OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL An opinion by the Oakland City Attorney’s office that a voter-approved independent police commission did not have authority, under the City Charter, to hire or fire an inspector general for police investigations, roiled advocates of police transparency… Read More ›
Abel Guillen
Oakland councilmember blasts mayor, police, fire for doing little to limit rising overtime costs
Oakland Councilmember Annie Campbell Washington doubts the city administration is serious about reducing overtime hours for its public safety employees. OAKLAND CITY COUNCILOakland’s overtime budget for the police and fire departments is bursting at the seams, leading one normally reserved… Read More ›
2017 Year in East Bay Politics: We grabbed Trump by the politics
2017 YEAR IN EAST BAY POLITICSIt’s difficult to imagine what the prevailing story line of politics in the East Bay would have been without the daily barrage of tweets and general insanity emanating from President Donald Trump in 2017. Much… Read More ›
Oakland plan to restrict speculators at proposed A’s ballpark is held in committee
A’s management announced an intention to build a new ballpark in the above area near Laney College in OAKLAND CITY COUNCILLegislation that would have placed short-term controls aimed at hindering speculative real estate moves in and around the proposed A’s… Read More ›
Kaplan, Brooks upset over ICE accountability item being iced by Oakland committee members
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILOakland Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Desley Brooks expressed bewilderment Friday after an inquiry into the Aug. 16 raid in Oakland conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents was abruptly removed from consideration at yesterday’s Oakland City… Read More ›
Oakland proposal to border wall builders: Take your biz elsewhere
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILPrototypes for President Donald Trump‘s border wall are nearly complete. The City of Oakland, however, believes it has its own prototype for stymieing the wall’s construction. An Oakland City Council proposal to ban vendors from seeking city contracts… Read More ›
Oakland council committee moves to cool OPD coordination with ICE
Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan addressing the public safety committee on Tuesday night. OAKLAND CITY COUNCILAn Oakland City Council committee backed an ordinance Tuesday night that revokes authority previously given to the city administrator for entering agreements with the U.S. Immigration,… Read More ›
With patience and time running out, Oakland finds a way to approve $2.5bn two-year budget
Oakland Councilmember Abel Guillen’s motion allowed the city approve its two-year budget just under the wire before a Friday deadline. OAKLAND CITY COUNCILFor a budget battle in Oakland that resulted earlier in the week with an abrupt adjournment in response… Read More ›
Oakland City Council backs inquiry, Trump impeachment: ‘I hope God blesses us with a miracle and gets rid of both Trump and Pence’
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL“I can’t think of any of my colleagues on this council that voted for Donald Trump,” said Oakland Council President Larry Reid before a number of public speakers lined up to urge the City Council to support a… Read More ›
Oakland public bank study put on hold while city passes the hat around to cannabis interests
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILDuring the Oakland City Council committee stage, at least one Oakland councilmember consistently urged stakeholders in the city’s cannabis business community to fund a proposed $100,000 public bank feasibility study rather than using the depleted general fund. Councilmember… Read More ›
Following emotional hearing, Oakland City Council approves Dept. of Violence Prevention
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILIt was one of the most somber Oakland City Council meetings in recent memory. Dozens of public speakers detailed the anguish following the loss of loved ones to gun violence in Oakland. And, later, after Council President Larry… Read More ›
Oakland public bank feasibility study moves forward
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILOakland officials are putting a down payment on the possible creation of a public bank. The Oakland City Council Finance and Management Committee approved the allocation Tuesday of $100,000 to study the feasibility of the potentially landmark public… Read More ›
Oakland City Council may hear resolution in June seeking possible impeachment of Trump
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILThree Oakland elected officials introduced a resolution Thursday calling for Congress to investigate all impeachable offense alleged of President Donald Trump.The symbolic resolution, authored by Oakalnd Councilmember Dan Kalb, Abel Guillen, was presented to the Oakland City Council… Read More ›
Oakland public bank study postponed as questions arise over $100,000 proposal
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILThe momentum for Oakland becoming only the second public bank in the entire country was slowed Tuesday when an Oakland City Council committee declined to support a feasibility study worth $100,000. A majority of the Finance and Management… Read More ›
Oakland approves city ban on companies hoping to build Trump’s wall
Oakland Councilmember Abel Guillen’s legislation rebuking the building of Trump’s wall was approved Tuesday night. OAKLAND CITY COUNCILIf a business specializing on a gamut of services from construction to internet services to public relations wants to help build President’s Trump… Read More ›
Guillén says Oakland won’t help build Trump’s ‘big, beautiful wall’
Oakland Councilmember Abel Guillén‘s plan to stymie Trump’s wall will be heard Mar. 14. OAKLAND CITY COUNCILIf President Trump’s ballyhooed wall on the southern border is ever constructed, it will have been done without the help of companies doing business with… Read More ›
Oakland reaffirms sanctuary city status; urges for statewide designation
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | A sense of dread over the incoming presidency of Donald Trump may have been alleviated at least for a few hours Tuesday after the Oakland City Council unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming its status as a… Read More ›
Oakland eyes creating public bank to help city’s underserved, cannabis industry
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | A proposed resolution setting the stage for Oakland to begin studying the feasibility of a public bank was approved Tuesday by the Oakland City Council Finance and Management Committee. The idea of a city-owned public bank,… Read More ›
McElhaney’s potential censure hearing gets pushed to after the election
Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks called her collegaues on the rules committee “spinles wonders.” OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL |Despite a round of aspersions against the Oakland City Council cast by Councilmember Desley Brooks and members of the public Thursday morning, potential censure… Read More ›
Amid growing sex scandal, Oakland police oversight measure moves forward
Oakland Councilmember Abel Guillen voted against moving the police oversight measure to the full council but later urged for a equitable compromise. OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | In the wake of a sweeping police misconduct and sex scandal, a ballot measure… Read More ›
With gun control laws, Oakland City Council to ring in new year without a bang
Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb said part of the impetus for the proposed ordinances is inaction by Congress on gun control. OAKLAND | The Oakland City Council Public Safety Committee on Tuesday greenlighted three gun control measures that were proposed following… Read More ›
Report: Dana King, former Oakland council candidate, TV anchor, eyeing return to airwaves
Dana King, right, with Elihu Harris at an Oakland City Council candidates forum in 2014. Former anchor finished second in District 2 last fall OAKLAND | Dana King rose through the ranks to become one of the most recognizable faces… Read More ›
Newly-elected East Bay officials get their first six-month review
SIX-MONTH REVIEW | A new crop of East Bay officials recently finished their first six months in office. Their probation period is officially over. But while nobody is getting let go–voters would have to mount a recall campaign–most have met… Read More ›
Oakland approves new city Department of Race and Equity; funding amount to come
Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks Brooks’ proposal ultimately win unanimous approval OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | Councilmember Desley Brooks’ proposed Department of Race and Equity, after months of ups and downs, was given the green light Monday night by the Oakland City… Read More ›
Political tit-for-tat kicks off big intraparty East Bay State Senate race
State Sen. Loni Hancock, right, kept her word Wednesday when endorsing Sandre Swanson in SD9.. STATE SENATE |9TH DISTRICT | When Loni Hancock, the current holder of the Ninth State Senate District seat, announced Wednesday she was endorsing Sandre Swanson… Read More ›
Oakland’s young City Council, once full of promise, reverts to its old ways
Activists shut down the Oakland City Council meeting Tuesday night before the likely approval of the East 12th Street parcel sale. PHOTO/Jaime Omar Yassin OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | When the band of black activists unfurled their banner of protest at… Read More ›
AGENDA NOTES: Oakland City Council likely to approve 12th Street parcel sale
The 12th Street remainder parcel sale will likely be approved Tuesday night by the City Council. Oakland City Council Preview1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, third floorTuesday, May 5, 2015, 5 p.m.[FULL AGENDA HERE] Twitter hashtag: #oakmtg 12TH STREET REMAINDER PARCEL SALE… Read More ›
AGENDA NOTES: Oakland’s Homeland Security grant does not yet include approval for thermal imaging camera
Oakland City Council will decide Tuesday whether to accept a $578,000 Homeland Security grant. Oakland City Council Preview1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, third floorTuesday, April 21, 2015, 7 p.m.[FULL AGENDA HERE] Twitter hashtag: #oakmtg HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT Any time grant funding from the U.S. Department… Read More ›
Oakland committee moves Lake Merritt luxury tower deal for council approval
Oakland Councilmember Abel Guillen’s plan to conduct a new appraisal of the parcel was rebuffed by the committee. OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | The proposed sale of the vacant Lake Merritt property, known as the 12th Street remainder parcel, has frustrated… Read More ›
Race and equity department proposal to be debated during coming budget talks
Oakland Councilmember Noel Gallo, far left, at a meeting of the Life Enrichment Committee, says his colleague, Desley Brooks’ plan for a department of race and equity adds more bureaucracy to its city government. PHOTO/Steven Tavares OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | A… Read More ›
