The good news? Rats are down. The bad news? Cats are multiplying, they’re in the arena and baseball field, and rehoming them isn’t easy.
Author Archives: David DeBolt
David DeBolt reported on City Hall and policing for The Oaklandside. He spent 12 years working for daily newspapers in the Bay Area, including on the Peninsula and Solano County. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2012 where he covered a variety of beats, most recently as a senior breaking news reporter. During his time at BANG, DeBolt covered Oakland City Hall, the Raiders stadium saga and the A’s search for a new ballpark, as well as the Oakland Police Department and police reform efforts. He was part of the East Bay Times staff honored with the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for coverage of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Who will carry Wilma Chan’s torch as Oakland’s District 3 county representative?
Four candidates are running for the Alameda County Board of Supervisor seat. Chan held the position until she tragically died in November.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
No surprise here: A’s Howard Terminal plan hit with three lawsuits
Two railroad companies and a coalition of port workers have long viewed the proposal as an existential threat.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
A quick guide to the Alameda County District Attorney election
Four candidates are running for DA in the June 7 primary. Here are the basics.
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
To raise city revenue, a plan to change how Oakland taxes big businesses
Small businesses and big corporations currently pay city taxes at basically the same rate. Once more, some councilmembers want to change that.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
For the first time in over 30 years, there’s a real race for Alameda County sheriff
Why Oaklanders should care about the county’s top seat, and who’s running. And what does the county sheriff do, anyway?
Posted inHealth & Environment
AB&I Foundry: After announcing permanent closure, owners file plans to redevelop East Oakland site
A developer with ties to Amazon wants to transform the foundry into a “thriving employment center.”
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
The murky business of K9 cops: Did an Oakland police officer cross the line?
The officer advertised breeding his OPD police dog for profit. His side hustle reveals wider gaps in K9 accountability.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Good news at city-run animal shelter: Adoptions are up, euthanasia use is down
Oakland Animal Services reports that the numbers of dogs being put down are at historic lows.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Howard Terminal town hall: West Oakland residents share concerns—and Fife floats a bold proposal
City councilmember Carroll Fife, whose district contains the proposed site, raised the possibility of letting Oakland voters decide its fate.
Posted inHealth & Environment
AB&I Foundry in East Oakland announces permanent closure
The century-old company, which employs 200 workers, many who live in East Oakland, is moving to Texas.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Fireplaces are illegal to use on some winter nights. Has that helped Oakland’s air?
Wood burning is outlawed on Spare the Air days, but data shows that enforcement is rare.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Police officers are increasingly leaving Oakland. How can the city retain them, and diversify?
Just 10% of Oakland officers live in Oakland. New data sheds light on staffing progress and challenges.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Chauncey Bailey Way unveiled on block where Oakland journalist was assassinated
A stretch of 14th Street now pays tribute to the Oakland native, killed in 2007 for a story he was working on.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Rebecca Kaplan kicks off campaign for Alameda Board of Supervisors seat
Former Alameda Councilmember Lena Tam and former Oakland school board director David Kakishiba are also running in the June 7 primary election.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Port says yes to open-air gravel facility, despite concerns from West Oakland activists
Activists and the air quality district say piles of sand and gravel as high as four stories will worsen air quality in already suffering neighborhoods.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
City Council this week: Should parklets abide? Plus, another vote on Howard Terminal environmental report
And the developers behind a proposed apartment tower on E. 12th Street want yet another extension.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland to illegal dumpers: new secret cameras will catch you
The city has installed 10 new high-quality camera systems in unnamed spots around town to discourage people who dump debris.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland has new City Council and school board district boundaries
It was an “imperfect” process resulting in an “imperfect” map, but new lines are set for Districts 1 through 7 until 2030.