Community

Friends of Ghost Ship fire victims upset by NBC’s dramatization

Tail Sticks Casting’s call on February 1 read: “GHOST SHIP” — Seeking Men & Women 20s-30s to play rave party goers. Types can range from edgy/artsy to bohemian. The call was to film “Deathtrap,” an episode of Chicago Fire, an NBC drama from producer Dick Wolf of Law & Order fame. The episode, set to air on March 1 at 8:00 pm PST, is based on the December 2, 2016 Ghost Ship fire. The fire occurred at a dance party…

Oakland City Council reviews post-Ghost Ship fire recommendations, community-written proposal receives little debate

On Tuesday night, the council heard reports by working groups created by Mayor Libby Schaff’s Executive Order 2017-1 on January 11, calling for improving building and fire safety in non-permitted spaces while avoiding displacing their residents if code violations aren’t life-threatening. Should tenants have to be relocated, the order calls for the city to provide more relocation assistance. The order also calls for more notice for inspections; strengthening the Just Cause Ordinance, which prohibits landlords from evicting tenants except for specific reasons like failure to pay rent and illegal activities; as well as steps towards legalizing non-conforming spaces and reforming the city’s events permits system.

Alameda County residents talk Affordable Care Act with Rep. Barbara Lee

Over a thousand people gathered Saturday at the International Community School in Oakland for a town hall meeting to discuss Alameda County’s efforts to defend the Affordable Care Act. The event was organized by the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who represents California’s 13th district, which includes Oakland. The school gym holding the town hall was completely jammed and reached the fire safety capacity, according to the school’s security staff, so not everyone who came was able to get in….

Oakland non-profit promotes literacy through diversity and representation

Denmark Gatewood had a captive audience. On Saturday, he sat on a small stage reading children’s books filled with stories about Black children, written by Black authors to a group of mostly Black children and parents. Despite the gathering at the African American Museum and Library (AAMLO) for the Barbers, Books & Bridges’ (BBB) event, this triple combination is not a common feat, for more reasons than one. The storytelling and educational event was centered around this year’s theme for…