Author Archives: Natalie Orenstein

Households are accruing debt as they try to navigate confusing applications and a patchwork of city, county, and state programs. Meanwhile, fear of eviction looms.

A new “leadership academy” in the East Bay offers paid training in advocacy and policy for youth and adults with experience being unhoused.

The fire department says adding more people and cars will clog streets in a crisis. Homeowners say a backyard-cottage ban would be misguided and inequitable.

Amid soaring construction costs and high rents, Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Councilmembers Dan Kalb and Sheng Thao say the city needs to embrace alternative ways of living and building.

The city can’t easily enforce its rent control law, or communicate with tenants, if it doesn’t track rents. Landlords say the database would be overreach.

Dozens of tenants say Mosser and other companies made life miserable through non-stop construction, utility hikes, broken elevators, and security issues.

A new city plan reveals a massive funding gap, prompting Oakland to consider cheaper, quicker ways of creating low-income units.

Here are the vacant sites in each City Council district that may be used for tiny homes and RV parks.

The change is meant to stop renters from scamming the system. But the pandemic has forced some tenants into unusual living situations.

Daryel Dunston, Needa Bee, Nikki Fortunato Bas, and others share their reactions to a critical encampment report.

Newly available data show the major impact of Oakland and Alameda County’s eviction moratoriums on renters and landlords.

Derrick Soo says his protest is an extension of the Moms 4 Housing movement. But a lawsuit says the hill can’t be safely developed.

From vacant land to rent help and RVs, city leaders’ budget priorities hint at what you’re likely to hear a lot about in the coming months and years.

Two employees allegedly violated conflict-of-interest and anti-nepotism rules. The Public Ethics Commission says a lack of training and policies is the bigger issue.