I've been writing a lot blogs lately about our beloved sports teams, as it seems like all of them are involved potential rumors of relocations. We all know about the Oakland A's, and the San Francisco 49ers. Now you can add the Golden State Warriors to mix as another team that could be playing in new city in a few years. In every situation it seems like money is truly the root of all evil. The Golden State Warriors last month were officially put up for sale by their current owner Chris Cohan. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has been in hot pursuit of the team for some time now and may finally see his effort rewarded, what will be considered as another victory for Ellison (He owns the team that won the America's Cup boating competition this year) could be another lost for the city of Oakland.
It's been reported in the Oakland Tribune, the price for Ellison's dream could be in somewhere around $ 400-500 million dollars. Chris Cohan bought the team back in 1995 only spent $119 million, the Warriors were just as back then as they are currently. Their record was 26-56 in 1995, this year the team is 21-53. This could become one of many reasons why they could move across the bay to their former home, San Francisco were the team played from 1962-1971. The team has worn the old jerseys or "throwbacks" this season and fans seems to love. The move back to San Francisco would keep them in bay area, but probably result in BART attempting capitalize on the situation with a fare increase. It's already about $ 8.00 dollars round-trip from Coliseum Bart to San Francisco In the same way there might be a fare increase if the Oakland A's move to San Jose or Fremont.
It was also reported this week in the Tribune that a poll of San Jose residents shows a 62% approval of the A's moving to the city. The own conviction with that is they would expect the team to fund the construction of new stadium. This baffles me simply because San Jose is the “technology capital” of California and the country. You’re telling me, they don't have the money to fund a stadium for a team they so badly want? It clears money does make the world go around, and right the bay area sports world is spinning out of control on its axis.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Oakland Teen Shot During Birthday Party
A birthday is suppose to be a celebration of your forward progression, one chapter of life ending so that another can begin. I guess that's not the case if you live in the city of Oakland. Eric Toscano turned 18 on March 13, and didn't even make it two weeks before having his young and promising life ended. Saturday night during his belated birthday party he and three other teens were the victims of a drive by shooting. The teens ages 17, 18 and 19 were all wounded by the gunfire. Toscano was a senior at Skyline High School and was member of the football team as well. He played defensive end and had been accepted to college, now all this has been taken away from not only him but his family. Some would call this a "dream deferred", I rather would call it unecessary and unacceptable.
I didn't know Eric Toscano personally, but I did attend high school with his cousin Lizet. That is why I decided to write this blog, to send my condolences out to her family in a time of mourning. Secondly I wrote this blog to as a form of activism, to address a topic that I'm honestly tired of writing about. Is anybody else fed-up with these senseless murders? Which go unsolved while the people responsible sit back and get away with stealing. Not only have they stole a young man from his family, friends and teammates, but from the city and world also.
In one of my first OaklandLocal blogs I asked the question, When will all of this stop?. I'm still waiting on this answer, just as every other citizen of this city waits as well. It was reported that crime decreased 34% last year, definately positive news in a city that dearly needs it. We still have long way to go before Oakland can be a completely positive place. This weekend's Oakland Marathon was a bright spots, and with more events like it the city could be made over. But it gonna take a lot more to help the process, more than just Mayor Dellums or Police Chief Batts talking about fighting crime on the streets. It's going to take a real effort in the hearts and minds of the citizens to fix what could be a problem for future generation of Oaklanders.
It seems to be status quo in this city, that when something like this happens nothing comes from it. Police report no leads, and don't usually make any arrests. While the community pauses for a moment of slience and then continues on with whatever else is going on. All of this needs to change as well, there needs to be more an uproar. We need to hold city officials accountable for our streets not being safe for today's youth. We always hear the same tired solutions and excuses from Mayor Dellums, more police on the streets is clearly not the answer. Especially when it crystal clear that this senseless killers have no respect or value for human life. But if someone took a person in their family away then that would look for sympathy. They would want justice, they would want something to be done. Instead they sit back and watch the news reports and listen to crying family members as they to come to grips with the reality that they'll never see their loved one again.
I didn't know Eric Toscano personally, but I did attend high school with his cousin Lizet. That is why I decided to write this blog, to send my condolences out to her family in a time of mourning. Secondly I wrote this blog to as a form of activism, to address a topic that I'm honestly tired of writing about. Is anybody else fed-up with these senseless murders? Which go unsolved while the people responsible sit back and get away with stealing. Not only have they stole a young man from his family, friends and teammates, but from the city and world also.
In one of my first OaklandLocal blogs I asked the question, When will all of this stop?. I'm still waiting on this answer, just as every other citizen of this city waits as well. It was reported that crime decreased 34% last year, definately positive news in a city that dearly needs it. We still have long way to go before Oakland can be a completely positive place. This weekend's Oakland Marathon was a bright spots, and with more events like it the city could be made over. But it gonna take a lot more to help the process, more than just Mayor Dellums or Police Chief Batts talking about fighting crime on the streets. It's going to take a real effort in the hearts and minds of the citizens to fix what could be a problem for future generation of Oaklanders.
It seems to be status quo in this city, that when something like this happens nothing comes from it. Police report no leads, and don't usually make any arrests. While the community pauses for a moment of slience and then continues on with whatever else is going on. All of this needs to change as well, there needs to be more an uproar. We need to hold city officials accountable for our streets not being safe for today's youth. We always hear the same tired solutions and excuses from Mayor Dellums, more police on the streets is clearly not the answer. Especially when it crystal clear that this senseless killers have no respect or value for human life. But if someone took a person in their family away then that would look for sympathy. They would want justice, they would want something to be done. Instead they sit back and watch the news reports and listen to crying family members as they to come to grips with the reality that they'll never see their loved one again.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Everything Must Go! Golden State Warriors For Sale
In 2007 The Golden State Warriors had ever fan "Believing" as they made the NBA playoffs after an 12 year absent. There were yellow shirts and signs everywhere you looked in the Bay Area, that read " We Believe". Three years later the team is 19-51 and up for sell. Current owner Chris Cohan owed the IRS more than $160 million in back income taxes in 2007 and finally decided that its enough is enough. The team could have a new owner sooner than expected. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who owns the naming the right to Oracle Arena where the team currently plays, could step in and purchase the team. Ellison has been in a bitter battle with Cohan for the past few years, as he has tried to buy the team. Well he could finally get his wish, but what does this mean for the future of the bay area franchise?
The Warriors like the Oakland A's are originally from Philadelphia, could the both teams be on the move again in the near future? Everyone alreadys know the situation involving the A's and their potential exodus to Fremont, San Jose or wherever. I wrote a blog about a month entitled " The Future of Sports In The Bay Area", and looks like the future will be a very interesting one.
Let's hope that if Mr. Ellison does become owner of the team, he doesn't move the team out of the bay area. Last month he mention that if no deal with the Warriors even happened, he would look for another NBA team to purchase and move that team to San Jose. Oracle is a computer company and we all know that Silicon Valley is the technology captial of the California. But now seems like they wanna become the sports captial as well, San Jose is already home to the NHL's (National Hockey League) Sharks, and the minor-league baseball-affiliated of San Francisco's Giants. If they added the A's or Warriors it would definately effect the bay area economically and finanically. A lot of jobs could either be moved or lost with these teams.
The Warriors like the Oakland A's are originally from Philadelphia, could the both teams be on the move again in the near future? Everyone alreadys know the situation involving the A's and their potential exodus to Fremont, San Jose or wherever. I wrote a blog about a month entitled " The Future of Sports In The Bay Area", and looks like the future will be a very interesting one.
Let's hope that if Mr. Ellison does become owner of the team, he doesn't move the team out of the bay area. Last month he mention that if no deal with the Warriors even happened, he would look for another NBA team to purchase and move that team to San Jose. Oracle is a computer company and we all know that Silicon Valley is the technology captial of the California. But now seems like they wanna become the sports captial as well, San Jose is already home to the NHL's (National Hockey League) Sharks, and the minor-league baseball-affiliated of San Francisco's Giants. If they added the A's or Warriors it would definately effect the bay area economically and finanically. A lot of jobs could either be moved or lost with these teams.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Bay Area's Poetry " Olympic Trials" Begin Tonight In Oakland
This week hundreds of young poets, ages 13 to 19, are preparing to compete in what some would consider the Bay Area’s version of Olympic trials for poetry.
The 14th Annual Teen Poetry Slam kicks-off on tonight, March 12 at 7pm, with a preliminary round at Pro Arts Gallery in downtown Oakland (99 Kahns Alley, Frank Ogawa Plaza).
San Francisco and Berkeley will also host preliminary rounds in coming days, narrowing the field of competitors and making things very entertaining.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Teen Poetry Slam, here's how it works.
There are three rounds: preliminaries, semi-finals and the grand slam finals. In the prelims, participants present one poem of their own work. Four to five judges “score” the poems on a scale of one to 10. Each poet gets three minutes to recite his or her poem. Running over this time leads to penalties. There can be up to 20 poets per round. Before the competition, they draw numbers to find when they take the stage.
All three rounds follow this basic format, though the semi-finals and finals change slightly. These rounds require the poets to bring with them two poets instead of one, as there two rounds of competition. The finals serve two major purposes: naming the Teen Poetry Slam Champion and creating a team to represent the Bay Area in Brave New Voices, the international poetry slam. Brave New Voices takes place this year in Los Angeles.
“ I'd have to say, in the Youth Speaks world, the Brave New Voices Festival is the Olympic Games," said Dennis Kim, Youth Speaks’ artistic development director. "It's international. It's the culmination of our program year and it's the most-recognized youth spoken word event in the world.
"The Teen Poetry Slam, on the other hand, although it is the first Teen Slam of its kind, has regional corollaries, like the Louder Than a Bomb slam in Chicago," he continued. "The Teen Poetry Slam is more like the Pan-American games, the Asia games or the Olympic trials. But still not of the scale of the Olympics, where the best in the world will converge. “
Lauren Whitehead, the slam’s coordinator, compared the preparation and scoring for the event to the Olympics.
"Each poet that performs gets scored by a panel of judges on a scale of one to 10, including decimal points," she said. "And the person with the highest scores at the end is the winner. But it's also similar in the way that young people generally spend all year getting ready to perform. They go to workshops, spend hours and hours practicing. They have coaches and teammates and it's really an athletic preparation for something that's not a sport.”
Speaking from personal experience as a competitor in the slam (2007 semi-finalist and finalist), I would agree that preparation for the slam is very much like what Olympic athletes go through. It takes months to perfect the written aspect as well as the performance aspect. A lot of that time is spent in front of a mirror or with peers getting all the feedback you can to make your work the best it can possible be.
The road to this year's Grand Slam Finals is ready to be traveled. These young poets have their eyes on the prize. They're representing their cities, schools and families but, most importantly, they represent the voices of the future. They’re the face of the next generation of thinkers, who want nothing more to be heard. Please lend them your ears, tickets sell out fast.
The 14th Annual Teen Poetry Slam kicks-off on tonight, March 12 at 7pm, with a preliminary round at Pro Arts Gallery in downtown Oakland (99 Kahns Alley, Frank Ogawa Plaza).
San Francisco and Berkeley will also host preliminary rounds in coming days, narrowing the field of competitors and making things very entertaining.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Teen Poetry Slam, here's how it works.
There are three rounds: preliminaries, semi-finals and the grand slam finals. In the prelims, participants present one poem of their own work. Four to five judges “score” the poems on a scale of one to 10. Each poet gets three minutes to recite his or her poem. Running over this time leads to penalties. There can be up to 20 poets per round. Before the competition, they draw numbers to find when they take the stage.
All three rounds follow this basic format, though the semi-finals and finals change slightly. These rounds require the poets to bring with them two poets instead of one, as there two rounds of competition. The finals serve two major purposes: naming the Teen Poetry Slam Champion and creating a team to represent the Bay Area in Brave New Voices, the international poetry slam. Brave New Voices takes place this year in Los Angeles.
“ I'd have to say, in the Youth Speaks world, the Brave New Voices Festival is the Olympic Games," said Dennis Kim, Youth Speaks’ artistic development director. "It's international. It's the culmination of our program year and it's the most-recognized youth spoken word event in the world.
"The Teen Poetry Slam, on the other hand, although it is the first Teen Slam of its kind, has regional corollaries, like the Louder Than a Bomb slam in Chicago," he continued. "The Teen Poetry Slam is more like the Pan-American games, the Asia games or the Olympic trials. But still not of the scale of the Olympics, where the best in the world will converge. “
Lauren Whitehead, the slam’s coordinator, compared the preparation and scoring for the event to the Olympics.
"Each poet that performs gets scored by a panel of judges on a scale of one to 10, including decimal points," she said. "And the person with the highest scores at the end is the winner. But it's also similar in the way that young people generally spend all year getting ready to perform. They go to workshops, spend hours and hours practicing. They have coaches and teammates and it's really an athletic preparation for something that's not a sport.”
Speaking from personal experience as a competitor in the slam (2007 semi-finalist and finalist), I would agree that preparation for the slam is very much like what Olympic athletes go through. It takes months to perfect the written aspect as well as the performance aspect. A lot of that time is spent in front of a mirror or with peers getting all the feedback you can to make your work the best it can possible be.
The road to this year's Grand Slam Finals is ready to be traveled. These young poets have their eyes on the prize. They're representing their cities, schools and families but, most importantly, they represent the voices of the future. They’re the face of the next generation of thinkers, who want nothing more to be heard. Please lend them your ears, tickets sell out fast.
R.I.P. Kamilah Russell, Murder Knows Nothing Of Age
Last weekend four people were killed in separate incidents in the city, which is nothing new though it has to be the most violent weekend to date this year. But there was murder this week that is so heartbreaking and horrific that it hurts to write this blog at the moment. 19 year old Oakland mother Tiffany Lopez killed her two year old daughter on Wednesday. Ironically the mother is three months pregnant, and also has a seven month daughter as well. I first heard the story while watching the news on Wednesday and was immediately struck by the pain the father was displaying. The reason behind the mother's senseless actions, she was "fustrated" with her daughter. Now I don't have any children currently, and dream of the day when I do welcome my first child into this world. But I understand from watching my grandmother raise me and my five siblings, that it can be a very difficult and a sometimes fustrating task. That doesn't mean that you take the life of a child that you held inside of you for nine months, simply because you couldn't deal with the pressures of parenthood. It doesn't help at all that this mother had already faced child abuse charges in San Mateo country. Her family had even reported her to Child Protective Services, and still she was able to fall thru the cracks. Which happens to many that are apart of the "system".
I've lived in this city for 21 years of my life, and have seen friends and a few family members fall victim to senseless killings. But this is truly disturbing to know that murder seems to not give a damn about age, it takes who it wants no matter where that person is in there life. This little girl was only two years old, from the reading the article in the Tribune she loved watching Dora The Explorer and the color pink. She also liked accompanying her father Joseph Russell Jr. on errands. That exactly what he was doing on the last day he got to see his daughter alive. He spoke words in the news interview that really struck a cord with me, "It's making me die deep inside that my daughter is gone, "... that she'll never grow up to be a young woman,"
But did her mother think of that same thought, with all her "fustration" that her daughter would never grow up to be a young woman? Probably not but its these kind of thoughts that I wish people would stop on consider before taking a life whether with a gun, or with their bare hands. Think about the life of the person your about to take, think about the dreams they might have from themselves. The contributions they could make on this world if you didn't take their very precious life. I've said it before on several occasions, there really does seem to be a lack of respect for human life in this city. The senseless murders need to stop, as beautiful as Oakland is none in the right mind would want to raise a family here and that depressing. Oakland is so rich in history, but it seems like that history is being buried with ever resident that is killed due to a homicide. I asked the question before and will continue to ask it, When will it all stop? It must stop, needs to stop or there won't be a Oakland to left
.
I've lived in this city for 21 years of my life, and have seen friends and a few family members fall victim to senseless killings. But this is truly disturbing to know that murder seems to not give a damn about age, it takes who it wants no matter where that person is in there life. This little girl was only two years old, from the reading the article in the Tribune she loved watching Dora The Explorer and the color pink. She also liked accompanying her father Joseph Russell Jr. on errands. That exactly what he was doing on the last day he got to see his daughter alive. He spoke words in the news interview that really struck a cord with me, "It's making me die deep inside that my daughter is gone, "... that she'll never grow up to be a young woman,"
But did her mother think of that same thought, with all her "fustration" that her daughter would never grow up to be a young woman? Probably not but its these kind of thoughts that I wish people would stop on consider before taking a life whether with a gun, or with their bare hands. Think about the life of the person your about to take, think about the dreams they might have from themselves. The contributions they could make on this world if you didn't take their very precious life. I've said it before on several occasions, there really does seem to be a lack of respect for human life in this city. The senseless murders need to stop, as beautiful as Oakland is none in the right mind would want to raise a family here and that depressing. Oakland is so rich in history, but it seems like that history is being buried with ever resident that is killed due to a homicide. I asked the question before and will continue to ask it, When will it all stop? It must stop, needs to stop or there won't be a Oakland to left
.
Will There Even Be Schools In Oakland Ten Years From Now?
Every year it seems like another Oakland school ends up on the chopping block. At the end of ever school year there's at least three or four school that are mentioned to headed toward being on what I called the "Endangered School List". Two years ago my alma mater Life Academy High School of Health and Bioscience, engaged in a battle with the OUSD over relocation due to the original site not being disaster safe. Eventually the school was moved to where Calvin Simmons Middle School use to be (Calvin Simmons was closed a few years prior). Now there's news this week that an elementary school in my neighorhood could be closed, due to the school board not renewing their contract. It simply depressing that this seems to be a recurring issue for the city, in a time where education seemed to be the only thing we had. Now they want to take that away from children, it forces to me to ask the question. Will there even be schools in Oakland ten years from now?
Cox Academy is an charter school literally right across the street from where I live currently. Every morning I watch parents taking their children to school, and then watch those same parent bringing them home in the afternoon. Many of these kids are to young to understand what's going on, but if they could understand what I think it would truly their hearts. The school has 530 students and has only been in existence for five years. Before that it was Cox Elementary, my brother attended the school briefly before they changed was made, several other members of my family including my uncle and cousins attend the school back in the day.
In an Oakland Tribune article wrote by Katy Murphy, it said that the charter school had unachieved when it came to federal test scores. Despite a 78 point increase on the state's 1,000-point Academic Performance Index last year. I'm truly sick of everything have to do with the state test scores and their expectations. How do they expect these children to meet their ridiculous standards when the state itself doesn't nothing to give them the resources they need. With Govenator cutting and taking money from education, how does closing schools help the situation?
In a city that is overflowing with violence, and struggling with unemployment. What will these children have to look forward to in the future? OUSD should be trying to do more to help keep these children off the streets and doing something positive and productive. Instead they close schools thinking that they saving money, which might be true but we all know those millions of dollars saved won't go into anything important. How do you tell a child "Stay in School", when they don't have school to actually attend?
Cox Academy is an charter school literally right across the street from where I live currently. Every morning I watch parents taking their children to school, and then watch those same parent bringing them home in the afternoon. Many of these kids are to young to understand what's going on, but if they could understand what I think it would truly their hearts. The school has 530 students and has only been in existence for five years. Before that it was Cox Elementary, my brother attended the school briefly before they changed was made, several other members of my family including my uncle and cousins attend the school back in the day.
In an Oakland Tribune article wrote by Katy Murphy, it said that the charter school had unachieved when it came to federal test scores. Despite a 78 point increase on the state's 1,000-point Academic Performance Index last year. I'm truly sick of everything have to do with the state test scores and their expectations. How do they expect these children to meet their ridiculous standards when the state itself doesn't nothing to give them the resources they need. With Govenator cutting and taking money from education, how does closing schools help the situation?
In a city that is overflowing with violence, and struggling with unemployment. What will these children have to look forward to in the future? OUSD should be trying to do more to help keep these children off the streets and doing something positive and productive. Instead they close schools thinking that they saving money, which might be true but we all know those millions of dollars saved won't go into anything important. How do you tell a child "Stay in School", when they don't have school to actually attend?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
New Stadium In Oakland 's Future?
So last week I wrote a blog about the future of bay area sports teams, and this morning there's some promising new to report regarding the futures of both the Raiders and 49ers. $125,000 has been approved to fund a study into whether new football stadium could be built next to Oakland Coliseum. The new facility could potential be the premanent address of both the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, that is pending the November ballot vote on a new stadium proposal by the city of Santa Clara. This has been seen for a long time now as possibly the only option for the two teams. The Raiders last year renewed their lease with the Coliseum until 2013, while the 49ers and San Francisco have been in bitter battle with Santa Clara to keep the team in the bay area.
It seems that this news of the approved funds isn't enough proof that the plan will work for some. Oakland Tribune columist Cam Inman is very critical of the idea of the two teams sharing one stadium. In an article he wrote this week he gives an "seven-step plan" for why it won't work. This includes serious issues like; Naming rights for the new stadium, Ticket prices and private funding. He even goes as far as to say, "But don't let that stop you all from dreaming about a three-stadium hub — one for football, one for baseball (assuming the A's can't flee to San Jose) and one for whatever it is the Warriors do indoors to scam money off basketball fanatics."
Mr Inman seems to forget or refuse to acknowledge this point, the New Giants and Jets of the NFL both shared a stadium since 1984. Something the New York teams will do again when their new stadium opens up on April 10, 2010. If its work for them why can't it do the same for us? , Though the Jets and Giants situation their splitting the cost of what it will take to build their new stadium. If both Oakland and San Francisco figured out how to crunch the financial numbers, it could be an investment that pays off not just for the teams involved, but the cities as well. This could create hundreds of jobs, which in turn helps the struggling state of California. Both cities are suffering to do their own budget crisis' and unemployment. This while it won't solve all the problems, but might help slightly.
It seems that this news of the approved funds isn't enough proof that the plan will work for some. Oakland Tribune columist Cam Inman is very critical of the idea of the two teams sharing one stadium. In an article he wrote this week he gives an "seven-step plan" for why it won't work. This includes serious issues like; Naming rights for the new stadium, Ticket prices and private funding. He even goes as far as to say, "But don't let that stop you all from dreaming about a three-stadium hub — one for football, one for baseball (assuming the A's can't flee to San Jose) and one for whatever it is the Warriors do indoors to scam money off basketball fanatics."
Mr Inman seems to forget or refuse to acknowledge this point, the New Giants and Jets of the NFL both shared a stadium since 1984. Something the New York teams will do again when their new stadium opens up on April 10, 2010. If its work for them why can't it do the same for us? , Though the Jets and Giants situation their splitting the cost of what it will take to build their new stadium. If both Oakland and San Francisco figured out how to crunch the financial numbers, it could be an investment that pays off not just for the teams involved, but the cities as well. This could create hundreds of jobs, which in turn helps the struggling state of California. Both cities are suffering to do their own budget crisis' and unemployment. This while it won't solve all the problems, but might help slightly.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Future of Bay Sports
The Bay Area has a very rich history when it comes to sports. The San Francisco 49ers won five superbowl championships, The Oakland A's won three World Series titles, the last coming in 1989. The Giants have won five of their own championships and last made the World Series in 2002. The Golden State Warriors won a NBA championship in 1957, and last made the playoffs in 2007 after a 14th year absent from the postseason. Countless great athletes have made their names here in the bay area, guys like Rickey Henderson, Barry Bonds, Vida Blue in baseball. Jerry Rice, O.J. Simpson, Steve Young and Joe Montana in the NFL. Wilt Chamberlain, Robert Parrish and Nate Thurmond in the NBA. All are hall of famers in their respective sports and have the bay area's sport history one that is truly golden.
Fast forward to 2010 and things look drastically different, at least three teams (49ers, A's and Raiders) have contemplated their possible exodus from the bay area. The 49ers are exploring the idea of building a new stadium in Santa Clara, The A's are bouncing around the idea of moving to San Jose or Fremont. The Oakland Raiders who have renewed their lease until 2013, were one of many NFL mentioned to be headed to Los Angeles. (Something they did in 1982)
If you want to include the Sacramento Kings and rumors of them leaving for Las Vegas, then thats four teams looking to abandon their loyal fans for "greener" pastures. Almost all these teams are talking about leaving due to the lack of money to build new stadiums. The A's have proposed several different sites in Oakland for a new home, for example Jack London Square and the old army base. If money is really at the root of the all potential evil of these teams leaving then there's gotta be a reasonable solution to keep these teams in the region.
Its been proposed that the Raiders and Niners share a new stadium, a cost effective alternative that I think would only add to great rivalry the two teams have. The same solution could keep done with the A's and Giants, which would keep fans of the two teams very happy. Along with keeping jobs in the bay area, which seems to be an issue not really addressed in the matter.
Oracle owner Larry Ellison, who this week celebrated his team's America's Cup victory at city hall in San Francisco. Now has the power to bring the sporting event to the bay area, something that Gavin Newsom seems to support with comments he made at the ceremony this weekend. The pay-off could be tremendous for San Francisco if Ellison can bring the event to the bay area. Previous cities that have held the sailing competition have seen $1 million in revenue. San Francisco could somewhere in the range of $4-6 million, which would be a needed boost of income to city.
Ellison has also been had at work trying to purchase the Golden State Warriors, in which Oracle owns the naming right to Oakland Arena in where the team calls home. Ellison has been a bidding battle with the Warriors current owners and has said that if he fails in his attempt to aquire the team, that he would focus his effort on bring another NBA team to bay area.
The sport of soccer is also trying to make the bay area home, The Oakland Coliseum could be home the FIFA world cup in 2018 or 2020. Huge crowds gathered at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto to watch several games in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The future could be very bright for the next generation of bay area sports fans. To borrow the motto used by the Warriors back in 2007,"WE BELIEVE".
Fast forward to 2010 and things look drastically different, at least three teams (49ers, A's and Raiders) have contemplated their possible exodus from the bay area. The 49ers are exploring the idea of building a new stadium in Santa Clara, The A's are bouncing around the idea of moving to San Jose or Fremont. The Oakland Raiders who have renewed their lease until 2013, were one of many NFL mentioned to be headed to Los Angeles. (Something they did in 1982)
If you want to include the Sacramento Kings and rumors of them leaving for Las Vegas, then thats four teams looking to abandon their loyal fans for "greener" pastures. Almost all these teams are talking about leaving due to the lack of money to build new stadiums. The A's have proposed several different sites in Oakland for a new home, for example Jack London Square and the old army base. If money is really at the root of the all potential evil of these teams leaving then there's gotta be a reasonable solution to keep these teams in the region.
Its been proposed that the Raiders and Niners share a new stadium, a cost effective alternative that I think would only add to great rivalry the two teams have. The same solution could keep done with the A's and Giants, which would keep fans of the two teams very happy. Along with keeping jobs in the bay area, which seems to be an issue not really addressed in the matter.
Oracle owner Larry Ellison, who this week celebrated his team's America's Cup victory at city hall in San Francisco. Now has the power to bring the sporting event to the bay area, something that Gavin Newsom seems to support with comments he made at the ceremony this weekend. The pay-off could be tremendous for San Francisco if Ellison can bring the event to the bay area. Previous cities that have held the sailing competition have seen $1 million in revenue. San Francisco could somewhere in the range of $4-6 million, which would be a needed boost of income to city.
Ellison has also been had at work trying to purchase the Golden State Warriors, in which Oracle owns the naming right to Oakland Arena in where the team calls home. Ellison has been a bidding battle with the Warriors current owners and has said that if he fails in his attempt to aquire the team, that he would focus his effort on bring another NBA team to bay area.
The sport of soccer is also trying to make the bay area home, The Oakland Coliseum could be home the FIFA world cup in 2018 or 2020. Huge crowds gathered at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto to watch several games in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The future could be very bright for the next generation of bay area sports fans. To borrow the motto used by the Warriors back in 2007,"WE BELIEVE".
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Oakland's "Green" Future and Legalization
I'm the last person that needs to be writing a blog about marijuana, after getting caught recently for possession in Hayward. This though is about my hometown of Oakland, and what I believe is slow progression towards not only legalization of "the plant" (It is not a drug, as many anti-marijuana supporters like to argue). I think it could lead to the growth of what already seems like an established pot culture in the city. We already have Oaksterdam University, the "college" and marijuana dispensary in downtown Oakland, as well a new dispensary that recently opened off Hegenberger. There's even been a Newsweek artice entitled "Welcome to Potopia", wrote about how the nine block of section of downtown which Oaksterdam home. The article praises our city as being, "model for what a legalized-drug America could look like" and a "modern marijuana mecca".
We already approved a huge tax policy on marijuana dispensaries this year, with hopes of big "green" being made off the green plant. $18 for every $1,000 grossed— which many believe will generate up to $1 million in the first year. This was approved by 80 percent of voters. We are the first vity in the nation to accomplish this feat, which has me wondering if Oaklanders will flock to polling booths in November to vote for legalization
I'm also wondering if other cities will follow in our footsteps, ultimately creating a sustainable movement. With all the measures being taken to rid cities of cigarette smoking in public places, and the proposed $ 1.00 tax on cigarettes. Will we finally see the day where cigarettes and tobacco companies are put out of business in favor of alternative that has better financial and medical benefits.
With the health care reform battle still being fought in Washington, and many people suffering while democrats and republicians throw political knives at each other. Will marijuana legalization provide us a solution until there is a solution?
.
We already approved a huge tax policy on marijuana dispensaries this year, with hopes of big "green" being made off the green plant. $18 for every $1,000 grossed— which many believe will generate up to $1 million in the first year. This was approved by 80 percent of voters. We are the first vity in the nation to accomplish this feat, which has me wondering if Oaklanders will flock to polling booths in November to vote for legalization
I'm also wondering if other cities will follow in our footsteps, ultimately creating a sustainable movement. With all the measures being taken to rid cities of cigarette smoking in public places, and the proposed $ 1.00 tax on cigarettes. Will we finally see the day where cigarettes and tobacco companies are put out of business in favor of alternative that has better financial and medical benefits.
With the health care reform battle still being fought in Washington, and many people suffering while democrats and republicians throw political knives at each other. Will marijuana legalization provide us a solution until there is a solution?
.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Mr.Dellums Please Find The Nearest Exit
So last night I caught the news segment on Mayor Ron Dellums, and the possibility of him running for a second term. I think that would be huge mistake for him and the city of Oakland. He's been in office for the last five years and the city has suffered greatly. Crime and employment remain two of the cities biggest problems, along with the yearly school closures and various other issues. His answer for crime is putting more police on the streets, but we saw from last year's horrfic shooting of four OPD officers that solution only created a bigger problem. It also showed a lack of respect for those who are supposed to "protect and serve". Though Oakland's homicide rate in 2009 was only 100, 40 less than in 2008. Dellums has failed in my opinion to do more regarding getting guns off the streets, and creating policies that keep guns out of the hands of these indivduals that seem to have a "black market" on speed dial.
I've noticed and other citizens probably have as well, that our mayor doesn't make a lot of public appearances. Now that may be due to his health, but when compared to his mayorial counterpart cross the water Gavin Newsom its kind of disturbing that Dellums doesn't make more of any effort to show his face more. I think it creates a huge disconnected with the citizens of Oakland. He's sort of a "Phantom Menace", the borrow a term from George Lucas. How can he expect the people of this city to re-elect him, if he doesn't do the things a mayor should be doing.
Dellums and Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis have a lot in common and can learn valuable lessons from each. Both are bad for business. Their two indivduals that are hurting the city of Oakland and its citizens, both should be escorted to the nearest exit. Imagine if Davis were mayor, this city would "Just Lose Baby". Kind of what its doing right now.
I've noticed and other citizens probably have as well, that our mayor doesn't make a lot of public appearances. Now that may be due to his health, but when compared to his mayorial counterpart cross the water Gavin Newsom its kind of disturbing that Dellums doesn't make more of any effort to show his face more. I think it creates a huge disconnected with the citizens of Oakland. He's sort of a "Phantom Menace", the borrow a term from George Lucas. How can he expect the people of this city to re-elect him, if he doesn't do the things a mayor should be doing.
Dellums and Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis have a lot in common and can learn valuable lessons from each. Both are bad for business. Their two indivduals that are hurting the city of Oakland and its citizens, both should be escorted to the nearest exit. Imagine if Davis were mayor, this city would "Just Lose Baby". Kind of what its doing right now.
Friday, January 15, 2010
When Will It Stop! RIP Dewey Tucker
I wrote earlier this weekend about Oakland's first homicide of the year. Soon after we experienced our second, followed by the freeway shooting on Interstate 80.
My condolences go out to the family of Dewey Tucker, as his career as a bass player had come to an end fatally. Tucker, who toured the world with Lauryn Hill and had also done work with Bay Area hip hop group The Coup, will be truly be missed.
I can't describe how depressing this week has been. A man is gunned down in front of his wife and young children, another stabbed by a woman, and finally Tucker been gunned down by semi-automatic handgun in what CHP believes at the moment was a random incident.
This week serves as an example, that the issue of violence isn't just an Oakland thing, b rather a dark cloud that is currently enshrouding the entire Bay Area.
It really does seem like there's no value on human life, that people who believe violence is the answer.
Where did we go wrong? Where were the warning signs that society was heading in such a destructive direction, One that takes hundreds of life every year all over the Bay Area?
Families torn apart by senseless homicides, parents having to bury their sons and daughters even before someone does the same for them.
I can't imagine what the families of Dewey Tucker, Alvaro Ayala and the Oakland stabbing victim which resulted in our second homicide of the year are going through this week.
It must be difficult to cope with the loss of their love ones. Especially when it seems like these murders will get the same treatment from law enforcement and the media.
My condolences go out to the family of Dewey Tucker, as his career as a bass player had come to an end fatally. Tucker, who toured the world with Lauryn Hill and had also done work with Bay Area hip hop group The Coup, will be truly be missed.
I can't describe how depressing this week has been. A man is gunned down in front of his wife and young children, another stabbed by a woman, and finally Tucker been gunned down by semi-automatic handgun in what CHP believes at the moment was a random incident.
This week serves as an example, that the issue of violence isn't just an Oakland thing, b rather a dark cloud that is currently enshrouding the entire Bay Area.
It really does seem like there's no value on human life, that people who believe violence is the answer.
Where did we go wrong? Where were the warning signs that society was heading in such a destructive direction, One that takes hundreds of life every year all over the Bay Area?
Families torn apart by senseless homicides, parents having to bury their sons and daughters even before someone does the same for them.
I can't imagine what the families of Dewey Tucker, Alvaro Ayala and the Oakland stabbing victim which resulted in our second homicide of the year are going through this week.
It must be difficult to cope with the loss of their love ones. Especially when it seems like these murders will get the same treatment from law enforcement and the media.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
First Bang Of The Year
So Oakland has it first homicide of the year. 2009 opened with the now highly publicized Oscar Grant shooting. While in 2010 the victim was Alvaro Ayala, who was shot and killed Sunday night in front of his wife and two children. Ayala who was only 28 years old was killed by an armed robber who had originally attacked his wife. His 5-year old daugther and 10 year old son witnessed what must be a very traumatic experience. But also were victims of another senseless shooting, a problem that neither our Mayor or the police can't control. Last year Oakland total homicide rate was only 100. Far lower from previous high like 1992's 172 or 2008's 124 homicides. But just because the number are slightly lower doesn't mean the problem is any closer to being solved.
Four of the 100 homicides from 2009, were OPD officers that were gunned down in cold blood. In what was the darkest moment in the history of the city and it's department. The major issue not the number of homicide but rather but lack of respect and concern for human life. It's understandable that in the current ecomomic times, that survival is everyone's number one goal. But when harming others and taking innocent lives becomes the response to the hardships is when something needs to be done. Almost all this senseless murders go unsolved, their reported on the news stations and thats all. While the residents seem to be tight-lipped when it comes to assisting the police in solving these crimes.
Putting more police officers on the streets, or tougher gun laws help but won't solve what seems to be a internal problem inside these indivduals. Who don't value their own lives, or the lives of their neighbors and fellow Oakland citizens. Its truly depressing, where did we go wrong Oakland? What will the future be like for the next generations? Will there be anything left of this city?
Four of the 100 homicides from 2009, were OPD officers that were gunned down in cold blood. In what was the darkest moment in the history of the city and it's department. The major issue not the number of homicide but rather but lack of respect and concern for human life. It's understandable that in the current ecomomic times, that survival is everyone's number one goal. But when harming others and taking innocent lives becomes the response to the hardships is when something needs to be done. Almost all this senseless murders go unsolved, their reported on the news stations and thats all. While the residents seem to be tight-lipped when it comes to assisting the police in solving these crimes.
Putting more police officers on the streets, or tougher gun laws help but won't solve what seems to be a internal problem inside these indivduals. Who don't value their own lives, or the lives of their neighbors and fellow Oakland citizens. Its truly depressing, where did we go wrong Oakland? What will the future be like for the next generations? Will there be anything left of this city?
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