The Advocate

"Students complete an outdoor assignment at an elementary school in San Leandro, California, on June 1, 2023. A conservative parents group, Parents Defending Education, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education on Monday that alleges a program, taught by Black male educators to Black boys, violates equal rights protections. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)" *** This astroturf group, Parents Defending Education , has been attacking critical public education initiatives around the country. From student success programs in Chicago to protecting trans kids in Maine to equitable hiring practices in Rochester , there's very little in a multiracial education system that they don't rabidly oppose. They specifically hate the idea of anyone helping Black students achieve academic success. Now, they're suing to defund our schools for daring to support the needs of these students. Specifically, they're suing to stop a program called Kingmakers of Oakland that provides...

  Sonia Reed found her first home ever in the hills of San Leandro. After winning a lottery through a local program to support first-time homebuyers, she couldn't believe her luck in finding a place in the Bay Area's competitive housing market. As someone who was formerly homeless, she was very excited to then become a first-time homeowner.  As a peer support and recovery specialist and Narcotics Anonymous volunteer for Alameda County, she is used to helping others. In fact, after struggling against hardship most of her life, Sonia has dedicated her career to fighting for others, including serving as a member of Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless Commission and a program manager at Bonita House.  But now she's the one in need of help. Upon coming to visit her new home in the unincorporated Hillcrest Knolls neighborhood , she was immediately met with racist slurs and hate from a couple of her neighbors. Insults were hurled about her race and her body. The co...

The Big Tent has just released its proposed Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protection Ordinance (RS&TPO). A copy is available here for everyone to read freely. This critical legislation would provide the following: 1. Rent stabilization to cap annual increases and keep housing affordable. 2. Just cause requirements for evictions to protect tenants and property owners. 3. A rent registry to track rental housing in the city to help enforce the ordinance and evaluate the market. 4. A review board that is representative and has authority to resolve disputes or violations. 5. A diversity, equity, and inclusion provision for broad-based applicability to ensure that the ordinance serves all residents of San Leandro. 6. Sufficient funding and staffing to support the ordinance. 7. An anti-harassment clause to protect renters when exercising their rights. 8. A private right of action so that individuals can hold violators and the city accountable. 9. Improved noticing requirements so that ev...