LOS ANGELES —  Two old friends, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, hold the future of California’s Black population in their hands as new infrastructure projects reverse decades of outmigration from the Golden State.   Bass and Lee were among the state legislators who sparked the end of apartheid in South Africa in the late 1980s, soon after the 1984 Olympics.

With the Olympics returning to Los Angeles in 2028 and a Super Bowl coming to Santa Clara in 2026, both have an opportunity to put Black communities in the driver’s seat.   The Destination Crenshaw initiative is further along, with a METRO subway coming up Crenshaw Boulevard with a stop named for legendary Rep. Diane Watson at Leimert Park.   METRO CEO Stephanie Wiggins leads the nation’s largest public transit system.

Lee takes office as the African-American Sports and Entertainment Group, a unique blend of developers, athletes, financiers and community advocates, has pulled off the unthinkable after six years of work — purchasing the Oakland Arena and Coliseum site from the owners of the Oakland A’s after they left town to move to Sacramento and then to Las Vegas.

For Ray Bobbitt, the managing partner, “it is the best development site in America with two interstates, an airport, an Amtrak stop and 700 acres of land.”  With the backing of Loop Capital and sports agent Bill Duffy, AASEG plans a $5 billion development which will preserve the stadia and add a whole new city and convention center geared to the interests of the unique character of Oakland.

Duffy said he was inspired by the example of Bill Russell, the Oakland high school hero who went on to win 11 NBA championships and five Most Valuable Player trophies, and Warriors coach Al Attles, who won an NBA championship 50 years ago.

They’ve already approached the NFL about an expansion franchise, but the arenas are not going dark.  Other entertainment and sports options have been giving the venues a surprising boost to Oakland’s city coffers.

California is ranked fifth in the Black Business Affinity Index as statewide elected and appointed officials like Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber and Controller Malia Cohen join Secretary Tomiqua Moss of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency; Secretary Toks Omishaikin of the Transportation Agency and Secretary Kim Johnson of the Health and Human Services Agency to hold the line against national attacks on civil rights protections.