Editorials

OAKLAND — With warm outpourings of affection, a host of local and state leaders came to Clay Street in Oakland Wednesday to dedicate the twin-towered federal building to former U.S. Rep. Ron Dellums. 

When the statesman finally spoke – following the praise of mayors, city council members and supervisors past and present – Dellums expressed gratitude to the supporters who “kept sending me back to Washington.” 

But mostly Dellums thanked his family. 

“For (my mom) to call me on the phone and say, ‘I just walked by the federal building and I saw my son's name on the federal building and all the buttons popped off my jacket.’” 

Dellums was referred to as a political role model by many current politicians, including Oakland Councilman Ignacio de la Fuente, Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean and Assemblywoman Dion Aroner, D-Berkeley. 

“For many of us in this room, our political history is so wrapped up in this man,'' Aroner said. 

The dedication concluded with the unveiling of an engraving inside the federal building's glass-domed aviary. 

It’s a day of building dedications for Dellums, who will be honored by the Chabot Space and Science Center with the dedication of the Dellums Science Building this evening.