North Oakland Now
Oakland has the 10th highest murder rate in the U.S. according to the Balitmore Sun’s analysis of the FBI’s preliminary crime statistics report for 2009. Number one on the list is New Orleans, Louisiana and number two is Richmond, California. Twenty years ago today, a nail-studded bomb exploded in Judi Bari’s car near Oakland High School. And this crime is still unsolved according to KTVU. Judi Bari was the head of radical environmentalist group Earth First. The Tribune tells the…
The Oakland police arrested 26 suspected gang members after a crackdown yesterday, reports the Associated Press. Police say they arrested these 26 people while serving warrants on Thursday targeting the so-called “Ghost Town” gang. The arrests come after four months of undercover investigations and gathering intelligence on the gang. If you like checking out souped up lowriders, head out to the “Chrome & Cops 4 Kids” benefit car and motorcycle show where a big collection of lowriders will be on…
A bicyclist died in a collision with an AC Transit bus yesterday afternoon. According to the Chronicle, Erik Fitzpatrick was struck by the bus on MacArthur Boulevard near Patterson Avenue after trying to swerve out of the way of a car door. Oakland is considering mass layoffs of city workers to close a $42 million deficit, says the Chronicle. These drastic cuts could include letting go nearly 200 police officers, such as investigators, specialized units and walking details, by July…
Hi Oakand North readers, The Arizona boycott, the gang injunction, the mayor’s race … got an opinion about a local issue? Or just want to share your perspective about life as an Oakland resident? We’d love to hear what you have to say! Next week, Oakland North will launch our brand new community Op-Ed page, and we’re inviting our readers to contribute essays of approximately 500 – 1,000 words on any Oakland-related topic of community interest. Please send all submissions…
The Oakland A’s will play the Texas Rangers tonight. Listen to NPR’s Robert Siegel talk to Dallas Braden of the Oakland A’s, who pitched a perfect game on Sunday in a 4-to-zero win over Tampa Bay. It’s only the 19th perfect game in major league history. A judge today refused to set bail for the 19-year-old Oakland woman accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter in March. According to the Oakland Tribune, the judge said that it’s likely another child would…
Today the first class of Oakland North reporters graduates from UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. Dozens of student journalists have served on the Oakland North staff since the site was launched in autumn, 2008, and many more have offered stories as freelance contributors. As the students graduate from the two-year masters program today, their departure marks the completion of the first class of J-school students to have come through the program since launch of the school’s hyperlocal digital reporting…
Today is the first Friday of May, which means it’s time for Oakland Art Murmur. More than 20 galleries will be open tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. Among them, Rock Paper Scissors Collective (2278 Telegraph Ave) will have a one-night-only display of large, human-powered machines, part of its “Beyond Bicycles” exhibit. This weekend, the Sweet Shoppe comes to Jack London Square. A two-day celebration of everything sweet, the event will have pastry chef demonstrations, a hands-on children’s area, and…
The long-awaited 12th Street reconstruction project along Lake Merritt officially begins today with a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. across from 1200 Lakeshore Ave. The project, which is expected to take two years, will move the road away from the lake and create new parkland along the shoreline. The city will host two identical community workshops this afternoon and evening to provide an overview of its Draft Energy and Climate Action Plan. The meetings, from 3 to 5p.m. and 7…
Oakland Unified School District teachers have voted to authorize a longer strike of up to 10 days. The Oakland Education Association announced the voting results last night, and the Oakland Tribune has more. The Community Police Review Board and the Planning Commission both meet at City Hall tonight at 6 p.m. The Planning Commission agenda is available here. In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Dr. Loco’s Rockin’ Jalapeno Band will be performing at noon today at Oakland City Center, 12th…