A fire 🔥 broke out this morning in the former Oaksterdam University building in downtown Oakland (1770 Broadway). The top 4 floors are residential apartments. Three people were injured and hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. oaklandside.org/2026/01/19/f...

You can't report on housing in Oakland without hearing lots of mind-boggling, colorful, and concerning stories about permitting in the city. Here's our deep dive into what it's like to seek a permit to build in Oakland and whether big new reforms will make it better. oaklandside.org/2025/12/08/o...

We went deep on the person who appears to be the key informant in the FBI's Oakland corruption case. A close look at Mario Juarez's legal history, brought to you by 3 reporters, some 30 lawsuits, and several colorful incidents. oaklandside.org/2025/12/01/m...

This is a few days late but the East Bay Yesterday award for Best Costume goes to @natalieorenstein.bsky.social

County officials are about to announce a plan for SNAP recipients at risk of missing November benefits. But a federal judge just ruled this morning that the Trump admin. can’t withhold those payments.

Thousands starting to march from Wilma Chan Park to the Lake Merritt amphitheater at Oakland’s No Kings protest. Follow @oaklandside.org for updates

Read and take time with this story by @fermoso.bsky.social, who sat down with the family and partner of Marvin Boomer for an in-depth and moving interview. oaklandside.org/2025/06/06/m...

Is David Duong seeking a pardon from Trump in the Oakland FBI corruption investigation? New with @roselynr.bsky.social and @darwinbondgraham.bsky.social oaklandside.org/2025/05/16/o...

Weigh in on Oakland's budget 🌳💰🏙️ Each Oakland councilmember is holding a budget forum for their constituents to attend, learn, ask questions, and make requests. Here's the schedule:

Friday night flip in the Oakland election: Barbara Lee is now leading and likely headed to the mayor's office. oaklandside.org/2025/04/18/b...

Barbara Lee is picking up most of her support in Oakland's flatlands neighborhoods and North Oakland. Loren Taylor is picking up his base of support in the hills, from Berkeley to San Leandro's border. oaklandside.org/2025/04/15/o...

Loren Taylor leads Barbara Lee in the very early Oakland mayoral election results. Charlene Wang has a stronger early lead for District 2. Lots could still change as more ballots are counted tonight and this week. oaklandside.org/2025/04/15/o...

I visited the prominent Lake Merritt Lodge homeless shelter after the program moved out in Nov 2024 — and found startling, hazardous conditions. I looked into oversight at the lodge and found a convoluted system that created confusion and, often, chaos. oaklandside.org/2025/03/31/l...

Not a scientific poll, but @natalieorenstein.bsky.social talked to Oaklanders at a farmer's market recently. Many don't know much at all about the special election and who's running for mayor. Meanwhile, politocs are in an echo chamber on social media.... oaklandside.org/2025/03/19/o...

This Chronicle story is strange. Does Garofoli know how Oakland elections work? Oakland uses ranked-choice voting, so this election could very likely be decided by the supporters of the candidates he contemptuously labels not "serious." www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joe...

Here's a cheat sheet for the Oaklandside's sold-out mayoral forum tonight, whether you snagged a ticket or will be watching from home. oaklandside.org/2025/02/26/o...

Tenants in a North Berkeley apartment building have organized a tenant union under the new law in 2024's Measure BB. @berkeleyside.bsky.social article at www.berkeleyside.org/2025/02/25/m...

Head shop Annapurna on Telegraph Avenue, central to the Berkeley's counterculture world, has closed after 53 years.

A bunch of the newer Oakland apartment buildings are being foreclosed on or sold for pennies on the dollar oaklandside.org/2025/02/14/o...

We're tracking changes in Oakland happening in response to Trump orders or threats (removal of language or art, changing of job titles, self-censorship or mandates from above, etc.) If you observe something, let us know via this form, anonymously or otherwise. oaklandside.org/2025/02/06/h...

We're hosting an Oakland mayoral forum on Feb. 26! It's free but RSVP is required. There's a form here to submit questions you'd like us to ask the candidates. oaklandside.org/2025/02/05/o...

Got to take a pause from covering contract crises, layoffs, and developer fees to write about talking bottle openers and vintage high chairs 🐘. oaklandside.org/2025/02/04/o...

The city of Fremont could make it illegal for someone to "aid or abet" a homeless camp. But the proposal backed by the mayor doesn't explain what that means. via @calmatters.org calmatters.org/housing/home...

Thao and a high-ranking Oakland official appear to have helped a security company named in the FBI’s corruption investigation retain a multi-million dollar contract, according to public records obtained by The Oaklandside. oaklandside.org/2025/01/24/o...

Two local developers successfully protested the $120K in "impact fees" the city charged them for a Temescal condo project. In their appeal, the builders cited a recent Supreme Court case — which could upend a primary way Oakland funds affordable housing. oaklandside.org/2025/01/24/s...

The Oakland official named in the Thao indictment (“City Employee 1”) left his job on Friday oaklandside.org/2025/01/21/l...

Federal prosecutors allege Sheng Thao promised city contracts and favorable staff appointments to the Duongs, in exchange for promises of $300K. They say Thao's partner Andre Jones received $95K in cash from them for a "no-show" job. oaklandside.org/2025/01/17/o...

BREAKING: Sheng Thao, Andre Jones, David Duong, Andy Duong indicted in FBI corruption probe. Allegations of “pay-to-play” scheme dating back to before the 2022 election.

Recalled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has reportedly been indicted 7 months after the FBI raided her home. Official announcement expected in the morning. oaklandside.org/2025/01/16/r...

It’s official - former Congresswoman Barbara Lee is running for Oakland mayor. oaklandside.org/2025/01/08/b...

Want to support great local reporting in Oakland, CA about politics, food, art, housing, the environment, elections, transit, schools, public safety, and lots more? Contribute to The Oaklandside! checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?o...

Barbara Lee files papers to run for Oakland mayor. A spokesperson for Lee told The Oaklandside she'll be making an announcement later this week. oaklandside.org/2025/01/06/b...

More changes on Oakland City Council: - Kevin Jenkins voted council president -- which means he's elevated to interim mayor - Noel Gallo voted president pro tempore, so he'll fill in for Jenkins as president - Rebecca Kaplan appointed District 2 "caretaker" until the special election

Three new faces on the #oakmtg dais. City Council members Rowena Brown, Zac Unger and Ken Houston all getting sworn in today, along with City Attorney Ryan Richardson and the re-elected Carroll Fife and Noel Gallo.

You can apply for the Section 8 housing waitlist in Oakland from Jan. 7-25. If you're part of a low-income household, check it out. It's the first time the housing voucher list has opened in *14 years*. oaklandside.org/2025/01/03/s...

Thanks Street Spirit and Alastair Boone for letting us republish this lovely obituary for Derrick “Brother” Hayes, who still watches over Oakland from a mural on Franklin + 14th oaklandside.org/2025/01/03/d...

Gritted my teeth so hard they almost fell out of my mouth, but I finally made one of these! I will be posting about Oakland news — mainly politics and housing and homelessness — and occasionally documenting the antics of my cat Oyster. Would love to hear from you. Wow you can really write a lot on h