A widely supported plan to distribute $63 million emerges from tensions around whether one West Oakland project is jumping ahead of the line.
Author Archives: Natalie Orenstein
Natalie Orenstein covers housing and homelessness for The Oaklandside. She was previously on staff at Berkeleyside, where her extensive reporting on the legacy of school desegregation received recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists NorCal and the Education Writers Association. Natalie’s reporting has also appeared in The J Weekly, The San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere, and she’s written about public policy for a number of research institutes and think tanks. Natalie lives in Oakland, grew up in Berkeley, and has only left her beloved East Bay once, to attend Pomona College.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland aims to eliminate single-family zoning by fall
The Planning Commissioner took a look Wednesday at proposed changes around what can be built in the city and how to expand affordable housing.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Foreclosure looming for West Oakland’s Warriors House
The Oakland Community Land Trust hopes to preserve the celebrated property so the longtime resident can remain in the neighborhood where he grew up.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Yet another big storm hitting Oakland this week
Here’s how to prepare for the up to two inches of rain expected Thursday through Sunday, and an additional downpour the following week.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Alameda County’s eviction moratorium will expire at the end of April
Oakland’s ban on evictions will remain for now but passions were high Tuesday as county officials rejected tenant protection policies amid a landlord protest.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland City Council is returning to in-person meetings
City Hall reopens this week. Here’s what to know.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Violence during a West Oakland homeless camp’s closure highlights dire stakes and lack of trust
A chaotic scene in West Oakland that left a city councilmember’s partner accused of assault reveals dangerous gaps in coordination during high-stakes events.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
State approves Oakland’s Housing Element
The city received a letter of approval Friday, bringing its eight-year development plan into compliance and avoiding major financial consequences.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Don’t sue, don’t talk: Renters asked to ‘sign away rights’ for compensation
Tenants in a downtown Oakland “co-living” building were asked to agree to some unusual terms in order to receive a rent reduction after a hot water outage.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
City will pay up to $2 million for hotels to house East Oakland flood victims
Displaced Coliseum Connection renters said they’re “appalled” by the lack of assistance they’ve gotten.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland Home Histories: Living in the old Jelly Belly factory
One boxy building in North Oakland has served as a candy company, an artist warehouse, a porn studio, a skate park, and a home to many.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
State rejects Oakland’s housing plan, asks for revisions
Like most Bay Area cities, Oakland’s newly approved Housing Element doesn’t comply with state requirements, which could impact the city’s funding and ability to control development.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
What’s in Oakland’s new sweeping 8-year plan for housing?
A year in the making, the Housing Element will now go to the state for approval.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Their East Oakland homes flooded a month ago. They still can’t return
The Coliseum Connections landlord hasn’t filed for permits to begin necessary electrical repairs, the city said.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Moms 4 Housing protesters shut down Alameda County board meeting over renter protections
Activists were arrested and cited Tuesday evening after disrupting the Board of Supervisors meeting.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland loses second homelessness chief in two years
Daniel Cooper, the city’s second-ever homelessness administrator, was “released from employment” this week.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Affordable housing planned for prominent northwest Oakland corner
Plans for a 77-unit building make up the latest attempt to develop this stretch of MLK, which once housed a well-known punk venue.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Alameda County will distribute 500 tents to homeless people impacted by the storm
Grassroots groups are also collecting items for people whose belongings have been soaked and damaged in this dangerous weather in Oakland.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
East Oakland tenants can’t return to flooded building for another week or more
City inspectors are determining the extent of the damage at Coliseum Connections. Last week, tenants held an emotional meeting with officials.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland faces calls for more homeless shelters as storm bears down
It is unclear whether Oakland is increasing its shelter capacity as unhoused residents and advocates scramble for protection from a “bomb cyclone.”
