Berkeley

OP-ED: It’s Time to Raise the Minimum Wage – Support Measure FF

Published

11 years ago

October 7, 2014

I’m proud to say that Oakland is at the forefront of the national minimum wage movement, according the San Francisco Chronicle, and this November, there is an important measure on the local ballot to raise the minimum wage to $12.25.

With low voter turnout expected, we need to encourage our friends, family and neighbors to get out and vote for Measure FF to raise the minimum wage.

As a former city councilman and school board member, and as a youth advocate at Lincoln Child Center here in Oakland, it has been my job to fight for smart policies and better solutions to improve the lives of people across the East Bay, and I believe one of the most powerful things we can do to improve the lives of working families is to increase the minimum wage.

It will be good for our economy and vital for kids and families.

I know firsthand what it’s like to earn minimum wage. I put myself through college the first year by working at McDonald’s for just $3.35 an hour, and a series of other minimum wage jobs in the restaurant industry. It was hard work with long hours, but I was able to make ends meet while going to school.

Iwould not be able to do the same thing today. The minimum wage is not a livable wage, and it has not increased at a rate to meet the skyrocketing costs, like rent. The purchasing power of a minimum wage income peaked in 1968 – it’s time to do better than we’re doing today.

That’s why I’ve been a fierce advocate for raising the minimum wage, and it’s been a long fight. I’ve testified in front of the Berkeley City Council and have spoken with organizers in Oakland and Richmond Councilmembers about looking for ways to tie it all together regionally.

Richmond ultimately approved an increase to $13 per hour by 2018. Just last week, Berkeley’s minimum wage increase took effect.

We need wage increases across the Bay Area – and San Francisco, San Jose, Berkeley and Richmond are doing just that. Now it’s time for Oakland to do the same.

Measure FF is important legislation that needs your support – and we need to make sure we get voters to the polls. October 20^th is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming election, and now you can easily do so online. You can learn more at http://tonythurmond.com/register.

Tony Thurmond

Tony Thurmond is the former Richmond City Councilmember and West Contra County School Boardmember and is a candidate for California State Assembly District 15.

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Bay Area

Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

5 days ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

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Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

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Activism

Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

2 months ago

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Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.