A chaotic scene in West Oakland that left a city councilmember’s partner accused of assault reveals dangerous gaps in coordination during high-stakes events.
Category: Housing & Homelessness
State approves Oakland’s Housing Element
The city received a letter of approval Friday, bringing its eight-year development plan into compliance and avoiding major financial consequences.
Don’t sue, don’t talk: Renters asked to ‘sign away rights’ for compensation
Tenants in a downtown Oakland “co-living” building were asked to agree to some unusual terms in order to receive a rent reduction after a hot water outage.
City will pay up to $2 million for hotels to house East Oakland flood victims
Displaced Coliseum Connection renters said they’re “appalled” by the lack of assistance they’ve gotten.
Oakland Home Histories: Living in the old Jelly Belly factory
One boxy building in North Oakland has served as a candy company, an artist warehouse, a porn studio, a skate park, and a home to many.
State rejects Oakland’s housing plan, asks for revisions
Like most Bay Area cities, Oakland’s newly approved Housing Element doesn’t comply with state requirements, which could impact the city’s funding and ability to control development.
What’s in Oakland’s new sweeping 8-year plan for housing?
A year in the making, the Housing Element will now go to the state for approval.
Their East Oakland homes flooded a month ago. They still can’t return
The Coliseum Connections landlord hasn’t filed for permits to begin necessary electrical repairs, the city said.
Moms 4 Housing protesters shut down Alameda County board meeting over renter protections
Activists were arrested and cited Tuesday evening after disrupting the Board of Supervisors meeting.
Oakland loses second homelessness chief in two years
Daniel Cooper, the city’s second-ever homelessness administrator, was “released from employment” this week.
Affordable housing planned for prominent northwest Oakland corner
Plans for a 77-unit building make up the latest attempt to develop this stretch of MLK, which once housed a well-known punk venue.
Alameda County will distribute 500 tents to homeless people impacted by the storm
Grassroots groups are also collecting items for people whose belongings have been soaked and damaged in this dangerous weather in Oakland.
East Oakland tenants can’t return to flooded building for another week or more
City inspectors are determining the extent of the damage at Coliseum Connections. Last week, tenants held an emotional meeting with officials.
Oakland faces calls for more homeless shelters as storm bears down
It is unclear whether Oakland is increasing its shelter capacity as unhoused residents and advocates scramble for protection from a “bomb cyclone.”
Flood displaces hundreds from East Oakland apartment complex
Residents of Coliseum Connections, a mixed-income community on 71st Avenue, were told to evacuate New Year’s Day after rainwater swamped the garage.
Oakland’s housing and homelessness programs faced scrutiny in 2022
Reporter Natalie Orenstein spoke about the past year of news on her beat, from rent caps to encampment sweeps.
Memorial honors the hundreds of unhoused people who died in Alameda County this year
A new effort to track every local homeless death has found that unhoused people are five times likelier than others to die.
A lavish Christmas party caps a tumultuous year on Wood Street
Unhoused residents and friends gathered for an elaborate celebration this weekend, knowing the city plans to close the encampment in January.
Duplex housing law hasn’t had big impact on Oakland, so far
SB9 went into effect a year ago, to much fanfare and criticism. Its roll-out in Oakland has been very slow.
Election hands setbacks, wins to renters and landlords in Oakland and Alameda County
Rebecca Kaplan lost the District 3 race to Lena Tam, who could be the deciding vote to end the county’s eviction moratorium. But a renter-friendly majority controls Oakland City Council with an ally in the mayor’s office.