18th St. is one of Oakland’s most dangerous. Here’s how the city is fixing it
An ambitious plan to improve the West Oakland roadway is expected to break ground this summer, with buffered bike lanes, pedestrian islands, and more.
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city hall
Former San Leandro councilmember pleads guilty in corruption case tied to Oakland
Bryan Azevedo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and lying to a federal agency on Wednesday. Court officials confirmed he is cooperating with the government’s probe of East Bay corruption.
Flock license plate scanner contract postponed by Alameda County leaders
The Board of Supervisors has questions for the sheriff about the controversial surveillance company.
Another police oversight shake-up, this time on the panel that picks Oakland’s police commissioners
Some activists say the City Council is improperly micromanaging police oversight appointments. But councilmembers say these are “conspiracy theories.”
A battle over who runs parking in Oakland
The city’s finance department is on a fast track to take over parking enforcement from the department of transportation, alarming staff and business leaders. The turf dispute will get aired…
Former Oakland police chief’s new job is in Fremont
Two months after leaving his post as the chief in Oakland, Floyd Mitchell will lead Fremont’s police.
Know the hot spots before they’re hot.
Get the Nosh newsletter for the latest news on the East Bay food and drink scene.
As Kneaded expands with cafe, plus new Mediterranean, Thai and donut options hit the East Bay
A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.
Oakland’s famous tostada is back. Cenaduria Elvira is opening near Jack London Square
Her regional Mexican fare attracted national accolades and international visitors to her backyard patio. Now, Elvira Varela is ready to open her first brick-and-mortar restaurant.
7 East Bay desserts to share with your sweetie this Valentine’s Day
Nosh shares its favorite creative, decadent desserts perfect for splitting with a special someone.
PUBLIC SAFETY
A mobile clinic for sex-trafficked youth opens in Oakland
Offering STI testing, birth control, and other reproductive health services to young people being trafficked on “the Blade,” the clinic aims to meet people where they are.
Education equity
Oakland schools brace for staff layoffs
Workers who support student attendance, community schools, and literacy could be defunded next year.
Oakland schools on state vaccination watch list
The state of California is auditing 34 Oakland schools, and 428 schools statewide, over low vaccination rates. At one Oakland elementary school, two-thirds of seventh graders were still in need of some required vaccinations.
‘We are not aliens’: Students from a dozen Oakland schools walk out to protest ICE
Multiple Oakland businesses, from bars to hair salons, also shuttered or donated earnings as part of a national day of actions to protest Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown and honor the victims of ICE violence.
Arts & Community
This week in Oakland: the Trash Falcons exhibit ‘What We Sow,’ and the making of the Black Joy Parade at OMCA
Other events include two Valentine’s Day mixers, and the screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Alabama Solution.”
Housing & Homelessness
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.
Landlord and tenants voiced concerns over e-scooter chop shop in building that caught fire
Oakland’s shelter for the dozens of displaced residents of 1770 Broadway closes Saturday.
Landlord of fire-ravaged Oakland building attempts to evict displaced tenants
The city attorney demanded a prominent Oakland real estate owner withdraw “unlawful notices” of termination.
Vanderbilt University buys old CCA campus in Rockridge
It is unclear how the transfer of the Oakland arts campus will impact long-term plans to build 448 homes there.
Health & Environment
Can the East Bay Parks help save the California least tern?
The shorebirds that look like ‘little angels hovering above the waves’ have been on the endangered species list since 1970. A wildlife biologist with the park system and 8,000 volunteers have created nesting habitats in Oakland and Hayward.
Thousands walk out in Kaiser strike
The open-ended strike was called by the United Nurses Associations of California, which represents about 31,000 employees. They have accused Kaiser Permanente of squeezing patient care and staffing — a claim the system denies.
Kaiser Permanente will pay $556M to settle Medicare fraud case
Federal prosecutors alleged the Oakland-based healthcare giant schemed for nearly a decade to rake in higher Medicare reimbursements.
Business
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.
Is your business ready for unexpected challenges?
JPMorganChase offers four steps to navigate a business through uncertainty, and a live workshop for entrepreneurs.
About The Oaklandside
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Built on a foundation of listening
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?
Hundreds of Oaklanders told us what they want from local journalism. Here’s what we learned.
HOW WE WORK
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.
Parking ban at Lake Merritt, coal terminal, explaining the Oakland Police Commission: on the podcast
Catch up on Oakland news while walking the dog or cooking dinner with Oaklandside 510.
Oaklandside’s Alejandra Armstrong, Roselyn Romero, Darwin BondGraham receive journalism honors
All three are being honored tonight by the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Armstrong will receive the Unsung Hero Award.
Values guiding our work
News organizations don’t always tell you–or know–what drives their decisions.