Black Muslim Bakery Bilked Oakland

Thu, Aug 9, 2007 at 11:09:28 am PDT

Oakland politicians are in hot water over their support for the “Your Black Muslim Bakery,” now implicated in several murders: Black Muslim Bakery squandered job-training money.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland found themselves in the unwelcome spotlight this week over the letters of support they wrote on behalf of the notorious Your Black Muslim Bakery, but they aren’t the only politicos who have supported the group over the years.

At the height of its power back in 1996, the splinter Muslim group - whose members were implicated in last week’s slaying of newspaper editor Chauncey Bailey - got the city to approve an advance on a $1.2 million federal redevelopment loan to launch training program for health care jobs.

Within three months, the group had burned through $275,000 without turning out a single graduate.

They did, however, spend $650 a month to lease a Cadillac.

Another $44,000 supposedly went to consulting fees, $10,500 went for security and $7,500 for advertising on a local cable station, where then-leader Yusuf Bey had a weekly TV show.

When asked to explain what was going on, the Black Muslim Bakery cadre - in one of their typical tactics - marched in unison from the bakery to City Hall, then entered the council chambers like a precision drill team, lining up along the room’s back walls.

They then asked for another $70,000 to keep the project going. And they got it, with the council voting 6-2 to grant the funds - minus the money for the Cadillac.

“The message was very clear - we are watching you,” said City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, who cast one of the votes against the group’s request.

The school never opened.

(Hat tip: LGF readers.)