Locals react as judge upholds ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ injunction

The military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, passed by Congress in 1993, prohibits those who are openly gay from serving in the armed forces. Last week, a federal judge ordered an injunction putting a temporary halt to the policy and on Monday issued a tentative ruling to uphold that injunction. With the judge’s ruling, local Navy vet Michael Hughes said, Americans are “one step closer to liberty and justice for all.”

Oakland ethics commission considers lobbying allegation

A complaint recently filed with the Oakland Public Ethics Commission has raised a debate about whether contact with a public official by a business leader constitutes lobbying. The complaint alleges that six prominent Oakland business leaders have lobbied their governmental officials without being registered to do so.

Don Perata talks top issues, mayoral campaign finances

Don Perata, one of 10 candidates for Oakland mayor, has had a long history of public service, having spent 16 years teaching in Alameda County and 12 years as a Sacramento politician. But his record has also been marred with controversy over issues such as campaign finances.

Dragon boat teams race through bay waters

Saturday’s sunny skies made for good weather by any standard, and in the calm waters between Treasure Island and Yerba Buena, it was a perfect day for a dragon boat race. Watch the video of the Bay Area’s 15th annual Dragon Boat Festival this weekend. It was the largest event of its kind in the country.

Oakland mayoral candidates protest Perata spending

Five of the ten candidates for Oakland mayor stood on the steps of Oakland City Hall Tuesday afternoon to reaffirm their commitment to campaign expenditure limits while slamming fellow candidate Don Perata, accusing him of attempting to raise the spending ceiling agreed upon by all candidates.

Meg Whitman moves into Democratic territory

Meg Whitman’s Oakland campaign office is a modest white building, tucked between a Subway restaurant and an unrented space on Lakeshore Avenue, distinguished only by the “Meg 2010” signs in every window. The Republican gubernatorial candidate’s office has turned heads and raised questions about the strategy of establishing a campaign headquarters in Oakland, opponent Jerry Brown’s home turf.