OAKLAND
U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, recently announced a number of grants totaling more than $14.6 million in federal funding for projects to create more affordable housing and safer communities; senior and youth community programming; and infrastructure upgrades in California’s 12th Congressional District, which includes several East Bay cities.
The Oakland airport will receive $14 million in funding from the U.S. Transportation Department to modernize infrastructure and ensure the airport can withstand seismic events, including earthquakes. Members of the National NeighborWorks network will receive $174,000 in funding for revitalizing and sustaining safe neighborhoods and for projects that will help lower the cost of housing.
A research project to develop software that will optimize the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at UC Berkeley will receive a $50,000 National Science Foundation award. Lastly, the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions programs in Oakland will receive nearly $380,000 to provide support for seniors and mentorship for children and youth in need.
“I’m excited to announce over $14.6 million in federal funding for a variety of projects around the district,” Simon said. “It is a top priority of mine to tangibly improve day-to-day life in our district and bring resources back to CA-12, an ever-increasing challenge amidst Trump’s nationwide funding cuts.
“Increasing access to affordable housing, fostering safe and vibrant communities and supporting our seniors and youth are all vitally important to the fabric of our communities in the East Bay. And as we all experience the effects of climate change, investing in our infrastructure and funding electric vehicle research could not be more important so that we are prepared and can shift towards a cleaner, more energy-efficient future.”
— U.S. Rep. Simon’s office
Assemblymember Bonta hosts LGBTQ issues roundtable
California Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, recently hosted a roundtable at Oakland’s City of Refuge UCC (United Church of Christ) to discuss local LGBTQ priorities in response to what she described as an adversarial federal administration.
The event served as an opportunity for East Bay leaders, nonprofits and other service providers to share their insights and reactions to what are considered federal attacks on the LGBTQ community and to hear from Bonta about state-level efforts to safeguard LGBTQ rights and protections.
“Our trans siblings are seeing their passports come back with the wrong gender marker, LGBTQ-related words or phrases are being scrubbed from federal websites and recognition, and HIV prevention funding is being gutted in Washington,” said Bonta. “So while this administration targets joy and targets love, we continue to shine through.
“As Martin Luther King Jr. has said, the arc of the moral universe may be long, but it bends toward justice. That’s why we are here today to continue to create that justice together.”
The roundtable sponsored by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, Oakland LGBTQ Center and Alameda Pride was attended by Oakland Councilmember Rowena Brown and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Simon, California state Sen. Jesse Arreguín and others. For more information online, visit bit.ly/3GBVnKM.
— Assemblymember Bonta’s office
PIEDMONT
GOP club hosts Oakland recall campaign leaders at event
The East Bay Republican Club (EBRC, formerly the Piedmont Area Republican Women Federated) hosted two leaders of recent Oakland recall campaigns at its annual summer gathering last month. Edward Escobar and Tuan Ngo described their successful campaigns and the problems that drove them to get involved.
Representing Save Alameda County For Everyone (SAFE) and Asians United respectively, they said poor law enforcement, corrupt local leaders and economic decline has caused a downward spiral in Oakland and Alameda County. They stated that Oakland businesses give up reporting frequent robberies because they get no response from law enforcement and then cannot repair damage from robberies because city staff will not issue permits.
The speakers described what they asserted is the systematic corruption of Oakland politicians by funding from particular unions and nongovernmental organizations. Information about the Republican club and its events is available online at eastbayrepublicanclub.org.
— Jean Solnerdal, EBRC President
Lantern Projects donations meet needs in developing world
Contributions in May and June to Piedmont-based charity group Lantern Projects provided supplies for various needs in the developing world.
Among the aid provided were fire equipment supplies, construction supplies, school furniture, medical supplies, school supplies, animal sterilization supplies, water, wells, food, baking supplies, agricultural supplies, sewing machines, hygiene products, ear testing equipment, animal food and formula, library books, relief supplies, immunizations, ivory conservation materials and funds toward a water tank.
Remember, 100% of the funds received go to the projects, and every donation really helps. For more information or to donate, visit lanternprojects.org online.
— Lantern Projects
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