North Oakland Now

Mehserle’s lawyer seeks retrial

Citing a Kentucky court case with similar circumstances, Johannes Mehserle’s lawyer has filed papers to seek a new trial for his client. Mehserle, the BART police officer who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of Oscar Grant,  faces a Nov. 5 sentencing. His lawyer, Michael Rains, is seeking a new trial after discovering a 2008 Kentucky case in which a grand jury declined to indict a law enforcement officer who, much like Mehserle, said he thought he was…

Reward of $10,000: Child shot while sleeping

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that will lead to a suspect arrest in the September 28th shooting of a six-year-old girl.  The girl was shot in the arm while she was sleeping in her parents’ bed, but she survived her injuries. Oakland Police Department felony assault investigators are working on the case.  Anyone who has any information regarding this case is asked to call Sergeant P. Gonzales at the Criminal Investigation Division at 510-238-3328.

League of Women’s Voters goes over November ballot.

This year’s Oakland ballot is jam packed with more than twenty state and local elections plus fifteen propositions.  Oakland residents will have to vote on each of these using a new voting system this November. At their fall meeting, the League of Women Voters will present an un-bias look at all these measures and go over exactly how you will physically be voting according to the new system of ranked-choice voting.

TELL US: What are the worst roads in Oakland?

According to last Wednesday’s study by the non-profit organization TRIP (The Road Information Program), Oakland’s roads are the fifth-worst in the nation. Based on your driving experience, what are the worst roads in North Oakland?  Email us your nomination for the most pothole-ridden, least safe, or otherwise decrepit public street in North Oakland. Send the coordinates, and any tales of damages or mayhem to carl.nasman@oaklandnorth.net and let us know if you’d be willing to speak with us for our story.

Where to drop off your old prescription drugs

Today is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and the Oakland Police Department along with the Drug Enforcement Agency is helping residents safely get rid of old prescription drugs, instead of flushing them down toilets, throwing them in the trash, or leaving them in the medicine cabinet, where other people have access to them. The aim of the initiative is to reduce the abuse of prescription drugs, as well as accidental poisonings and overdoses. People can drop off expired or…

Meet us at Rockridge Out and About!

Going to the Rockridge Out and About festival this Sunday? Oakland North will have a table near the Rockridge BART station, where you can come by to meet some of our reporters and pick up your free, first edition Oakland North postcards with beautiful photos shot by our own Richard Koci Hernandez. (Those of you with a keen eye may recognize photos from our 24 Hours in Oakland project this spring!) Please come on by, say hello, grab some postcards…

Sexual assault alert near Lake Merritt

On September 19, two women were robbed on their way home in Oakland’s Lake Merritt neighborhood. During the course of the robberies, the women were also sexually assaulted. The suspect is described as an African-American man with a medium build, between 5’10 and 6’0 tall. He was reported to have been wearing dark clothing and armed with a weapon. Oakland Police Spokesperson Holly Joshi released a statement outlining several things people can do to protect themselves against random attacks. Be…