Oakland is making lobbyists pay a $500 registration fee to do business in town, but the Public Ethics Commission wants to cut nonprofits a break.
Author Archives: Eli Wolfe
Eli Wolfe reports on City Hall for The Oaklandside. He was previously a senior reporter for San José Spotlight, where he had a beat covering Santa Clara County’s government and transportation. He also worked as an investigative reporter for the Pasadena-based newsroom FairWarning, where he covered labor, consumer protection and transportation issues. He started his journalism career as a freelancer based out of Berkeley. Eli’s stories have appeared in The Atlantic, NBCNews.com, Salon, the San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere. Eli graduated from UC Santa Cruz and grew up in San Francisco.
Posted inBusiness
A new name for Oakland International Airport?
Golden State Airport? E-40 International? The port is surveying Oakland residents for a possible rebrand.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Oakland International Airport wants to expand. Environmentalists say it’s a bad ideaÂ
Local environmental groups say a plan to add 16 new passenger gates will fuel Earth’s climate emergency.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Mayor Sheng Thao is traveling to Vietnam to promote trade
In her first overseas trip as mayor, Thao hopes to drum up business for the Port of Oakland.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland’s Police Commission is failing to meet deadlines in misconduct investigations
The commission’s chief investigator says his team is overwhelmed by cases. Blowing deadlines could mean discipline can’t be issued.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland City Hall in conversation: Nikki Fortunato Bas
The Council President talks budget highlights, protecting Oakland workers, funding violence prevention, and department mergers.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland’s Democracy Dollars delayed, but not deadÂ
The campaign finance reform initiative will be postponed until 2026 due to budget constraints. Supporters are using the extra time to prepare.Â
Posted inHealth & Environment
Oakland urges PG&E to bury power lines in fire-prone hills
The utility giant is burying thousands of miles of power lines—but not in Oakland.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
The fight over the Oakland Police Commission is getting uglier
Current commission chair Tyfahra Milele claims a conspiracy is hanging over Oakland’s police watchdog board.Â
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Public outcry results in smallest possible raise for Oakland mayor
City Council approved a $13,000 salary increase and proposed changes to the city’s constitution.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland City Hall in conversation: Carroll Fife
The activist turned District 3 rep. feels like 2023 is the year she can finally get stuff done.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
What’s the real deal with the Oakland mayor’s $75,000 pay raise?
A public opinion firestorm erupted over a proposal to give Mayor Sheng Thao a salary bump. We explain what’s going on.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
New trial begins in Oakland’s coal fight. What’s at stake?
The developer behind a controversial coal terminal claims over $148 million in lost profits. Oakland says residents’ health and safety are at risk.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland’s MACRO has responded to thousands of calls. Very few were sent over by the police
Residents and businesses call on MACRO’s help regularly. OPD does not.
Posted inBusiness
Family behind Black-owned Oakland BBQ spot sues Marriott developer
Uncle Willie’s BBQ says tools and debris rained down during construction. Other Black-owned businesses say they’ve been hurt by downtown development.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Almost 20% of jobs with the City of Oakland are unfilled
Oakland has struggled for years to staff up departments that maintain roads, prevent gun violence, and issue permits. Relief is unlikely due to the budget crisis.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
In one of its first big fights, Oakland’s City Council narrowly balances $4.2 billion budget
In a show of dissent, three councilmembers refused to approve Mayor Thao’s plan to merge several departments.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland City Council in conversation: Noel Gallo talks District 5
After nearly 10 years in city government, the councilmember is still looking for ways to make his district cleaner and safer for families.Â
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
‘Threats, complaints, chaos’: Leadership battle embroils Oakland’s police watchdog group
The head of Oakland’s Police Commission is accused of abusing her own power. She says her critics are pawns in a bigger game.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland’s City Attorney is about to become more powerful
From combatting wage theft to enforcing environmental protections, the City Attorney currently doesn’t have the authority needed to get crucial things done.
