Oakland public school students are bracing for a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban as the school district’s new policy comes into effect when the school year begins on Monday. Students will have to turn in their cellphones and any other devices capable of calling, texting or accessing the internet at the beginning of the school day, and will only get them back when the final bell rings, Oakland Unified School District said in a communication to parents last month. Elementary school students…
Riders taking BART to San Francisco International Airport this summer have had to deal with the inconvenience of delays and transfers because of ongoing track work at night. This weekend is no exception, with BART telling riders to prepare for delays of up to 30 minutes because of train control system work. BART will close one track between Millbrae, SFO and San Bruno from 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday night. While BART will return to a normal schedule on Monday,…
At a packed town hall meeting this week, Oakland residents urged City Councilmember Zac Unger and city staff to stop the Rockridge Trader Joe’s site from being redeveloped into high-rise apartments for seniors. Joined by city staff, Unger fielded questions at St. Augustine Catholic Church in North Oakland Monday but said City Council could not stop the project, given state laws that promote such developments. San Francisco-based Align Real Estate has filed a preliminary proposal to develop the property at…
Oakland City Council approved the sale of the city’s stake in the 112-acre Coliseum complex Monday for $125 million and an amendment that will give the city a percentage of ticket sales. The Oakland City Council approved the sale of the city’s 50% stake in the 112-acre Coliseum complex Monday for $125 million and an amendment that will give the city a percentage of ticket sales. The property will be acquired by the Oakland Acquisition Co., an entity formed by…
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s tenure officially ended Tuesday, when Oakland City Council certified the November election results that included the vote to recall her. The local elections were complicated this year by two successful recalls, the second involving Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price; the inclusion of 16- and 17-year-olds in voting for Oakland Unified School Board candidates; and lingering questions about ranked-choice voting after errors in the 2022 election tally prompted a lawsuit and a change after the vote…
Oakland voters have recalled Mayor Sheng Thao. With more than 65,000 votes tallied, 64% have said yes to a recall, prompting the need for a special election to elect a new mayor in a few months. In a statement acknowledging her defeat Friday night, Thao said, “I am deeply proud of the progress we created together and I am committed to ensuring we stay on track by supporting a smooth transition. It isn’t about me. It never has been. It…
At an event launching the campaign to fight her recall, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said Sunday that the FBI raid of her home in June was an “overreach” by the agency. Likening it to the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails just two weeks before the 2016 presidential election, Thao said the ongoing FBI probe is “undoubtedly putting a finger on the scale, influencing this election.” Thao reiterated that she is innocent, is not the target of the investigation, and has…
The Oakland Ballers delivered in their inaugural season, reviving the city’s baseball legacy with a wining season and a playoff berth. “Welcome to the next chapter of baseball in Oakland,” blares a voice over the public address system in Raimondi Park, the B’s home field in West Oakland. Fans have flocked to the bleachers, nearly 2,000 on average at each home game. Only a few thousand more have been going to the Coliseum to see the A’s play their last…