Latest news with #UnityCouncil
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Tacos El Ultimo Baile to close Oakland shop, move to San Francisco's Ikea food hall
After originating in Oakland and spending a decade in the city, Tacos El Ultimo Baile is closing up shop and moving across the bridge to San Francisco. "It seems like it's a little brighter on that side," said owner Dominic Prado Prado says his taco business has taken different forms over the years: a popup, a food truck, and most recently, a restaurant at Fruitvale Public Market. The restaurant opened in October of 2022, but less than two years later, in July of 2024, it was forced to close. "People are not out as much as they used to be," said Prado about the current state of the Fruitvale District."People are not out here at all." He said there's very little foot traffic, and he believes people don't feel safe there. That inspired him to run for Oakland City Council last November, he called out elected officials and police over safety issues in the area. He ultimately lost to Noel Gallo. Now he's keeping his business afloat with catering jobs and he's trying to sell the Fruitvale location. "What I've seen here is a lack of investment, a lack of attention," said Prado. "A lack of respect for the people who live here and work day to day." He also felt a lack of support from The Unity Council, the non-profit corporation that owns and oversees the public market. He was vocal about it. "I think I spoke up when no one else wanted to about the situation here and I'll continue to do what I can, but I didn't make the change I wanted to see," explained Prado. "If you take a stroll through international, you'll see some of the conditions there and that's what's been the hardest part." So he's taking his northern Mexican-style wood-fired tacos to San Francisco. At the end of the month, he'll be moving into a location at Saluhall, the Ikea food hall on Market Street. "Saluhall has been welcoming, they're eager, they're excited," said Prado. "The PR team that they have is going to work wonders for my brand. Oakland is a tough place right now. It's not welcoming. There's not a lot of support for small businesses." Prado said he's impressed by the investment he's seeing from the new San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Prado thinks he's incentivizing small businesses and cleaning up the area around Market Street. "We live in major cities and there's always going to be some kind of element, but I think what they're doing downtown in San Francisco at Market is actually really promising," said Prado. Prado's agreement is for a four-month trial, with an option to extend if the business is successful. We reached out to The Unity Council for comment, but they did not respond at the time of this report.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Azalina: Cabinet posts held under party mandate, not personal capacity
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has emphasised that Cabinet positions are held under the mandate of the party, not in a personal capacity, following Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz's departure from the party. "Although the Unity Council is chaired by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), each appointed minister represents their respective party in an official capacity," said information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said in a statement. She added that Umno remains committed to serving in the government and will continue to uphold the people's trust. "Accordingly, the Umno Legal Bureau has been tasked with reviewing the implications of the Anti-Party Hopping Act, including the status of a senator, to ensure that all subsequent actions are in line with the legal framework," she added. Azalina also called on members and supporters to remain focused on national development and the party's struggle, despite changes in individual political affiliations. Yesterday (May 31), Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was unethical for any party within the unity government to accept membership applications from former leaders or members of its allies. The deputy prime minister, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said he was not surprised by Tengku Zafrul's announcement to quit Umno and join PKR, as they had discussed the matter during a parliamentary session three months ago. Meanwhile, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has urged party members and supporters to remain calm, focused, and united following Tengku Zafrul's decision to leave the party for PKR.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oakland congresswoman is on a mission to save BART, mass transit
The Brief Rep. Lateefah Simon met with BART officials as the transit agency faces a deficit and lingering low ridership A push is being made for more federal funding to get BART back on solid financial tracks, a push Simon leads OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland Congresswoman Lateefah Simon met with BART officials at Oakland's 19th Street station on Wednesday to see BART stations and other developments for the critical transit agency facing massive deficits and still lingering low ridership. But, the freshman congresswoman may have both the strength and believability to get cash-starved BART back on solid financial tracks. If BART is to have a brighter future, assistance from the federal government will be a lifeline to help close as much as a $400 million deficit in the coming years. Simon will be a critical connection to Congress in that respect. "I couldn't think of a better person in Washington, D.C. to articulate the needs for public transit than Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. She came from the BART Board, she was the president, and I was the general manager when COVID hit," said Bob Powers, BART's General Manager. Simon can prove that the federal money received has and is being put to good use and that more money is needed and will be equally well spent. "We've been beating slashes in funding. We've had some wins. We've just got to keep up the pressure," Simon said. The group then took BART to Fruitvale Station where they met with various business owners and the Unity Council to discuss the future. Simon also toured Casa Suenos, a brand-new 191-unit low-income housing complex right next to Fruitvale BART. Developed and managed by BART's partner, the Unity Council aims to do the same at many other nearby BART stations. The importance of putting a lot of housing right near transit is the mere fact that when it is there, it also puts people in transit. The question always comes up: What about crime? "Violent crime is down now 23 percent, compared to the same period of time last year, even with increased ridership. We have more people out and about in the system, but we're seeing crimes reduced," said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. New tollgates have substantially cut gate jumpers and fare evasion. "The new gates are very successful, and I'm pleased that we're going to have them installed at all 50 stations by the end of the year," said Franklin. Simon knows with the Republicans in control of the White House and Congress, she has enormous work cut out for her. "I'm not disillusioned. It's going to be a hard four years, but my job is to work," she said. Local Fruitvale businesses owe much of their survival to two sources: local residents and BART passengers.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oakland nonprofits say city cuts could shut down programs
The Brief Oakland nonprofits said the city sent letters informing them that their grants were being terminated. The letters come as the city grapples with ways to balance its budget. Community leaders are worried it could have a devastating effect on the residents they serve. OAKLAND, Calif. - A senior center, violence prevention groups, and community trauma counseling programs all received letters from the city stating their grants were being terminated as Oakland struggles to balance its budget. A group of nonprofits held a protest Tuesday in Oakland's Fruitvale Village. They said they do not have extensive budgets and depend on city funds to pay for staff and programming. The Unity Council's Senior Wellness Program manager, Nalleli Albarron-Cruz, said their center serves about 300 seniors, but their $175,000 grant from Oakland is being terminated at the end of this month. "We operate based on the funding that the City of Oakland provides us, and it could mean that we close our doors," Albarron-Cruz said. Bruce Golsom of Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) added, "We can't do nothing without money to help these people (who are) hurting." Other nonprofits, such as Trybe, work on the front lines addressing violence intervention with ambassadors and youth programs. Trybe's Andrew Park said the nonprofit is losing $210,000. "We don't have a badge. We don't have a gun. But we have our mouth, verbal judo, and we have relationships that we've built over years," Park said. The SOS Meals on Wheels program serves 1,400 homebound Oakland seniors. One of the delivery drivers, Cristian Ramirez, said he enjoys the work, which involves visiting elderly residents and dropping off meals along with a wellness check. "It's $150,000 a year that we haven't been paid on for the last 19 months. And then we got notice, along with all of our other community-based organizations, that our contracts are cut," said the organization's spokesperson, Kim Olson. "This is an example of the incompetency that we have within government here in Oakland," said Councilmember Noel Gallo. He said he is going to demand city staff explain why funds weren't paid and call for the council to make a priority list for funding local groups. "These are people who live here. When you look at other employees that we're trying to support, they don't even live in Oakland," said Gallo. "I will give up my salary, my salary that I get as an elected official, I'm going to give that up to make sure the senior center stays open." The Source Interviews
