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The California Senate overwhelmingly passed the Family Communication Act, 30-4. Sponsored by state Senator Leland Yee and supported by Books Not Bars, the bill (SB 1250) would make it cheaper and easier for family members to talk and write to their loved ones who are locked up in state youth prisons, regardless of economic or language barriers. In this time of budget crisis, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have signaled that the Family Communication Act is not only strong policy, but also smart financing. Stay tuned: we'll need your support as the bill heads to the Assembly!
We're teaming up with the Oakland A's and the Mayor's Office to bring you the 3rd Annual Silence the Violence Day with the Oakland A's event. We'll kick off the evening with a Tailgate BBQ / Resource & Job Fair from 5:30 - 6:30 PM for local youth. Then we'll observe a moment of silence before the first pitch at 7:05. With East Oakland rapper Too Short on the Diamond Vision and in the stands, we'll focus attention on the problem of violence while cheering the A's to victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Don't miss out -- buy your tickets now.
After a thorough competitive process, the City of Oakland awarded Laney College, Cypress Mandela, and Growth Sector the contract to run the Oakland Green Jobs Corps. The comprehensive 8-month program will include job readiness training, classroom instruction, and on-the-job experience for about 40 Oakland residents. We're excited to see the green-collar jobs movement taking root in Oakland! And don't worry: we'll be throwing a celebration party when the program starts this fall.
With the recent addition of the California Professional Firefighters, the California Federation of Teachers, and Minorities in Law Enforcement, the momentum to defeat Prop. 6 is growing. Proposition 6 proposes to lock-in $1 BILLION annually for failed, "get-tough" policies, plus more for start-up and city and county costs. Because it proposes no new sources of revenue, this money can only come from the budgets of schools, health care and other critical needs. By draining our communities of much-needed resources, Prop 6 will actually make our neighborhoods and streets less safe. Visit VoteNoProp6.com to learn more and get involved.
The green-collar jobs solution has become a core part of the presidential debate. Whenever candidates talk about solutions to global warming, they talk about green-growth and job creation. In fact, Oakland's Green Jobs Corps funding and the Richmond training program were explicitly cited in a recent Democratic primary debate. KPIX covers this statement and explores how it plays out in the political spectrum.
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