This story was co-published with The Oaklandside. Earlier this year, Oakland adopted a roadmap outlining steps to help minority and woman-owned businesses get a fairer share of public contracts. But for many contractors and advocates, the question is why has it taken so long? In 2008, Oakland first commissioned a study to determine whether there were racial and gender disparities in the city’s contracting process for construction, architecture, maintenance and other services. That study, and subsequent studies conducted every five…
Two members of the Oakland Police Commission have drafted a scathing letter to the federal court, saying the City Council is threatening the city’s progress toward ending two decades of federal oversight of the Police Department. The letter is included in the agenda packet for the commission’s Thursday night meeting, during which commissioners will decide whether to send it to the federal monitor overseeing Oakland’s police reforms. The letter, which is not addressed or dated, is signed by Commission Chair…
As Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell prepares to leave in December, city officials will be tasked with selecting a new head for the Police Department. The Oakland Police Commission, known as one of the strongest oversight boards in the country, will help decide who becomes the city’s next police chief. Its involvement is under scrutiny by the Oakland Police Officers Association and some residents, after some said Chief Mitchell left because the job comes with too much oversight. “We will…
The Oakland Police Commission this week gave police Chief Floyd Mitchell the green light to allow officers to start a car chase without prior approval from a supervisor and to exceed 50 mph in those pursuits. Previously, officers were required to get supervisor approval before chasing any suspects and had to abandon the chase if it exceeded 50 mph. Mitchell has been advocating for a new chase policy for the department for over a year. Though he did not need…