Jaime Omar Yassin [TNH]
@hyphyrepublic.bsky.social
I'm @hyphy_republic on Twitter, aka The Oakland Observer, an Oakland journalist. Newsletter @ https://oakland-observer.ghost.io/ :One time contributions to the OO instead of subscription https://oakland-observer.ghost.io/#/portal/support
But it will be important to see how other changes in the document are handled...the document, clearly at the behest of CA HCD/ICH, now includes non-binding guidance to perform vehicular tows in conjunction with EM Team, allow victims to move vehicle to another place
November 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
But it will be important to see how other changes in the document are handled...the document, clearly at the behest of CA HCD/ICH, now includes non-binding guidance to perform vehicular tows in conjunction with EM Team, allow victims to move vehicle to another place
One important change in encampment rules: Ca also agrees vehicles are not "encampments" under policy & that they can be towed if not registered/legally parked. If attached to a larger non-vehicle encampment slated for closure, closure rules still apply. Regardless, a big change
November 28, 2025 at 10:10 PM
One important change in encampment rules: Ca also agrees vehicles are not "encampments" under policy & that they can be towed if not registered/legally parked. If attached to a larger non-vehicle encampment slated for closure, closure rules still apply. Regardless, a big change
Thanks to Council rushing Houston's drafts of Encampment Management Policy as CA warned it could cost Oakland $20 MM in funding, there's now 2 redlined versions of current EMP that must be read side by side to understand the scope of changes from original, to EAP, to amended EAP
November 28, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Thanks to Council rushing Houston's drafts of Encampment Management Policy as CA warned it could cost Oakland $20 MM in funding, there's now 2 redlined versions of current EMP that must be read side by side to understand the scope of changes from original, to EAP, to amended EAP
Almost a month before City Council's first meeting about the Encampment Abatement Policy, it was already clear to staff at ALCO and Oakland that it would jeopardize a total of over $40 MM in Ca funding between the two jurisdictions. And state officials virtually confirmed it
November 28, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Almost a month before City Council's first meeting about the Encampment Abatement Policy, it was already clear to staff at ALCO and Oakland that it would jeopardize a total of over $40 MM in Ca funding between the two jurisdictions. And state officials virtually confirmed it
A reader pointed out that Empower Oakland's "Policy Lead" is also Waymo's "Policy Development and Research Manager". This organization is a joke that wouldn't stand up to ten seconds of scrutiny if we had a legitimate media environment and not a company town version
November 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
A reader pointed out that Empower Oakland's "Policy Lead" is also Waymo's "Policy Development and Research Manager". This organization is a joke that wouldn't stand up to ten seconds of scrutiny if we had a legitimate media environment and not a company town version
Houston brought EAP back to schedule on 10/16 w/ no amendments. Chair Jenkins obliged scheduling a special meeting w/little notice, citing urgency. Meanwhile, Cal HCD/ICH suggested just 2 weeks earlier EAP would cost Oakland's $20 MM grant. Letter dated 9/29, from HCD/ICH/HHAP
November 27, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Houston brought EAP back to schedule on 10/16 w/ no amendments. Chair Jenkins obliged scheduling a special meeting w/little notice, citing urgency. Meanwhile, Cal HCD/ICH suggested just 2 weeks earlier EAP would cost Oakland's $20 MM grant. Letter dated 9/29, from HCD/ICH/HHAP
The center-right SF-based "Abundance Network" which sought to install a techbroletariat friendly Mayor in Oakland terminated its finance committee this week. That's not in itself significant, as these finance committees are treated like disposable rain ponchos
November 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The center-right SF-based "Abundance Network" which sought to install a techbroletariat friendly Mayor in Oakland terminated its finance committee this week. That's not in itself significant, as these finance committees are treated like disposable rain ponchos
Well before Houston's "Encampment Abatement" plan was introduced at Council in September, City was told in specific terms it didn't meet ICH guidelines, and it would likely result in loss of HHAP6 funding grant, then in process. Yet it was still brought to Council w/"urgency"
November 26, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Well before Houston's "Encampment Abatement" plan was introduced at Council in September, City was told in specific terms it didn't meet ICH guidelines, and it would likely result in loss of HHAP6 funding grant, then in process. Yet it was still brought to Council w/"urgency"
With such a constant focus on arguing for Flock, local media disdain actual real time investigations about whether it works. Take for example, the hi profile story about a horrible hit and run on 73rd by a speeding car in the bike lane. 6 Flock ALPRs, but no arrests?
November 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
With such a constant focus on arguing for Flock, local media disdain actual real time investigations about whether it works. Take for example, the hi profile story about a horrible hit and run on 73rd by a speeding car in the bike lane. 6 Flock ALPRs, but no arrests?
Just a note that at least one of the officers assigned to the "Real Time Operations Center", the nebulous delegation of OPD focused on acquiring and managing surveillance technology in charge of the Flock project is a board Director of the extremely political OPOA
November 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Just a note that at least one of the officers assigned to the "Real Time Operations Center", the nebulous delegation of OPD focused on acquiring and managing surveillance technology in charge of the Flock project is a board Director of the extremely political OPOA
Oakland People's Arms Embargo is stepping up the campaign to get Port Commission to ban weapons parts shipments that transit through the Oak airport to Israel for use in its genocidal war against Palestinians. Rally today at 3 ahead of 4pm public comment at Port.
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Oakland People's Arms Embargo is stepping up the campaign to get Port Commission to ban weapons parts shipments that transit through the Oak airport to Israel for use in its genocidal war against Palestinians. Rally today at 3 ahead of 4pm public comment at Port.
As reported weeks ago, the EAP is on its way back to Council on December 2nd. Worth noting, with months to respond to the redline version from state, and warning Oakland's likely to lose millions in funding in current version, there's no amendments from Houston or the D6 office.
November 20, 2025 at 5:24 PM
As reported weeks ago, the EAP is on its way back to Council on December 2nd. Worth noting, with months to respond to the redline version from state, and warning Oakland's likely to lose millions in funding in current version, there's no amendments from Houston or the D6 office.
An interesting reveal in suit is OPD's habit of bonding w/specific corps & foregoing bidding rules to maintain relationships--as it is now doing with Flock, so to Shotspotter in 2024. Ironically, OPD refused to put gunshot detection out for bid even tho Flock's Raven is cheaper
November 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
An interesting reveal in suit is OPD's habit of bonding w/specific corps & foregoing bidding rules to maintain relationships--as it is now doing with Flock, so to Shotspotter in 2024. Ironically, OPD refused to put gunshot detection out for bid even tho Flock's Raven is cheaper
Hofer's suit says that the only time OPD followed state law and settlement was during the brief months when OPD shut down its old ALPR system, after admitting it was useless, and before acquiring Flock
November 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Hofer's suit says that the only time OPD followed state law and settlement was during the brief months when OPD shut down its old ALPR system, after admitting it was useless, and before acquiring Flock
New: Brian Hofer/Secure Justice files suit to bar OPD from using ALPR. Suit alleges OPD has for years consistently violated local & state ALPR law, & existing settlement, by sharing data w/Fed, failing to monitor/prohibit unauthorized 3rd party use, & violating bidding process
November 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
New: Brian Hofer/Secure Justice files suit to bar OPD from using ALPR. Suit alleges OPD has for years consistently violated local & state ALPR law, & existing settlement, by sharing data w/Fed, failing to monitor/prohibit unauthorized 3rd party use, & violating bidding process
This is a list of the known jurisdictions that have cancelled Flock after recent revelations about the systems vulnerability to hacking and fed exploitation
November 18, 2025 at 12:33 AM
This is a list of the known jurisdictions that have cancelled Flock after recent revelations about the systems vulnerability to hacking and fed exploitation
A lot of organizations will represent tomorrow at Public Safety. actionnetwork.org/le...
November 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A lot of organizations will represent tomorrow at Public Safety. actionnetwork.org/le...
Tomorrow at 10am, APTP and other organizations will hold a rally to oppose OPD's expanded Flock proposal. The rally follows a letter signed by 38 organizations urging Council members and Mayor Lee to say no to Flock, a troubled, but growing, surveillance corporation
November 17, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Tomorrow at 10am, APTP and other organizations will hold a rally to oppose OPD's expanded Flock proposal. The rally follows a letter signed by 38 organizations urging Council members and Mayor Lee to say no to Flock, a troubled, but growing, surveillance corporation
The people who made Beam's murder a political referendum against electeds they love to hate should be ashamed. This is a purely national story, lack of resources for the mentally ill, a permissive view of, and low barrier to, guns.
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The people who made Beam's murder a political referendum against electeds they love to hate should be ashamed. This is a purely national story, lack of resources for the mentally ill, a permissive view of, and low barrier to, guns.
So far this initiative from CM Brown has flown under the wire, but seems significant. A) 4 pilot open alcohol areas [entertainment zones] in affluent districts, B) a nebulous AI buzz-word thing. The Oakland Fund For Public Innovation would get 1 MM GPF to oversee the programs
November 16, 2025 at 9:03 PM
So far this initiative from CM Brown has flown under the wire, but seems significant. A) 4 pilot open alcohol areas [entertainment zones] in affluent districts, B) a nebulous AI buzz-word thing. The Oakland Fund For Public Innovation would get 1 MM GPF to oversee the programs
I'm not a legal expert, but I think its truly bizarre to have a public record of a DA prosecutor helping the defense in an antagonistic exchange with the actual judge in open court. Even the completely invented charges against Price never approached this level of corruption
November 15, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I'm not a legal expert, but I think its truly bizarre to have a public record of a DA prosecutor helping the defense in an antagonistic exchange with the actual judge in open court. Even the completely invented charges against Price never approached this level of corruption
Grandmother of Stephen Taylor pointing out disturbing improper actions by office of DA Ursula Jones Dickson while case was in the AG's hands. UJD's office's attempt to collude with the defense for the SLPD officer who killed Stephen Taylor was denied today by the judge today.
November 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Grandmother of Stephen Taylor pointing out disturbing improper actions by office of DA Ursula Jones Dickson while case was in the AG's hands. UJD's office's attempt to collude with the defense for the SLPD officer who killed Stephen Taylor was denied today by the judge today.
In their presentation for Flock, OPD doesn't even bother trying to link the decline in homicides that began months before Flock ALPR was activated in Oakland to ALPR. It just sticks the data in there, hoping the fear of angering the OPOA will do the rest.
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In their presentation for Flock, OPD doesn't even bother trying to link the decline in homicides that began months before Flock ALPR was activated in Oakland to ALPR. It just sticks the data in there, hoping the fear of angering the OPOA will do the rest.
I don't see anything in the 8 MM dollar bail out for EBALDC that would require the org to pay the city back in the event of a sale of the troubled properties.
November 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I don't see anything in the 8 MM dollar bail out for EBALDC that would require the org to pay the city back in the event of a sale of the troubled properties.
Oaklandside needs ethics help in its public safety reporting. Here helping along the Oakland Report/Mandal slander about Commissioner Farmer which are provably false, then neglecting to mention Mandal/OR pushed the also provably false claims about OPD's pursuit policy Hofer rightly criticizes
November 13, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Oaklandside needs ethics help in its public safety reporting. Here helping along the Oakland Report/Mandal slander about Commissioner Farmer which are provably false, then neglecting to mention Mandal/OR pushed the also provably false claims about OPD's pursuit policy Hofer rightly criticizes