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Tales of Two Cities #3: Hobbies

This week on Tales of Two Cities, we talk about hobbies! From contributor Lacy Roberts, we’ll hear about a dedicated group of fantasy role-players in Oakland. Reporter Libby Leyden introduces us to a local man who makes his living by harvesting driftwood. We’ll also hear about Oakland’s 57th Annual White Elephant Sale which took place last weekend.  Matt Beagle is our host this week!  

Anti-violence organization serves deaf community survivors

Any deaf visitors will be directed to DeafHope, which focuses specifically on providing services to victims of domestic violence in that community. “We just feel like there really is a need,” says Aracelia Aguilar, an empowerment director with DeafHope, speaking through a relay interpreter via phone. “And we can see how people are trying to survive. There’s such limited communication.”

DeafHope was founded in 2003 by Julie Rems-Smario along with eight other women, who recognized there was a need for specialized services. Previously, says Rems-Smario, also speaking through a relay interpreter, in domestic violence cases, it was often easier for survivors to stay in an abusive home where the abuser knew sign language than to access services available for sexual assault or domestic violence victims, which were designed for the hearing community.

Historic deli faces closure from increased rent

The Genova Delicatessen, located at 5095 Telegraph Avenue, has been part of the famous Temescal Plaza since 1926. When it first opened it sold mostly just pastas and sauces but in the late 1960s the deli began to focus on making and selling sandwiches and has since become a staple place for many locals to get their lunches. This spring the deli will close due to an increase in rent from the landlords, Temescal Plaza, LLC.

Hundreds rally for Bernie Sanders in Oakland as Super Tuesday looms

As voters went to the polls in South Carolina, and with Super Tuesday looming on March 1, about 300 people rallied for Bernie Sanders in downtown Oakland on Saturday. Local group SambaFunk provided a pulsating drum soundtrack as Sanders supporters, many with children, rallied at Frank Ogawa Plaza before marching to a CitiBank branch to call attention to Hillary Clinton’s Wall Street donations. Held at the same location as the Occupy Oakland protests of 2011, Saturday’s rally also focused on…

Performance, charter school renewal are priorities at school board meeting

Wednesday night’s Oakland school board meeting started off sparsely populated; board president James Harris joked that it would be a short meeting. But within two and a half hours, it was standing room only, as parents filed in to attend a special meeting on charter schools’ performance measures and two charter renewals. The meeting began with a joint presentation made by representatives from the groups Latino Men and Boys (LMB) and African-American Female and African-American Male Achievement (AAMA). As part…

Tales of Two Cities #2: All about the Benjamins

Howdy Listeners, This week on Tales of Two Cities we take a look at four unique businesses and how they reflect what’s happening in Richmond and Oakland’s economies. From a legendary deli in the heart of Temescal on the brink of shutting down because of rising rents, to a local factory that hires an unexpected workforce; and from a man who depends on year-round love to sell his flowers, to a woman who makes fairy wings out of her house. Don’t…