In a stunning development Thursday night, the Oakland Police Commission wielded its power to dismiss a sitting police chief. Police commissioners unanimously voted to fire Oakland Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick without cause. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf concurred with their decision…. Read More ›
Oakland police
EBC AGENDA: May 18-24 — Kaplan goes on tax measure spree in OAKLAND; ALAMEDA COUNTY spends $24m on CBOs
Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan is proposing two major tax-generating ballot measures for November during Tuesday’s slate of Oakland City Council committee meetings.
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 ›
Oakland police chief says she didn’t know about deportation before August ICE raid
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL Oakland Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick reiterated that she was not previously aware that a raid conducted by federal agents in West Oakland on Aug. 16 involved a potential deportation matter. The raid in West Oakland by Homeland… 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 ›
Large racial disparity for traffic stops in Oakland persist
African Americans were pulled over by OPD 15,000 times last year, nearly 10,000 more than the next racial group. OAKLAND CITY COUNCILHalf of the more than 11,000 traffic citations issued by Oakland police officers last year were given to African… Read More ›
Report: Schaaf, former Chief Whent mishandled OPD sexual misconduct investigation
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf OAKLANDA investigation into the handling of the Oakland police sexual misconduct scandal by the department describes a troublesome lax attitude early on toward the allegation and a city administration disinterested in the post-investigation fallout. It was… Read More ›
Pamela Price, one-time attorney for woman at center of Oakland police scandal, eyes run for Alameda County DA
Civil rights attorney Pamela Price ran in the 2014 15th Assembly District primary, finishing third. ALAMEDA COUNTYOakland civil rights attorney Pamela Price has filed an intent to challenge Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley in next year’s June primary. Price,… Read More ›
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf will seek second term
Four more years? Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. OAKLANDAfter two high-profile scandals involving public safety, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced Monday that she is running for a second term. And it appears she plans on running a campaign not on her… Read More ›
Federal judge overseeing Oakland police reforms to retire in August
Federal Judge Thelton Henderson OAKLAND | Days after Oakland named its next police chief, Judge Thelton Henderson, who was tasked with pushing the struggling department to comply with more than a decade-long federal consent decree to reform its ranks, said… Read More ›
2016 EAST BAY POLITICAL YEAR-IN-REVIEW, PART 2 – Oakland police scandal erupts, coal shipments banned; June elections brings few surprises
MAY>>>A major police scandal breaks in Oakland after a then-underage sex worker says she was involved sexually with numerous Oakland police officers. Officers from other local jurisdictions were also involved with the woman known as “Celeste Guap.” Police Chief Sean… Read More ›
Nancy Skinner received contributions from Oakland, Richmond police unions
Nancy Skinner (left) received more than $11,000 from local police unions during a four-day period last month, in her race against Sandre Swanson. STATE SENATE | 9TH DISTRICT |ELECTION 2016 |In the months that followed a wide-ranging East Bay police… 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 ›
Alameda County judicial candidate was Facebook friends with woman involved in Oakland police sex scandal
The campaign of Alameda County Superior Court candidate Scott Jackson took a hit Tuesday. ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT | Be careful who you befriend on social media, especially if you’re running in a competitive three-person race for Alameda County Superior… Read More ›
EAST BAY POLITICAL YEAR-IN-REVIEW: January-March 2015
JANUARY Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf speaks at her Jan. 5 inauguration ceremony. PHOTO/EBAR >>>The new legislative year begins with rounds of swearing-in ceremonies and appointments. Libby Schaaf, fresh off her dominating mayoral win last November in Oakland, is sworn-in. Gov…. Read More ›
UPDATE: A’s strike out again at fan displaying an anti-ownership banner
A visual display in 2010 of disenchantment toward Oakland A’s ownership. PHOTO/CSNBayArea OAKLAND | An A’s fan was escorted out of the Oakland Coliseum during Monday’s night’s game for displaying a sign the team’s management may have found offensive. And it’s… Read More ›
City Hall Insider: agenda notes from around the East Bay, July 14-16
FREMONT/July 14, 7 p.m.All eyes on Fremont’s surveillance cameras SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS APPROVAL Oakland residents fought hard against the type of surveillance the Fremont City Council is set to approval Tuesday night. But this isn’t Oakland. The council will be asked… Read More ›
Schaaf’s proposed budget includes creation of Department of Transportation
OAKLAND | BUDGET | Mayor Libby Schaaf hopes to close projected $18 million budget shortfalls over the next two years without many cuts to city services and staff, while also beginning to pay down unfunded liabilities. The two-year budget proposal… Read More ›
Ms. Santana, The Writing Is On The Wall
OAKLAND | Oakland City Administrator Deanna Santana never looks happy. If the sheer weight of Oakland’s problems perpetually on her shoulders wasn’t enough, her own job security now seems perilous. Matthew Artz’s article Friday shows the discontent from labor and… Read More ›
Oakland May Be Moving Closer To Joining Regional Emergency Radio System
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | Last July, just as President Barack Obama was speaking inside the Fox Theatre, over 100 Oakland police officers on duty to protect him suddenly lost radio communications. The embarrassing 30 minute lapse did not result in… Read More ›
Saving San Leandro Hospital Is A Rare Populist Success Story
SUNDAY COLUMN | After four years of uncertainty, San Leandro Hospital appears to have been saved, at least, for the next few years. However, the fits and starts that have been a hallmark of this community-fueled uprising to save its… Read More ›
Meet The East Bay’s Newest Progressive Patron Saint
ILLUSTRATION/Steven Tavares PHOTO/Matt Santos SUNDAY COLUMN | Linda Lye, the whip-smart attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union was ecstatic. Walking out the Alameda County Administration Building last Valentine’s Day, Lye had just tweeted her followers, “I heart Richard Valle.”… Read More ›
Oakland Names Its Third Police Chief In The Last 48 Hours
OAKLAND//POLICE SHAKE-UP | Oakland Police Howard Jordan is out. Acting Chief Anthony Toribio is now a captain. So, who’s next? On Friday, Sean Whent became Oakland’s third police chief in just over the last 48 hours. The dizzying turn of events leaves… Read More ›
Boston Bombings Another Reason Why Oakland Must Join Regional Radio System
SUNDAY COLUMN | Two men in Oakland Athletics jersey, backpacks strapped to their bodies mill around thousands of A’s fans patiently lined up outside the O.co Coliseum in anticipation of a popular bobblehead promotion. Fans love the promotion and wait… Read More ›
Oakland City Council Orders Progress Report For OPD Reforms
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | Community activists cheered the Oakland City Council’s move to force a more transparent police reform process from the city administration Tuesday night. The Council voted 8-0 to set a timeline for City Administrator Deanna Santana to… Read More ›
Oakland Union Members Make Raucous Demands For Their Share In Next Budget
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL//BUDGET | Members of the largest union in the city packed the Oakland City Council chambers on Tuesday, demanding concessions from the city as it prepares to release its financial plans for the next five years. The plan… Read More ›
Miley: A Lack Of Leadership In Oakland Is Hastening Crime Problem
ALCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS//ROUNDUP | A multi-agency proposal that would add up to 90 public safety officers for high crime areas in Alameda County has some federal and local hoops to jump through before receiving the $67 million grant. This week,… Read More ›
Brooks Unloads On—Basically Everyone!—Over First Friday Security Spending
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | What initially appeared to be one of the most mundane Oakland City Council meetings in recent months, turned into a public dress down delivered by Councilmember Desley Brooks. The East Oakland representative questioned City Administrator Deanna… Read More ›
As Swalwell Begins Winning Hearts And Minds, Where Is Ellen Corbett?
State Sen. Ellen Corbett in Pleasanton last June. SUNDAY COLUMN | It seems like Rep. Eric Swalwell is settling in quite well during the first few months of his first-term in the 15th Congressional District and that should be disturbing… Read More ›
Quan Makes Insensitive Remark To Occupy Oakland Protester Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen, right, addresses a community meeting on public safety, Mar. 6, with police consultant Bob Wasserman and Mayor Jean Quan, highlighted, looking on. PHOTO/David Colburn OAKLAND | Scott Olsen, the Occupy Oakland protester and Iraq War veteran, who suffered… Read More ›