Earl Skip Cooper Foundation
“Serving Humanity"
POLITICAL NEWS
ELECTED OFFICIAL'S OATH OF OFFICE
That’s big o’ me:
The alleged crimes of Curren Price are extremely confusing
This is a strange one. By now, the established pattern should be familiar enough. Councilmember Curren Price of the 9th district (South Central and environs) is, after all, only the seventh member or former member of council to meet such high profile scandal since the 2020 indictment of former 12th district representative Mitchell Englander. At a clip of roughly two per year, we should all be old hands by now.
And, yes, I suspect that, when the news broke that Price was facing felony charges, we all figured we could fill in the blanks from there. I certainly had my own expectations: that this might have been some previously-unsnipped loose end dangling off the federal racketeering case in which José Huizar pled guilty; that it might have tied to Price’s time leading the council’s Economic Development Committee, which itself played a significant role in the benefits Huizar delivered to developers; that we might find out more about the underground mycelial network of pay-to-play that seems so core to the basic functioning of electoral politics here.
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Thu, Jul 13, 2023
LA City Councilman Curren Price issued the following statement today following his appearance in court:
“We are looking forward to engaging with the DA in the coming weeks and we are grateful that the Court has given us time to do so. I want to thank my constituents and the entire City of Los Angeles for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to continuing to do the people’s business.
As we said when the charges were brought, we believe that the charges filed by the DA’s office are completely unwarranted and that the facts will bear this out. I have always conducted myself, in and out of the public eye, with integrity and professionalism.“
- Curren Price
Barbara Lee Running for U.S. Senate
By: Earl "Skip" Cooper II
As a native of Oakland, California, Barbara Lee has been a personal friend and confidant of mine since 1970 when she was a student at Mills College in Oakland. She was the president of the Black Student Union at Mills college and has always
demonstrated a strong commitment to the inclusion of African Americans and the underserved representation.
She went on to become one of the first Black women to rise up to a senior position on Capitol Hill as Chief of Staff for Congressman Ron Dellums and she was the first African American women elected to the State Assembly, State Senate, and in 1998 elected to the U.S. Congress from Northern California.
Congresswoman Lee has been leading the fight to protect women’s right to choose, lift people out of poverty, securing funds to fight against HIV/Aids throughout the nation and around the world.
The Honorable Barbara Lee is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate because representation matters. Currently, there is not a single Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate. Barbara has never stopped fighting for what is right and her candidacy is very important for African Americans throughout the nation.
Congresswoman Lee is not afraid to stand on the side of justice. She will definitely stand up every day for what is right on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
A California panel has called for billions in reparations for descendants of slaves
May 7, 20233:31 AM ET
By: The Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. — California's reparations task force voted Saturday to approve recommendations on how the state may compensate and apologize to Black residents for generations of harm caused by discriminatory policies.
The nine-member committee, which first convened nearly two years ago, gave final approval at a meeting in Oakland to a hefty list of proposals that now go to state lawmakers to consider for reparations legislation.
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, who is cosponsoring a bill in Congress to study restitution proposals for African Americans, at the meeting called on states and the federal government to pass reparations legislation.
"Reparations are not only morally justifiable, but they have the potential to address longstanding racial disparities and inequalities," Lee said. READ MORE
Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, convicted on bribery and fraud charges, has asked a federal judge to discard the jury’s guilty verdicts and grant him a new trial in the high-profile corruption case.
Lawyers for Ridley-Thomas argued in a motion filed this week that prosecutorial misconduct, misstatements of the law, and inaccurate and “improper testimony” by the lead FBI agent on the case all deprived the longtime politician of a fair trial... >>
South Carolina Democrats Elect First Black Woman
to Run State Party
By Maya King
Reporting from Columbia, S.C.
Published April 29, 2023
Updated May 2, 2023
Mayor Bass Marks 100th Day of Administration
LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass today released the following statement after marking the 100th day of her administration yesterday:
“My top priority from day one to day 100 of my Administration has been confronting the homelessness crisis with the urgency it requires, and that won’t stop,” said Mayor Bass. Together, we will work to make Los Angeles safer and more livable in every neighborhood. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together so far and we will continue to deliver action that makes life better in every one of L.A.’s neighborhoods.”
Here is a snapshot of the work done during Mayor Karen Bass’s
first 100 days:
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Housing and Homelessness
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Community and Public Safety
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Neighborhood Services
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Emergency Management and Responding To Storms
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Business, Economic Development and Economic Opportunity
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Energy and Sustainability
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International Affairs
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Budget & Innovation
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City Jobs
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The Bass Administration
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Hired Leadership Team: The Mayor hired 14 Deputy Mayors and senior leadership team members
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Commission Appointments: The Mayor named 101 new City Commissioners
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Convened Transition Team: The Mayor convened 120 L.A. civic leaders as members of the Mayor’s Transition Advisory Team
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Personal Text to Mark Ridley-Thomas
Earl “Skip” Cooper II, President/CEO, Earl Skip Cooper Foundation
April 3, 2023
As Los Angeles’ Mayor Karen Bass, the Los Angeles Sentinel, and leaders within our community recognized that March 30th, 2023 was indeed a sad day for the city and the county of Los Angeles, the underserved and so many citizens.
55 years ago, tomorrow. April 4th, 1968. A young man made a commitment and has been dedicated throughout his life to serve the underserve and has done so since that day in 1968.
If a verdict on you is guilty. You are guilty of dedicating your life to helping others. What is most important is our Heavenly Father, as your judge and jury knows what is in your heart and your commitment. Your legacy will always be about service, commitment, and being a truly dedicated public servant throughout your life.
Stay blessed. Stay strong in prayer and always, always walk in faith.
L.A. County certifies Gloria Gray victory in Inglewood City Council to ratify election on April 4th
By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
The County of Los Angeles has certified West Basin Board member and longtime Inglewood resident Gloria Gray’s resounding election victory for Inglewood District 1 Council Seat, clearing the way for the former school board member to become the second Black woman on the male dominated Inglewood City Council.
Inglewood City Clerk Aisha Thompson received the L.A. County’s certification on March 17 affirming Gray’s landside win toppling incumbent George Dotson with 1,902 votes to 976 for a rousing 66.09 percent of the votes.
Barbara Lee
Barbara Jean Lee, is an American politician and social worker who has served as a U.S. representative from California since 1998. A member of the Democratic Party, Lee represents California's 12th congressional district (numbered as the 9th district from 1998 to 2013 and as the 13th district from 2013 to 2023), which is based in Oakland and covers most of the northern part of Alameda County. According to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, it is one of the nation's most Democratic districts, with a rating of D+40.
She started her career by working on the presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm and was later involved with the Black Panther Party. After working as chief of staff for U.S. Representative Ron Dellums, Lee served in the California State Assembly from 1990 to 1996 and in the California State Senate from 1996 to 1998.
Lee was elected to the House of Representatives in a 1998 special election to succeed Dellums. A noted progressive, she chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2005 to 2009 and the Congressional Black Caucus from 2009 to 2011. In addition, she is the vice chair and a founding member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, and a co-chair of the House Democratic Steering Committee. She has played a major role in the antiwar movement, notably in her vocal criticism of the Iraq War and for being the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization of the use of force following the September 11 attacks.
Congresswoman Lee has been leading the fight to protect women’s right to choose, lift people out of poverty, securing funds to fight against HIV/Aids throughout the nation and around the world.
The Honorable Barbara Lee is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate because representation matters. Currently, there is not a single Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate. Barbara has never stopped fighting for what is right and her candidacy is very important for African Americans throughout the nation.
Congresswoman Lee is not afraid to stand on the side of justice. She will definitely stand up every day for what is right on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
The Significance of Karen Bass’s Election as Mayor of the City of Los Angeles
Karen Bass’ election as the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles are not just concerns for people of color or political persuasions, the election is vitally important not just for all citizens of Los Angeles but the challenge that America is facing as a nation.
During these troubling times in which our local and national communities are challenged with a resurgence of bigotry, hatred, high levels of drug addiction, crime and easy gun availability, economic distress, homelessness, mental health, and wellness needs. A very dangerous political party that condones racism, domestic terrorists, alt-right white supremist philosophy that is reflective of an unstable cult. Karen Bass is and represents a class of public servants committed to securing a better life for all citizens.
Karen Bass has successful experience in and understands the legislative process at the state and national level. She knows the process of how these systems can be managed to deliver resources to improve the quality of life for our communities. She mirrored the career of Barak Obama as a community activist prior to serving as a California Assembly Member and Speaker of the Assembly during a national financial crisis (2008-2010). In 2010 she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where she served for over 12 years.
During her service in the U.S. House of Representatives Karen expanded her experience to include service on key committees such as Child Welfare Reform, Criminal Justice, Environment, Gun Law, Health Care, Housing, Immigration, Affirmative Action, and other key committees.
Karen brings what is so needed to the table to move Los Angeles forward. However, we all have a part to play in bringing the best of Los Angeles to reality. “I’ve spent my entire life bringing groups of people together in coalitions to solve complex problems and produce concrete change, especially in times of crisis,” Bass said last year when she announced her mayoral campaign, as reported by NBC News. “With my whole heart, I’m ready.” Let’s join Karen in moving Los Angeles forward by working with our leaders and local community groups to both address the needs of the community and help carry out the programs that will help reach their goals. If we support the progressive platform upon which Karen and her team can govern a positive outcome for Los Angeles is assured.
Karen Bass is up to the challenge to build a greater city that will also reflect a greater nation for equality of life.
By: Earl "Skip" Cooper II
At the present time, Earl “Skip” Cooper, II is Chairman/President Emeritus of the Black Business Association.
And currently the Chairmanship of the Earl Skip Cooper Foundation (ESCF) which falls under the umbrella of “Serving Humanity.”
California's First African American Legislator
Frederick Madison Roberts, was born September 14, 1879 in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was a newspaper owner, editor, educator and business owner, and California’s first known African American state legislator. A member of the Republican Party representing Los Angeles, he was the great grandson of Sally Hemmings and is believed to be the great grandson of President Thomas Jefferson. Roberts sponsored California’s early civil rights legislation and authored a bill to establish UCLA. He served 16-years in the California State Assembly from 1918 to 1934. He died in 1952, at the age of 72.
Past Members | Legislative Black Caucus
1918-1934 | California State Assembly
Hon. Frederick M. Roberts
A Town Hall Discussion on Voting
Oct 13, 2020
Lorna M. Johnson
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