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Public Safety

Oakland’s police oversight system: auditor’s report raises questions, recommends independent staffing study
City officials sought to move the Office of the Inspector General to the city auditor’s office
 • Rajni Mandal
Police overtime report shows $16.9 million over budget halfway through the fiscal year
Oakland police department is dangerously understaffed with only 509 sworn officers on active duty – far below the minimum threshold of 700 set by…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
Oakland Police federal oversight: A different tone in court signals a potential end to NSA
Oakland Police Department has been under federal oversight since 2003. Yesterday, Judge William Orrick said he is “very optimistic about the future” for…
 • Rajni Mandal
Counterpoint: Oakland prostitution enforcement and support services up for revisions
Charlene Wang's policy director responds to our article reporting on the councilmember's proposal to revise local laws concerning prostitution.
 • Oakland Report
Oakland prostitution enforcement and support services up for revisions
Public safety committee proposal would shift enforcement focus away from sex workers and toward buyers of commercial sex, and create a new support fund…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
Police dispatch time improvements sidelined after the Privacy Advisory Commission
Oakland has one of the slowest 9-1-1 response times in the state. A likely time-saving technology was debated by citizen-run organizations that aim to…
 • Rajni Mandal
Public safety updates: a look ahead to 2026
A list of several public safety-related issues coming up in the new year.
 • Rajni Mandal
City council decision on Flock Safety overshadows a potentially even more impactful vote
After 3 hours of public comment on Flock Safety license plate cameras, the Oakland City Council quietly passed a major change to allow controversial…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
Agenda watch: Flock Safety cameras are back on the Oakland city council agenda
Also: Mayor Barbara Lee may get a second chance to cast a tie-breaking vote; More "democracy dollar" public funds for council members' political…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
Oakland’s culture of apathy is costing us all
City’s lack of responsiveness to its citizens – and apathy toward doing its job – has cost it and Oakland residents dearly.
 • SEAN EVERHART
City’s cash management report shows $192 million loss since June 30
Rebecca Kaplan’s undocumented special revenue project; city set to forgive $8 million housing loans; Lake Merritt project could be delayed by late…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
The city that sues itself: how the Privacy Advisory Commission enables conflicts of interest
Oakland’s tangled web of citizen commissions takes authority (and accountability) out of the hands of elected officials
 • Alex Montana
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