Bay Area

Oakland A’s Moving Closer to Ballpark Approval

Published

6 years ago

February 7, 2020

A’s President Dave Kaval told the Post that he wants the upcoming February meeting, that was set by residents who have participated in the Community Benefits Agreement process, to be an opportunity where the process of continued community involvement can occur.

The meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Calif. State University East Bay Oakland Center, 1000 Broadway in Oakland.

“We’re really happy to be partnered with the city and the Port of Oakland, to ensure that we have a robust community benefits plan, with the ballpark, other neighborhoods and residential communities, that we’re planning at the Howard Terminal site,” Kaval said.

After more than two years of extensive outreach in East and West Oakland, the A’s have also hosted meetings for the residents to gather and discuss community benefits for the new ballpark and surrounding development.

With 150 community members in attendance, the Community Benefits Agreement process launched on Jan. 11 to identify seven cohort topics of concern.

They include: Economic Development, Housing, Transportation, Community Health and Safety, Education, Environment, and Community History/Culture Keeping.

Continuing, Kaval said “We’re excited about key stakeholders and community members across Oakland, but of course in West Oakland especially, because that’s where we’re building, to get people’s feedback on key areas and key cohorts, including affordable housing, workforce development, and environmental justice. Our project can help Oakland in a variety of ways. And that’s something we’re committed to and I think this process shows, that we’re walking the walk.”

Kaval said his organization is continuing to lead the charge on community involvement, “especially when it comes to local and minority business.”

For the past two years, the A’s have hosted meetings for community members to gather and discuss community benefits for the team’s proposed new ballpark. The City is now overseeing the official CBA process. Speaking at one of the meetings is Ms. Alvirdia Owens. Photo by Oakland A’s.

The team’s plan incorporates more employment opportunities for small businesses that want to expand their staff and revenues.

Website information will be linked to the City of Oakland’s website as the Oakland A’s move closer to the final vote.

“The environmental review will be released on Valentine’s Day. We’re as close as we’ve ever been,” explained Kaval.

“We are working with the city now, and we’re negotiating a development agreement that will specify how we’re going to proceed,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of learning from the Oakland Army base, in terms of how they’ve done their outreach in staffing with the logistics jobs, construction, and transportation jobs, and I think we’re going to look for a similar solution in our case. But, I think that’s something we’re going to hammer out over the next couple of months.”

When asked if the A’s plan is flexible enough to include community involvement, Kaval said, “We’re open to get folks’ input on the best way to approach it. It’s not just jobs, it’s also contracting with businesses that are either minority-owned or locally-owned in Oakland. That’s another big part in this too, they’re people who have businesses in West Oakland and East Oakland. Our project can give them a lot of work for their own business to help them expand. We see a way for them to add more staff, earn more money as well.”

“We are definitely going to be expanding, especially as we get closer to opening our new stadium,” said Kaval. “And that’s going to include everything from needing people to build the venue, designing it, project management, as well as digital design and creating content along with our own marketing department.”

Kaval said his organization remains committed to diversity inclusion:

“We have a pretty robust outreach program that runs by Andre Chambers, who is the Head of our People Operations Department,” he said. “We’re looking for people locally to fulfill these positions within the front office. We feel we can incorporate a great group of people who are Oakland-based, rooted in Oakland, and committed to opening this new ballpark.”

The City of Oakland’s website will have all upcoming meetings and information on involving the new ballpark at the Howard Terminal site.

For details, go to City of Oakland website at www.oaklandca.gov/projects/oakland-waterfront-ballpark-district

Malaika Bobino

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Activism

OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

5 days ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.