Public Policy

OpenDisclosure: Your guide to the 2016 Oakland campaign data

A group of volunteers from Open Oakland have built a website called OpenDisclosure.io in partnership with the Oakland Public Ethics Commission. The site allows voters to view information about campaign funding for local ballot measures and for candidates running for office. Open Disclosure launched October 18, and uses existing data from city public records to create simple graphs and easy to understand information.

Oakland pushes for Ellis Act reform

Oakland city councilmembers are seeking a permanent protection for the city’s residential hotels, also known as Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels, by asking the state legislature to amend an over three-decade-old state law: the Ellis Act. But whether the state legislators and governors will listen remains unclear.

Soda tax opponents circulate mailer showing Oakland North story with edited headline

The opponents of a controversial Oakland ballot measure that would tax soda have been circulating a campaign mailer that uses an image of an Oakland North story, but with an altered headline. The mailer shows an image of a computer displaying a story we published on September 15, 2016, which profiled an Oakland grocer offering his thoughts on the ballot measure. But the headline above the story has been edited. In this version, the headline reads: “Oakland Grocers Raise Concerns.”…