Business

Newsmaker Becomes Center of News After Break-In at The Oakland Post

According to publisher Paul Cobb, three thieves spent over three hours rummaging through drawers, shelves, files, and boxes. For Cobb, owner of the Post News Group, which produces nine weekly newspapers, the theft comes at a sensitive time. “We just honored and celebrated the renaming of an area on 14th Street, where our celebrated editor Chauncey Bailey was slain in 2007.”

Published

3 years ago

March 31, 2022

Carla Thomas

By Carla Thomas

The Oakland Post, the oldest African American publication in Northern California, is used to producing the weekly news. Thieves changed that on Tuesday night when they ransacked, vandalized, and burglarized the office in Downtown Oakland making the organization the center of the news.

While Cobb hopes there is no connection to the break-in, he’s especially glad that his staff was unharmed.

As Office Manager Brenda Hudson oversees the cleanup, she mentions how OCCUR, their upstairs neighbor in the Greenlining Building at 360 14th St. was also broken into. “They lost checkbooks and thousands were taken out of their account and we had cameras, recorders, and other supplies stolen,” she said. “Our surveillance cameras show one of the thieves with his bicycle breaking in.”

Among broken glass, Cobb also said a coin collection and a monitor was stolen. As a Civil Rights Movement activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and advocated for much of the trailblazing infrastructure and programs BIPOC millennials enjoy today, Cobb is no stranger to challenges.

“The world is strained, and our City of Oakland has its fair share of homeless and the disenfranchised, so we have to be mindful of the times we’re living in.”

Cobb, who sees theft as an economic issue, says the best way to prevent theft is to create sustainable jobs and plans to use the incident to promote change in the community.

“The break-in is alarming, and our City is under siege economically with far too many left on the sidelines of the economy,” Cobb said. “I’m going to dedicate a series of articles on available jobs and job creation. Again, I’m glad the break-in occurred when no one was on site.

“Our staff is safe and looks forward to continuing to cover the news and not being at the center of it in this light,” Cobb said.

Carla Thomas

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

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BWOPA Honors Black Leadership and Legacy at 2024 Ella Hill Hutch Awards Dinner

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

L-R: BWOPA State Executive Director LaNiece Jones; State Asm. Mia Bonta; BWOPA 2024 Man of The Year/Urban League SFBA CEO Ken Maxey; BWOPA State President Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones; State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas; Rowena Brown, Oakland Councilmember At-Large, Elect; BWOPA State Regional Director Vashone Huff. Courtesy photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.

At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

The evening was hosted by Dr. Shawna Charles, founder of The Charles Communications Group (CCG) headquartered in Los Angeles. Charles served as mistress of ceremonies.

With a track record of elevating voices and empowering communities, Charles’ leadership and insight brought a certain dynamism to the celebration.

“Each year, this event not only celebrates the enduring legacy of our beloved BWOPA founding member, Ella Hill Hutch, but also reaffirms and amplifies our unwavering commitment to building and sustaining Black political power across California,” said Dezie Woods-Jones, BWOPA founding member and State president.

“Ella Hill Hutch’s trailblazing leadership continues to inspire us as we forge ahead, empowering Black women to lead, advocate, and shape a more equitable future for all,” added Woods-Jones.

This year’s event introduced the DWJ Rising Star Award, honoring young leaders like Solano County Board Supervisors-elect Cassandra James, Danielle Motley-Lewis, Naomi Waters and newly elected State Assemblymember elect Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

According to organizers, the awardees all exemplify “the next generation of changemakers.”

Other awardees included:

Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson
Man of the Year: Kenneth Maxey, CEO of the Greater SF Bay Area Urban League
President’s Corporate Award: Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente
In the Spirit of Ella State and Chapter Awards: Dr. Carolyn Greene, Dr. Marcella K. Smith, Dr. Carolyn Drake, Tinisch Hollins, Jackie Jones, Gloria Burgess Johnson, Tamika L’Ecluse, Ellen Nash, Betty Reid Soskin, and Ay’Anna Moody.

BWOPA also celebrated local champions across its chapters, including leaders in voter education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and community advocacy.

In a statement, BWOPA said, “Honoring Ella Hill Hutch’s legacy, BWOPA recognizes her pioneering efforts as the first Black woman elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her tireless work amplifying underrepresented voices continues to inspire BWOPA’s mission to build Black political power across California.”

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, partners and allies who believe in BWOPA’s vision to invest in building power for Black women’s leadership,” said LaNiece Jones, BWOPA State executive director. “Your support ensures that Black women have a voice at decision-making tables locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, advancing diversity and equity in leadership spaces.”