Oakland
Warner D. Willis, 78
Warner D. Willis, Oakland businessman and pioneer in working to rehabilitate the formerly incarcerated, died on Oct. 19. He was 78.
Born in Shreveport, LA, Willis moved to Oakland at the age of 9 and later graduated from Oakland Technical High School.
He and his wife Lucille started their own Laundromat and dry cleaning business, called Avenue Speed Queen, one of the few Black-owned businesses in the Bay Area at that time.
Along with his wife, he helped develop the Work Furlough Program in California penal institutions. The program was designed to give men and women a chance to work outside of the prison system, to help them transition to the outside world.
Willis later worked on the Alaska pipeline and as a human resource counselor in the ASSETS Senior Employment Program, through the Department of Human Services.
Family members wish to thank the Oakland Police Department for its effectiveness and efficiency in quickly apprehending the man who is accused of killing Willis in the course of a robbery in his home.
Family members also expressed their gratitude for the compassion and concern that officers showed to them.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 9 – 15, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 9 – 15, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of April 2 – 8, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 2 – 8, 2025

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Activism
Oakland Post Endorses Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee will be able to unify the city around Oakland’s critical budget and financial issues, since she will walk into the mayor’s office with the support of a super majority of seven city council members — enabling her to achieve much-needed consensus on moving Oakland into a successful future.

As we end the celebration of Women’s History Month in Oakland, we endorse Barbara Lee, a woman of demonstrated historical significance. In our opinion, she has the best chance of uniting the city and achieving our needs for affordable housing, public safety, and fiscal accountability.
As a former small business owner, Barbara Lee understands how to apply tools needed to revitalize Oakland’s downtown, uptown, and neighborhood businesses.
Barbara Lee will be able to unify the city around Oakland’s critical budget and financial issues, since she will walk into the mayor’s office with the support of a super majority of seven city council members — enabling her to achieve much-needed consensus on moving Oakland into a successful future.
It is notable that many of those who fought politically on both sides of the recent recall election battles have now laid down their weapons and become brothers and sisters in support of Barbara Lee. The Oakland Post is pleased to join them.
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