Bay Area

Opinion: The Veep Debate, Goodbye to the A’s and Shohei Ohtani (Our new Bruce Lee)

Due to publishing deadlines, I regret I won’t be commenting on Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate. Why even bother watching? CBS, in an outright concession to the truth-challenged GOP, has announced moderators will not fact check the debaters in real time. That means that the night is sure to be full of lies.

Published

2 months ago

October 5, 2024

Oakland Post

The Oakland Coliseum. iStock

By Emil Guillermo

Due to publishing deadlines, I regret I won’t be commenting on Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate.

Why even bother watching? CBS, in an outright concession to the truth-challenged GOP, has announced moderators will not fact check the debaters in real time. That means that the night is sure to be full of lies.

Last weekend, Trump called Vice President Kamala Harris “mentally impaired,” and “mentally disabled.” What kind of person who wants to be president makes those kinds of slanderous attacks?

And I had thought Trump couldn’t top his Haitians-eating-dogs-and-cats-in-Springfield-Ohio lie. That’s one that’s been thoroughly debunked, but that hasn’t stopped its spread by vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and Trump.

It’s amazing that 120 years ago in St. Louis, the GOP had a different take on dog eating. In 1904, a White entrepreneur brought nearly 1,500 Filipinos to be part of the largest exhibit at the World’s Fair. It was essentially a human zoo, where Filipinos dressed in native dress, showed off their lifestyle, which included dog on the menu.

Back then, the GOP used it to justify America’s imperial desires in the Philippines and elsewhere. To show a Filipino eating dog appealed to some Americans and proved that the Filipinos must be civilized! For humanity’s sake.

Yesterday’s colonial embrace has become today’s negative xenophobic attack, an anti-immigration and racist smearing to gin up votes.

On the loss of the A’s

Born in San Francisco, I am the worst kind of Bay Area nativist. My parents didn’t own a car. I was stuck on the wrong side of the Bay and never got out of the Mission District. All I knew was San Francisco. Oakland was an exotic, foreign land. Until it got baseball.

I was a baseball fan in his prime: 12-years old. With the announcement that the A’s would be in Oakland, the Coliseum became my baseball mecca.

I loved everything about the A’s and their eccentric owner, Charley Finley. Their white shoes. The mechanical contraption that would pop up from behind homeplate to give a basket of baseballs to the umpire. And the players: Campy Campaneris. Sal Bando. Joe Rudi. They weren’t losers. In time, with Vida Blue and Reggie Jackson, they’d be world beaters.

Goodbye to the A’s. I will never forget the team that made me love Oakland.

Shohei Ohtani Is Our New Bruce Lee

So, the A’s are gone, but we can still root for the greatest baseball player EVER from afar. I’m talking about the great Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yes, that last part is painful.

But there is no doubt now. The first player to hit 51 home runs and steal 51 bases? It has never been done before. Good thing he got that 51^st stolen base or Ohtani would be 51-50. (That would get him committed in California).

Keep in mind Babe Ruth may have had 51 home runs and 51 hot dogs. But Ohtani’s feat is remarkable in that it shows an unprecedented combination of speed and power.

And Asian-ness. But not his Asian American-ness, because he is an “Asian IN America.”

It’s a fine difference. Still, for AAPIs like myself, we are starved for heroes and role models who look like us. Ohtani is the new Bruce Lee. He’s Our guy.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a micro talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1

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Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024, 2024

Published

3 days ago

November 30, 2024

Oakland Post

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OCCUR Hosts “Faith Forward” Conference in Oakland

The conference featured Congresswoman-elect Lateefah Simon, who will begin her term representing California’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in January.
Simon was honored with a special recognition from OCCUR for her civic and nonprofit leadership.

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2024

Oakland Post

President and CEO of OCCUR addresses the audience at OCCUR Faith Forward 2024 Conference at Resurrection Church. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal (OCCUR) hosted its Faith Forward 2024 Conference on Nov. 8 at Resurrection Church in Oakland.

The conference featured Congresswoman-elect Lateefah Simon, who will begin her term representing California’s 12^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in January.

Simon was honored with a special recognition from OCCUR for her civic and nonprofit leadership. During her remarks, She commended nonprofits making a difference, and shared how she looked forward to representing Oakland and surrounding areas.

Simon also encouraged attendees to continue fighting despite their concerns about the presidential election results. She also cautioned that there may be resources that are discontinued as a result.

“We know the assignment. We have many of the resources right within our own community, and we will be ok,” Simon assured the audience.

The conference led by OCCUR president, Dr. David B. Franklin, also featured panels on funding opportunities, case studies, economic development, sustainable housing solutions, and organizing for action.

“In order for organizations serving the community to thrive, everyone must collaborate, share resources, and not operate in silos,” said Franklin.

Speakers included San Francisco Foundation CEO, Fred Blackwell, San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program Director Dr. Michelle Chambers, and Kingmakers of Oakland Founder, Chris Chatmon. Guests were briefed on how Kingmakers of Oakland has gone from a budget of zero to several million and is set to acquire 200 acres of property to expand their programs serving young boys. The leadership at the San Francisco Foundation encouraged nonprofits, churches, and community leaders to work together, especially when donations and funding numbers are lower.

Ben Bartlett of Berkeley City Council; Trevor Parham, CEO of Oakstop; and CEO of the Lao Family Community Development, Inc., Kathy Chao Rothberg, inspired attendees with stories about their journeys in the nonprofit sector.

Additional speakers included Deka Dike, CEO of Omatachi; Landis Green, CEO of DGS Strategies; Sasha Werblin, Director of Economic Development, LISC Bay Area; Oakland City Councilmember Treva Reid; Faith and Justice Organizer of East Bay Housing Organizations, Ronnie Boyd; and Todd Bendon, Executive Director of Faith in Action East Bay; among others.

The event allowed community leaders, faith-based leaders, and nonprofits to gain Insight on how to strengthen their profits financially, and communally.

OCCUR has served the community for over 70 years supporting the wellbeing of historically marginalized communities with collaborative strategies. For more information visit occurnow.org

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Bay Area

Richmond’s New Fire Chief Sworn In

“Chief Osorio rose up through the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief,” noted Harpreet Sandhu, field representative for Congressmember John Garamendi,. “He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighter, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief.”

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Chief Osorio (far left) was sworn in at a well-attended ceremony at Richmond City Hall on Nov. 15. All photos by Mike Kinney.

By Mike Kinney
The Richmond Standard

Richmond Fire Chief Aaron Osorio was sworn into his new role in a well-attended ceremony at Richmond City Council Chambers on Friday, Nov. 15.

The crowd included Osorio’s family and friends, rank-and-file Richmond firefighters, fellow fire chiefs from Bay Area agencies, elected officials and community members.

Richmond City Manager Shasa Curl provided an introduction and acknowledged Chief Osorio’s “heroic service to Richmond.”

Harpreet Sandhu, field representative for Congressmember John Garamendi, presented the chief with a Congressional Commendation, citing his 23 years of serving in the fire service in Richmond in numerous positions.

“Chief Osorio rose up through the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief,” Sandhu noted. “He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighter, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief.”

The chief’s wife, Maria, and two sons Roman and Mateo helped perform the badge-pinning.

Richmond City Clerk Pamela Christian then conducted the swearing-in ceremony.

Chief Osorio thanked his family, colleagues, and city for their support, calling it “very humbling” to take on leadership of an “amazing organization.”

Once the ceremony was done, the chief stated, “I’m ready to get to work.”