Barack Obama and Chauncey Bailey

Chauncey Bailey interviews his old Tribune buddies at the Cafe just one week before his murder.Left Chauncey Bailey, Paul Cobb, Dave Newhouse ,Tribune columnist and Lee Susman, cartoonist. Photo by Gene Hazzard.

By Dave Newhouse
BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

A confluence of thoughts hit me Monday: Chauncey Bailey Project, the Oakland Tribune, the Pulitzer Prize, Oakland’s disturbing crime situation, Barack Obama, Paul Cobb, and the last time I saw Chauncey Bailey, one week before his killing.

The Tribune has won two Pulitzers for photographic excellence - Bill Crouch’s 1950 photo of two airplanes nearly colliding in midair, and the Tribune’s coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Now the Tribune has launched The Chauncey Bailey Project, whose leader-of-the-pack investigative reporting of Bailey’s death has graced this newspaper and is worthy of Pulitzer consideration. [Read more]

Bring on the Clowns

Prescott Circus Theater students and guests listen to Antoinette Cooper’s spoken word poetry at the Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute’s celebration of 35 years of service to Oakland students, families and community, held recently at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Oakland.

December Police Academy Postponed

By Post Staff

Mayor Ron Dellums explained his decision to postpone the December Police Academy in a letter to the City Council, saying the city lacks funds to pay for training new recruits.

The academy had been scheduled to start Dec. 8 and will be postponed at least until next spring.

“Given the harsh fiscal realities that we face today — which are more severe than expected even a few months ago — delaying the December police academy is the only responsible decision we can make,” Dellums said in the letter dated Nov. 21.

Dellums said he regretted having to postpone the academy and the potential impact suffered by new recruits. [Read more]

Nominees Needed for Women of Greatness Awards

Mayor Ron Dellums announced this week that nominations are now being accepted for 2009 Women of Greatness recognition awards. The mayor will present the awards at the Model City Summit on Women in February.

“The Annual Women of Greatness Awards are established to recognize individual women for their exceptional contributions within the San Francisco Bay Area,” Dellums said.  “Historically, women in Oakland and the Bay Area have been great contributors to our society, and it gives us great pleasure to present this award to honor the women that have impacted our lives.”

Mayor Dellums and First Lady Cynthia Dellums, who are the summit’s co-chairs, and the 2009 Women of Greatness Nomination Committee will select up to 10 women to be awarded this prestigious honor.

Nominees will have demonstrated civic leadership on a local or national level, demonstrated service and contribution to the advancement of women and families and shown commitment to the spirit of cooperation and collaboration within the community. [Read more]

116 OUSD Students Receive Awards for “College-Level Achievement”

The College Board, the organization responsible for the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, has named 116 Oakland Unified students as “AP Scholars” in recognition of their exceptional results on the college-level test.

Just 18 percent of the 1.6 million students who sat for the AP exams earned this distinction, which gives students an advantage in the college admissions process and, at many institutions, college credit upon enrollment.

“We were thrilled to see that so many Oakland students are not only taking advantage of the rigorous college-level curriculum offered in Advanced Placement courses, but also demonstrating mastery of the material on the AP exams,” said OUSD Chief Academic Officer Brad Stam.” [Read more]

Over 500 Attend the FAME’s 150th Gala Awards Celebration

Left to Right -  Bernard Tyson, Kaiser Foundation Leadership Award 2008, Marc Morial, CEO, The National Urban League, Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Visionary Award, 2008, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Trailblazer Award, 2008, Assemblymember Sandre Swanson, Lady Mary Mayberry, Dr. Harold R. Mayberry, Bishop  T. Larry Kirkland,  Presiding Prelate, 5th Episcopal District AME Church

More than 500 people attended the African Methodist Episcopal Church, (FAME), as it celebrated 150 years of service.

The gala was held Nov. 14 at the Oakland Marriott City Center Hotel at 10th and Broadway. Honorary co-chairs included Dr. and Mrs. Harold R. Mayberry, the Honorable Mayor Ronald V. Dellums and First Lady Cynthia Dellums, City Councilmember Desley Brooks and Actor Delroy and Mrs. Neshormeh Lindo. [Read more]

Bay Area Black Music Awards Set for Dec. 13

The Second Annual Bay Area Black Music Awards (BMA) will honor superstars like Hammer, Joe Sample, George Duke, Tower of Power, Shelia E and the Oakland Symphony.

The event will pay tribute to entertainers from around the Bay Area who have been nominated in categories such as jazz, hip-hop, blues, spoken word, R&B and neo soul. This year, the event will also present the Bay Area Gospel Jubilee Awards.

The BMA will be held Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Berkeley Community Theater, 1930 Allston Way, Berkeley. The show will begin with red carpet ceremonies at 6 p.m. and awards at 7 p.m.

In addition to awards for major entertainers, this year the BMA will feature Verge Awards, recognition of entertainers who are on the verge of major stardom.

Tickets and exhibit booth reservations are now being sold and accepted by phoning (510) 393-7930. Information on the BMA is also available at www.americanblackmusicawards.com

Elementary School Options Fair Dec. 4

On Thursday, Dec. 4, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Oakland Unified School District will hold its fourth annual School Options Fair at the Downtown Oakland Marriott, 1001 Broadway in Oakland.

Open enrollment for students who want to attend a school other than the one to which they are assigned will begin Dec. 10 and continue through Jan. 15.

Unlike previous year, this fair focuses exclusively on elementary schools to provide additional support to pre-K families who have never experienced the Options/Open Enrollment process.

Elementary Schools also will offer site tours and open houses. Similarly, Middle and High schools will host open houses and school tours targeted at prospective 5th Grade and 8th grade families throughout the month of December. [Read more]

Lack of Response To AIDS Epidemic Protested by Marchers

About 50 people marched recently from the Alameda County Administration Building to the federal building and state offices, ending with speeches in front of Oakland City Hall.  At each location they placed coffins and held “die-ins” reminiscent of the early days of the AIDS epidemic in protest of the lack of governmental response.

“I welcome the protests by African American residents in Oakland,” says Dr. Tony Iton, director of the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD), referring to the march that was held Nov. 18.  “The need for increased funding is exceeded only by the need for greater public awareness of the threat of HIV and AIDS in minority communities.  HIV/AIDS prevention funding in California,” he observed, “is a casualty of the state’s ongoing budget crisis.” [Read more]

Mayor Kicks Off Holiday Toy Drive

Ron Dellums is seeking donations to the 2008 Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive for the holiday season.

“The Toy Drive works to ensure that many needy children throughout the city are able to share in the holiday season and receive a gift from the City of Oakland and our generous donors,” said Mayor Dellums.

This year marks the 29th year the Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive has provided toys for Oakland’s children in need.

All financial donations are tax deductible, and checks should be made payable to United Way of the Bay Area/Oakland Toy Drive ; Attn: Cashier’s Office; 221 Main Street, Ste. 300, San Francisco , CA 94105.

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