Betty Marquez Rosales

New exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California celebrates untold queer history

“The future is queer, because the present is not enough” —  that’s the opening line on the description for the Oakland Museum of California’s new exhibit called “Queer California: Untold Stories.” The exhibit is a celebration of the queer people, art, and events that have been otherwise sidelined in California history. “The show doesn’t really highlight the usual stories. We know about Pride parades, Harvey Milk, discrimination, the pride flag,” said Lisa Silberstein, the exhibit’s experience developer. “This goes beyond…

New measure extends the working hours of Oakland’s Public Libraries

A man sat on a bench in the Oakland Main Library branch on a recent overcast Monday and asked for the time. It was 5:34 p.m. “What time do they close?” he asked. The branch used to close at 5:30 p.m on Mondays—but as of April 1, it closes at 8 p.m. The man settled into the bench and said he might stick around longer. For the first time in 15 years, Oakland Public Library staffers have extended their hours…

Following Oakland’s failed ban on coal transport, Richmond officials will consider their own

The Richmond City Council will soon consider an ordinance that would restrict the handling of coal and petcoke, a byproduct of oil refining, on port terminals in Richmond. A draft of the ordinance, introduced in December, has been approved by the city attorney, and it is expected to go to the council for a vote, although according to that office, a date has not been set yet.  The ordinance, authored by Councilmember Eduardo Martinez, calls for “the prohibition on the…

Tales of Two Cities Podcast: Guilty Pleasures

Welcome back to the Tales of Two Cities podcast!  This episode is all about our guilty pleasures. This week we’ll take you to Zoonie’s Candy Shop in Oakland to relive your childhood, learn about how people who have shopped too much are managing all the stuff they have, and hang out with a group of friends trying to solve a murder mystery — and who want you to know that games aren’t just for kids. And finally, we’ll meet up…

Lois the Pie Queen

At Lois the Pie Queen, eight tables are occupied on an early Monday morning. Nearly every table being serviced is occupied by a group of two. No one has a phone in hand—people come here to chat. Sure, they’re here for the pie and the breakfast, but mostly for the ambience. This is a diner that feels like walking into a grandmother’s kitchen on a warm, sunny spring afternoon. There’s always hot coffee, music playing in the background, and chatter…

Tales of Two Cities Podcast: Remembering and Forgetting

In this episode of “Tale of Two Cities,” we explore forgotten areas of the Easy Bay and how people are working to keep their traditions and memories alive. From reporter Cecilia Lei, we hear about how volunteers are helping to save neglected, stray dogs in Richmond. Next, reporter Betty Marquez Rosales and sound engineer Rosa Amanda Tuiran take us to Corazón del Pueblo, a non-profit center in Oakland where visitors remember Dia de los Muertos during sugar skull workshops. Lastly,…