New proposed city budget would cut city positions, merge departments

Since California Governor Jerry Brown announced in early January that he would end redevelopment programs to help the state deal with its budget deficit, Oakland officials have been scrambling to find ways to salvage city positions that were paid for with redevelopment dollars. The elimination of the redevelopment agency, which will take effect by Feb. 1, blew a $28 million hole in a budget that city leaders had spent months balancing – one that was already constrained by other cuts in the state budget.

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City of Oakland to take over affordable housing programs, debt obligations after redevelopment agency is eliminated

Assistant City Administrator Fred Blackwell explains how the new redevelopment law, which he described as "intentionally draconian" may impact the City of Oakland.

The City of Oakland will take over the Oakland Redevelopment Agency’s affordable and low income housing programs, assume responsibility for the agency’s enforceable obligations and oversee the dissolution of the agency this spring. In a tense city council meeting that unexpectedly went into closed session Tuesday night, Oakland city councilmembers unanimously elected the City of…

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Healthy foods bill could bring more grocery stores and farmers’ markets to East and West Oakland

The California Healthy Food Financing Initiative could help bring produce stands and other sources of healthy food to under-served communities.

The California Healthy Food Financing Initiative (CHFFI) landed on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk last week, after the state Senate and Assembly both voted to approve it by a wide margin. If signed by the governor, the bill would help bring more grocery stores, farmers’ markets and other sources of produce to under-served communities throughout the state, including West and East Oakland.

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2010 in Oakland: The year’s biggest stories

2010 was a tumultuous year for Oakland as both the city and state faced a heated election season, the courts weighed the validity of controversial measures passed during previous elections, and the effects of the 2008 financial collapse continued to reverberate throughout the local economy, but it was also a year of new beginnings. Oakland North presents a guide to the year’s top stories.

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Still no winner in state’s tight attorney general race

Steve Cooley, left, and Kamala Harris may continue to vie for attorney general several weeks past Tuesday's election. Photos courtesy of Steve Cooley for Attorney General and Kamala Harris for Attorney General.

Amid a wave of Democratic victories in California that defied major gains for Republicans in the rest of the nation, the race to become the state’s next attorney general is so evenly split—between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Steve Cooley—that its winner may not be known for weeks.

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