Natalia Vieira Santanna wasn’t supposed to stay in the U.S. Now, she runs a successful immigration law firm in Fruitvale.
Author Archives: Ricky Rodas
Ricky Rodas is a member of the 2020 graduating class of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Before joining The Oaklandside, he spent two years reporting on immigrant communities in the Bay Area as a reporter for the local news sites Oakland North, Mission Local, and Richmond Confidential. Rodas, who is Salvadoran American and bilingual, is on The Oaklandside team through a partnership with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities.
Posted inBusiness
Listen: An Oakland pastor and a funeral assistant reflect on a difficult year
Sylvester Rutledge and Todd Walker share how they help people cope with loss.
Posted inArts & Community
‘Oakland was just heavenlike’: Earnestine Hayes, 100, reflects on her years in The Town
Hayes, who celebrated her birthday this week, shares her advice for living a long, fruitful life.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
‘A nice place’ where gun violence is too common, neighbors say after East Oakland mass shooting
We spoke to people who live and work near the Valero gas station in Millsmont where a shooting Monday night resulted in one death and several injuries.
Posted inArts & Community
Oakland’s overcrowded animal shelter wants you to adopt a dog this week
Oakland Animal Services is extending its hours and waiving adoption fee to find forever homes for dogs at the city-run shelter.
Posted inBusiness
‘It’s a cost we didn’t account for’: East Oakland business owners cope with storm impacts
We checked in with business owners and business advocates to see how their operations have been affected by the ‘bomb cyclone.’
Posted inHow We Work
Global Oakland: a year of reporting on immigrants, small business, and lots more
The Oaklandside’s Ricky Rodas reflects on a year of local stories that made big connections to world events.
Posted inArts & Community
East Bay Iranians organize local condemnation of state violence against women and others in Iran
Several Bay Area cities have passed resolutions decrying ongoing human rights abuses in Iran. The effort started in Berkeley and Oakland.
Posted inOaklandside
National pride, ethical qualms, and family: Oaklanders talk about the World Cup
An Argentinian, Brit, and Mexican-American reflect on what soccer and this year’s cup mean to them.
Posted inArts & Community
Oakland Moroccans lose the World Cup but win community and connection
The Bay Area doesn’t have a large Moroccan community, but this year’s tournament brought them together.
Posted inBusiness
From horse-drawn carriages to electric cars: After 145 years, Oakland auto repair shop changes hands
George V. Arth & Son has served East Bay drivers since the 1870s, but the family has decided to sell and move on.
Posted inArts & Community
Watch the World Cup—and learn about human rights, FIFA corruption, and Qatar
The Berkeley Public Library is hosting game watch parties and a virtual panel examining sportswashing and controversies in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Posted inBusiness
Fast food franchises have a tight grip on Eastmont. The city wants to change that
Oakland is hoping to persuade McDonald’s and Taco Bell to remove a deed restriction so the Black Cultural Zone’s market hall can succeed.
Posted inArts & Community
Where to watch the 2022 World Cup in the East Bay
Cheering on the USA, Mexico, Senegal, or South Korea? Here’s some gathering spots in Oakland and Berkeley for international soccer’s greatest competition.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland City Council races: Janani Ramachandran declares victory in District 4
Nikki Fortunato Bas and Kevin Jenkins maintain comfortable leads in districts 2 and 6, respectively.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Who’s leading the Oakland City Council races?
Three candidates have established large leads, but a majority of ballots remain to be counted.
Posted inBusiness
One of Fruitvale’s only optometry practices faithfully serves its patients
Payam and Genesta Zarehbin Irani run Fruitvale Optometry, a bilingual business that caters to the neighborhood’s Latino communities.
Posted inHealth & Environment
After fish die-off, life returns to Lake Merritt
Local volunteers are taking a survey of the lake’s wildlife , and you can help.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Oakland Chamber of Commerce wants City Hall reopened and more police and security patrols downtown
Business groups aren’t satisfied with the city’s current efforts to reduce crime and bring pre-pandemic vibrancy back to downtown.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Election 2022: Meet the 4 candidates running for Oakland City Council District 6
A Peralta trustee, a real estate agent, a tax consultant, and an IT consultant are running to fill the seat vacated by mayoral candidate Loren Taylor.
