Community

Council approves $300,000 salary for police chief, locals protest Promised Land closure

Tension between residents and city council grew at Tuesday night’s meeting when councilmembers passed controversial resolutions including paying nearly $300,000 a year to city’s new police chief and establishing cell-site simulator which can be used by police officers. Protestors also gathered and spoke against city’s demolishing a self-organized homeless camp by force last Thursday.

Oakland offers emergency loans to those affected by Ghost Ship fire

The city and the Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) are offering low-interest loans and technical assistance to business owners, nonprofits, homeowners and tenants in the vicinity of the fire. According to Economic Development Manager Aliza Gallo, anyone can apply but must show proof that the fire negatively impacted them physically or economically.

Oakland Athletics, fans celebrate start of 2017 season at FanFest

The Oakland Athletics and their fan base took to Jack London Square on January 28 to celebrate the beginning of the upcoming 2017 baseball campaign. It was the first time in nearly two decades that the A’s held their annual festival in Jack London Square, the potential home of a new A’s stadium.

Undocumented in 2017: A student protected by DACA

Evangelina Sanchez came to the United States when she was seven years old. Now she’s a student at California State East Bay, thanks to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA is just one of Obama’s orders that President Donald Trump has threatened to overturn before taking office. That threat alone has changed things for Sanchez’s family.