Bay Area
OP-ED: Sheng Thao, the Leader Oakland Needs as its Next Mayor
We are responding to the false attack that Thao is somehow unqualified to serve as mayor, an age-old tactic used against women candidates. Other candidates and their supporters are perpetuating this false narrative and we want to set the record straight.

By State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Alameda County Assessor Phong La, and Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder Melissa Wilk
We are financial professionals and elected officials who serve Alameda County and the State of California. It is our sworn duty to serve and protect the interests of taxpayers.
We are also proud supporters of Oakland’s District 4 City Councilmember and President Pro Tem Sheng Thao for mayor of Oakland because we believe she is the leader Oakland needs at this critical time. She is the most qualified and effective candidate running.
We are responding to the false attack that Thao is somehow unqualified to serve as mayor, an age-old tactic used against women candidates. Other candidates and their supporters are perpetuating this false narrative and we want to set the record straight.
We know from working with Thao that her knowledge and experience will allow her to meet the critical needs of Oakland and get the City back on the right track. Thao’s understanding of property taxation, finance and budgets is above and beyond most elected officials. We’ve worked with Sheng on essential public policy matters and funding related to public services including public safety, housing, and street and park maintenance. Thao is well-prepared to address the challenges we face.
Her collaboration with county and state leaders has secured millions of dollars in funding to support affordable housing, homelessness services, disadvantaged youth and, most recently, over $2 million for updates to three East Oakland parks. Sheng has the support of leaders of the Chabot Space and Science Center for her role in artfully negotiating a complex financial plan to save this Oakland jewel from insolvency.
Sheng has received the most endorsements from elected officials and community leaders in the race for mayor of Oakland because of her experience, knowledge and her well-known reputation for getting things done.
We support Sheng Thao, and we encourage you to support the most qualified candidate for Oakland Mayor: Sheng Thao.
Fiona Ma is the California State Treasurer.
Phong La is the Alameda County Assessor.
Melissa Wilk is the Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 30, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 3, 2025

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.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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.
Bay Area
Chevron Richmond Installs Baker Hughes Flare.IQ, Real-time Flare Monitoring, Control and Reduction System
While the sight of flaring can cause concern in the community, flares are essential safety systems that burn pollutants to prevent them from being released directly into the atmosphere. They activate during startup and shut-down of facility units or during upsets or equipment malfunctions. The typical flare stack is about 200 feet high so that vapors are well above street levels.

The Richmond Standard
Chevron Richmond recently installed flare.IQ, a real-time, automated system that will improve the facility’s flaring performance.
The technology, developed by Panametrics, a Baker Hughes business, uses sensors to monitor, reduce and control flaring in real time. It collects and assesses data on refinery processes, such as temperature, pressure, gas flow and gas composition, and adjusts accordingly to ensure flares burn more efficiently and cleanly, leading to fewer emissions.
“The cleaner the flare, the brighter the flame can look,” said Duy Nguyen, a Chevron Richmond flaring specialist. “If you see a brighter flame than usual on a flare, that actually means flare.IQ is operating as intended.”
While the sight of flaring can cause concern in the community, flares are essential safety systems that burn pollutants to prevent them from being released directly into the atmosphere. They activate during startup and shut-down of facility units or during upsets or equipment malfunctions. The typical flare stack is about 200 feet high so that vapors are well above street levels.
“A key element in Baker Hughes’ emissions abatement portfolio, flare.IQ has a proven track record in optimizing flare operations and significantly reducing emissions,” said Colin Hehir, vice president of Panametrics, a Baker Hughes business. “By partnering with Chevron Richmond, one of the first operators in North America to adopt flare.IQ, we are looking forward to enhancing the plant’s flaring operations.”
The installation of flare.IQ is part of a broader and ongoing effort by Chevron Richmond to improve flare performance, particularly in response to increased events after the new, more efficient hydrogen plant was brought online in 2019.
Since then, the company has invested $25 million — and counting — into flare minimization. As part of the effort, a multidisciplinary refinery team was formed to find and implement ways to improve operational reliability and ultimately reduce flaring. Operators and other employees involved in management of flares and flare gas recovery systems undergo new training.
“It is important to me that the community knows we are working hard to lower emissions and improve our flaring performance,” Nguyen said.
Also evolving is the process by which community members are notified of flaring incidents. The Community Warning System (CWS), operated by Contra Costa County is an “all-hazard” public warning system.
Residents can opt-in to receive alerts via text, e-mail and landline. The CWS was recently expanded to enable residents to receive notifications for “Level 1” incidents, which are considered informational as they do not require any community action.
For more information related to these topics, check out the resources included on the Chevron Richmond, CAER and Contra Costa Health websites. Residents are also encouraged to follow @chevronrichmond and @RFDCAOnline on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), where additional information may be posted during an incident.
-
#NNPA BlackPress4 weeks ago
MLK Bust Quietly Removed from Oval Office Under Trump
-
Activism4 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of April 30 – May 6, 2025
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of May 7 – 13, 2025
-
Activism2 weeks ago
New Oakland Moving Forward
-
Activism2 weeks ago
After Two Decades, Oakland Unified Will Finally Regain Local Control
-
Activism2 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of May 14 – 20, 2025
-
Alameda County2 weeks ago
Oakland Begins Month-Long Closure on Largest Homeless Encampment
-
#NNPA BlackPress3 weeks ago
Trump Abruptly Fires First Carla Hayden: The First Black Woman to Serve as Librarian of Congress