Community

BART dispute fuels political platforms

As negotiations dragged on in last week’s BART debacle, a raft of politicians stepped in hoping to build up their political capital around a new issue: transportation issues in the Bay Area. Though Mayor Jean Quan was in China for some of the negotiation process, meeting with current and potential investors for the Brooklyn Basin project, her spokesperson, Sean Maher, described her as heavily involved, checking in on the negotiations “at least daily and sometimes multiple times daily.” Maher added…

Latham Square undergoes structural changes, hosts music series

Latham Square is an experimental project in a space once entirely open to vehicle traffic, but was transformed into a pedestrian plaza last August. The City of Oakland partnered with the Downtown Oakland Association and design studio Rebar to offer foot-travelers a place to sit and socialize.

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Diamond

Diamond came to Oakland Animal Services dirty and skinny, but a sparkle in her eye said how grateful she was to be given a second chance. Now, she is healthy and sporting a new coat of fluffy fur. She has a lot of spunk and will brighten up any room in your home with love. Her new family will take home a complimentary rabbit care package that includes a litterbox, timothy pellets, orchard grass, water bottle, food bowls, and litter pellets. Diamond will be fixed and microchipped when…

BART strike ends with another late-night press conference

At a little after 10 p.m. Monday night, officials made the announcement the Bay Area had been waiting for: the BART strike is officially over. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 President Antonette Bryant said the unions and management reached “a tentative agreement.” BART General Manager Grace Crunican said the offer was more than management wanted to pay. The end of the strike marks the near-immediate beginning of renewed BART service. “We are trying to get all trains running as early…