North Oakland Now
Good morning! There’s not a lot of news this Sunday. A 42-year-old Oakland man was killed during what appeared to be a robbery early Saturday morning. Police found Gustavo Martinez on the street on 33rd Avenue suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was the 14th homicide in Oakland in 2009, less than half the 30 homicides this time last year. If you have an extra $2 million lying around you can buy the oldest home in Piedmont,…
It’s the weekend! Former tree-sitter and Oakland man, Tristan Anderson, 38, was wounded Friday in the West Bank village of Naalin, during a protest against Israel’s separation barrier. He was hit in the forehead with a fist-sized canister fractured his skull. The Oakland A’s have decided to keep on looking for a new home. “We have fully exhausted our time and resources over the years with the city of Oakland, dating back to previous A’s ownership,” said A’s co-owner…
Good morning, North Oakland! The Chron’s Oakland columnist, Chip Johnson, reports that major crimes – particularly killings – have subsided so far this year just as more officers and new outreach workers have been deployed in the city. Since Jan. 1, felony crimes against people and property have dropped 23 percent; homicides alone decreased by 50 percent, to 14 slayings from 29 over the same period a year ago and robberies fell by 16 percent during the same period,…
In Alameda County, and across the country, falling home values will likely translate to falling tax revenues. Officials are preparing for a drop in property taxes for the first time in decades–and current estimates fall around 2 percent, or $4.1 billion county-wide. On Wednesday, a crowd gathered in front of the OUSD administration building to protest proposed cuts to adult education. State funding for adult education could be cut by up to 20 percent, and every adult education instructor in…
Good morning, North Oakland. Despite the economic downturn, the Chron is reporting that some parts of the Bay Area are “a comparative bastion of contentment and well-being.” A recent Gallup poll shows that the 8th, 11th, 12th and 14th congressional districts all rank well. Oakland City Councilwomen settle parking-space spat with a coin toss. A reduced budget for the University of California means higher tuition for its students. Tuition for the summer session will go up by nearly 10 percent,…
Good Morning, North Oakland. The Housing Authority is set to receive $10.6 million from the Obama administration’s stimulus package for improvements on roofs, windows, gutters, and plumbing. The Housing Authority already receives about $8 million from the federal government every year, but officials say it’s not enough to maintain their roughly 3000 properties. Officials expect improvements to begin in April and continue through the summer. Stock is on the rise for Bay Area biotech companies after President Obama lifted the…
Good morning, North Oakland. Today, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Oakland City Councilwomen Desley Brooks and Jean Quan have taken their fight over a parking spot all the way to the city attorney, who has so far declared the clash a tie. In the Bay Area, older job seekers are facing tough employment odds. At UCSF, doctors are trying to restore limited sight to the blind.
Welcome to daylight-saving time. Oakland’s nepotism ordinance is drawing ire from the police and fire departments. The police union has filed a lawsuit charging that it could violate privacy laws–and could possibly out same-sex relationships. If the city doesn’t meet with the union, it will be back in court on May 12. This morning’s Trib reports on the latest news from Washington about earmarks for the Bay Area. In Oakland, a declining African-American population has lead to a change in…
Good morning, North Oakland. Lawyers for the Oakland Police sergeant investigating the Chauncey Bailey case say the recorded conversations he had with suspect Yusef Bey IV were ” an indication of how Longmire deals respectfully even with people who are possible targets of criminal investigations.” The Trib is also reporting that OPD is investigating allegations that “Bey IV provided women to Longmire for sexual favors.” Good news for those who filed tax refunds. Controller John Chiang says almost $2 billion…