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...

Fire injures 3 in downtown Oakland residential building

50 firefighters extinguished a blaze in a multi-story building. Three people were hospitalized with smoke-related injuries.

oaklandside.org

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...

Getting a permit to build in Oakland has been hellish. Will sweeping new reforms work?

Expanded hours, same-day permits, and easier applications could help tackle communication voids and excruciating delays.

oaklandside.org

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...

The FBI’s Oakland corruption case relies heavily on the word of one man with a ‘checkered past’

For decades, Juarez has been at the center of bitter legal disputes — and the subject of criminal investigations — all while maintaining high-level political connections.

oaklandside.org

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...

Marvin Boomer’s loved ones share their grief — girlfriend slams CHP for deadly Oakland chase

Boomer’s family will hold a church service for the beloved Castlemont teacher at Acts Full Gospel Church on Friday.

oaklandside.org

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...

Is a central figure in the Oakland FBI investigation seeking a Trump pardon?

The idea that the president could help David Duong avoid bribery charges has cropped up in recent articles, including on a Duong company website.

oaklandside.org

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 springs into lead as Oakland mayor’s race flips

The latest ballot count has Lee with 53% of the vote. Charlene Wang is poised to handily win the City Council District 2 seat.

oaklandside.org

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...

Oakland mayor’s race: No winner yet

Taylor leads Lee in early results. But with many ballots left to count and a ranked-choice runoff on the horizon, the winner likely won’t be known tonight.

oaklandside.org

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...

An Oakland homeless shelter was left in shambles. Who’s to blame?

How the mess at the Lake Merritt Lodge was made.

oaklandside.org

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...

The Oakland mayor race is heating up. But are voters tuning in?

In conversations at a farmers market, some shared that they’re excited about Barbara Lee or Loren Taylor. But many said they’re uninterested or struggling to learn the facts.

oaklandside.org

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...

The winner of the Oakland mayor’s forum is the candidate who walked out

“It was like a skit from ‘SNL,’” said Carol Strickman, an audience member who moved to Oakland in 1974.

sfchronicle.com

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...

A cheat sheet for The Oaklandside’s mayoral candidates forum

Who’ll be there? What are their platforms? What will they be talking about? All your questions, answered.

oaklandside.org

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...

Berkeley residents form city’s first tenants union with power to bargain with landlords

The group of residents in a North Berkeley building are the first to use new expanded renter protections passed under Measure BB.

berkeleyside.org

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

Berkeley's iconic head shop Annapurna closes for good after 53 years

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

berkeleyside.org

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...

High-end Oakland apartment buildings rocked by foreclosures and fire sales

New buildings are being seized by lenders during a downturn in construction, rents, and tenancy.

oaklandside.org

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...

How is the Trump administration changing Oakland? Help us keep track

We're turning to you to help us document the ways the East Bay community is changing in response to Trump. Submit your observations and tips here.

oaklandside.org

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...

Join the Oaklandside for a mayoral candidates forum in East Oakland

We will be asking those running for mayor the hard questions about issues Oakland residents care most about.

oaklandside.org

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...

13 delightfully weird items from Oakland’s White Elephant Sale

The annual warehouse rummage sale benefitting the Oakland Museum of California runs through early March.

oaklandside.org

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...

Should 'aiding' or 'abetting' a homeless camp be illegal? It may soon be a reality in this Bay Area city

The move is alarming California activists who worry they could be placed in the ordinance’s crosshairs for helping their homeless neighbors.

calmatters.org

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...

Records shed new light on Sheng Thao’s possible involvement with Oakland security contract

Thao and a high-ranking city 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 ...

oaklandside.org

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...

Condo developers say the city ripped them off. A Supreme Court case helped them—but could cost Oakland millions

Affordable housing is tough to build in Oakland. The city relies on "impact fees" to do so, but that model faces a steeper challenge now.

oaklandside.org

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

Oakland official mentioned in bribery indictment quietly left his job on Friday

Mayor Thao and her allies allegedly maneuvered Larry Gallegos into a key city of Oakland position as part of a bribery scheme.

oaklandside.org

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...

Sheng Thao and partner Andre Jones sought more than $300,000 in bribes, feds allege

The recalled Oakland mayor was accused by federal prosecutors of a "corrupt agreement" to hand city contracts and steer city appointments to benefit the Duong family.

oaklandside.org

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...

Recalled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao reportedly indicted in FBI investigation

The news comes one day after a San Leandro councilmember’s home was raided by the FBI as part of the ongoing corruption probe.

oaklandside.org

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

Barbara Lee officially launches campaign for Oakland mayor

The longtime East Bay Congresswoman says she'll bring her experience home "for an Oakland renaissance."

oaklandside.org