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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 school board (OUSD) approves $102.5 million in budget cuts in 5-2 vote
Details of the how and where of cuts remain vague; it relies on speculative enrollment gains; and did not include closing or consolidating…
 • Bob Borek
A day of budget reckoning for Oakland Unified School District
The agenda is worth 1.5 million words – and 108 hours of reading. Can the school board save Oakland’s schools from a state takeover? – Oakland Agenda…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
City set to forgive $8 million loan to affordable housing landlord
East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) says that two properties will be foreclosed – and affordable deed restrictions removed – unless…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
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
Outgoing police commissioners accuse police chief and blame city for "anti-commission harassment"
Termed-out police commissioners Ricardo Garcia Acosta and Omar Farmer, whom city council declined to reappoint, aim to send a statement to the federal…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
City of Oakland gives Rebecca Kaplan, former city council member a $149,000-per-year job
The Oakland city administrator’s office has given former city council member Rebecca Kaplan a full-time job on the city’s payroll as a “Project Manager…
 • Oakland Report
Oakland Agenda Watch - November 4, 2025
Police lab’s DNA backlog; Privacy Advisory Commission appointment; Business improvement district (BID) levy increases; Allowing big rigs on I-580 and…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
Oakland could pay $674 million in damages in disastrous coal terminal lawsuit
The City of Oakland loses its fourth appeal in massive lawsuit over its shipping terminal development. Now the city faces hundreds of millions in…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
Oakland Unified School District must cut at least $115 million in the next two weeks to avoid state receivership
Since its 2022 election, the OUSD board of education has failed to address well-known financial gaps, and remains unprepared with only two weeks until…
 • Bob Borek
Oakland has hella lawsuits
Oakland Agenda Watch, October 20, 2025 — Just can’t quit coal in Oakland; pay no attention to what’s behind the curtain; Oakland Coliseum debacle keeps…
 • Sean S. Reinhart
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