Mayor Libby Schaaf
Oakland Government finally steps in after artist threats
The s**t is hitting the fan over at The Oakland Cannery since our story about unsafe living conditions broke just last week. KQED published an article this week about the industrial generators creating unsafe living conditions and put pressure on the city. Turns out, the noise made by the press
Dishonest ‘Defund’ Messaging is Not Making Oakland Any Safer
If you believe the Oakland Police Department and their union, the city’s rise in crime is a result of a slashed law enforcement budget. They commonly point to “defund” efforts as the bogeyman that draws out and emboldens a criminal element lurking and waiting for an opportune moment when progressive
This New Literary Magazine is a Gift to the People of San Francisco
I’ve got some awesome news! We received a grant from the Civic Joy Fund to put out a literary magazine celebrating SF and acting to counter the stupid “Doom Loop” narrative. It’s a gift to the people of San Francisco. And after months of working on this project it’s now available
Oakland Has the Worst Roads in the United States
Shitty public infrastructure is something that we in the Bay Area have gotten used to. Whether it’s concrete blocks falling from above on the Richmond-San Rafael bridge, large gaps in our public transportation network or power lines that regularly create fiery deathstorms; we’ve generally accepted that taxpayer funded projects in
The Oakland Homicide Rate is Not All That Sudden or Unique
Oakland is experiencing an alarming spike in violent crimes. The city recorded 15 homicides in the first month of 2021, a stark contrast from the one murder in all of January 2020. Tuesday, the Oakland Police Department released ShotSpotter for the last week of January, reflecting a 137 percent increase
Schaaf Disappoints ‘Defund’ Advocates in Tie-Breaking Vote Against OPD Budget Cuts
The world turned its attention to Oakland when Oscar Grant was murdered by a BART police officer in 2009. The Black Lives Matter movement would not formally organize for another four years, but Grant’s death sparked a national dialogue and amplified calls for police reform. In that way, Oakland is
Ask Mayors Breed and Schaaf to Stop Evictions During Coronavirus
Coronavirus is to wreaking havoc on our personal lives, and many people are being asked to work from home. But hourly workers, low-wage workers, musicians, performers, and those who work for tips – like bartenders and servers – don’t have that option. Their livelihoods are getting destroyed by the fallout
The Expanded Moms 4 Housing Bill Could Change the Whole Game
A movement that started with two mothers making a stand for their rights to be housed in an increasingly untenable market is growing into something with potential to positively impact countless Oakland residents. In a press release issued Tuesday, the group announced that a bill drafted in their name, the
Oakland Councilmember Wants to Rid Police Commission of Political Influence
Voters decided less than four years ago to establish an independent Oakland Police Commission as an extra level of oversight on the police department, which would have had some teeth if allowed to do the job they were sent in to do. With the overwhelming passage of Measure LL, the