Politics

Jean Quan embraces “underdog” status in mayor’s race: “I’m not intimidated”

Jean Quan will be the first to admit she is not expected to win next year’s Oakland mayor’s race. But she’s also the first to say her chances are better than a lot of people think. “I have, in every race I’ve run in, been outspent and have been the underdog,” Quan said in a phone interview. “I’m not intimidated.” An Oakland City Council member since 2003, Quan issued a press release in mid-September announcing her decision to form an…

Oakland Port Commissioners approve a ban on dirty trucks

After listening to more than a dozen passionate speakers, Oakland Port Commissioners last night approved a ban next year on trucks don’t comply with new clean air standards. The ban on dirty trucks, which will go into effect Jan. 1 of next year, will require seaport facility operators to deny entry to trucks with engine model years earlier than 1994, or those with engine model years between 1994 and 2003 that have met standards set by the California Air Resources…

Council bows to protests, rolls back parking hours

Amid calls for civility and compromise, members of the Oakland City Council apologized last night for their handling of unpopular parking hikes and voted to roll back meter hours from 8:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

In a six to one vote, the council passed a rollback proposal from two weeks ago, with the recommendation that the city recoup a reported one million dollars in lost revenues though parking and other endeavors—including a crackdown on the misuse of handicapped parking permits and the sale of new billboard space.