Posts Tagged ‘city of oakland’
Oakland’s clean air respite centers see few visitors
The City of Oakland opened its first ‘clean air respite centers’ on September 11.
Read MoreOakland city council prioritizes violence prevention with new chief
The Oakland City Council voted earlier this month to move forward with a new plan for preventing violence. This is the latest development in the city’s ongoing efforts to establish the new Department of Violence Prevention.
Read MoreLawsuit challenges Oakland’s certification of education funding tax Measure AA
Two weeks ago, a business advocacy group sued the city of Oakland over its certification of Measure AA, a tax initiative from the November election that would create a fund for more early childhood education programs. The lawsuit—filed by the Jobs and Housing Coalition, along with a group of property owners—argues that the city council…
Read MoreOakland has taken a lead role in local climate initiatives
At a time when the federal government does not support climate action, climate experts say local city efforts can mitigate warming and help the nation. Oakland has taken a lead role in local climate initiatives.
Read MoreCity eyes use of Caltrans properties to expand Tuff Shed program
City staff look to use new law, AB 3139, to expand Oakland’s Tuff Shed program onto property owned by Caltrans.
Read MoreOakland’s Mam community celebrates their first cultural festival
Oakland’s Mam community, an indigenous group originally from Guatemala, celebrated their first cultural festival on September 15.
Read MoreOakland Museum and artists bring civic engagement to billboards
Oakland artist Chris Johnson and Oakland Museum of California curator use billboards to engage the community.
Read MoreFire destroys part of The Village encampment, as protesters call for safer conditions for the homeless
As the city and local volunteers rush to assist those displaced by an early morning fire at the East Oakland homeless encampment, questions and concerns about safe living spaces still remain.
Read More“Neighborhood Design Session” reveals Oakland’s Chinatown residents’ safety concerns
On Tuesday evening, about 120 people gathered at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center to attend a “neighborhood design session” held by the city. The session was a public meeting to discuss challenges in Oakland’s Chinatown and to generate ideas for the city’s “Downtown Oakland Specific Plan,” which will lay out a long-term vision for the…
Read MoreOakland officials and advocacy groups prepare for possible immigration raids
In Oakland, city officials and immigration advocacy groups are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best after an alarm was sounded earlier this month, notifying the Bay Area that federal immigration officials could be planning massive raids on undocumented immigrant communities in the coming weeks. On January 16, the San Francisco Chronicle reported…
Read MoreBusiness reduces food waste by providing “ugly” produce to Bay Area residents
“Just because it’s imperfect doesn’t mean its bad.”
Read MoreOakland offers emergency loans to those affected by Ghost Ship fire
The city and the Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) are offering low-interest loans and technical assistance to business owners, nonprofits, homeowners and tenants in the vicinity of the fire. According to Economic Development Manager Aliza Gallo, anyone can apply but must show proof that the fire negatively impacted them physically or economically.
Read MoreVideo rental, antiques, shoe repair: Old-fashioned shops struggle to hang on
A big red house stands in the middle of Telegraph Avenue, two blocks from the Berkeley border with Oakland. It resembles Santa’s workshop: fun, colorful and packed with a massive amount of “stuff.” The building is two stories high and even on a normal day, found objects hang all over the property. From giant drive-thru Jack in the Box signs, to headless mannequins, vintage Victorian furniture or small quirky ceramic figurines, James Cross, the owner of the Antique Centre has it all—hidden somewhere in a corner of his store.
Read MoreTaking physical education class at Lincoln Square Park
Second grade children come out to the basketball court. They are all coming from the school next door to the Lincoln Square Park in Chinatown, Oakland. Almost all in uniform, they are all dressed in white tops and beige pants. But there’s one little girl who sticks out. She wears her jet-black straight hair in…
Read MoreBusiness owners take damage done during anti-Trump protests in stride
On election night, protesters gathered in downtown Oakland after midnight yelling angry things like “Not my president!” and “Fuck Trump!” in the quiet streets. Others took it a step further and lashed out against nearby businesses, breaking glass doors and windows and spray-painting graffiti anywhere visible, like on the windows of the Chase bank, the walls of the BART public elevator and the pillars of the Oakland federal building.
Garbage cans were set on fire and worried faces peeked out through doors after the angry crowd passed. Confused bystanders were upset at the damage to their property, and others worried about their safety, while the rest followed the trail of fires left on Broadway, trying to catch up to the mob either by running or riding their bikes. By the next morning, garbage, broken glass and graffiti covered the downtown.
Read MoreFrom junk to jackets: Oakland retailer upcycles vintage car seats
A brown building with tall doors opened to the ringing sound of sewing machines. Inside were racks of red-and-white leather jackets with pieces of the Cadillac logo, multicolored wrist wallets and leather bags.
It was a typical Thursday night at Platinum Dirt, Page’s leather workshop and storefront on 25th Street. He was turning salvaged material into a duffle bag, part of a resurgence of Oakland-based manufacturing.