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.
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
Aquí le decimos como tanto inquilinos y propietarios de Oakland pueden solicitar ayuda de emergencia para pagar el alquiler
Si usted o su inquilino no han pagado el alquiler debido a la crisis de COVID-19, es posible que califique para recibir ayuda a través de dos programas nuevos.
Posted inArts & Community
Oakland Public Library will reopen for in-person book browsing, computer use
OPL Express will launch at 16 branches on April 19, offering limited indoor services with safety measures.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
‘Storm of negligence’: Investigators find systemic ethics issues in Oakland’s housing department
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.
Posted inOaklandside
Los inquilinos de un edificio en Fruitvale demandan al propietario por las condiciones peligrosas en las que viven
Ellos afirman que el propietario está infringiendo las leyes de vivienda de Oakland y California. Las viviendas tienen problemas de roedores, moho y grifos que no funcionan.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Fruitvale renters sue landlord over ‘atrocious’ mold, rats, and broken faucets
A group of Spanish-speaking tenants claim their landlord is breaking Oakland and California housing laws with dangerous living conditions.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Here’s how Oakland tenants and landlords can apply for emergency rent help
If you or your tenant has missed rent payments because of the COVID-19 crisis, you might qualify for aid through two new programs.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland closes a Fruitvale homeless camp, putting its new encampment policy in action
The controversial policy was approved by the City Council last year, but it’s largely gone unenforced.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland eyes old Lake Merritt Lodge and hotels for homeless shelters
City staffers say Oakland could use federal funding and an expected state grant opportunity to lease and then own hotels.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Oakland takes a step toward banning single-family zoning
The City Council voted unanimously to look into allowing fourplexes citywide and removing long-standing laws that officials called “exclusionary.”