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THE PIONEER Covering the East Bay community since 1961
California State University, East Bay
News, Art, & Culture for the East Bay
PAGINA SIETE
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
www.thepioneeronline.com
SEE NEWS PAGE 2
FORMER CUBAN LEADER, DICTATOR DIES AT 90
SEE SPORTS PAGE 11
OAKLAND RAIDERS COULD LEAVE THE BAY AREA
PHOTO BY KEDAR DUTT/THE PIONEER
Dexter Irvin, a finalist for the athletic director position addresses staff, student and community members during the open forum for candidates on Tuesday at the Cal State East Bay Hayward campus.
SEE NEWS PAGE 10
ROACHES FOUND AT EAST BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
By Louis LaVenture EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SEE SPORTS PAGE 12
WARRIORS HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE LEAGUE
#PIONEERNEWS /thepioneernewspaper @thepioneeronline @newspioneer
EPA grants California tribes $28 million for environmental projects By Kali Persall MANAGING EDITOR The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a grant of $28 million to California Native American tribal governments for environmental projects, the organization announced at the 24th Annual Regional Tribal Conference in San Francisco on Oct. 25. The grant will support air and water quality monitoring, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and cleanup of contaminated earth around California, Michele Huitric, EPA Northern California press officer, told the Pioneer. Tribes such as the Yurok in Northern California have used previous grant money this year to treat a water source that caused an E. coli outbreak in 2014. The EPA provides annual and bi-annual grants and funds to Native American tribes for environmental improvements through a process similar to that used by states, according to Huitric. California tribes received $25 million in grant funds last year.
SEE EPA PAGE 3
In their search for a replacement for outgoing athletic director Joan McDermott, a Cal State East Bay search committee has selected five finalists. Three of those finalists visited campus this week and the fourth will be here today to participate in an open forum to give the campus, community and university the opportunity to meet them, according to Search Committee Chair and Director of Administrative Processes at CSUEB Veronica Salvador. Danielle Irle, Dexter Irvin and Matt Billings already came to Hayward for their forums and Colin Preston will be at East Bay from 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. today. The fifth finalist has not been named yet and will have a visit sched-
uled for December, according to Salvador. Irle is the current deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator and deputy Title IX coordinator at the University of North Dakota and has been in that role since May 2013. Irle worked at Tulane University in New Orleans before her six-year stint at North Dakota. Irvin has been the director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Recreation at the College of Southern Nevada since January 2014. Before that, he held the same position at the University of Hawaii at Hilo from 2009 to 2013. Billings has been at Portland State since 2010 and the deputy athletic director since 2014. Preston is the current athletic director at El Camino College in Torrance and prior to that, he served in the same role at the Acad-
emy of Art University in San Francisco for three years. The search committee consists of Paul Carpenter, the chair of the department of kinesiology; Ken Parsons, the assistant athletic director; Gus Argenal, head coach of the men's basketball team; Lisa Cooper, head coach of the women's water polo team; and Mariam Lowe, a senior on the women’s swimming team. Former Athletic Director Joan McDermott, who accepted the same position San Francisco State University — her alma mater — on Aug. 23, had a brief but noticeable impact on the teams at East Bay. In less than a year and a half at the helm of the athletics department at CSUEB, six head coaches left or stepped down under McDermott, who took over the director of athletics role on April 1, 2015. Bob Ralston
SEE ATHLETICS PAGE 4
FROM THE WIRE
As students protest, Cal State trustees seek more state funding to avoid tuition increase By Rosanna Xia LOS ANGELES TIMES A small but boisterous group of students donned zombie face paint and set up a mock graveyard outside a meeting of the California State University Board of Trustees in Long Beach on Tuesday. It was their depiction of the future of the university system should its leaders approve tuition increases they say may be needed to fill a state funding gap. They chanted, "Students not customers!" and "The more we pay, the longer we stay!" and carried signs that said, "We are the Walking Debt." Many had arrived before 5:30 a.m. from Dominguez Hills, Fullerton and other campuses across the state to set up tombstones representing the system’s 23 campuses. "R.I.P. Fresno State," one read. Another one, covered in fake cobwebs, said: "Here lies San Diego State." “We’re going for something big, something visual…. It’s important for students to come out and fight this," said Courtney Yamagiwa, a member of Cal
SEE TUITION PAGE 4
TUITION INCREASE IMMINENT
$6,881 AVERAGE 2016-2017 CSU TUITION & CAMPUS FEES PER STUDENT
SOURCE: WWW.CALSTATE.EDU
GRAPHIC BY TAM DUONG JR./THE PIONEER
Fall 2016 Issue 10
2 NEWS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Louis LaVenture louis.laventure@csueastbay.edu
MANAGING EDITOR
Kali Persall
kali.persall@csueastbay.edu
COPY EDITOR
Wendy Medina wendy.medina@csueastbay.edu
ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Casey Peuser
casey.peuser@csueastbay.edu
VISUAL EDITOR
Tam Duong Jr. tam.duong@csueastbay.edu
STAFF WRITERS
Marissa Marshall marissa.marshall@csueastbay.edu
Tishauna Carrell tishauna.carrell@csueastbay.edu
ILLUSTRATOR
Dina Arakcheyeva dina.arakcheyeva@csueastbay.edu
PHOTOGRAPHER
Kedar Dutt kedar.dutt@csueastbay.edu
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Marina Swanson marina.swanson@csueastbay.edu
FACULTY ADVISOR
Gary Moskowitz gary.moskowitz@csueastbay.edu
FACULTY COORDINATOR
Dr. Katherine Bell kate.bell@csueastbay.edu
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PRODUCTION STAFF FACULTY PRODUCTION MANAGER
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ADVERTISING STAFF SALES EXECUTIVES
Daniel Aziz Jocelyn Manfut Grace Martinez Yesica Ibarra By Louis LaVenture EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The former leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, died from undisclosed reasons on Nov. 25, according to his brother Raul Castro, the current president of the country. Fidel led a revolution in Cuba that culminated in him residing as prime minister and president for more than 49 years under a communist regime. Fidel led the revolution that overthrew then Cuban President Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Most people know that Cuban cigars were illegal here in the United States for a long time, but the Castro regime reaches much further than that. Raul was appointed as temporary president in 2006 when Fidel became too ill to do the job. Raul’s position became permanent just a little more than two years later in 2008.
He previously served as the Minister of Armed Forces in Cuba for 49 years from 1959 to 2008. The country began a nine-day mourning period for the former dictator, which included a four-day journey around the country so citizens can view his ashes. Fidel was cremated immediately after his death, according to a statement from Raul, who also said the government is taking care of all the arrangements and expenses, according to the Associated Press. The journey of his ashes is a lengthy one — more than 500 miles — that traced the physical steps he took to overthrow the country in reverse. The journey began in the hills where he last resided and will end with a funeral in Havana on Sunday before he will be taken to his final resting place in Santiago. Thousands of Cubans have lined the streets over the last week to catch a glimpse
of the former leader and honor the man who was loved and hated by many, according to the AP. Despite his largely negative reputation here in the United States, dignitaries from all over the world attended a farewell event in Cuba on Tuesday to pay their respects to the deceased former leader. Representatives from Russia, Iran, China, South Africa, Vietnam and across Latin America attended the event and praised him in front of thousands of mourning Cubans. In recent years, President Barack Obama tried to reestablish a relationship between the U.S. and Cuba but was unsuccessful. Despite the tumultuous relationship, Obama sent his National Security Adviser, Benjamin Rhodes, to the event, although he did not speak. It was Rhodes who spearheaded the negotiations between the two countries, according to the AP.
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NEWS 3
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER EPA From Page 1 According to an Oct. 25 EPA news release, California tribes will receive an initial $9 million up front, to spend at their discretion. The Indian Health Service, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency that provides healthcare to Native American and Alaskan Native tribes, will receive $5.1 million for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, plant operator training and technical assistance. The remaining $13.8 million is available to California tribes for continued improvements in environmental programs, contamination clean-up projects, air quality improvement projects and community outreach and educational programs. Huitric said the EPA’s work with Native American tribes dates back to the 1970s under President Richard Nixon. The grant program was authorized by Congress in 1987. The EPA’s Region 9 program serves 148 federally recognized tribes and six self-governed tribes in Arizona, California and Nevada, according to Huitric. There are 109 Native American tribes in California and 88 will receive funding from the EPA this year. Five tribes are still covered under a grant from the 2016 fiscal year and 16 California tribes don’t seek or receive any financial support from the EPA, according to Huitric. Huitric said that significant accomplishments have been made through this funding but there are still disparities in environmental health and overall quality of life for Native American tribes. One of the biggest concerns that the EPA seeks to address is the accessibility of safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. “In the United States as a whole, less than one percent of the population does
“In Indian Country, for example on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations, more than twenty percent of the population does not have these services. Some tribal residents do not even have a water tap or a toilet in their own home.” -Michele Huitric, EPA Members of the Hopi Native American Tribe dance at a reservation in Arizona. not have water that is safe to drink and access to a sanitary sewer or septic system,” said Huitric. “In Indian Country, for example on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations, more than twenty percent of the population does not have these services. Some tribal residents do not even have a water tap or a toilet in their own home.” Funding is a significant issue for many tribes, which renders them unable to invest in public works and facilities, according to Huitric. Illegal wastewater dumping is a common occurrence which has prompted
OPINION
Letter to the Editor Each election cycle we are confronted with closed streets for paving ONLY in the three months before election vote time. Watch the street paving frenzy come to a screeching halt the day of the election. Where are these workers for the preceding eighteen months? Who is paying them during their time off? This process has been going on since I came to live in Hayward in 1971. I shall also point out that Sweeny’s White Elephant on Civic Center Drive, has been condemned since soon after the Loma Prieta earthquake. It was actually occupied for some time after, despite condemnation, since I had eye operation on the fifth floor April 23, 1993. There were NO city hall meetings after the earthquake in that building. He got his name on a bronze plaque that no one can see today. Another mayor came on the scene and got their name on the plaque at a replacement city hall which is patterned after Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s schloss. I think that is fitting for this city. Another name on a bronze plaque.
We are now confronted with a new mayor and a new bronze plaque at great cost to the taxpayer. This is described as EDIFICE COMPLEX. Look that up in yer Funk & Wagnalls. The size of the library is of several orders of magnitude larger than can be justified for the size of the city. Currently the present library is not economically capable of receiving and shelving a monthly sports periodical which I tried to contribute. So I was told in 2015. How are they going to populate this edifice when all recent tax measures have failed to attain the required two thirds vote. They are often subsequently illegally imposed in spite of Article XIII of California Constitution. BANG has their news and editorial nose up the city’s handout outlet so your journal is the only publication of repute remaining in the East Bay. THANKS!
•Robert B. Wister, Hayward Resident
Hayward keeps it lit on Saturday By Louis LaVenture EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The holiday season officially kicks off in Hayward on Saturday when the city hosts its annual tree lighting celebration. The tree will be located on B and Watkins Streets in Downtown Hayward near city hall. The event is scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and in addition to the tree lighting, will also feature ice-skating and other activities and events for all ages.
Many of the downtown businesses will also offer up some specials and deals in honor of the gathering that usually draws thousands of people, according to the city of Hayward. St. Rose Hospital, Hayward Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, Hayward Unified School District and Downtown Business Improvement Area all collaborated with the city to put the event on. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy for the drive and they will receive a raffle ticket with the chance to win a family fun basket. Santa Clause is expected to make an appearance.
the EPA to financially assist tribes to develop sustainable waste management systems. The money comes from annual appropriations from Congress, funds that have been allocated for specific federal government departments, agencies and programs, according to Huitric. The EPA’s General Assistance Program, Clean Water Act Program, Clean Air Act Program, and Hazardous Waste Management Program are also involved in supplying the funding, according to Huitric. Sixty-seven percent of the EPA’s regional budget is allocated to a variety of grants for states, tribes and other en-
tities; $300 million of which California is a recipient of. The grant is valid for the 2017 fiscal year, which began on Oct. 1, 2016 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2017, according to Huitric. Tribes receive between one and a dozen grants from the EPA annually, which depend on the needs of the tribe, the complexity of the environmental program and the tribe’s ability to take on the project. In collaboration with the EPA, tribes are required to create a scope of work plan and a budget plan to determine the
PHOTO COURTESY OF DUANE DARLING
end goal of the project and how it will be accomplished before the funds can be delivered, according to Huitric. After the tribe receives the money, the EPA continues to work with the tribes to meet their objectives by providing advice and technical assistance as needed. Afterward, the EPA and tribe evaluate the progress made throughout the project. There are environmental objectives as well as program requirements and guidelines that tribes must follow; however, Huitric said it’s up to each tribe to determine how the funds will be used.
4 NEWS Tuition From Page 1 State Long Beach’s Associated Students and the grass-roots activist group Students for Quality Education, which led the protest. The group pledged to “shut down any plans to increase student tuition that will force more students to drop out of college.” Inside, trustees seemed to have gotten the message. Trustee Lateefah Simon, a single mother of two children, said she empathized with the steady drumbeat of student chants that continued throughout the daylong meeting. "As we continue pondering this issue, moving forward, I'm going to think about our undocumented students, I'm going to think about single parents, I'm going to think about our foster youth," she told fellow trustees and university leaders. "I deeply appreciate the voices outside, and we should let these young people know that we hear them." No decision on whether to increase tuition will be made until after January, officials said. But the idea has raised the ire of many students and faculty members, who plan to continue demonstrations Wednesday at the downtown offices of Chancellor Timothy P. White. The proposed increase, which could amount to $270 for the 2017-18 school year, was introduced as a last resort to help address Cal State’s budget shortfall. Cal State administrators said more tuition revenue from students and their families may be needed to preserve the quality and opportunities provided by the nation’s largest public university system. Officials have been under pressure to increase enrollment and graduation rates as well as hire more faculty — all with a smaller share of state dollars than in years past. State funding has fallen from about 80% of Cal State’s operating costs in the 1990s to about 50% today, administrators said. The system relies on tuition and student fees to cover the other half. Students argue they’re already strapped by the highest tuition in history — from 2006 to 2011, tuition had
ead 2016
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER more than doubled to $5,472. The state had slashed nearly one-third of its support to Cal State after the recession but has steadily restored funding in the last six years. Gov. Jerry Brown pledged annual increases in exchange for a freeze on raising tuition until next year. Yamagiwa, a fourth-year undergraduate studying German and consumer affairs, said she and her classmates are concerned that ending the tuition freeze would make annual increases the new normal. For many students who are already choosing between buying lunch and paying for gas, $270 is a significant amount, she said, citing a recent study that found that as many as 1 in 5 of Cal State’s 470,000 students do not have steady access to food and about 1 in 10 are homeless. Norberto Lopez, a fifth-year student at Cal State Long Beach, said that as an undocumented student, he understood how much any increase in tuition could affect fellow classmates. Over the years, he has had to work more than 40 hours a week as a cook at Buffalo Wild Wings while juggling enough classes to graduate this May. "I'm here to fight for those that aren't here and are working hard to make it to the university level. They don't have a voice in this," he said. "Once you start increasing tuition to a point where students can't afford it, you're privatizing the university system.... And it shouldn't be like that. Education should be something that's accessible and affordable for all folks." David Lopez, president of the California State Student Assn. and a second-year graduate student at Cal State East Bay, said he and his peers are focusing the rest of the year on collecting testimonials from students and lobbying lawmakers to secure the funding needed to avoid a tuition increase. If the Board of Trustees decides to move forward with one, he said students will take more “aggressive action.” White emphasized that raising tuition is something that “none of us want to do” and that no decision will be made until after the governor proposes a new budget in January. Financial aid would cover additional costs for most Cal State
students, he added. More than 60% of Cal State students have tuition fully covered by grants and waivers, administrators added in a presentation Tuesday, and those students would not be affected by a tuition increase. For those who take out loans, the average Cal State student debt, at $14,388, is half the national average. Compounding Cal State’s financial challenges are faculty salary increases, a $2-billion backlog of building upgrades, not to mention the promise to double Cal State’s four-year graduation rate from 19% to 40% by 2025. But efforts to do so — such as hiring more faculty to teach required courses and increasing academic tutoring and bridge programs — all require money. Enrolling more students is another
sticking point: Cal State has enrolled 20,000 additional students since the recession but still lacks the resources to make room for everyone who wants to attend a Cal State school, White said. Only once in the last four years has the state fully funded Cal State’s budget request, and the number of qualified students seeking higher education has continued to grow. Administrators this fall had to turn away more than 30,000 applicants who fulfilled all admissions requirements. The tuition discussion came as the trustees Tuesday approved a state funding request for 2017-18. Administrators expect the governor will allocate about $157.2 million in new funding next year — which would raise total state support for the university system to about $3.6
billion. But current estimates indicate that Cal State would need $324.9 million in additional state money for the next fiscal year. This leaves a gap of about $167.7-million between expected state funding and the real needs of the university, officials said. Cal State hopes to receive enough money next year to allocate $75 million toward improving four-year graduation rates and about $55 million for hiring more staff and faculty. The top priority in the coming months is to lobby lawmakers to close the funding gap, White said. “Having the resources, one way or another, is going to be essential for us to make good steps on admitting students, and getting them to degree sooner.”
Pioneer
Athletics From Page 1 TCV
and Darren Lewis left the baseball team after the best season in school history. Coaches of women’s basketball, track, cross country, softball, men’s soccer and swimming all stepped down or left to pursue other opportunities during McDermott’s tenure. CSUEB went through an extensive search to select McDermott for the position, which included a search committee comprised of Andrea Wilson, associate vice president of Student Support and Development, Paul Carpenter, the chair in the department of kinesiology, Marissa Parry Clavin, an associate athletics director in Internal Operations, Lisa Cooper, the head coach of the women’s water polo team, Alan Sue, the head coach of the men’s and women’s golf teams and Trey James, a student-athlete on the men’s soccer team. Dr. Don Sawyer has served as interim athletic director since McDermott’s departure in August. He is a retired professor emeritus in the kinesiology department at CSUEB.
A new holiday experience at McConaghy House Listen to stories from Christmases past as told by the “McConaghy family and friends.” Refreshments will be served in the Carriage House with an opportunity to meet the actors!
Tour Schedule Sat Dec 10, 5 and 7 PM Sat Dec 17, 5 and 7 PM Sun Dec 18, 10 AM Tickets must be purchased in advance. $15 general $10 HAHS Members, seniors and students Free for children ages 9 and younger
12
Stories of Christmas
18701 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward | 510.581.0223 | www.haywardareahistory.org
Day of the Dead 2016 OCTOBER 1 - NOVEMBER 13
got research? HaywardAreaHistory.org • 510-581-0223
Center for Student Research Scholarship Opportunity The CSUEB Center for Student Research (CSR) is accepting applications from students that want to be engaged in faculty-mentored research and creative activities outside of class. Students enrolled in the program may receive scholarships of $500 per quarter. In addition, the CSR offers additional funds to Student Research Scholars to Day of the Dead 2016 OCTOBER 1 - NOVEMBER 13 support travel to attend professional conferences and for the purchase of supplies to support their HaywardAreaHistory.org • 510-581-0223 research project. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills and connect with your professional community. In order to apply, you must coordinate with a faculty member that agrees to mentor you through your project. The application deadline is January 11, 2017. More information can be found on our website at www.csueastbay.edu/programs/csr Question? Email: csr@csueastbay.edu
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6 FROM THE WIRE Homeless vet slept under Oakland overpass, now in his own studio By Matthias Gafni EAST BAY TIMES
Instead of living in Army barracks, Robert Bruce would pitch a tent in the nearby woods. He preferred the isolation. While not a troublemaker, the infantryman was repeatedly disciplined for letting his hair grow too long. Going to the barber meant being around crowds, and Bruce doesn't do that. "I've always been pretty much alone. Most of the time I didn't want to be around people," Bruce said. "Even now, I get very nervous." This mental illness, diagnosed as paranoia, led the Vietnam veteran to spend much of his adult life homeless, living out of vehicles around Oakland and the East Bay. Until he let one person in. Earlier this year, Bruce, 60, was referred to Ron Murray, a veterans services coordinator with Swords to Plowshares, and his life changed dramatically. The homeless veterans-assistance nonprofit, based out of Oakland and San Francisco, helps about 3,000 veterans each year. Last year, the group got permanent housing for more than 1,200 homeless veterans, with another 319 receiving employment and job training, according to the agency's website. Swords to Plowshares has received funding this year from Share
the Spirit, an annual holiday campaign to benefit needy residents in the East Bay. The grant is administered by the Contra Costa Crisis Center, and donations support programs of 40 nonprofit agencies in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. "The biggest challenge is building trust," says Manny Sosa, Swords to Plowshares outreach coordinator. Many of the veterans have endured many broken promises, he said. Most Bay Area homeless veterans served in the Vietnam War and are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illness or substance abuse problems, said Sosa, moments after he spoke to a young veteran at an Oakland encampment, promising to pick him up the next day for a visit to the DMV. Many are eligible for VA help but have not gone through the often-cumbersome application process. Some have no government-issued identification, which means they can't enter federal buildings where they need to fill out paperwork and be interviewed to apply for benefits. So Sosa offers rides, paperwork assistance and trips to a variety of offices. For Bruce, Murray helped him navigate the VA. Bruce had been scraping by on Social Security and about $130 a month from the VA for ringing in his ears. With the help of Swords to Plowshares, Bruce said that by the beginning of next year he expects his VA disability payments to go up more than tenfold. "The encouragement part really worked for him because he just needed someone to, what I call, triage him through the system and someone he could trust," Murray said. Wearing a gray T-shirt, camouflage pants, black flip-flops and a Vietnam veterans hat, Bruce took a reporter and pho-
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER tographer on a tour of a homeless encampment where just a couple of months ago he would park his red minivan and spend the night. The cul-de-sac at East 12th Street and 23rd Avenue, strewn with trash topped by an abandoned couch, sits between a rail line and raised BART tracks, and below the 22nd Avenue overpass. Bruce would keep to himself. "I don't talk to nobody. So I would leave to go somewhere peaceful during the day," he said, often winding up at the Berkeley Marina to find a quiet space to park and decompress. While he never dealt with a substance abuse problem, his mental issues meant a shelter was out of the question, so Swords to Plowshares found him his own temporary motel room. Eventually, it found an Oakland studio for him, along with a psychiatrist and social worker. Bruce has no big plans. He just wants a permanent home to call his own, where he can sit and enjoy the solitude. "It's just makes me feel at peace," he said. SHARE THE SPIRIT The Share the Spirit campaign, sponsored by the Bay Area News Group, benefits needy residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties by funding nonprofit holiday and outreach programs. To make a tax-deductible contribution, clip the coupon accompanying this story or go to www.sharethespiriteastbay.org/ donate. Readers with questions, and individuals or businesses interested in making large contributions, may contact the Contra Costa Crisis Center, which administers the fund, at 925-939-1916, ext. 408, or sharethespirit@crisis-center.org.
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JUEVES 1 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2016
THE PIONEER
Los Raiders deben permanecer en Oakland Por Cameron Stover CONTRIBUYENTE
Traducción por Wendy Medina EDITORA DE COPIA Aficionados de los Raiders, todavía hay esperanza. El 17 de octubre, el gobernador de Nevada Brian Sandoval firmó un proyecto de ley que proporcionaría a la organización $750 millones de dinero público para construir un estadio en Las Vegas y el propietario Mark Davis ha prometido su lealtad al plan. Pero todavía hay una buena probabilidad de que el equipo permanezcan en Oakland, y eso es precisamente lo que deben hacer. El 22 de noviembre, la alcaldesa de Oakland, Libby Schaaf, anunció que la ciudad acordó para estructurar un nuevo acuerdo de estadio con un equipo de desarrollo encabezado por la ex leyenda de los 49ers, Ronnie Lott. Este es el primer paso hacia la obtención de un nuevo contrato oficial entre el estadio y los Raiders, que han pasado 44 de los 57 años de la franquicia en Oakland. "Estamos emocionados de que, por primera vez, estamos trabajando con un socio privado que no sólo tiene la pasión de mantener a los Raiders en Oakland, sino también la capacidad de poner al día la cantidad de capital que se necesitará para financiar de manera privada un estadio," dijo Schaaf al NBC de la Área de la Bahía. "Los Raiders pertenecen a Oakland, donde nacieron y crecieron, es parte de su identidad y forman parte de nuestra identidad." Incluso con las noticias del acuerdo del estadio, la ciudad debe convencer a Davis de que Oakland es la elección correcta. Desde que tomó el control de los Raiders en 2011, Davis ha considerado el traslado del equipo a Las Vegas, Los Ángeles, Concord, San Antonio y St. Louis. "Si [la legislatura de Nevada] llegó con la financiación de la que estaban hablando, que haría todo lo posible para llegar allí," dijo Davis a USA Today en octubre. "No lo usaba como apalancamiento." Sin embargo, también hay algunos obstáculos en el camino para el equipo de la deserción planeada a Las Vegas. Los dueños del equipo de la NFL todavía tienen que votar si aprobar o no la reubicación del equipo. Para pasar, 25 de 32 propietarios deben votar sí. Según Mike Florio, de Pro Football Talk, ese voto se producirá en algún momento en los próximos seis a nueve meses. Davis heredó el equipo en 2011 después del fallecimiento de su padre, Al. Él es relativamente nuevo en la política de poseer un equipo de la NFL, lo que es preocupante para cualquier
FOTO POR JEFF SINER/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/TNS
persona con dinero invertido en el proceso de reubicación del equipo. Los propietarios de la liga comparten los ingresos y no quieren sufrir una pérdida en los beneficios sobre el error de un propietario inexperto. Según las calificaciones de Nielsen, Las Vegas es el 40° mercado más grande de los medios en los Estados Unidos, y un tercio del tamaño del mercado del Área de la Bahía. Eso pondría a los Raiders en uno de los cinco mercados más bajos de la liga. Pueden experimentar un aumento inicial en las calificaciones, pero las calificaciones probablemente retrocederán a una norma del mercado más pequeño después de que la publicidad del nuevo estadio desaparezca. Algunos propietarios también expresaron una falta de confianza en los motivos del dueño de casino, Sheldon Adelson, para ayudar a financiar el nuevo estadio. Este año, Adelson ha resuelto dos demandas contra su compañía, Las Vegas Sands Corp. Una de las demandas también fue el tema de una investigación federal. Los propietarios de la NFL quieren mantener su máquina de dinero funcionando sin problemas, por lo que pueden ser reacios a aceptar Adelson como uno de sus socios comerciales. Adelson es un comodín involucrado en la reubicación. Él ha prometido $650 millones al proyecto, y ha jugado un papel importante en aprobar la legislación para los fondos públicos
para construir el estadio. Los propietarios de la NFL tienen que ser cautelosos sobre lo que Adelson quiere a cambio de su dinero, que sigue sin estar claro. A pesar de sus esfuerzos para llevar a los Raiders a Nevada, Adelson también señaló a problemas con el acuerdo propuesto. "Ellos [Raiders] quieren tanto," dijo Adelson a la agencia de noticias Reuters en octubre. "Así que le dije a mi gente, 'Diles que yo podría vivir con el trato, y podría vivir sin el trato. Aquí está es la manera que va pasar. Si no lo quieren, adiós." Los propietarios tienen otro dilema potencial: dañar la imagen de la liga que ha sido cuidadosamente estructurada. Al mover un equipo a Sin City, la NFL concede su posición de anti-juego. En octubre, el comisionado Roger Goodell habló en una reunión de los dueños de la NFL en Houston sobre la opinión de la liga en el juego: "Seguimos muy opuestos a los juegos de azar en los deportes. Queremos asegurarnos de que estamos haciendo lo que es correcto para el partido." La mudanza a Las Vegas es banca en demasiados "¿Y qué sis?" ¿Qué pasa si Davis sabe lo que está haciendo? ¿Y si Adelson sólo quiere ver a su estado conseguir un equipo de fútbol y no quiere un pedazo de propiedad? ¿Qué pasa si Las Vegas se reúne alrededor de los Raiders a pesar de ser el 40° mercado más grande de los medios de comunicación en los Estados Unidos? Estas
son preguntas que deberían tener respuestas al discutir un proyecto de $2 mil millones. A principios de este año, Davis dijo a la Red de la NFL que el movimiento "unirá a ‘Raider Nation’ más que dividirlo." Esa es una declaración que ignora la realidad de rasgar a un equipo lejos de su ciudad. Con un traslado a Las Vegas, los Raiders se arriesgarían a perder una gran parte de su base de aficionados. El equipo ha tenido la suerte de sobrevivir a los traslados a Los Ángeles en 1982 y de regreso a Oakland en 1995. Sin embargo, un movimiento fuera del estado podría alienar a una parte de la base de fans de la Costa Oeste. Con los Warriors también empacando sus maletas para salir de la ciudad, este es un momento de hacer o romper para una ciudad que celebra sus equipos deportivos con orgullo. Los Raiders no han logrado llegar a los playoffs desde que fueron al Super Bowl en 2002, pero esa racha terminará esta temporada. Los Raiders están mejor en Oakland, una ciudad resistente que ayudaron a dar una identidad. En medio de toda esta información, una cosa parece clara: las posibilidades de que los Raiders se queden en Oakland son más grandes que nunca.
Ex líder Fidel Castro muere en Cuba Por Louis LaVenture EDITOR EN JEFE
Traducción por Wendy Medina EDITORA DE COPIA
El ex líder de Cuba, Fidel Castro, murió el 25 de noviembre por razones no reveladas, según su hermano Raúl Castro, actual presidente del país. Fidel lideró una revolución en Cuba que culminó en él residiendo como primer ministro y presidente por más de 49 años bajo un régimen comunista. Fidel lideró la revolución que derrocó al entonces presidente cubano Fulgencio Batista en 1959. La mayoría de la gente sabe que los cigarros cubanos son ilegales aquí en los Estados Unidos por mucho tiempo, pero el régimen de Castro alcanzó mucho más allá de eso. Raúl fue nombrado presidente provisional en 2006 cuando Fidel se puso demasiado enfermo para hacer el trabajo. La posición de Raúl se convirtió permanente poco más de dos años más tarde, en 2008. Anteriormente sirvió como Ministro de las Fuerzas Armadas en Cuba durante 49 años de 1959 a 2008. El país comenzó un período de duelo de nueve días para el ex dictador, que incluyó un viaje de cuatro días por todo el país para que los ciudadanos puedan ver sus cenizas. Fidel fue incinerado inmediatamente después de su muerte, según un comunica-
FOTO POR ALEX GARCIA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS
do de Raúl, quien también dijo que el gobierno está cuidando de todos los arreglos y gastos, según el Associated Press. El viaje de sus cenizas es largo — más de 500 millas — que rastreó los pasos físicos que Castro tomó para derrocar al país a la inversa. El viaje comenzó en las colinas donde residió por última vez y terminará con un funeral en la Provincia de la Habana el domingo, antes de ser llevado a su último lugar de descanso en Santiago. Miles de cubanos han recorrido las calles durante la semana pasada para echar un vistazo al ex líder y honrar al hombre que fue amado y odiado por muchos, según el AP. A pesar de su gran reputación negativa aquí en Estados Unidos, dignatarios de todo el mundo asistieron a un evento de despedida en Cuba el martes para rendir homenaje al difunto ex líder. Representantes de Rusia, Irán, China, Sudáfrica, Vietnam y toda América Latina asistieron al evento y lo elogiaron frente a miles de cubanos en luto. En los últimos años, el presidente Barack Obama trató de restablecer una relación entre los Estados Unidos y Cuba, pero fracasó. A pesar de la tumultuosa relación, Obama envió a su Asesor de Seguridad Nacional, Benjamín Rhodes, al evento, aunque no habló. Fue Rhodes quien encabezó las negociaciones entre los dos países, según el AP.
8 NEWS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER
CSUEB lawsuit keeps campus housing on hold By Michele Dennis CONTRIBUTOR Rising rents in the Bay Area can make it difficult for students to afford off-campus housing, so many of Cal State East Bay’s students seek on-campus housing when they start school here. There’s one big problem, though: The student population on the Hayward campus continues to grow, but housing options haven’t expanded to accommodate the influx, mainly due to an ongoing lawsuit initiated in 2009 by the city of Hayward and the Hayward Area Planning Association. The lawsuit identifies safety concerns associated with increased on-campus housing. The city and HAPA claim that CSUEB did not conduct a complete environmental impact report in accordance with guidelines under the California Environmental Quality Act, when it created the University Masterplan in 2009. In the meantime, the campus cannot move forward with plans to build additional campus housing. The masterplan, approved by university trustees, anticipates that the total student population will increase from about 12,000 to 25,000 over the next 20 years and that there will be approximately 5,000 students living on campus by 2029. Undergraduate enrollment this fall is at 13,008, up almost 19 percent since 2012. City of Hayward officials claim that they were not initially consulted about the extra burden of an additional 12,000 students on campus and 3,500 students living in campus housing to add to the city’s emergency response system. City officials contend that they are ultimately responsible for student safety. “Things are still in a holding pattern,” Mark Almeida, director of student hous-
PHOTO BY LOUIS LAVENTURE/THE PIONEER
Construction crews work on a new housing structure on Dixon Avenue near the South Hawyard BART Station. Soon Cal State East Bay students will be able to live off campus at the site once it is completed next year. ing, said of the lawsuit. Almeida said that the suit prevents the university from being able to plan and build for the future and that it has been a frustrating process for everyone. Jim Zavagno, facilities manager at East Bay, said he hopes to see the suit settled in the next couple of years. East Bay currently offers two campus residences, but the need for student housing is at an all-time high with 1,650 living in dorms this fall, up from 1,560
from fall 2015. Housing, one of the most important factors students consider when choosing a college, continues to be one of the top issues East Bay students face. More than a hundred students are currently wait-listed for campus housing, and many dorms intended for two people now have three beds per room because of over-crowding due to spiking enrollment figures, Almeida said. According to the CSUEB occupancy strategy, commuter students who can
Affordable housing emerges in Hayward By Denika Williams CONTRIBUTOR In an effort to meet the rising local demand for affordable housing, a Northern California housing development agency called Eden Housing teamed up with BART and city officials to construct a 151-unit low income apartment complex for families and seniors near the South Hayward BART station. Alta Mira, the new affordable senior and family living residence, was completed at the beginning of October. Eden Housing, a property management and development company, worked with South Hayward BART and the city of Hayward to construct the building. Alta Mira provides on-site resident services such as presentations and educational classes, along with programs catered to children and community-building. Children programs run after school and during summer, and adults are welcome to utilize the financial management and homebuyer training programs. Residents also receive yearly AC Transit bus passes for free or at a discounted rate equaling less than $100 for the year. The Bay Area is currently in a housing crisis, driven largely by the tech industry’s boom, a growing population and a small housing supply. The area is reportedly the most expensive rental market in the country: the median price of one-bedroom apartments are going for more than $3,500 per month, according to a May report from real estate site Zumper. There are 75,620 low income housing units that are needed in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to Alameda County’s current Regional Housing Need Allocations. “Hayward needs affordable, as well as market-rate housing throughout the
entire city, as does the entire Bay Area,” said David Rizk, director of development services for the city of Hayward. “The lack of production of both market rate and affordable housing compared with the overwhelming demand for new housing has contributed to an affordable housing crisis.” The number of housing units needed for both low and very low income families is almost equal to the amount for above-moderate families who can afford market-rate housing: there are only about a 3,000 household difference separating the two, according to the current RHNA. Initially proposed and built by Eden Housing, Alta Mira Senior and Family Apartments are located on the eastern half of Mission Boulevard, across the street from South Hayward BART. Before construction started last year, the space was used for overflow BART parking. Officials say the location across the street from BART is ideal for affordable and market rate housing because they are close to AC Transit bus lines. “Also, being located close to the South Hayward BART station allowed the project to be successful in securing State Proposition 1C grant funds, without which the project would not have been possible,” Rizk commented. Known as the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006, California Proposition 1C helps Bay Area residents by providing housing near public transportation for low-income families, seniors and military veterans, according to California’s Department of Developmental Services. Based on last year’s annual Housing & Community Development report, “Hayward has permitted 108 above-moderate income units so far as we are only in the first year of the reporting period,” stated Omar Cortez, housing development specialist for the city of Hayward. By 2022, the city of Hayward intends to build nearly 4,000 new housing units. Alta Mira is already complete and one
market rate complex, Cadence Apartments, is still under construction. An additional 1,766 housing units need to be completed within six years to meet the 2022 housing needs, according to City of Hayward Planning Division documents. Alameda County’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program enables Alta Mira to be considered low income and affordable housing because tenant's monthly rent would be equal to 30, 40 or 50 percent of their average monthly income. Rent limits are expected to change yearly, but the current maximum rent is between $548 and $1,267. There are two buildings on the lot: one for families and the other for seniors. Both buildings share the outside courtyard space and underground parking garage. The two buildings consist of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and two manager units. The 151 complex unit includes: 64 one-bedrooms, 52 two-bedrooms and 33 three-bedrooms. Tenant applications for the complex opened earlier this year in April for two weeks. In May, Eden Housing conducted a lottery for the entire application pool in an attempt to make the selection process fair. Priority was given that those who lived or worked in the city. Those who did not receive a unit during the lottery were placed on a waiting list, then contacted in order of preference, lottery number and then household size, according to Eden’s Housing official statements. “The application process was long and there were 500 applicants selected in a lottery. I am happy I was chosen because units were given on a first qualified basis,” said Kamari Douglas, a new resident in the Eden Housing complex. “Both buildings are completely finished and we are currently moving our occupants in,” said Shawn Briant, assistant manager of Alta Mira. As of [Nov. 1] we are at 100 percent full capacity.”
not find housing on campus risk jeopardizing their ability to attend classes. Hayward and the surrounding areas have also seen rent increases. According to research site Rent-Monkey, rates fluctuate, but rents have increased in Hayward each year. The average price for a unit is up 3.5 percent from the same time last year and up 19 percent from three years ago. The average rent for a one-bedroom in Hayward is currently $1,973. Due to the housing demand, the
campus housing site currently advises students to give themselves about two or three months to search for off-campus housing. Eager to find housing solutions, last year Cal State East Bay took over an off-campus student housing project that was initiated by AmCal, a third party developer. The new housing complex, called “Cadence,” is located next to the South Hayward BART station. The off-site housing project is set to be ready for fall 2017 and will start accepting applications in January. This project has allowed East Bay to eliminate a lot of red tape in developing new housing, but it comes with a cost. “The price per bed will be higher, but the complex comes with more amenities than any of the other campus housing,” said Almeida. Almeida did not wish to provide the exact cost difference at the time of publication but revealed that the complex offers 600 new beds, with a model based on double occupancy. Each unit will have it’s own washer and dryer and there will be a pool, BBQ’s and a jacuzzi on-site. Almeida sees Cadence as a housing solution for juniors and seniors who are transitioning to off campus lifestyles. It will have the same sort of on-campus support that other residence halls have, such as residence assistance that performs concierge work, a convenience store and full-time staffers and will offer a comprehensive shuttle service to campus. “We know we will continue to have an influx of students, and that students do better when they live on campus,” said Almeida. “The eventual goal is to be able to develop housing on campus, hopefully using sites like the poorly-used overflow lot by Meiklejohn. Hopefully we’ll be able to move on past the litigation soon.”
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10 NEWS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER
State launches formal investigation into BART video starring Draymond Green By Erin Baldassari EAST BAY TIMES A state agency on Wednesday launched an investigation into allegations that BART illegally used public funds to campaign for its $3.5 billion bond after it aired a video featuring Warriors' star Draymond Green. Fair Political Practices Commission spokesman Jay Wierenga said the agency would not pursue a similar complaint that state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, filed in October. If the investigation, which typically takes six months to one year to complete, proves BART broke the law, the transit agency could face fines of up to $5,000 for each violation, Wierenga said. Lafayette attorney and political blogger Jason Bezis filed an initial complaint on Oct. 28, alleging BART violated state law by hosting a press conference on June 9 after BART's governing board voted to place the bond on the ballot. He followed up with a supplemental complaint on Oct. 31 saying Green's script in a video posted to BART's website lifted phrases often repeated by both BART and the committee campaigning for the bond. State law prohibits public agencies from spending money to support or oppose any candidate or measure. In an earlier interview, BART denied it did anything wrong. Voters approved Measure RR, which will fund repairs and upgrades on the aging system, with more than 70 percent of the vote in BART's three-county district; it needed 66 percent to pass. The 31-second YouTube clip of Green, which BART posted to its website and social media pages on Oct. 28, used the phrases, "backbone of the Bay Area," 44 years," and "safe and reliable," -- all of which also appeared in the campaign
materials from the Committee to Keep BART Safe and Reliable 2016, which raised funds to support the measure. The similarities in the messages were not coincidental, Bezis said. "BART appears to be reinforcing messages of the Yes on RR campaign," he wrote in his complaint. But a BART spokeswoman said the agency had no hand in the video and paid no money for it. "We didn't write it, film it, produce it, edit it, or arrange for it," BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said on Wednesday. "The Warriors did all of it, and sent it over to us if we wanted to share it." Bezis also alleged the district improperly used an employee to introduce guests at a June press conference and later, to post a video of the event to BART's YouTube channel. The speakers at the press conference, which included BART board directors, representatives of both the Oakland and San Francisco mayors' offices and directors of several social justice and transportation advocacy organizations, encouraged viewers to support the bond. A BART employee, Maisha Everhart, the agency's local government and community relations manager, introduced each guest, who stood in front of a BART-branded backdrop and spoke at a podium bearing BART's logo. "Each news conference speaker appeared to have the official imprimatur of BART literally behind them, as if BART endorsed their express advocacy for the BART bond measure," Bezis said. "BART cannot legally use public resources to line up supporters for a bond measure." Trost did not immediately respond to a question about whether BART's staff produced the YouTube video or arranged speakers for the press conference.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NBA
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green reacts to a call during a game earlier this season.
Elementary school faces ongoing roach infestation By Christina Galanakis CONTRIBUTOR
Cockroaches took center stage at a San Lorenzo School District meeting on Oct. 18, in an attempt to address 82 complaints filed by the faculty of Grant Elementary School, regarding an ongoing infestation. A bag of roach remains taken from the classroom of fourth-grade teacher Julie Wolfe was presented Tuesday evening as a part of her statement to attest the elementary school’s ineffective pesticide spraying. “We are appreciative of the spraying, but we need more,” she told the board in her address. Wolfe, who spoke on behalf of other faculty members, attested that the infestation of cockroaches initially surfaced in January and had since been on the elementary school’s backlog of complaints. The ceiling cracks and roach droppings in Wolfe’s classroom listed amongst the 82 complaints, which prompted her to address the school board and public. The infestation, Wolfe said, “is a health risk to all students as a result of lack of proper cleansing,” in her state-
PHOTO BY STEVE LODEFINK VIA FLICKR
ment indicating that proper preventative pest management practices are not being taken by the district. “I believe there are a number of measures the district could be taking to help us with our problem, which until now the district has failed to do,” said Wolfe. The pest control company who currently sprays the school, and is employed by the district, advised Wolfe that proper methods should be weather-stripping door stops, mesh covering for drains, repairing of cracks and crevasses and vacuuming up cockroach remains. In a closing statement made by Wolfe, if preventative measures are not taken, she will continue to address the infestation at the next public hearing. Wolfe presented independent research that stated that direct contact with roach feces is the number one cause of asthma and foodborne illness. The American Lung Association, who is not associated directly with Grant Elementary school, similarly states on their current web page, “exposure to cockroach allergen can actually cause asthma to develop in preschool-aged children.” The elementary school has a current population of 427 students.
SPORTS 11
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER
Silver and black should stay in Oakland By Cameron Stover CONTRIBUTOR
Raiders fans, there is still hope. On Oct. 17, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed off on a bill that would provide the organization with $750 million of public money to build a stadium in Las Vegas and Owner Mark Davis has pledged his allegiance to the plan. But there is still a good chance that the Silver and Black will remain in Oakland, and that’s precisely what they should do. On Nov. 22, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced that the city has agreed to framework of a new stadium deal with a development team headed by former 49ers legend Ronnie Lott. This is the first step towards getting a new official stadium contract between the city and the Raiders, who have spent 44 of the franchise’s 57 years in Oakland. “We’re excited that, for the first time, we’re working with a private partner who has not just the passion to keep the Raiders in Oakland but also the capacity to put upfront the amount of capital it will take to privately finance a stadium,” Schaaf told NBC Bay Area. “The Raiders belong in Oakland. This is where they were born and raised. This is a part of their identity, and they are a part of our identity.” Even with the news of the stadium deal, the city must convince Davis that Oakland is the right choice. Since taking control of the Raiders in 2011, Davis has considered moving the team to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Concord, San Antonio and St. Louis. “If they [Nevada Legislature] came through with the funding that they were talking about, that I would do everything possible to get there,” Davis told USA Today in October. “I was not using it as leverage.” However, there are also a few roadblocks standing in the way of the team’s planned defection to Las Vegas. The NFL team owners still have to vote whether or not to approve the relocation of the
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND RAIDERS
team. In order to pass, 25 out of 32 owners must vote yes. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, that vote will occur sometime in the next six to nine months. Davis inherited the team in 2011 after the passing of his father, Al. He is relatively new to the politics of owning an NFL team, which is worrisome for anyone with money invested in the team’s relocation process. The league owners share revenue and don’t want to suffer a loss in profits over an inexperienced owner’s mistake. According to the Nielsen Ratings, Las Vegas is the 40th largest media market in the United States, and one-third the size of the Bay Area market. That would put the Raiders in one of the bottom five markets in the league. They may experience an initial spike in ratings, but the ratings would likely recede to a smaller-market norm af-
ter the publicity of the new stadium disappears. Some owners also expressed a lack of trust in casino owner Sheldon Adelson’s motives to help fund the new stadium. This year, Adelson has settled two lawsuits against his company, Las Vegas Sands Corp. One of the lawsuits was also the subject of a federal investigation. NFL owners want to keep their money machine running smoothly, so they may be hesitant to accept Adelson as one of their business partners. Adelson is a wild card involved in the relocation. He has pledged $650 million dollars to the project, and has played an important role in passing legislation for public funds to build the stadium. NFL owners have to be wary about what Adelson wants in return for his money, which remains unclear. Despite his efforts to bring the Raiders to Nevada, Adelson also pointed out issues with the
proposed deal. “They [Raiders] want so much,” Adelson told Reuters in October. “So I told my people, ‘Tell them I could live with the deal, I could live without the deal. Here’s the way it’s gonna go down. If they don’t want it, bye-bye.” Owners have another potential dilemma: damaging the league’s carefully structured image. By moving a team to Sin City, the NFL concedes its anti-gambling stance. In October, Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke at an NFL owners meeting in Houston about the league’s stance on gambling: “We remain very much opposed to gambling on sports. We want to make sure we’re doing what’s right for the game.” The move to Las Vegas is banking on too many “what ifs.” What if Mark Davis knows what he’s doing? What if Sheldon Adelson just wants to see his state get a football team and doesn’t want a piece of ownership? What if Las Vegas rallies around the Raiders despite being the 40th largest media market in the United States? These are questions that should already have answers when discussing a $2 billion project. Earlier this year, Davis told the NFL Network that the move “will unite Raider Nation more than divide it.” That is a statement that ignores the reality of ripping a team away from its city. With a move to Las Vegas, the Raiders would risk losing a huge chunk of their fan base. The team has been lucky to survive relocations to Los Angeles in 1982 and back to Oakland in 1995. However, a move out of the state could alienate a portion of the West Coast fan base. With the Warriors also packing their bags to leave town, this is a make-or-break moment for a city that celebrates its sports teams with pride. The Raiders have failed to reach the playoffs since they went to the Super Bowl in 2002, but that streak will end this season. The Raiders are better off in Oakland, a resilient city that they helped give an identity. Amidst all of this information, one thing seems clear: the chances of the Raider staying in Oakland are greater than ever.
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12 SPORTS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016
THE PIONEER Dubs defense needs work By Benjamin Conroy CONTRIBUTOR
PHOTO BY KEDAR DUTT/THE PIONEER
Cal State East Bay senior guard Jalen Richard plays defense during a game against the Western Washington Vikings.
Men’s basketball on a roll By Marissa Marshall STAFF WRITER Last year the California State East Bay men’s basketball team started their season at just 2-5; not very good. However this year, the men started off 6-1 and are currently on a five-game winning streak after wins over Northwest Nazarene and Academy of Art this past Thanksgiving weekend. On Friday the men traveled to Chico State for the 2016 Mac Martin Invitational where they faced Northwest Nazarene University (2-3 overall). East Bay dominated as senior forward Micah Dunhour led the Pioneers to victory. The forward led all scorers with 23 points, going 6 for 12 on field goals, 2 for 3 from behind the three point line and 9 for 9 on free throws. He also had 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 32 minutes of playing time. Micah has been a consistent player for East Bay in the past few games as he put up 22 points in their game on Nov. 22 against Holy Names and 15 against Montana State on Nov. 19. “I changed my diet this summer and I think that has really helped me with my game this season,” Dunhour said. “I feel better and have more energy. Our coaching staff provided us with different things we can do in our everyday eating habits to help us peak our performance. I’m in the best shape of my life.” The Pioneers capitalized off of Northwest’s
turnovers, scoring 20 points off them. Their bench also dominated, outscoring them 36-10. East Bay has confidence in themselves and their teammates and it shows in their gameplay, specifically in their quick ball movement and sharp passes they use to take advantage of the opportunities handed to them. The Pioneers’ main weakness was the points they allowed in the paint; the Crusaders outscored the Pioneers in the paint, 34 to 12. If the Pioneers can improve down low, they will be a very dangerous team in the California Collegiate Conference Association Conference this year. Towards the end of the first half, four players from both East Bay and Northwest Nazarene were ejected due to an incident. The Pioneer’s sophomore point guard Juwan Anderson and Northwest’s Jalen Shepherd were both restricted from playing the next day due to a one-game suspension. East Bay finished the game with a double-digit win, 71-53. On Saturday, the Pioneers faced the Academy of Art (1-5), which added to their five-game winning streak. Initially, the Pioneers were outrebounded again 32-31, but they continued to play hard and find good looks, which led them to the 78-71 win. Dunhour put up double digits for his fifth game in a row, as he scored 14 points. Freshman guard Druce Asah also performed well again with his fourth double-digit scoring game of the season, and led the Pioneers with 22 points.
By the end of the first half, the Pioneers looked in control of the game as they led Academy of Art by 13 points, their shots fell and the squad got contributions from a slew of players. That momentum carried until the middle of the second half where the Academy of Art cut the lead down to three. East Bay started to turn the ball over, which led to points for the other team and stripped the Pioneers of their double-digit lead. It looked as if the men would have to remain cautious and continue to fight for the remainder of the game to stop the Urban Knights from completing a comeback. “We can’t lose our focus, especially when we are up,” Asah said. “We have to continue to defend and limit turnovers to ensure us a win, and I am glad we woke up so the Academy of Art could not come back.” The Pioneers defense held the Urban Knights to a dismal 11.2 three-point shooting percentage and East Bay’s 50 percent shooting percentage saved them and helped them win the game 78-71. The men will play their first CCAA game on Friday at California State Monterey Bay (2-3) and at San Francisco State (6-0) on Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. “We have seen it all, we have won games by 10 plus, we have won games close as well, so we know how to compete in different situations,” said Asah. “On top of that we are a close knit group and we trust each other in what each of us bring to the table.”
Women’s basketball goes 1-1 over the holiday weekend By Marissa Marshall STAFF WRITER After coming off of the best season in East Bay history, the loss of five key seniors and their head coach, the California State East Bay Women’s basketball team is still adjusting to an entirely different lineup and coaching staff. Over the holiday weekend, the women played Dominican University and the Academy of Art in the Thanksgiving Shootout, an invitational tournament hosted by East Bay on the Hayward campus. On Saturday the Pioneers faced Dominican University (3-3) and trailed in the beginning of the game due to early foul trouble by several key players. By the second quarter the Pioneers caught a rhythm, scored 27 points and went on a 17-4 run. This put them up 40 to 30 at the end of the first half and in good shape going into the second half. “We had to wake up in the second quarter and started defending better, which led us to executing on the offensive end,” senior transfer guard Shomari Harris said. In the second half, the Pioneers managed to maintain control through stellar rebounding and shooting, which helped them outscore Dominican in both the third and fourth quarters, which gave them the 78-62 win. Freshman guard Elayshia Woolridge tallied a season high 11 points on 5 for 7 shooting and also had 4 steals. Freshman guard Kincso Keleman also put up 12 points and 5 rebounds in 25 minutes on the floor. “I have adjusted to being who I am on the court,” said Woolridge. “I share the ball with my team-
mates and bring defensive energy to get stops and score.” Harris led the team in points with 17 and added 5 assists. Sunday night’s game was different for the Pioneers as they fell to the Academy of Art in a tough three point loss. It was another big game for Harris, who earned a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals. Freshman forward Morgan Greene also had a strong night in the losing effort, as she secured a career high 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Pioneers led the entire game until the fourth
quarter, when the Academy of Art outscored them with a 14-5 run and secured the win. It came down to the little things for the team, they turned the ball over too many times and it led to the 57-54 lead for AAU late and they never looked back. “We lost control of the game tonight and we did not execute very well on the offensive end,” said Harris. “I am confident for the season. I feel like our pre-season games have prepared us for our conference. We have put in a lot of work.” East Bay is now 3-3 in non-conference play and will travel with the men to CSU Monterey Bay on Friday and San Francisco State on Saturday.
PHOTO BY TAM DUONG JR/THE PIONEER
The Pioneer women’s basketball team celebrates a score during a home game last season.
The Golden State Warriors have been considered a powerhouse team since winning the NBA championship two years ago, mainly because the team’s offense is dangerous from everywhere on the court. The Warriors don’t just look for one guy that can hit the big shot: all five players on the court can shoot the ball with amazing accuracy. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala have all become household names in the Bay Area because they have transformed the team into what it is today. They all played a huge part in the team’s record-setting winning streak of 24-0 to start the 2016-2017 season, and set the all-time regular season wins record at 73-9. Last season, they beat the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls previous record of 72-10 by one game. When Curry goes to shoot a three-pointer, some teammates immediately run back to the defensive side of the court because they know the ball is going in. Thompson also has the ability to hit the three-point shot: he made 11 three-pointers in a postseason game, a league record. Green averages just over seven assists a game and Iguodala chips in with everything offensively. With the addition this year of All-Star Kevin Durant, who is already leading the team in points, it is almost unfair to any team they play against because it won’t matter who gets the ball, each of those five has tremendous offensive abilities. A powerhouse offense does come with some complications. While the offense is rounding into form as scheduled, the defense has suffered from the loss of size in the middle. The departures of Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli have left holes in the middle of the paint. Teams aren’t afraid to attack the rim, something that hurts the Warriors and their frequent use of small-ball lineups. The team ranks 23rd in the league in points allowed per game with an average of 108.2, a stat they will need to improve if they want to make it back to the NBA Finals. When talking about the Warrior’s defense, the phrase “defense wins championships” comes to mind again. Keeping teams off the scoreboard is crucial to a winning team. Powerhouse offenses have proven time and time again to fail or come close, but never win. Last year’s NBA Finals are a perfect example of this. Golden State was up 3-1 in the series and their defense could not shut Lebron James and the rest of the Cavs team down. This resulted in Cleveland coming all the way back to win the championship in Oakland. Team offense is helping them win games but team defense is definitely making it tough to keep a winning record. Luckily the Warriors offense is that much better than the rest of the leagues this year but their defense is definitely struggling. Getting on the same page and making their team defense better will only help the Warriors become even more dominate than they already are. When they signed Durant this summer, the Warriors had to let go of some key players to make space. They traded starting center Bogut to the Dallas Mavericks and let small forward Harrison Barnes follow him in free agency. Some fans were sad to see them go, but more were happy to see Durant come in. For the last two years the team’s slogan has been “Strength in Numbers,” because bench players made the team stronger, but the Warriors lost several bench players as well, like fan-favorite Leandro Barbosa. Many thought the team would try and hang on to Barbosa, but with salary cap issues he opted for free agency this past off-season. They also loss both backup centers: Ezeli and Marreese Speights; two big men that the Warriors will miss for their size in the middle. Both averaged about seven points a game with minimal time on the court. With the loss of these key bench players, it takes time for any team to build chemistry: players need to get use to the team systems and plays and learn how to play with a new group of guys. Luckily this has not slowed the Warriors down, they are 16-2 to begin the season. This may not be an historic streak to start the year, but chances are looking good for the team to have another strong season. The 2015-2016 Warriors were arguably one of the greatest teams in history. Last year while watching team, I often said, “they are just fun to watch,” and that’s coming from someone who is not the biggest basketball fan. This year looks to be another fun year to watch with the powerhouse offensive and high-scoring games. The Warriors are ranked first in the league for points per game with an average of 116.4.