Homelessness
On Thursday, city workers went on strike at the same time as the mayor’s annual “State of the City” address and held a “Real State of Oakland” picket and rally in the streets.
Volunteers from Oakland-based organizations are distributing respiratory masks to homeless people in Oakland to stave off poor air quality caused by historic wildfires in California’s Wine Country.
Once a month volunteers meet at Pepples Donut Farm in Oakland to make vegan burritos for the homeless.
During the City Council meeting, the council members discussed Oakland’s shelter crisis, the federal legislation of California firearms laws and the state of the city address.
The city of Oakland will pass an ordinance declaring a two-year emergency shelter crisis as a response to the high number of Oakland residents that are unable to obtain shelter.
California assembly members finally struck a deal late Thursday night, passing a series of bills to fund affordable housing across the state, which Oakland city leaders and housing advocates hope will pay to build and protect affordable housing in the city.
A new city-county collaboration has been put forward by Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, along with Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, in an effort to grapple with the East Bay’s increasing homelessness crisis.
Every month, homeless and low-income women and girls in the East Bay have to contend with the high cost of feminine hygiene products. For some women, these products are a luxury they just cannot afford.
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.