Economy
Many undocumented immigrants in Oakland, and nationally, do not have official identification that is accepted by police, banks or even some healthcare centers. But under a program expected to get underway this winter, Oakland has joined a handful of cities in creating a municipal ID—with one apparently unprecedented new component. Oakland’s Muni ID, if all goes according to plan, will also be usable as a debit card.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Alameda County is seeking turkey donations to help make possible a special holiday meal for those in need.
A lively Tuesday evening Q&A at City Hall gave people chance to vent concerns and curiosity about development plans for the former Oakland Army base–a $500 million project that includes a major labor agreement giving Oakland workers priority in new jobs.
Final approval of the highly contentious College Avenue Safeway expansion plan that has roiled the North Oakland community since the Pleasanton-based company first announced plans to expand in 2007 was delayed at Tuesday night’s special city council meeting.
Oakland North looked into political spending for three recent local races, breaking down what candidates spent, per voter, for the District One City Council race, the at-large seat and for City Attorney.
After months of fundraising, campaigning and speeches all around the city, five new faces will join the Oakland City Council and the city’s school board. Some of them have never held public office before; others have previously held other roles in local government.
Over a month into the new school year, Kaiser Elementary teacher Douglas Feague found himself in his principal’s office at lunch, digesting some difficult news: His position was being “consolidated.” In other words, the school could no longer afford an eleventh full-time teacher, and Feague, the least senior staff member, would need to relocate to a different school.
Beginning January 2013, single-use plastic carryout bags won’t be allowed at most stores selling packaged food in Alameda County, and customers will have to pay for their paper bags at the checkout counter. The Reusable Bag Ordinance, adopted by Alameda County Waste Management Authority in January of 2012, is an effort to reduce waste in the county and targets stores that traditionally distribute a high volume of single-use plastic bags.
Safeway wants to demolish its Rockridge store, and build on the site a new, two-story complex of about 62,000 square feet. But the proposed expansion to Safeway’s Rockridge store has pitted the company against neighborhood advocates who oppose the project.