Comments on: Gentlemen of Leisure and Hypocrisy http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22 The Continuing Story of a City Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:06:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ed Howard http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-247268 Ed Howard Sun, 09 May 2010 04:35:29 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-247268 Tell me what's going on? Below is a similar situation in Oakland that we can't get a possitive response from the city. Hello Mackites, East, West, North Oaklanders and all who supported my open letter to Ron Dellums, Mayor of Oakland. Over 400 of you have responded to my request for the City of Oakland to support the McClymond’s Defermery Park Annual Picnic (MDPAP). I am sorry to report that the organizer of the picnic, Sue Wilkerson, has not been contacted or received any support from the city as of this date. Over the last 17 years, Sue Wilkerson has managed and paid out of her personal pocket for the picnic. The picnic has become so successful that it is pulling Oaklanders back to Oakland from all over California and across the United States. The picnic is creating money for the City of Oakland. We rent hotels, eat in restaurant, buy gas, visit churches, shop at stores, go to movies theaters, ball games, etc. There is no group of Black people in Oakland more authentic to the history of Oakland than the people who come to the MDPAP. Why isn’t the city of Oakland providing some assistance to the MDPAP event that is rooted in its history and created by the people who really lived its history? Why isn’t the City Oakland reaching out to the people who are responsible for breaking down the closed doors of opportunity and opening them up for everyone in Oakland today? The city reaches out to the Mexican community and helped upgrade East 14th Street/International Blvd Fruitvale area. I respect the Mexican politician for pushing the city to give assistance to his community. The Asian community definitely gets their share, I read about it in the newspaper all the time. The Caucasian people always get their share. Something is wrong with this picture. The MDPAP is an Oakland Black cultural event that we have created for the last 17 years and have not asked the city for a dime to support us. (More updates coming). We will not be disrespected. The positive image we are creating for Oakland’s Black community is good for Oakland and good for us. Ed H Tell me what’s going on? Below is a similar situation in Oakland that we can’t get a possitive response from the city.

Hello Mackites, East, West, North Oaklanders and all who supported my open letter to Ron Dellums, Mayor of Oakland.

Over 400 of you have responded to my request for the City of Oakland to support the McClymond’s Defermery Park Annual Picnic (MDPAP). I am sorry to report that the organizer of the picnic, Sue Wilkerson, has not been contacted or received any support from the city as of this date.

Over the last 17 years, Sue Wilkerson has managed and paid out of her personal pocket for the picnic. The picnic has become so successful that it is pulling Oaklanders back to Oakland from all over California and across the United States. The picnic is creating money for the City of Oakland. We rent hotels, eat in restaurant, buy gas, visit churches, shop at stores, go to movies theaters, ball games, etc. There is no group of Black people in Oakland more authentic to the history of Oakland than the people who come to the MDPAP.

Why isn’t the city of Oakland providing some assistance to the MDPAP event that is rooted in its history and created by the people who really lived its history? Why isn’t the City Oakland reaching out to the people who are responsible for breaking down the closed doors of opportunity and opening them up for everyone in Oakland today? The city reaches out to the Mexican community and helped upgrade East 14th Street/International Blvd Fruitvale area. I respect the Mexican politician for pushing the city to give assistance to his community. The Asian community definitely gets their share, I read about it in the newspaper all the time. The Caucasian people always get their share.

Something is wrong with this picture. The MDPAP is an Oakland Black cultural event that we have created for the last 17 years and have not asked the city for a dime to support us. (More updates coming).

We will not be disrespected. The positive image we are creating for Oakland’s Black community is good for Oakland and good for us.

Ed H

]]> By: MayB/JuanC http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-75876 MayB/JuanC Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:14:13 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-75876 If certain political leadrers are so concerned about media industry portrayals of Oakland, shall I assume they've contacted all record labels (large and small) requesting that they cease producing and releasing ALL product from Oakland-based rappers who talk about pimps, hos, gangs, drugs, etc.? Can anyone confirm and/or ask that for me? Thanks. If certain political leadrers are so concerned about media industry portrayals of Oakland, shall I assume they’ve contacted all record labels (large and small) requesting that they cease producing and releasing ALL product from Oakland-based rappers who talk about pimps, hos, gangs, drugs, etc.? Can anyone confirm and/or ask that for me? Thanks.

]]> By: jason halley http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-53275 jason halley Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:51:45 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-53275 Oakland Needs this Show. We all do here, especially in these troubled times. We cannot turn anything down to employ Oakland residents. You of all people certainly know all the benefits of having a production such as this would mean to this area. I get tired of hearing the same old "Nash Bridges" stories from "Coneman" Ed- I love Ed, but "Nash" is old and currently in syndication. Regardless of where "Gentlemen of Lesure" is shot...its going to be produced and it better be here in Oakland and not in its "Photo Double" of a city known as Vancouver... and that's Canada. SIncerely, JASON HALLEY Oakland Needs this Show.
We all do here, especially in these troubled times. We cannot turn anything down to employ Oakland residents. You of all people certainly know all the benefits of having a production such as this would mean to this area. I get tired of hearing the same old “Nash Bridges” stories from “Coneman” Ed- I love Ed, but “Nash” is old and currently in syndication.
Regardless of where “Gentlemen of Lesure” is shot…its going to be produced and it better be here in Oakland and not in its “Photo Double” of a city known as Vancouver… and that’s Canada.

SIncerely,
JASON
HALLEY

]]> By: jason halley http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-53252 jason halley Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:29:41 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-53252 Oakland Needs this Show. I am a resident of Oakland DGA union-member and I need this show and so do many many other residents of Oakland. Don't you know how much money it spent as a direct result of FILM PRODUCTION? The benefits are both immediate and long-term. I don't get your argument in regards to your image of Oakland. This is Oakland- and Oakland's image will always live in the shadow of San Francisco.... Look at NYC and New Jersey and the drama's made about them. Another thing that you don't realize is that if the Producer's want to make this show about "Gentlemen of Leisure" they are going to make it. And Mayor Dellums- this could mean going to Vancouver again.... and again... and yet again... Oakland Needs this Show.
I am a resident of Oakland DGA union-member and I need this show and so do many many other residents of Oakland.

Don’t you know how much money it spent as a direct result of FILM PRODUCTION? The benefits are both immediate and long-term. I don’t get your argument in regards to your image of Oakland. This is Oakland- and Oakland’s image will always live in the shadow of San Francisco…. Look at NYC and New Jersey and the drama’s made about them.

Another thing that you don’t realize is that if the Producer’s want to make this show about “Gentlemen of Leisure” they are going to make it. And Mayor Dellums- this could mean going to Vancouver again…. and again… and yet again…

]]> By: m. http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-52792 m. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:06:22 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-52792 The only problem here is this is the Hughes Brothers. NOT the producers of The Wire. They LOVE crime/pimping etc... They WILL glorify it. So even though it may bring long needed revenue back to Oakland, we really don't need this image right now. I HIGHLY doubt it will be a balanced or honest look at prostitution/pimping. If you don't believe me, just watch their other movies. The only problem here is this is the Hughes Brothers. NOT the producers of The Wire. They LOVE crime/pimping etc… They WILL glorify it. So even though it may bring long needed revenue back to Oakland, we really don’t need this image right now. I HIGHLY doubt it will be a balanced or honest look at prostitution/pimping.

If you don’t believe me, just watch their other movies.

]]> By: Roger Hall http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-51904 Roger Hall Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:56:40 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-51904 Objecting to this show is like objecting to reality. Oakland is Oakland, warts and all. I find it bordering on insanity that the mayor and other city leaders object. The Wire did great things for Baltimore and we know what the Sopranos did for NJ. Call the Mayor and tell him to issue the permits! (510) 444.CITY (2489) Just because he wants to live with his head in the sand it doesn't mean the rest of us do. Objecting to this show is like objecting to reality. Oakland is Oakland, warts and all. I find it bordering on insanity that the mayor and other city leaders object. The Wire did great things for Baltimore and we know what the Sopranos did for NJ.

Call the Mayor and tell him to issue the permits!

(510) 444.CITY (2489)

Just because he wants to live with his head in the sand it doesn’t mean the rest of us do.

]]> By: Navigator http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-51006 Navigator Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:24:32 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-51006 That's funny Max! I love a good joke. I plan on keeping on singing about this. It's important Max. Please join me in the chorus. That’s funny Max! I love a good joke.

I plan on keeping on singing about this. It’s important Max. Please join me in the chorus.

]]> By: Max Allstadt http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-51000 Max Allstadt Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:37:39 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-51000 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAq0JPfLJes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAq0JPfLJes

]]> By: Navigator http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-50994 Navigator Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:28:04 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-50994 Bennett, Why has Oakland been blessed with this HBO series about a pimp? There a pimps and prostitutes in Los Angeles and also in San Francisco where Hollywood likes to shoot many of its productions. As a matter of fact, pimping and prostitution is a huge problem in just about every large city in the United States. This is not about "censoring" reality. This is about how much negative publicity one single city, who has basically no media, and is at the mercy of a competing city across the Bay which houses nearly every large media institution in the Bay Area, can take. As I wrote previously, If many of you in the local Film Industry can persuade the producers of this series to sit down with the City of Oakland and agree on some sort of criteria for the script, and agree on the number of man hours given to Oakland residents, along with agreeing on the number of hotel rooms reserved IN OAKLAND, then, and only then, the additional negativity brought on the city by this series may be outweighed by the additional revenue to the local economy. This is the only way I can see this as being a positive for Oakland Bennett,

Why has Oakland been blessed with this HBO series about a pimp? There a pimps and prostitutes in Los Angeles and also in San Francisco where Hollywood likes to shoot many of its productions. As a matter of fact, pimping and prostitution is a huge problem in just about every large city in the United States. This is not about “censoring” reality. This is about how much negative publicity one single city, who has basically no media, and is at the mercy of a competing city across the Bay which houses nearly every large media institution in the Bay Area, can take.

As I wrote previously, If many of you in the local Film Industry can persuade the producers of this series to sit down with the City of Oakland and agree on some sort of criteria for the script, and agree on the number of man hours given to Oakland residents, along with agreeing on the number of hotel rooms reserved IN OAKLAND, then, and only then, the additional negativity brought on the city by this series may be outweighed by the additional revenue to the local economy. This is the only way I can see this as being a positive for Oakland

]]> By: bennett hall http://www.abetteroakland.com/gentlemen-of-leisure-and-hypocrisy/2008-12-22#comment-50984 bennett hall Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:29:50 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1692#comment-50984 Further, if you have not checked out International Blvd. lately on any given Saturday night, another clue may be not be apparent. Truth is, child prostitution is flourishing and the bad guys are everywhere - maybe this is just too close to the truth for our politicians? What they should really be afraid of is 60 minutes coming to town and exposing the truth, not the Hughes Brothers making a high-profile revenue generating arty HBO entertainment piece. Further, if you have not checked out International Blvd. lately on any given Saturday night, another clue may be not be apparent. Truth is, child prostitution is flourishing and the bad guys are everywhere – maybe this is just too close to the truth for our politicians?

What they should really be afraid of is 60 minutes coming to town and exposing the truth, not the Hughes Brothers making a high-profile revenue generating arty HBO entertainment piece.

]]>