Posts Tagged ‘budget cuts’
Should California Redevelopment Agencies give funding to school districts?
As the Oakland School Board moves forward with its plan to close five elementary schools in order to save $2 million, the California Supreme Court is considering whether redevelopment agencies should be required to give up some of their funding to support school districts and county services.
Read MoreThe pros and cons of Oakland’s proposed parcel tax, Measure I–INFOGRAPHIC
The pros and cons of Oakland’s proposed parcel tax, Measure I
Oaklanders have six days left to vote for or against Measure I, a tax increase for homeowners that would be used to compensate budget deficits in various city departments, specially the Oakland Police. Mayor Jean Quan’s proposal has incited a heated debate among councilmembers and residents on whether the tax increase will truly help alleviate the city’s financial crisis.
Oakland North has put together this overview of Measure I for Oakland residents who haven’t yet mailed their ballots.
Read MoreOakland nurses march and strike in protest of benefit cuts
An estimated 21,000 healthcare workers joined picket lines, attended rallies or simply stayed home from work in protest of proposed employee benefit cuts at 40 hospitals across California.
Read MoreAt the last moment, Oakland City Council votes in new budget
Three hours ahead of the new fiscal year, Oakland’s city council finally voted in a budget. The council, by a narrow vote, approved the biennial budget resolution during a special council meeting on Thursday evening.
Read MoreCity budget won’t include $40 million to save redevelopment agency
With a debate over the city budget looming this evening, there’s one item that won’t be factored into it—how to come up with $40 million to save Oakland’s redevelopment agency.
Read MoreOakland City Council to face six budget proposals tonight
Just a few days before Oakland limps into the new fiscal year, the city now has six budget proposals. Last Friday, three budget scenarios, in addition to the three previously issued by Mayor Jean Quan in April, were introduced by three factions of the city council.
Read MoreLibrary advocates host “read-in” to stop budget cuts
Oakland library lovers braved the sun and heat in an uninterrupted 14-hour “read-in” at City Hall’s front steps on Monday. It’s the latest tactic library advocates are using to protest the potential closure of 14 of the city’s 18 libraries.
Read MoreAt packed budget meeting, a debate over the fate of libraries, city services
Equipped with whistles, banners and plastic noisemakers, hundreds of people crammed into the City Council Chambers on Thursday evening to voice their concerns about the city’s proposed budget cuts at a special hearing held by the city officials. The crowd was so large that many had to be relocated to another hearing room for safety reasons.
Read MoreZombies lurch down Telegraph to support libraries, brains
Oakland library supporters crawled down Telegraph Avenue Saturday evening in their zombie finest to protest the potential closure of 14 of the 18 city libraries. The living dead groaned “Zombies need brains, keep libraries open!” to passerbys in cars, restaurants, and at Oakland’s Uptown galleries.
Read MoreLibrarians host a story hour to protest library cuts
Over a loudspeaker in front of City Hall, a couple of Oakland librarians had something else to share with the young readers they had gathered for an impromptu story hour. But this story did not end with a happily ever after.
Read MoreStudents read letters about cuts to Oakland school board
Lacy Lefkowitz teaches ancient history at Claremont Middle School, but last night she gave her students a lesson in current affairs. Six of Lefkowitz’s sixth graders stood before the board to read their letters about what they thought ought to be cut, and what ought to be saved, at their school next year.
Read MoreMayor Quan reflects on first 100 days in office
Gearing up for next week’s anniversary of 100 days in office, Mayor Jean Quan spoke to the press on Thursday about her accomplishments and hopes for the upcoming months. “It seems like its gone very fast,” she said. “We’ve worked very hard to launch Oakland in a new footing.”
Read MoreAfter Oakland police cuts, residents dialing Piedmont police
With a rash of non-violent crimes occurring shortly after the layoff of 80 Oakland police officers—and after the police department changed its strategy for handling non-emergency crimes—some Upper Rockridge and Montclair residents have been calling another city’s police department for help: Piedmont’s.
Read MoreSchool board opener brings harsh budget news
Despite many heartfelt pleas to keep arts programs and continue running early childhood development centers, Superintendent Tony Smith told the audience at Wednesday night’s school board meeting that there just isn’t enough money for all the programs people care about. “If we can’t pay for it,” he said, “we can’t have it.”
Read MoreEight Childhood Development Centers set to close Friday
Judy Lee has already begun packing her boxes. Full of art supplies and Shel Silverstein books, the boxes sat neatly stacked near the wall of her spacious classroom at the Piedmont Avenue Early Childhood Development Center on Wednesday, a telltale sign of the center’s imminent closure.
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