Oakland North Staff

3.26.2010 The last 24

Several big breaking news items within the last 24 hours: KTVU reports that one of the BART police officers on the platform at the time of the Oscar Grant shooting has been fired and that Children’s Hospital Oakland is struggling with financial difficulties and facing budget cuts. The Chron reports that the number of serious crimes committed in Oakland has dropped for the last 15 months. Serious crimes — including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault and auto theft — were…

3.25.2010 Big week for Oakland sports

What a week for sports in Oakland! First came the announcement that the Golden State Warriors are for sale. Today the Chron’s C.W. Nevius is reporting that some of the team’s potential buyers are scoping a spot near AT&T Park, a hint that the team could move to San Francisco. This weekend brings us the Oakland Running Festival, also known as the Oakland Marathon, the first the city will host in 25 years. Oakland North will be there to cover the…

3.24.2010 New Facebook fan page, radio podcast

Happy spring break, everybody! Here at Oakland North, we’re doing a little spring cleaning, getting the place spruced up and adding a few new treats. We’ve just launched Oakland North Radio, our brand-new audio podcast. For our first report, Sam Laird brings us the story of a 60s radical turned kiddie songwriter — give it a listen! We’re also renovating our Oakland North Facebook fan page — we’ll be updating it daily with news links and other information, and using…

Trial of Your Black Muslim Bakery leader begins

The trial of Richard Lewis, a former Your Black Muslim Bakery leader, is underway. Lewis is charged with taking part in the kidnapping of two women, and the torture of one. The Chauncy Bailey Project has the story. At tonight’s meeting, the City Council will continue its discussion about the budget, and the potential cutting of more city jobs. Here’s a link to the agenda. The Community and Economic Development Committee meets this afternoon to consider a draft Central Estuary…

Beyond Broadway & Telegraph

The majority of galleries and exhibition spaces in Oakland are artist-owned and artist-run. We decided to visit several of these artist-owned spaces and curate our own virtual gallery where you can visit and learn about their motivation and vision.

Tonight: ethics complaints about Perata, Quan

Tonight, Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission will hear two complaints about city resources being used to benefit the mayoral campaigns of Don Perata and Jean Quan, respectively. A Better Oakland has the background. Officials from the White House will be at Oakland City Hall at 9:30 this morning to talk about the benefits of the federal stimulus package. Then they will join Mayor Dellums, who has been touting the economic benefits of public infrastructure projects, for a 10:30 bus tour. The…

Discriminatory parking enforcement alleged

Oakland parking officers received instructions to loosen enforcement in two wealthy neighborhoods–Montclair and Broadway Terrace–while maintaining stricter policies in the rest of the story, according to a memo obtained by the Chronicle. In response, SEIU Local 1021, a union that represents parking officers, tells Oakland North it is holding a protest today at noon at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. AC Transit wants to hear from bicyclists and pedestrians tonight about updates to its driver training program. It will have a…

Nic Nak Liquors fight returns

The debate over whether to allow Nic Nak Liquors to re-open at 6400 Shattuck Ave reopens March 16, when the City Council takes up the question. Last October, Oakland North reported on the background behind this contentious issue. The Alameda County Budget Workgroup is holding a public workshop Thurs, Feb. 25 to “discuss the economy, the federal and state budgets and their possible impacts on Alameda County.” The workshop is at 9 a.m. at the Elihu Harris State Building Auditorium,…

Meet the new reporters for spring 2010

This spring, Oakland North welcomes a new staff of 13 reporters, all students at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Got story ideas? Questions? Complaints? Please drop us a line at staff@oaklandnorth.net Elise Craig Elise Craig is a native Northern Californian who started writing at her high school newspaper, The Octagon. After graduating from Georgetown University in 2006, she spent two years as a producer on the breaking news desk of the washingtonpost.com, then quit her job on the InterWebs…

Not just another wifi shack

Coffee shops used to be the social hub of the community until laptops and wireless Internet turned them into libraries that serve food. In North Oakland, one coffee shop is trying to get the conversation started again. Shilanda Woolridge reports.

Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad Stirs Debate

This year’s Super Bowl advertisers are paying between 2.5 and 3 million dollars for coveted 30-second commercial slots. But on Sunday during the ritual viewing, football fans might be surprised to see an advocacy ad amongst all the standard glitz of the big game.