A group calling itself #LetsKeepTheSeat held rallies this week in Los Angeles and Sacramento urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill Kamala Harris’ senate seat with a Black woman — either Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee or Southern California Rep. Karen Bass…. Read More ›
Gavin Newsom
Bay Area will begin new stay-at-home orders on its own, begins Dec. 7 in Alameda County
Alameda County, along with four other counties in the Bay Area, will begin Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new stay-at-home orders earlier than anticipated. Newsom’s new order, announced on Thursday, was predicated on regions like the Bay Area falling below 15 percent… Read More ›
Alameda County tops 30,000 total covid-19 cases as rate of infection rises
Alameda County surpassed 30,000 total reported covid-19 on Thursday as the number of new cases continues to spike. The Alameda County Public Health Department reported 30,330 covid-19 cases since the pandemic began last March. The number of deaths is now… Read More ›
Oakland councilmembers tell Newsom, Barbara Lee for U.S. Senate speaks for me
Newsom, though, is leaning toward Alex Padilla Oakland Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan, Noel Gallo, and Sheng Thao want Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint Rep. Barbara Lee to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ U.S. Senate seat. The trio of councilmembers offered the recommendation… Read More ›
Alameda County health official asks state for clarity on reopening Oakland Zoo
A plea last week by Oakland Zoo officials to allow it to reopen soon or risk imminent closure due to the loss of revenue caused by the coronavirus has ignited great interest from the public and stoked financial efforts to… Read More ›
Oakland bishop will reopen churches ‘when it’s safe to do so,’ considers holding Mass outdoors
Oakland Catholic Diocese Bishop Michael Barber said on Wednesday that churches in the East Bay will reopen whenever it is safe and measures for maintaining social distancing during Mass are being created. Barber also suggested the possibility of holding Mass… Read More ›
‘We’re going to have to pivot much sooner’: Alameda County’s budget deficit is likely higher
Alameda County’s baseline budget shortfall of $72 million is likely somewhere closer to $140 million, and possibly larger, county officials said on Tuesday. Alameda County Administrator Susan Muranishi warned the Board of Supervisors will need to deal with the abrupt… Read More ›
ALCO advances payments to non-profits; Union says hotel owner is profiteering; Oakland passes moratorium
Coronavirus news briefs from Alameda County and Oakland.
Alameda County eyes extending COVID-19 eviction moratorium to entire county
Alameda County supervisors approved on Tuesday a moratorium on evictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. The moratorium gives relief only for renters in the unincorporated areas of Alameda County, but could possibly later extend to all cities in the county… Read More ›
To house the homeless during crisis, Alameda County will lease 2 hotels
With staggering numbers of homeless individuals in Oakland and across Alameda County, and a shelter in place order issued last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Alameda County supervisors on Tuesday morning are likely… Read More ›
Alameda moves to protect renters during COVID-19 crisis, enacts 60-day moratorium on evictions
Alameda officials approved a 60-day emergency moratorium on evictions, along with a prohibition on landlords shutting off utilities as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The moratorium is tied to a state declaration of emergency, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed… Read More ›
East Bay officials urge state to ban oil and gas production
Elected officials from Alameda, Oakland, and Albany, citing the growing climate change crisis, urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to ban oil and gas production in the state during a press conference Wednesday at the steps of Alameda City Hall. “I want… Read More ›
San Leandro scuttles campaign finance reforms
Cities without campaign contribution limits, however, will be preempted by a new state law coming into effect in 2021.
Alameda County fire chief is retiring
Alameda County Fire Chief David Rocha will retire at the end of this year, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors announced last week. But not entirely. Rocha, however, will stay with department and serve as interim fire chief, Alameda County… Read More ›
Democratic presidential hopefuls are wooing Schaaf, Bonta
When Sen. Kamala Harris abruptly shut down her presidential campaign on Dec. 3 it freed many high-profile Democrats in the state and the East Bay who had supported her effort to begin looking to back other candidates. Democrats such Gov…. Read More ›
Alameda will be the next city to ban facial-recognition software
The Alameda City Council will decide Tuesday night whether to become the latest in a growing list of municipalities that are choosing to ban the use of facial-recognition software in surveillance cameras. In May, San Francisco became the first major… Read More ›
Alameda’s city prosecutor could go after businesses that don’t comply with AB5
Just prior to the State Legislature approving a landmark bill last week that reclassifies gig-workers and freelancers as employees, it was amended to include language that could bolster the authority of Alameda’s new city prosecutor to go after violators of… Read More ›
Skinner’s game-changing ‘Fair Pay for Fair Play’ bill heads to governor’s desk
East Bay state Sen. Nancy Skinner’s game-changing legislation that could potential move the NCAA toward paying its student athletes was approved by the state Legislature Wednesday. Senate Bill 206 heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for consideration. “California is loud… Read More ›
Quirk bill banning Ticketmaster’s secret scalping software is signed into law
A secret software program created by Ticketmaster to help buyers purchase large quantities of tickets to sporting events and concerts and then later re-sell them on the secondary market with huge mark-ups in price has caused an uproar in the… Read More ›
Kaplan asks Newsom to forgive Oakland School District’s emergency state loan
On Day Two of the Oakland teachers strike, Oakland Council President Rebecca Kaplan said she asked Gov. Gavin Newson last week to waive the remainder of the $100 million emergency loan given by the state in 2003 after the struggling… Read More ›
Miley: Alameda County should offer ‘major opposition’ to bill moving last call to 4am
A similar bill failed in each of the last two years, but a change in the governor’s office is buoying proponent’s spirits.
Gavin Newsom sworn-in as governor
“Gavin Newsom took the oath as California’s 40th governor Monday and instantly challenged President Trump, promising a “progressive, principled” administration that will counter “corruption and incompetence” in the White House,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday. “About halfway through the… Read More ›
ELECTIONLINE: Alameda landlords’ Measure K dilemma; Newsom to speak at Wicks’ campaign headquarters
DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY: 61 DAYS UNTIL VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOTS SENT: 32 ALAMEDA MEASURE K The Alameda Renters Coalition (ARC) will open its campaign against Measure K, the landlords-backed ballot initiative to lock-in the city’s existing rent stabilization ordinance in the… Read More ›