Feelings—and misperceptions—about the size of Oakland’s police budget since the “defund” movement are likely to shape this election.
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
Mayor Libby Schaaf strikes hopeful note in final state of the city speech
Despite rising violence, homelessness, and mass discontent, Schaaf told supporters the city is stronger after her 8 years in office.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
How ranked-choice voting works in Oakland elections
You don’t have to settle for 1 candidate for mayor, school board, and more. You can pick up to 5 through the city’s instant runoff process.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
East Oakland police chase leaves a bystander dead
Oakland police say a man wanted for brandishing a gun fled officers this morning, setting off a deadly chase.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Federal monitor warns of ‘deeply troubling’ disciplinary issues within Oakland Police Department
Two new internal affairs cases could derail OPD’s plan to finally shake off its federal watchdogs.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland mayor’s race: unions, coal terminal developers, and others are spending big on a few candidates
So far, Sheng Thao and Ignacio De La Fuente have benefitted the most from the fact that wealthy people, unions, and corporations can spend almost unlimited amounts in U.S. elections.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Election 2022: Here’s what Oakland residents want their next mayor to focus on
Homelessness, public safety, illegal dumping, and racial equity were among the priorities for voters we interviewed.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Arson cause of Tuesday’s fire along I-580 in Oakland, officials said
Flames broke out Tuesday afternoon within a few hundred meters of where another suspicious fire damaged several homes last week.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland mayoral candidate Seneca Scott was arrested last year for brandishing a firearm
Scott allegedly used a gun to confront two people in 2021. Candidate Peter Liu was also arrested on a gun charge last year.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland mayoral candidate threatens Jewish community in mass emails
A fringe candidate, angry at being excluded from an upcoming forum at a Jewish temple, emailed antisemitic messages to local reporters and public figures.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Toilets? Cannabis grows? Rising temps? We looked into theories and history behind the Bay Area algae bloom
Questions swirl as carcasses rot at Lake Merritt and beyond. We talked to experts and explored 100 years of local fish-kills.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland mayoral candidates talk affordable housing, crime, and ‘giant water slides’ at forum
8 of the 10 people running for mayor presented their ideas to an audience of elders and others at Laney College Tuesday night.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Lake Merritt fish die-off: Can the city help? Can you? Will decimated species bounce back?
The Bay’s unprecedented and fatal algae bloom has scientists, government agencies, and others scrambling to understand the causes and long-term implications.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Fish are piling up dead around Lake Merritt
Authorities say an algae bloom associated with the die-off probably isn’t harmful to humans but are urging people and pets to stay out of the water.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Everything Oakland residents need to know about the 2022 election
How to register and vote, what’s on the ballot, voters’ rights, and other Nov. 8 election essentials.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Meet Stormy and Sunny, Highland Hospital’s hawks
Alameda Health System asked the public to help name the hospital’s resident red tails.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Where to watch: Oakland mayor, council, and school board candidate forums
The candidates are taking part in lots of debates before the Nov. 8 election. Here’s a list of upcoming and past events.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Election 2022: Who’s running for Oakland mayor?
There are 10 candidates vying for Oakland’s top job. Here’s the list.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
The 3 Oakland councilmembers running for mayor debated at a forum last night
Treva Reid, Loren Taylor, and Sheng Thao proposed solutions to homelessness, public safety, clearing trash from Oakland’s streets and parks, and more.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Ballot measures: How voters could change Oakland’s laws this fall
Renter protections, new taxes, and gender-neutral language. Here’s a quick breakdown of Oakland’s 10 ballot measures in the 2022 election.
