Entertainment
Reel-ality TV Talk
By Marquesa LaDawn
NNPA Columnist
The Real Housewives of New Jersey – (Personal Accountability) Even if you do not watch reality tv, you could not have missed this story; I’ll tell you the quick version, Teresa and her husband, Joe Guidice, are two heavy hitters on the RHONJ, and they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Personal accountability is a foreign concept to this couple, especially Teresa; nothing is ever her fault. She lives in excuses land. Well, she got away with it for a long time, but all good things must come to an end. Regardless of what you and I believe, they pleaded guilty on multiple accounts of fraud and got 15 months (Teresa) and 41 months (Joe) in prison. The Lesson: Deal with your issues before the law gets involved and you lose all control!
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills– (The queen can fall) I’m not a fan of emotional people who take everything personally. That being said, I’ve learned to be empathetic to different personality types. Lisa Vanderpump, who seems to be popular, is on two Bravo reality TV shows, is a tough nut to crack. She’s a smart business woman and nice friend, but if you offend her she never forgives you. She projects the aura of being the Queen Bee and I get that, but she forgets to keep her peeps happy. Last season, her peeps turned on her and all hell broke loose and in Queen Bee fashion she never said “I’m sorry” or took any level of responsibility. Sounds familiar? What’s really annoying is how she blames her Brit origin as the reason for her lack of empathy, my response, you are in America, act like it.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta- (Is your house really a home?) The law seems to be busy in the reality TV world and the RHOA is no exception. Apollo Nida, a house husband to Phaedra Parks, was sentenced to eight years in prison, making this his second time behind bars for a long amount of time. He’s a good looking, smooth talking bad boy, who seems to be challenged with doing the right thing. In an ironic situation his wife, soon to be ex- wife, calls herself a Southern belle. You know that Phaedra’s pattern is sharing as little as possible and appearing to be perfect. It doesn’t help that her husband, now in prison, hurt her reputation from the moment he was introduced, then continued to make bad decisions, including flirting with other women. On top of all of this, his favorite line was “Nobody can control me or tell me what to do or how to act.” I think he forgot the law. Of course, Phaedra, is not completely blameless, she’s a smart woman that pretends to miss things, like money being spent by her husband, etc.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta– (Being a mother does not give you a pass…) Oh my goodness, where do I begin, they call her Mama Joyce and boy did she pull the wool over our eyes during the early seasons. Well, all was revealed, and Mama Joyce is the meanest mom on the planet. She’s like a gangsta mom, literally, she threatens to fight even when she clearly starts the argument. She lies like she breathes, she feels that when it comes to her daughter Kandi, she can do anything she wants – and she does. I remember watching Kandi’s beautiful wedding, and when the cameras focused on her frown-faced mother, several of Kandi’s guests had this look of distaste all over their faces. It was really sad! She is talked about so terribly all over social media, I feel so bad for Kandi. But she is a major enabler and although I understand the need to protect your mom no matter what, it’s important that you ask your mother to respect others.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta- – (We all have a limit) Do you remember the big fight during the reunion when Porsha pulled Kenya’s hair? It was a big moment for RHOA and sealed in their first-place popularity. Kenya Moore is something else, a truly mixed up lady. She’s always the victim, though her behavior encourages a lot of what happens in her life. Well, this reunion was no different: she insulted, put objects in people’s face and thought there was no limit. Little did she know, it’s a bad idea to push a recent divorcee with mean words. She learned this hard lesson once Porsha reacted by pushing her down and pulling her hair (thank goodness it’s real).
FINAL WORD: Don’t assume all reality TV is trash; some of it, maybe. But, if you really pay attention, you can learn so much. I think reality TV should make us all look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we in some context share a similar behavior, I know I have. I think reality TV can be great therapy! So stretch out on the couch and get ready for my next column.
Marquesa LaDawn is a professional business woman who escapes the pressures of living in New York City by retreating into the real world of reality TV.
Bay Area
Mayor Sheng Thao Signs Amended Agreement to Sell Coliseum for Higher Price, Paid in Current Fiscal Year
The City of Oakland and the African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG) have signed an amended Purchase and Sale Agreement for the City’s half of the Coliseum site. The new agreement results in a total price increase of 14% to $125 million and accelerates the payment schedule for the City to receive $110 million within the current fiscal year. The previous agreement had a purchase price of $105 million with $60 million being paid by June 30, 2025.
By Post Staff
The City of Oakland and the African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG) have signed an amended Purchase and Sale Agreement for the City’s half of the Coliseum site.
The new agreement results in a total price increase of 14% to $125 million and accelerates the payment schedule for the City to receive $110 million within the current fiscal year. The previous agreement had a purchase price of $105 million with $60 million being paid by June 30, 2025.
Under the ordinance authorizing the sale, Mayor Sheng Thao secured additional funds to be received within a shorter timeframe to enable the transformative investment and redevelopment of the Coliseum site.
The acceleration of the deal will also allow AASEG to take title and begin development of the site sooner than the original agreement. The additional revenue received by the City of Oakland will increase general fund resources for city-wide services, including public safety and fire services.
The new agreement requires both parties to close the deal within the fiscal year, triggering early defeasement of the last Arena bond payment of $4.2 million. As such, the amendment obligates the buyer to pay all early defeasement costs for the City and County.
According to Google, the defeasance process is a means by which borrowers can replace the collateral used on a mortgage loan with another asset or substitute collateral—usually a portfolio of government bonds backed by the U.S. Treasury, or, typically, the collateral on a mortgage is the home or property
“This amended agreement with AASEG is a win-win,” said Thao. “The City secured a higher purchase price with faster payments. This structure also allows AASEG to kickstart their historic investment in East Oakland and create jobs and economic opportunity sooner than under the original agreement.”
“We are very grateful for the hard work of the City team in helping reach our amended agreement,” said AASEG Managing Member Ray Bobbitt. “The creation of jobs, housing, art, clean green space and a new generation of Sports and Entertainment at the Coliseum site cannot wait; and will provide a certain pathway to the revitalization of East Oakland through massive investment.”
In a statement, Thao urged Councilmembers Janani Ramachandran and Treva Reid to base their statements on facts and not spread misinformation.
“Councilmembers Reid and Ramachandran were briefed for two hours on Monday by the City Administrator, Finance Department, and the Coliseum Negotiating Team. They were extensively filled in on the amended deal terms, financial conditions of the organization, and provided ample time to seek answers to their questions, including commitments to follow up.
“During that time they were urged as elected officials to only share accurate and verified information with the public given their position as public officials,” said the mayor.
“The Coliseum deal is great for Oakland, and it is neither the cause of nor full solution to the City’s budget deficit,” she continued. “Nonetheless, I expect it to help save us from the most drastic public safety cuts. And, in the meantime, we are creating both temporary and permanent solutions to the decades-long budgetary challenges we face here in Oakland.”
“(The councilmembers) are welcome to be part of the solutions, not (to) deepen mistrust with false information and further divide us,” Thao said.
Community
Terry T. Backs Oakland Comedy Residency by Oakland’s Luenell at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas
Hailing from East Oakland, legendary comedian Luenell continues to blaze trails for women in comedy, selling out shows nationwide. In addition to her hit Netflix special, she recently made history as the only Black female comedian to secure a residency in Las Vegas.
By Richard “Razor” Johnson
Hailing from East Oakland, legendary comedian Luenell continues to blaze trails for women in comedy, selling out shows nationwide. In addition to her hit Netflix special, she recently made history as the only Black female comedian to secure a residency in Las Vegas. Luenell also fulfilled a lifelong dream by headlining at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.
Oakland music legend and community pillar Terry T., aka Mr. Community, shared, “Luenell supported us back in the Tony! Toni! Toné! days. We’ve stayed close, and I’m proud of her as someone from Oakland who overcame the odds and succeeded.”
Luenell’s residency runs Sunday and Monday nights at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of October 16 – 22, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of October 16 – 22, 2024
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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Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of September 25 – October 1, 2024
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Activism3 weeks ago
‘Respect Our Vote’ Mass Meeting Rejects Oakland, Alameda County Recalls
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California Black Media3 weeks ago
Study: UC 4-Year Grad Rate Doubles That of CSU
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Bay Area3 weeks ago
Mayor Sheng Thao Issues Executive Order to Shut Down Homeless Encampments
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Bay Area3 weeks ago
Former Mayor Willie L. Brown Endorses Dana Lang for BART Board District 7
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Bay Area3 weeks ago
State of Black California: Oakland Tour Stop Rescheduled
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Alameda County3 weeks ago
Alameda County Democratic Party Opposes the Recall of Mayor Sheng Thao
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Business3 weeks ago
Google’s New Deal with California Lawmakers and Publishers Will Fund Newsrooms, Explore AI