City Government

Marcus Books Declared City Landmark

Published

11 years ago

February 19, 2014

Three generations of the Richardson and Johnson Families, representing the legacy and future of Marcus Books, met in the chambers of Mayor Ed Lee’s office on the morning of Feb. 13 as he signed-off on the Historic Landmark Designation for the property at 1712-1716 Fillmore St.

“It starts with having a heart,” said Lee of the preservation effort behind America’s oldest African American bookstore, formerly occupied by legendary jazz spot, Jimbo’s Bop City.

Community activists were successful at getting the attention of the Board of Supervisors and the Historic Preservation Commission, which ultimately landed the historic property designation on the mayor’s desk.

With the assistance of SF Heritage, SF Community Land Trust, Westside Community Services, and concerned citizens who spent hours prepping for meetings and presentations, the Jimbo’s Bop City/Marcus Books property will be placed permanently in the roll of historic San Francisco buildings.

Though the landmarking itself can hardly make up for the abomination of the city’s Western Addition Redevelopment plan, the signing represented good will on the part of the mayor’s office recommitting itself to the city’s African American and Japanese American communities, who hold the property’s past dear, and to the millions of visitors and San Franciscans who will enjoy the building’s jazz and literary history into the future.

“Thank all of you here today for helping us to ‘Keep it Lit’,” said the store’s co-owner, Greg Johnson.

“This day is bittersweet,” said Supervisor London Breed, perhaps as a nod to the Fillmore’s troubled past. But the Marcus Books support campaign continues to look toward the future, making progress through Black History Month, with the intention of keeping the bookstore standing strong in the Fillmore District.

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the store is hosting an all day read-a-thon featuring local authors.

In another boon to the effort to secure the building’s presence in the community, actor and activist Danny Glover flew into town on Saturday Feb.1, to visit the store, lending his support to the Keep It Lit campaign.

“Join the campaign to restore Marcus Books as a global community lighthouse and let its light shine over people around the world,” said Glover

For information, visit www.keepitlit.marcusbookstores.com/

or call Marcus Books at (415) 346 4222.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

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City Government

San Pablo Appoints New Economic Development and Housing Manager

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo. Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Kieron Slaughter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Pablo

The Richmond Standard

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo.

Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Before that he was an associate planner in the City of Richmond’s Planning and Building Services Department from 2007-2015.

San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez lauded Slaughter’s extensive experience in economic development, housing and planning, saying he will add a “valuable perspective to the City Manager’s Office.”

Slaughter, a Berkeley resident, will start in his new role on Nov. 12, with a base annual salary of $164,928, according to the City of San Pablo.

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City Government

Aaron Osorio Rises Up Ranks to Become Richmond’s Fire Chief

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10. “I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.” Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Richmond Fire Department Chief Aaron Osorio. Courtesy photo

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10.

“I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.”

Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Osorio is a San Francisco native who rose up the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief.

He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighters, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief. He said he truly loves working in this community.

While it isn’t common for a fire department to hire a chief that came up through its ranks, Osorio was credited by the city for serving Richmond well during uncommon times.

The city lauded him for developing internal policies and vaccination clinics during the initial COVID response, for supporting activation of the emergency operations center in response to a potential mudslide disaster in Seacliff last year, helping to draft mutual aid agreements and working to increase fire response capabilities for industrial incidents.

He’s also led departmental hiring and recruitment since 2018.

Osorio said it is an honor to be hired as chief and has big plans for the department moving forward. He said he wants to continue hiring and promoting for vacant positions, and also completing a strategic plan guiding the direction of the organization.

He also aims to replace and renovate a number of fire department facilities placed on the Capital Improvement Plan and create new ways to recruit that will enhance the diversity of the department.

Osorio said his experience within, and love for, the city of Richmond puts him in a good position to lead the department. He says he knows what is needed and also the challenges that are unique to the city.

“I look forward to utilizing that institutional knowledge to move the fire department forward in a positive direction and enhance the services we provide to the community,” the chief said.

Osorio holds a bachelor of science degree in Fire Administration and is also a California State Fire Marshal-certified chief officer, company officer, and state instructor.

He also holds numerous certifications in fire, rescue, hazardous material, and incident command.

The chief has been married to his wife, Maria, for 26 years and they have two sons, Roman and Mateo.