Oakland

OP-ED: Coal Dispute: Much Ado About Nothing

Published

11 years ago

July 11, 2015

By Darrel Carey

Once again we see the new population of Oakland attempting to run the political and economic agenda of Oakland and specifically, in this case, that of the West Oakland community.

While new ideas and different opinions are welcome and add to the fabric of our city and community, we cannot allow outside efforts and agendas to saturate and dilute existing and longstanding community needs and opinions.

The Sierra Club has been organizing around the issue of not allowing coal to be exported through Oakland.

Has there been an honest and sincere effort on the part of the Sierra Club to learn about this project from those developing the terminal?

Has there been an honest dialogue and exchange of ideas about the proposed activity? Or is this much ado about nothing?

A newly formed Oakland based company has the rare opportunity to establish itself on the former Oakland Army Base to export numerous bulk commodities, including coal. This is consistent with current EPA and CEQA regulations as required by the City.

Coal is a commodity exported to many developing countries that desire to experience just some of the comforts we enjoy and often take for granted here in America.

We think nothing of powering our homes, refrigerating our food, booting up our computers, charging our cell phones (or powering up our electric cars…). Because we are justifiably in the process of advancing toward “renewable energy” sources such as water, wind, and bio-fuels to achieve our power demands, coal is viewed by some as defeating that goal.

Not true…Those developing third world countries are currently using the lowest forms of fossil fuels contributing to far greater pollution and environmental damage than the higher quality coal being exported from the U.S.

Moving toward renewable energy is a long-term process and will take years as the Obama Administration acknowledges in its’ goals.

In the interim, however, coal is a major source of energy for the world and it will continue to be exported through our ports until it is no longer viable.

The commodity terminal being designed and developed by this Oakland firm is seeking to establish itself as the newest and most innovative terminal of its type in the world.

What an opportunity this could be. Recognizing the sincere and valid concerns around the direct impacts of transporting coal, this firm is in the process of designing a terminal that protects the community during rail car transport, during terminal storage, and during actual transfer to ships.

Targeting this firm or any effort to move toward innovation is just wrong. There is an opportunity here for Oakland to do something different and innovative. This is an opportunity for Oakland to create jobs and greater economic benefit for our community.

I would challenge our community and city leaders to think progress.

There are many opportunities and issues on which we can partner with the Sierra Club and others in an attempt to save us from global warming.

This is not that issue.

Let’s look at the potential benefits and work to help create a state of the art environmentally safe facility. Let’s look at the contracts and jobs that will be created for Oakland residents.

Let’s look at making Oakland and our community a leader and model in this effort.

Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. Let’s not create much ado about nothing.

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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

6 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.

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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

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.

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Activism

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

3 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.