Alameda County public defender challenges judge over lack of Black jurors
A misdemeanor case has surfaced a troubling pattern in Alameda County juries, which often fail to reflect the community’s diversity.
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city hall
Oakland is struggling to field 911 dispatchers
OPD is relying on overtime to cover roughly one-third of its budgeted emergency call center jobs.
Judge in Oakland FBI corruption case says attempt to suppress evidence is a ‘stretch’
And the identity of the government’s key informant might soon be made public.
Budget cuts devastated an Oakland public safety program. Now neighbors are scraping by
Volunteer-run neighborhood councils are improvising solutions a year after the city eliminated the Neighborhood Services Division.
Pothole crash claimant settles for $400K with Oakland
The case stems from a 2024 bicycle incident on Grizzly Peak Boulevard.
Oakland police chief search: you can weigh in
The Police Commission is hosting several community forums from March through early April.
Know the hot spots before they’re hot.
Get the Nosh newsletter for the latest news on the East Bay food and drink scene.
Fast-casual Palestinian food, Ohlone cuisine, hand-pulled noodles, and barbecue highlight East Bay’s February openings
Lulu’s Little Kitchen, ‘ammatka, Ox 9 and Saints Smokehouse were just a few of the restaurants to recently debut.
Fresh take: Temescal’s Ace Seafood seeks to reel in a broader audience with revamp
Two former staff members took over Small Change at the start of the year, and refreshed the concept with an eye on affordability and expanded options.
FOB West soft opens at Prescott, a new Vietnamese spot hits Chinatown, and more openings
A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Anti-Jewish graffiti around Lake Merritt is under investigation
Violent messages, which included a swastika, have been spray-painted in Oakland in several recent incidents.
Education equity
Oakland teachers avert strike, reach tentative deal with OUSD
The union won an 11% pay raise over two years, with 13% for senior teachers. The tentative agreement now awaits approval by the school board and the union’s members — and review by the county superintendent.
Oakland school board calls special meeting to avert teachers’ strike
Hoping to reach a deal, OUSD and OEA are inching closer on compensation numbers.
Oakland teachers vote to authorize strike
If teachers walk out, it would be the third open-ended strike since 2019. The decision to go out would require 48 hours notice.
Arts & Community
A ‘brotherhood’ of Oakland and SF rappers drop epic collab album
On “1 Umbrella,” ALLBLACK, 22nd Jim, Lil Bean, ZayBang and Lil Yee deliver a raw, authentic collaboration about life in the Bay.
Housing & Homelessness
6 housing projects in Oakland get boost from county’s Measure W
City leaders have pushed for Oakland, which is home to the largest share of Alameda County’s homeless residents, to receive the bulk of the $1.4 billion voter-approved measure.
Cut homelessness by 50% in Oakland? A new plan says it’s possible
Mayor Lee’s homelessness office has issued a bold report. But funding is short, and there’s a different plan already on the table.
Can landlords raise the rent when roommates move out in Oakland?
An Adams Point tenant alleges their landlord broke local rental laws by raising their rent 27%.
Ken Houston’s controversial encampment proposal wouldn’t jeopardize state funds
But a state agency says “concerns remain” about where homeless people would be able to sleep if Oakland adopted the new policy.
Health & Environment
Alameda Health System layoffs deferred while county explores options
A plan to slash 188 health care jobs at the East Bay’s safety net hospital would heavily impact mental health programs. County leaders hope to avoid this.
Alameda County looks for $10M to stave off health care layoffs and program closures
Alameda Health System workers and union leaders said their units are already stretched too thin and criticized administrators.
County health care layoff plan to face public scrutiny
Alameda Health System plans to lay off 188 nurses, counselors, therapists, and other staff. The public has a chance to weigh in on Feb. 25.
Business
The Warriors and Chase Bank team up to empower Bay Area entrepreneurs
The “Alley-Oop Accelerator,” an 8-week program that kicked off at Chase’s community center in Oakland, helps people turn ideas into businesses.
Tips for entrepreneurs working solo
JPMorganChase offers ‘solopreneurs’ some advice to — from marketing and growth to taxes, credit, loans and a new 401(k).
Holiday travel at Oakland airport saw a big dip
Passenger volume in November was down nearly 12%. Holiday travel has been struggling since 2023.
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How do we build an outlet for local journalism that is rooted in, representative of, and responsive to communities in a city as diverse, complex, and powerful as Oakland?
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HOW WE WORK
Oaklandside’s Ashley McBride, Callie Rhoades receive First Amendment award
The pair are being honored by the First Amendment Coalition with its Free Speech and Open Government Award for their reporting last year on the lead crisis in Oakland public schools.
The Oaklandside wins prestigious award for advancing press freedom and government transparency
The newsroom earned the James Madison Freedom of Information award for exposing systematic violations of open records laws by city officials and challenging Alameda County’s sideshow spectator ban.
Oakland’s fire department has a secret weapon — a candid spokesperson
Michael Hunt, OFD’s chief of staff, is unlike many Oakland public information officers, answering calls and dishing out facts while leaning on the side of transparency.
Everything that happened in Oakland in 2025
Corruption charges, beloved teachers lost, scrappy baseball wins, and federal agents on Coast Guard Island. Yeah, it was a lot. Here’s everything you need to know about Oakland’s chaotic 2025.
Values guiding our work
News organizations don’t always tell you–or know–what drives their decisions.
