Author Archives: localbusinessliaison-committee

Blue Pimping: OPD and the Sex Industry

Let’s not bury the lead deeper than officer so-and-so buried his wife. This begins with a woman’s murder. She was murdered by her husband, and the police covered it up. As we deign to address the sordid, fleshy affairs of Oh Pee Dee (as a perfunctory course, addressing pertinent market matters), let us not forget the murdered sex workers, their bodies regularly found strewn through Oakland’s hills, like so much illegal dumping. Let us be ever vigilant that not even one more should die, especially at this time of tumult … Continued

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A Brief History Of Techquity

Kudos to Elizabeth Schaaf, for bringing into the world yet another ham-fisted buzzword, one which not only embraces and mingles the bleak connotations of “tech” and White Supremacy, but more importantly where these things intersect. It is well apparent, her inner entrepreneurial bureaucrat is unhinged, unchained, and best of all, unchecked! Lizzy modestly describes techquity as mere trickle-down economics, but it is so much more than that. To appreciate what is meant by techquity, one must appreciate the deep historicity of the term, especially as relates to Oakland. To understand … Continued

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Open Letter to the Smashy Community,

Dear assorted hooligans, vandals, and other such free associating ruckus types, Understanding this is being read by police, especially Sean Whent (aka Top Cop!), pardon the length. When we say “Diversity Of Tactics” we’re not talking about voting, boycotting, marching, or writing firmly worded letters to the editor. When anyone says diversity of tactics, they are talking about you, you spray painting, wheat pasting, window smashing, cop car stomping, tear gas huffing, rubber bullet chewing, brick chucking, police fucking, champions of liberation through chaos… or is it chaos through liberation? … Continued

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Open Letter To The Business Community

Dear comrades, First, for the plebs in room, let us specify who we are. We are Oakland Grown, NoBAWC, retailers, street vendors, weed merchants, sex workers, entrepreneurs, artists, and proles of every collar. We are anarchists, communists, feminists, radicals, queer, PoC, and we are from here. As a community, we are proven allies, even after getting smashed and looted in the chaos of the movement. Those of us who have been able to survive the impact of vandalism, looting, and riotous cops who fill our streets and stores with poison … Continued

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Open letter to police chief Sean Whent

Dear Sean Whent, I realize you’re a busy man, so I’ve hidden truffles all through this communiqué, to help you keep up your stamina. I realize it probably takes a lot to get a rise out of a “Top Cop” like yourself, but I assure you, you’ll be doing barrel rolls all the way back to Walnut Creek. As well, given the high rates of cuckoldry in your profession, and the prettiness of your wife, let’s keep this short. Top Cop, you have upset the most transformative and influential economic … Continued

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Open Letter to Schaaf and Company

Dear Elizabeth Schaaf, Chamber of Commerce, et al…, Liz… Lizzy, your attempts to destroy Oakland’s business community have not gone unnoticed, so consider yourself, henceforth, on notice. As you proceed lockstep with your predecessor realize, we dealt with her too. I do wish we had a chance for a proper introduction. Perhaps your recently greased FBI associates will be kind enough to share their files with you, but as you’ve no security clearance of any importance, and as you may be neither willing nor able to perform the “favors” necessary … Continued

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First Friday, Occupy, and the fucking pigs

First Friday/Art Murmer has grown over the course of years, from a small subculture gathering to an internationally renowned event. Living a stone’s throw from it’s epicenter I had an intimate familiarity with the monthly event from its earliest days, but no personal interest. It was an exhibition of what many call Hipster Gentrification, and found myself culturally disinclined. I’m grateful for any activity on that stretch of Telegraph, which was dangerously dark and inactive before a building owner, Haig Mardikian, implemented a strategy to improve the area by cultivating … Continued

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Hundreds Hear Angela Davis, Elaine Brown, Barbara Becnel, and Kevin Cooper at Occupy4Prisoner Benefit

What a night!  A benefit fundraiser for Occupy4Prisoners on March 1st brought in a crowd of between 300-350 people. In addition to the screening of the newly released documentary, Broken On All Sides, the program consisted of music, an introduction by the Truth Mob, and a line up of eloquent speakers, including Barbara Becnel, Elaine Brown, and Angela Davis.   Statements from incarcerated individuals, giving voice to those behind walls,  included a call-in from Kevin Cooper on San Quentin’s death row. It was an triumphant night that exceeded  expectations, and left … Continued

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Angela Davis to Speak at Occupy4Prisoners Benefit – Grand Lake Theater, Oakland – Thursday, March 1, 2012 – 7:00 PM

Angela Davis, Elaine Brown, and Barbara Becnel will speak about the prison industrial complex during the program accompanying the showing of the evening’s film. Statements of incarcerated people will also be be featured, and will be read aloud by others. Broken on All Sides: Race, Mass Incarceration, and New Visions for Criminal Justice in the U.S. is a recently released documentary that takes us inside the prison system, exposing the racism and brutality at its core.  The film features Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in … Continued

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Occupy4Prisoners Fundraiser – Grand Lake Theater, Oakland – Thursday, March 1, 2012 – 7:00 PM

On March 1st, 2012, the Grand Lake Theater is showing  the newly released documentary Broken on All Sides: Race, Mass Incarceration, and New Visions for Criminal Justice in the U.S. This revealing film takes us inside the broken prison system and features Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. “Broken On All Sides is a compelling documentary addressing racial inequities within our criminal justice system and its devastating collateral consequences.” – James E. Williams, Jr. When: Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7:00 PM … Continued

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