Sean Whent named as permanent Oakland Police Chief

After serving for a year as interim police chief, Sean Whent, an 18-year veteran of the force, was named permanent chief of Oakland Police Department by Mayor Jean Quan at Oakland City Hall Wednesday. “As a no-nonsense chief, he has led the Department’s reorganization, built a strong leadership team and strengthened police collaboration with neighborhood…

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BART dispute fuels political platforms

Mayor Jean Quan (right) listens as the announcement to end the BART strike is made Monday night. Photo by Jenny Chaussee.

As negotiations dragged on in last week’s BART debacle, a raft of politicians stepped in hoping to build up their political capital around a new issue: transportation issues in the Bay Area. Though Mayor Jean Quan was in China for some of the negotiation process, meeting with current and potential investors for the Brooklyn Basin…

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Fans rally as A’s look to playoffs

Oakland A's right fielder Josh Reddick with A's fans.

Mayor Jean Quan and members of the Oakland city council joined local fans at Frank Ogawa Plaza on Oct. 1 for “A’s Oaktober Rally” – a free public celebration honoring the 2013 Oakland Athletics. The A’s clinched a playoff spot this season by winning the AL West Division and will host the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series on Friday and Saturday at O.co Coliseum.

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Port commissioner appointments stalled, Bus Rapid Transit gets green light

It was the final meeting before the council adjourned for its summer break. The agenda was packed, and so was the room as representatives came out to support or oppose two particular items on the agenda: Mayor Jean Quan’s proposed appointees for the Board of Port Commissioners, and a Bus Rapid Transit project that would extend 10 miles from San Leandro to Oakland and improve traffic conditions that will result in less wait time and more efficient passenger service throughout the area.

Quan has asked the council to confirm the reappointment of James Head and the appointment of Bryan Parker and Cestra “Ces” Butner to the board.

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Oakland’s first Youth Poet Laureate finalists announced

Now that the finalists in Oakland’s first Youth Poet Laureate competition have been announced, the poets have until September to hear the final results after the last panel of judges make their decision. While waiting to find out who will be named the first Youth Poet Laureate, the finalists are preparing for the first group performance at the Art & Soul Festival this summer in Oakland.

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