With four days until Alameda County’s June 7 primary election, we followed the money.
Author Archives: Darwin BondGraham
Before joining The Oaklandside as News Editor, Darwin BondGraham worked with The Appeal, where he was an investigative reporter covering police and prosecutorial misconduct. He has reported on gun violence for The Guardian, and was an enterprise reporter for the East Bay Express. BondGraham's work has also appeared with KQED, ProPublica and other leading national and local outlets. He holds a doctorate in sociology from UC Santa Barbara and was the co-recipient of the George Polk Award for local reporting in 2017.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland police officer retired before he could be disciplined for baton attack
OPD found the lieutenant used excessive force and was dishonest, but his attorney claims the department was cynically juking disciplinary stats.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Ballot measure would maintain millions in Oakland library funding for 30 years
Measure C would extend a parcel tax that currently provides the city’s library system with $18 million annually, or 40% of its budget.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland police closer than ever to exiting federal oversight
A federal judge said Wednesday that if OPD can sustain policing reforms for a 1-year period, it could soon regain independence.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
On June 7, there’s an important election. Here’s what Oakland voters need to know
What’s on the ballot, how to register and vote, info on candidates for local offices, and much more.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
After an uptick in shootings, someone installed DIY surveillance cameras on Lakeshore Avenue
The city doesn’t know who installed the illegal cameras—and it turns out they were only pretending to record.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Half the money in Oakland’s elections comes from outside the city. ‘Democracy dollars’ could change that
Under a proposed ballot measure, every Oakland voter would get $100 to contribute to candidates for mayor, City Council, and more.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland’s privacy commission wants to ensure sexual assault survivors’ DNA isn’t misused
OPD says it never followed San Francisco’s controversial practice of using DNA to ID survivors as criminal suspects. A new policy may ensure it never does.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
No criminal charges for officers who killed Erik Salgado in 2020
The district attorney’s report highlights a lack of video evidence. Attorneys for Salgado’s family question why the report took so long to come out.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland’s last police chief will probably have her day in court
Anne Kirkpatrick says she was fired for whistleblowing. City officials say she took OPD backwards. A jury trial is likely.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland Police Commission fires lead investigator
John Alden led the Community Police Review Agency for nearly 3 years. The commission declined to say why he was dismissed.
Posted inHealth & Environment
West Oakland environmental group sues to stop proposed port gravel facility
West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project says the port hasn’t gone far enough to prevent more air pollution.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
New Oakland police body cameras turn on automatically when officers draw their guns
The City Council increased the $8.1 million camera contract by $250,000 to include other auto-activation features.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Chinatown group gives Oakland police 3 drones
A new Chinatown business group, formed in the wake of #StopAAPIHate, donated the unmanned aerial vehicles since OPD can’t buy its own.
Posted inRoad Safety
No more truck parking in most of West Oakland?
The City Council might make big updates to rules on where commercial trucks can drive and park.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Landlords sue to end eviction moratoriums in Oakland and Alameda County
Several Oakland property owners have joined a broader effort to end eviction bans by filing a lawsuit.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Federal monitor says OPD has gotten better at investigating police misconduct
The Oakland police department has shown it can investigate these cases quickly and thoroughly, two reforms required after a lawsuit.
Posted inHealth & Environment
6-year battle over proposed West Oakland coal terminal could soon end
The City Attorney announced a tentative deal that would keep Oakland’s coal ban in place, but allow development of part of the former Army Base.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Who’s given money to candidates for Oakland mayor, City Council, and other local races
A look at campaign finance records for 2021. Oakland’s election day is Nov. 8, while the county holds a June primary for district attorney, sheriff races.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Power out across Oakland following high winds
Thousands of Oakland residents and businesses were without electricity Saturday morning as PG&E crews worked to clear debris and restore service.