As a Jew, and a fairly liberal one, I’ve not taken a public position on the Israeli-Palestine war. Nor am I about to now, although I do welcome the cease-fire, if in fact there is one. But I have been struck by the enormous, world-wide reaction of progressive Jews against Israel, including in Israel itself. And I want to make a few observations that involve our own politics in Oakland, and particularly with respect to progressive Black politicians who identify with the Black Panthers. That would include Barbara Lee, Carroll Fife, Pamela Price and Cat Brooks, all of whom are of a certain age, and who came up in the racial struggles of the 1960s-1970s, or identify with it, and who support the Palestinians.

Our progressive politicians are so obsessed with providing housing for homeless people that they’ve ignored all the middle class working people who can’t afford to buy a house in the Bay Area.

Back in November, 2018, before the pandemic, Oakland voters compliantly approved Measure W, yet another parcel tax on beleaguered homeowners. The money was to be used for undefined “homeless programs.” The measure had been crafted by Rebecca Kaplan and Dan Kalb, both of them City Council members at the time—two leftwing blabbermouths who never saw a tax they didn’t love.

Trump yesterday told all those Generals and Admirals that the U.S. is at war against internal enemies, all of whom (it turns out) are in blue cities. Oakland is right up there on his enemy list, along with L.A., Chicago, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Memphis and many others. He and his stooge, Hegseth, told them to get ready for combat.

I’ve referred to Rajni Mandal here several times and I gladly do so again today because he’s become an invaluable source of information for me and, thus, for you. Citizen Rajni, let me remind you, independently and indefatigably covers the meetings of the Oakland Police Commission, and reports on his findings. I find myself utterly relying on his reporting and I trust him 100%. His analyses are spot on.