Public Policy
Out of the Closet, a chain of second-hand stores, marked Tuesday’s World AIDS day by offering on-the-spot HIV tests at all its locations, including the five Bay Area shops. “In a clinic setting, people are nervous,” one of the test counselors said in Oakland. “This is more casual–it’s kind of better for the community.”
Members of the BART Police Department Review Committee raised questions Wednesday about the police practices at the West Oakland BART station on Nov 21 that resulted in the arrest and injury of an intoxicated train passenger.
Oakland’s congressional representative Barbara Lee stepped up her calls to end U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.
In a tradeoff, Clear Channel takes down several dozen neighborhood billboards in return for access to a Bay Bridge approach site.
Up for discussion at tonight’s City Council meeting: bringing down 33 billboards around the city in exchange for letting an advertising company build signs in the city’s most sought-after location, the approach to the Bay Bridge.
On 64 year-old Karen Smulevitz’s stretch of 73d Avenue, just trying to cross the street is “an adventure,” she says. A new national report says that although Alameda County scores comparatively well in California pedestrian safety, streets like this are a danger to too many people and American cities.
Three Oaklanders were honored by the Ella Baker Center last night at its annual fundraiser for their work on social and environmental issues in the community.
A proposal to speed the conversion of apartments to market-rate condos hit resistance at Oakland City Council committee meetings Tuesday, with housing advocates calling for a comprehensive reform of the city’s affordable housing rules.
Alameda County officials have declared a state of emergency to prevent the further spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. This declaration will allow for distribution of free vaccine this Saturday to uninsured, high-risk residents at select county locations.