City Government

Opinion: Pastors Support Coal Terminal for Jobs and Economic Development

Published

10 years ago

January 8, 2016

A newly formed group of local pastors made a powerful appearance before the Oakland City Council Tuesday evening, Dec. 8, to speak out in favor of a maritime project that will bring long-awaited jobs and economic development to a number of local communities.

The Ecumenical Economic Empowerment Council is comprised of a core group of 14 pastors from throughout Oakland, and primarily West Oakland, who have come together in an organized fashion to pursue ways that will empower and sustain our local communities.

The focus will be on jobs and job training, public health and safety, youth development, education, housing, and economic development.

The issue being considered by the Oakland City Council is whether or not a local African-American owned business will be permitted to move forward without further delay on its construction of a multiple-bulk commodities maritime terminal at the former Oakland Army Base.

Although the terminal will handle the transport of numerous bulk commodities like cattle feed, agricultural grains, iron ore, soda and pot ash, the City Council is reviewing testimony and findings to determine if there is, in fact, a health and safety risk associated with the transport of coal, which is one of the other commodities that will be transported through this terminal.

The group of pastors, having met with Jerry Bridges, the African-American CEO of Terminal Logistics Solutions, the company that will build, own, and operate the terminal, expressed to the City Council their full support for the project and their confidence in the commitments made by the operator to mitigate all of the local environmental concerns raised by opponents.

“The innovative design of this project and TLS’s commitment to accept only covered rail cars and to move, store, and transload products using state of the art technology and innovation, are convincing and provide the kind of assurance we needed to, in good conscience, support this project,” stated Bishop Joseph Simmons of Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, president of the EEEC.

According to Bishop Bob Jackson, pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church expressed in his statement to the City Council, “We’re very concerned about the delay by the City in making its determination on this project because it translates to delay in bringing needed jobs and significant economic benefits to some of our communities in Oakland who need it most.”

The pastors stood in united accord along with minority contractors and more than 50 church members who also attended the Council meeting and vowed to return when this matter is scheduled for consideration by the Council in February.

The group of pastors concluded their presentation by providing to members of the City Council a copy of the attached letter that was sent earlier to Mayor Libby Schaaf in sup-port of this project and expressing the intent of the EEEC to lead the way as well on a host of other community empowerment issues that are coming to bear as it sees so many of our local neighborhoods and communities in Oakland changing so rapidly.

Members of the EEEC include:

Bishop Joseph Simmons, president Greater St. Paul Baptist Church; Rev. Michael Wallace, vice president Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church; Dr. Kevin D. Barnes Sr., Secretary Treasurer Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church;

Dr. Gerald Agee,  Friendship Christian Center; Rev. James E. Bobo Sr., Greater Galilee C.O.G.I.C.; Bishop Keith Lee Clark, Word Assembly Church; Dr. E. N. Crawford,  Praises of Zion Missionary Baptist Church,

Dr. Russell A. Duley,  Kaleo Christian Fellowship; Bishop Bob Jackson, Acts Full Gospel Church; Rev. Anthony Jenkins, Sr. Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church; Dr. Gregory B. Payton,  Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church;

Rev. Brondon Reems,  Center of Hope Community Church; Bishop Dr. Samuel Robinson, Church of the Living God; Bishop C. Carl Smith,  New Birth Church Oakland.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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5 days ago

March 1, 2026

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 18 – 24, 2026

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February 20, 2026

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III

WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

Oakland Post

PROJECT NO. 2020.0050

BID NO. 25-26.011

BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III/PROJECT NO. 2020.0050 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14^th Street, 2^nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.
WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.
OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at:https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Public Works Department Engineering division at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website. A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive.Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book from East Bay Blueprint & Supply Co., at 1745 14^th Street, Oakland, CA 94606; Phone Number: (510) 261-2990 or email: ebbp@eastbayblueprint.com.
PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM and on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM as follows:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM
Zoom Meeting ID: 883 8752 6074
Passcode: 502955
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/88387526074?pwd=hZ5rjB8AWdLAUem3CtByFiZxqKarHj.1
And
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 2672 0472
Passcode: 091848
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/89826720472?pwd=JgZX2nXMpLSRM5xDPr7EJUxl7QIznr.1The information presented at the conferences will be identical, all bidders must attend one of the pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. A firm that didn’t attend the pre-bid conference isn’t qualified to bid on the project.Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.
VALUE OF WORK: The Engineer has estimated that the value of work is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.
SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License
SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.