Oakland pushes for Ellis Act reform

By Tian Chenwei | October 17, 2016
Hotel Travelers, near Broadway and 11th street, is one of Oakland's few remaining residential hotels. It is planned to be converted into an upscale boutique hotel in the near future. (Photo by Tian Chenwei)

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.

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Oakland’s Yggdrasil Urban Wildlife Rescue helps baby animals return to the wild

By Erika Alvero | April 25, 2016 |
Lila Travis with one of the baby squirrels at her wildlife refuge.

Travis is the powerhouse behind the Yggdrasil Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and if it seems like animals have seeped into every aspect of her life, it’s because, well, they have. She and her late husband founded Yggdrasil in 2001. The center takes in orphaned baby animals—especially squirrels, opossums and deer—fosters them, and cares for them until they’re ready to return to the wild. They take in close to 200 Bay Area animals every year. Right now, the middle of the springtime rush of animal births, is Yggdrasil’s busiest season.

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