If approved by voters, the state law would allow prosecutors to charge more nonviolent crimes as felonies. Critics say it will grow California prisons.
Category: City Hall & Policing
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Looking for Oakland voter guides? Here’s a partial list
As a nonprofit newsroom, The Oaklandside doesn’t make endorsements. Here are a few voter guides compiled by informed locals.
Posted inHow We Work
How we’re covering the 2020 election in Oakland
Our ‘citizen’s agenda’ approach: start by asking Oakland residents about what’s working, and what’s not, in their neighborhoods and schools. Go from there.
Posted inBusiness
Oakland’s cannabis equity program got a $6.5 million boost. But where is the money going?
Grants of up to $33k and two new shared manufacturing kitchens will help, but equity advocates say there’s more to be done.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
After a messy bankruptcy, Oakland City Council candidate Derreck Johnson lost ownership of his restaurant
Public perception is that Johnson owns Home of Chicken and Waffles, but his business history was rocky, and he lost control of the popular Jack London eatery in 2017.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
In Oakland’s District 5, two millennials are running against incumbent Noel Gallo
Social media savvy candidates Zoe Lopez-Meraz and Richard Santos Raya are teaming up using ranked-choice voting. Noel Gallo is promoting a ‘clean and safe’ district.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Barriers go up along Grizzly Peak to cut down fire risk in Oakland, Berkeley
Crowds often gather in the popular turnouts and some people are setting off firecrackers.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Campaign finance becomes a campaign issue in North Oakland
Steph Walton has criticized some of Dan Kalb’s contributors, an independent expenditure committee is supporting Walton, and Tri Ngo is refusing large contributions altogether.
Posted inArts & Community
Drive-in theater on hold, but the Oakland Coliseum and Arena will become a massive voting site
Starting October 31 voters can cast their ballots in person or drive-thru and drop them off.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
A wide open race for Oakland’s District 7 City Council seat
With longtime councilmember Larry Reid retiring, five candidates hope to become deep East Oakland’s next representative.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
District elections: the surprising history explaining how we vote in Oakland
After a long battle, voters overhauled the city’s political system 40 years ago, making the City Council more racially diverse and accountable to neighborhoods.
Posted inArts & Community
‘Don’t Let Me Die In Here:’ Oakland rapper Blast Holiday on San Quentin’s COVID-19 outbreak
‘Ice City’ rapper discusses the coronavirus outbreak, releasing new music, and gentrification.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
There’s one at-large seat on Oakland’s City Council. Three very different candidates are running for it
We asked incumbent Rebecca Kaplan and challengers Derreck Johnson and Nancy Sidebotham about their views on homelessness, policing, and more.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
‘Breonna Taylor wasn’t me, but she could have been’
Two correspondents from our friends at Oakland Voices share their insights on the Breonna Taylor decision.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Lyft backing campaign to unseat Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan
The ride-hailing giant contributed $100,000 to YIMBY activists who are running ads against Kaplan and supporting her opponent, Derreck Johnson.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Wildfires, homeless camps, police: Where Oakland’s District 1 candidates stand
We interviewed Dan Kalb, Steph Dominguez Walton, and Tri Ngo about their ideas to solve North Oakland’s biggest problems.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
How secure is voting-by-mail in Oakland?
After downtown mail boxes were removed last month, local postal workers and voters are staying vigilant. Here’s how the entire process works, and how to track your ballot as it travels through the mail.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
Accusations of political ‘money laundering’ under investigation in Oakland
Multiple members of the City Council received campaign contributions allegedly linked to a contractor seeking a favorable legal decision and a land deal.
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
You have 2 weeks left to fill out the 2020 Census. Here’s how, and why it matters
“When the census is undercounting Black people and East Oakland people, we get less resources.”
Posted inCity Hall & Policing
District 3 council candidates differ on housing, police, and the meaning of ‘progressive’
The Oaklandside interviewed four people running to represent West Oakland and downtown. Here’s where they stand.
