Downtown

Garrett Fitzgerald speaks at a community meeting on climate change at Peralta Elementary School

Climate change: Is Oakland a model for a local approach?

Mindful of the limits to both individual action and national and global policy, Oakland sees city government as a key climate change player.

Beer: The beverage of the people

There are those who say that every beer has a story. A growing number of women in the Bay Area say that every story…should have a beer.

In lean times, City Council approves more budget cuts

Oakland residents filled the City Council chambers last night, pleading for a reprieve from an additional $15.3 million in city budget cuts to close the deficit for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Grafitti artists share tags and memories of “DREAM”

Mike “DREAM” Francisco, a graffiti artist from Alameda who was murdered 10 years ago during a robbery, inspired young artists and his memory brought them together Friday for “Dream Day,” a celebration of his life and hip hop culture.

City Attorney files lawsuit against immigration consultants

A civil suit filed Thursday by the Oakland City Attorney’s Office against immigration consultancy American Legal Services alleges that the company made false promises to clients and damaged their cases.

Stimulus funds bring Early Head Start to First Presbyterian

In early March, the First Presbyterian Church will be opening its doors to Early Head Start, a non-profit that works in conjunction with the City of Oakland’s Health and Human Services department to run preschools and early childhood development centers for children up to age 3.

Bridge tolls to rise, airport connector has another shot at federal funds

On the day President Barack Obama was delivering the State of Union speech emphasizing jobs and the economy, 2,800 miles away from the Capitol carpenters and union members gathered in front of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission building in Oakland to try to save the $70 million in stimulus money that could put them back to work.

Oakland school board faced with deep cuts to district budget

At Wednesday’s school board meeting it was clear that next year’s budget cuts are going to be huge, real and brutal. Board members faced a proposal to cut the equivalent of 87 full time salaries at the central office in an attempt to scour $39 million from next year’s budget.

After the quake, Oakland’s Haitian community reaches out to help

In the wake of the powerful earthquake that rocked Haiti 12 days ago, Oakland’s Haitian community is organizing relief efforts, trying to protect Haitian immigrants from deportation, and praying for loved ones back home.

Oakland Food Policy Council plants seeds for a fall harvest

By September, the Oakland Food Policy Council hopes to tell city government officials how Oakland can produce more of its own food and help citizens eat healthier.

Waterfront plan stirs controversy over industrial land

Controversy erupted last night over a city effort to guide waterfront redevelopment, with property owners, residents and planning officials squaring off over the future of Oakland’s dwindling industrial land base.

City Council passes ranked-choice voting

With new changes to the city’s election law, an Oakland voter could cast his ballot for Ron Dellums, Don Perata AND Jean Quan for mayor next year—and then rank each candidate in order of preference. This may sound confusing at first, but a majority of Oakland voters in 2006 said they preferred this system.

Oakland comes together for Christmas concert

The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir performed its annual Christmas concert on December 23 at the 12th Street City Center.

Amid century of change, Oakland’s Buddhist Church serves as point of continuity for Japanese-Americans

The Buddhist Church of Oakland is one of the last remaining physical reminders of the Japanese-American community that thrived in Oakland’s Chinatown before World War II.

“Gang Wars: Oakland” leaves locals perplexed, upset

Gangs are a complicated reality in Oakland, a city haunted by violence and the negative reputation that comes with it. But this fall, the nationwide broadcast of “Gang Wars: Oakland” added a new layer of complexity to many viewers’ already complicated feelings about what that violence means and how outsiders perceive it.

BART review committee discusses police practices during meeting

Members of the BART Police Department Review Committee raised questions Wednesday about the police practices at the West Oakland BART station on Nov 21 that resulted in the arrest and injury of an intoxicated train passenger.