some folks said they don’t even want to ride through downtown anymore,” Young added.

But, several teens working the corner of President and Pratt street told The AFRO the mayor didn’t understand that washing windows afforded them an opportunity work that might  not otherwise be available.

“We just want to be represented as kids that make things better for themselves, that’s all,” a young man named Zion told the AFRO.

In a series of interviews with the so-called Squeegee kids, they illuminated a different side of the story; a tale of ambition, hard work, and a hope that motorists won’t see them only as nuisance.

“There are people out here who have mom’s struggling with bills, rent overdue,” Zion said.  “We have to help our moms, we’re in the projects.”

In fact, the number one reason the young men gave for dodging traffic on hot summer days was helping relatives pay bills.

“Because I take so much pride and like you say I have a mother struggling with so many bills. Why wouldn’t you just let me do it,” a young man named Makai said.

They also expressed frustration with the city’s Youthworks program, which provides summer jobs to city teens.

“Jobs are not easy to come by, I went to Youthworks three times and I still didn’t get a job,” Makai said.

The city’s Youthworks generated roughly 8000 jobs for teens in 2019.   Officials there did not respond to emails seeking the number of city youth who applied but did not receive jobs.

One notion that several of the Squeegee kids wanted to make clear, was that not all of their encounters were negative. In fact, one of the benefits of the job they say is the chance to interact with tourists who view them in a positive light.

“I like squeegeeing because you never know what you’re going to get out here, some people really like us,” said a young man who did not want to be identified, as he worked the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. and Pratt Street.

In fact, one encounter with a tourist netted both encouragement and a hefty payout.

“He said I’m not from here, but I like what you’re doing,” the same young man recounted.  “And then he handed me two one hundred-dollar bills.

The previous administration tried to redirect impromptu window-washing by forming a Squeegee corp.  The idea was to stage pop-up car washes where Squeegee kids could charge for their services in a controlled environment   However, the program did not attract much interest.

The young men said part of the reason is independence, the ability to make a living on their own terms.  It is work that is at times fun and arduous, but some believe not the type of activity in a city wracked by crime that warrants the attention of the mayor.

“There are bigger situations in this world we’re dealing with than Squeegee kids,” Zion said.

This article originally appeared in The Afro

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Activism

OPINION: Your Voice and Vote Impact the Quality of Your Health Care

One of the most dangerous developments we’re seeing now? Deep federal cuts are being proposed to Medicaid, the life-saving health insurance program that covers nearly 80 million lower-income individuals nationwide. That is approximately 15 million Californians and about 1 million of the state’s nearly 3 million Black Californians who are at risk of losing their healthcare. 

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Rhonda M. Smith.
Rhonda M. Smith.

By Rhonda M. Smith, Special to California Black Media Partners

Shortly after last year’s election, I hopped into a Lyft and struck up a conversation with the driver. As we talked, the topic inevitably turned to politics. He confidently told me that he didn’t vote — not because he supported Donald Trump, but because he didn’t like Kamala Harris’ résumé. When I asked what exactly he didn’t like, he couldn’t specifically articulate his dislike or point to anything specific. In his words, he “just didn’t like her résumé.”

That moment really hit hard for me. As a Black woman, I’ve lived through enough election cycles to recognize how often uncertainty, misinformation, or political apathy keep people from voting, especially Black voters whose voices are historically left out of the conversation and whose health, economic security, and opportunities are directly impacted by the individual elected to office, and the legislative branches and political parties that push forth their agenda.

That conversation with the Lyft driver reflects a troubling surge in fear-driven politics across our country. We’ve seen White House executive orders gut federal programs meant to help our most vulnerable populations and policies that systematically exclude or harm Black and underserved communities.

One of the most dangerous developments we’re seeing now? Deep federal cuts are being proposed to Medicaid, the life-saving health insurance program that covers nearly 80 million lower-income individuals nationwide. That is approximately 15 million Californians and about 1 million of the state’s nearly 3 million Black Californians who are at risk of losing their healthcare.

Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, doesn’t just cover care. It protects individuals and families from medical debt, keeps rural hospitals open, creates jobs, and helps our communities thrive. Simply put; Medicaid is a lifeline for 1 in 5 Black Americans. For many, it’s the only thing standing between them and a medical emergency they can’t afford, especially with the skyrocketing costs of health care. The proposed cuts mean up to 7.2 million Black Americans could lose their healthcare coverage, making it harder for them to receive timely, life-saving care. Cuts to Medicaid would also result in fewer prenatal visits, delayed cancer screenings, unfilled prescriptions, and closures of community clinics. When healthcare is inaccessible or unaffordable, it doesn’t just harm individuals, it weakens entire communities and widens inequities.

The reality is Black Americans already face disproportionately higher rates of poorer health outcomes. Our life expectancy is nearly five years shorter in comparison to White Americans. Black pregnant people are 3.6 times more likely to die during pregnancy or postpartum than their white counterparts.

These policies don’t happen in a vacuum. They are determined by who holds power and who shows up to vote. Showing up amplifies our voices. Taking action and exercising our right to vote is how we express our power.

I urge you to start today. Call your representatives, on both sides of the aisle, and demand they protect Medicaid (Medi-Cal), the Affordable Care Act (Covered CA), and access to food assistance programs, maternal health resources, mental health services, and protect our basic freedoms and human rights. Stay informed, talk to your neighbors and register to vote.

About the Author

Rhonda M. Smith is the Executive Director of the California Black Health Network, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to advancing health equity for all Black Californians.

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Activism

Oakland Hosts Town Hall Addressing Lead Hazards in City Housing

According to the city, there are 22,000 households in need of services for lead issues, most in predominantly low-income or Black and Latino neighborhoods, but only 550 to 600 homes are addressed every year. The city is hoping to use part of the multimillion-dollar settlement to increase the number of households served each year.

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iStock.
iStock.

By Magaly Muñoz

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department hosted a town hall in the Fruitvale to discuss the efforts being undertaken to remove lead primarily found in housing in East and West Oakland.

In 2021, the city was awarded $14 million out of a $24 million legal settlement from a lawsuit against paint distributors for selling lead-based paint that has affected hundreds of families in Oakland and Alameda County. The funding is intended to be used for lead poisoning reduction and prevention services in paint only, not water or other sources as has been found recently in schools across the city.

The settlement can be used for developing or enhancing programs that abate lead-based paint, providing services to individuals, particularly exposed children, educating the public about hazards caused by lead paint, and covering attorney’s fees incurred in pursuing litigation.

According to the city, there are 22,000 households in need of services for lead issues, most in predominantly low-income or Black and Latino neighborhoods, but only 550 to 600 homes are addressed every year. The city is hoping to use part of the multimillion-dollar settlement to increase the number of households served each year.

Most of the homes affected were built prior to 1978, and 12,000 of these homes are considered to be at high risk for lead poisoning.

City councilmember Noel Gallo, who represents a few of the lead-affected Census tracts, said the majority of the poisoned kids and families are coming directly from neighborhoods like the Fruitvale.

“When you look at the [kids being admitted] at the children’s hospital, they’re coming from this community,” Gallo said at the town hall.

In order to eventually rid the highest impacted homes of lead poisoning, the city intends to create programs and activities such as lead-based paint inspections and assessments, full abatement designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint, or partial abatement for repairs, painting, and specialized cleaning meant for temporary reduction of hazards.

In feedback for what the city could implement in their programming, residents in attendance of the event said they want more accessibility to resources, like blood testing, and information from officials about lead poisoning symptoms, hotlines for assistance, and updates on the reduction of lead in their communities.

Attendees also asked how they’d know where they are on the prioritization list and what would be done to address lead in the water found at several school sites in Oakland last year.

City staff said there will be a follow-up event to gather more community input for programming in August, with finalizations happening in the fall and a pilot launch in early 2026.

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Bay Area

State Orders Cleanup of Former Richmond Landfill

There is no immediate public hazard at the fence line of the site, which is located on the city’s southeastern shoreline, at the foot of S. 51st Street. However, the “site’s wastes pose an unacceptable long-term risk,” according to a CDTSC statement. Also, since the uncapped site sits along a creek and the Bay, wastes can wash off during each rain and high tide, the agency stated.

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Site map provided by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Site map provided by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

The Richmond Standard

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (CDTSC) is ordering Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) and Bayer CropScience, Inc. to clean up the former Blair Southern Pacific Landfill in Richmond due to findings of elevated levels of lead, banned pesticides like DDT, and radioactive material at the site.

There is no immediate public hazard at the fence line of the site, which is located on the city’s southeastern shoreline, at the foot of S. 51st Street. However, the “site’s wastes pose an unacceptable long-term risk,” according to a CDTSC statement. Also, since the uncapped site sits along a creek and the Bay, wastes can wash off during each rain and high tide, the agency stated.

Bayer and UPRR were ordered to clean up the site as it is their predecessor companies that are deemed responsible for the hazardous waste. The site was used from the 1950s to the 1980s, before modern environmental laws were in place, according to the CDTSC.

“During this time, the site was leased to landfill operators, who developed and operated the site as a series of landfills for disposal of industrial and non-industrial wastes,” the CDTSC stated.

The state’s order requires Bayer and UPRR to safely remove and dispose of the radioactive materials and includes penalties of up to $25,000 per day for noncompliance.

“There will be opportunities for public involvement during the development of the cleanup plan and at the Richmond Southeast Shoreline Community Advisory Group (CAG) meetings, which meet on Zoom the second Thursday of every month,” said Richmond City Councilmember Soheila Bana.

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