An Oakland-based Puerto Rican restaurant and a Bay Area DJ collective are raising money for Puerto Rican residents still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona.
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 inOaklandside
Oakland wants a WNBA team
The women’s basketball league is expanding. The Oakland City Council officially called on the league to give The Town a team.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Umoja Health Fair returns to Oakland
The nonprofit will be providing on-site health screenings, vaccinations, and health care information for underserved communities.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Election 2022: D6 residents love their neighborhoods but say there’s much to fix
Voters in the sprawling East Oakland district will be choosing a new City Council member this November.
Posted inBusiness
For Temescal’s only tailor, craft is culture
Bolivian-born Gabriel Escobar’s father, mother, and grandfather were expert tailors. He continues their legacy in his North Oakland shop.
Posted inHealth & Environment
‘It’s the worst I’ve seen’: Lake Merritt dead fish clean-up continues ahead of heat wave
Crews have removed over 1,200 pounds of dead fish from the lake, which has been hard-hit by a massive algae bloom.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
‘With resources comes change’: Oakland families call for more action on gun violence
Organizers said they want to prevent locals from becoming desensitized to violence and for everyone to take action.
Posted inBusiness
Owners of Rent-A-Relic, North Oakland’s quirky car rental agency, reflect on 30 years of business
With its iconic dinosaur mascot and niche market, the Temescal company has managed to outlast giant national competitors.
Posted inBusiness
A Black and woman-owned screen printing shop opens in East Oakland
Rita Forte used to DJ in Oakland’s Hyphy scene. The East Oakland native now owns Olive Street Agency, a graphic design business.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Election 2022: Who’s running for Oakland City Council District 6?
4 candidates want to represent the East Oakland district, which includes the Coliseum, Mills College, Eastmont, and the hills.
Posted inBusiness
How are Oakland’s Latino businesses doing?
Fruitvale is bustling, but Latino businesses still need help, says the president of the Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce.
Posted inArts & Community
Oakland rapper Bryce Savoy pays homage to his late grandmother in new music video
The visuals for the song “Granny Said” depict his admiration for his grandmother Isabelle Payne-Brown, who passed away this year.
Posted inBusiness
A Sri Lankan chef says goodbye to her longtime Oakland cafe
Chef Anula Edirisinghe said she’s closing her downtown Oakland restaurant due to rising rent and slow foot traffic in downtown.
Posted inBusiness
Parklets: Oakland seeks public input
The city wants feedback on its rules for when, where, and how businesses can convert parking into outdoor amenities.
Posted inBusiness
A North Oakland game shop builds community through a love of playing
It’s Your Move Games thrives by hosting game nights and summer camps.
Posted inArts & Community
As a brutal civil war rages, Ethiopians in Oakland ask why the world isn’t tuning in
With the world’s eyes on Ukraine, Bay Area Tigrayans, Amharas, and other Ethiopians are fighting to be heard.
Posted inBusiness
Independent truck drivers protest “gig worker law” AB5 at Port of Oakland
The state labor law aims to give contract workers more benefits and protections, but some drivers say “no thanks.”
Posted inArts & Community
Highland Hospital needs your help naming its resident red-tailed hawks
The giant birds have delighted staff and patients with their presence, and now the hospital wants your help naming its feathered celebrities.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
National Night Out returns to Oakland this year with an emphasis on reimagining public safety
The city’s Neighborhood Services Division hopes to organize with residents skeptical of the police-centric block party.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
‘Emerald New Deal’ cannabis tax ballot measure faces skepticism
The Oakland City Council postponed a final decision on the proposed measure following a debate about its merits.
