@oakland-observer.bsky.social
Pinned
A peek @ CM Houston's proposed Encampment "Abatement" Policy being rushed into Sept mtgs.
Headlines:
--inoperable &/or unregistered vehicles subject to tow @ all times
--expansion of criteria for hi-priority eviction
--no offer of shelter needed
--expedited eviction timeline🧵
Headlines:
--inoperable &/or unregistered vehicles subject to tow @ all times
--expansion of criteria for hi-priority eviction
--no offer of shelter needed
--expedited eviction timeline🧵
Here's Houston telling people to "shut up". His claim "if they can come deep, we can come deep too" belied by fact that his group did not come deep to the meeting, there were 36 supporters, an actual verifiable public record of people with strong views, not a promotional video
December 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Here's Houston telling people to "shut up". His claim "if they can come deep, we can come deep too" belied by fact that his group did not come deep to the meeting, there were 36 supporters, an actual verifiable public record of people with strong views, not a promotional video
One of the speakers from the recalls-linked media maker that Houston used for his 8 minute presentation. The videographer coaches him at the end to thank the City Council and he does so.
December 17, 2025 at 7:40 PM
One of the speakers from the recalls-linked media maker that Houston used for his 8 minute presentation. The videographer coaches him at the end to thank the City Council and he does so.
Flock returns today at a 1pm meeting specially scheduled last Tuesday. A special meeting 1pm means that the Flock contract could get passed by the time most working people start their commute home, 5pm consent restrictions don't apply
Flock Returns as "Urgent" Impromptu Addition to Last Council Meeting of Year, Already Overloaded with Controversial Legislation
Council Rules Committee Accepts Slim Excuse for Last Minute Scheduling to an Agenda the Council President Had Already Labelled Too Impacted for Even One More Item
Significant legislation affecting Oakland’s tax base, fire code, campaign finance rules and legislative process were already spilling over the top of Council’s
oakland-observer.ghost.io
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Flock returns today at a 1pm meeting specially scheduled last Tuesday. A special meeting 1pm means that the Flock contract could get passed by the time most working people start their commute home, 5pm consent restrictions don't apply
Local journalism, in this economy? This week the Oakland Observer's reporting on proposed Flock expansion and the EAP netted numerous new subscribers.
I am incredibly grateful for everyone's support and could not do this work without you
I am incredibly grateful for everyone's support and could not do this work without you
November 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Local journalism, in this economy? This week the Oakland Observer's reporting on proposed Flock expansion and the EAP netted numerous new subscribers.
I am incredibly grateful for everyone's support and could not do this work without you
I am incredibly grateful for everyone's support and could not do this work without you
About to start a special 9 am city council mtg, ostensibly scheduled to not interfere with election day. But perhaps as also intended, there are no people in chamber as important legislation that changes Rules of Procedure, grants 1 MM/yr contract to ICE-contracting company is up
November 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
About to start a special 9 am city council mtg, ostensibly scheduled to not interfere with election day. But perhaps as also intended, there are no people in chamber as important legislation that changes Rules of Procedure, grants 1 MM/yr contract to ICE-contracting company is up
Five days after publishing powerpoints and press releases about its 2025 poll, I still can't find Chamber of Commerce's data, i.e., number of respondents by gender, race/ethnicity, zip code, income, education, district, etc. I can't think of one decent reason to uphold this info
November 4, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Five days after publishing powerpoints and press releases about its 2025 poll, I still can't find Chamber of Commerce's data, i.e., number of respondents by gender, race/ethnicity, zip code, income, education, district, etc. I can't think of one decent reason to uphold this info
While it doesn't reach level of scheduling hijinks I covered in today's other article, look out for $1MM Martin Marietta asphalt contract. MM refuses to abide by City's sanctuary/border wall ords, but City says it has no choice but to grant them a waiver
At Council This Week, 11/4/2025
It's a 9 am meeting, with rationale that it's an election day and normal 3:30pm start time would conflict with voting. An 11am special meeting to introduce the "Encampment Abatement" proposal was cancelled last Thursday, rescheduled for an early December date. But ironically, a very important change to the
oakland-observer.ghost.io
November 3, 2025 at 11:40 PM
While it doesn't reach level of scheduling hijinks I covered in today's other article, look out for $1MM Martin Marietta asphalt contract. MM refuses to abide by City's sanctuary/border wall ords, but City says it has no choice but to grant them a waiver
Oakland Observer News Analysis: In the past months, it's been difficult to ignore efforts by CMs that curtail public participation in important Oakland legislation. OO drills down on a Council practice which may only get worse with new Rules of Procedure
News Analysis: Public Participation–And Avoiding It–Becomes Major Theme at Oakland City Council
In October, public participation in legislative processes, and the lack of it, became an over-riding theme at the Oakland City Council's scheduling meetings. Three issues of significant importance to the public—a major institutionalization and expansion of Oakland's Flock surveillance, big changes to Oakland's homelessness policies, and a significant overhaul
oakland-observer.ghost.io
November 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Oakland Observer News Analysis: In the past months, it's been difficult to ignore efforts by CMs that curtail public participation in important Oakland legislation. OO drills down on a Council practice which may only get worse with new Rules of Procedure
A lot happened while Trump was trying to invade Oakland, Council made an unprecedented move that by any measure has undermined the citizen led Police Commission; then for good measure an attempt to sneak EAP into a last minute meeting with a day's notice.
Week in Review [while Trump invaded Oakland, a lot of other stuff happened]
In this week’s review
Council Decision Leaves Oakland Police Commission with Bare Quorum, Body Unable to Meet on Thursday
EAP Would Have Come to Council in Special Meeting Monday, With One Week-day Notice, But Brown, Ramachandran Intervene
Oakland Arms Embargo Demands Port Commission Ban Weapons Cargo Transits at Oakland
oakland-observer.ghost.io
October 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
A lot happened while Trump was trying to invade Oakland, Council made an unprecedented move that by any measure has undermined the citizen led Police Commission; then for good measure an attempt to sneak EAP into a last minute meeting with a day's notice.
A lot happened while Trump was trying to invade Oakland, Council made an unprecedented move that by any measure has undermined the citizen led Police Commission; then for good measure an attempt to sneak EAP into a last minute meeting with a day's notice. oakland.legistar.com...
October 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
A lot happened while Trump was trying to invade Oakland, Council made an unprecedented move that by any measure has undermined the citizen led Police Commission; then for good measure an attempt to sneak EAP into a last minute meeting with a day's notice. oakland.legistar.com...
The Oakland Observer Council meeting preview for Tuesday
At Council This Week, 10/21/2025
Non-Consent Calendar
There’s only one item on the Non-Consent this week, and it's the already delayed reappointments of Police Commission Chair Ricardo Garcia-Acosta and alternate Commissioner Omar Farmer. You can read more about it here. After weeks of delay and demand by CM Jenkins that the appointments be substantively
oakland-observer.ghost.io
October 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The Oakland Observer Council meeting preview for Tuesday
Thanks to CM Houston, one of only a handful of Black male appointees to Police Commission since its start almost 10 years ago will face more fabricated allegations at a full council meeting after weeks of delays and baseless complaints from a marginal, mostly white, group
October 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Thanks to CM Houston, one of only a handful of Black male appointees to Police Commission since its start almost 10 years ago will face more fabricated allegations at a full council meeting after weeks of delays and baseless complaints from a marginal, mostly white, group
In a reality where OPD can become a part of Trump admin over night, detailed reporting on city politics is essential. You won't find these first drafts of history in any other Bay pub, so please consider supporting w/either 1x contribution or subscription
Reporter's Notebook: Committees Review, 10/14/2025; 10/16/2025
Reporter's Notebook
Rules Committee, the committee that schedules all legislation to the Council's agendas, can be a pretty boring meeting. But this past Thursday's Rules Committee, October 16, was far more exciting [relatively] than usual from a news gathering standpoint. Two arcs that Oakland Observer has been diligently following reached
oakland-observer.ghost.io
October 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
In a reality where OPD can become a part of Trump admin over night, detailed reporting on city politics is essential. You won't find these first drafts of history in any other Bay pub, so please consider supporting w/either 1x contribution or subscription
OO's Reporter's Notebook recounts an eventful Rules meeting Thursday, where Council's questionable handling of OPC's appointment process continued into murky waters, and Houston's Encampment "Abatement" returned unexpectedly, among many other things
Reporter's Notebook: Committees Review, 10/14/2025; 10/16/2025
Reporter's Notebook
Rules Committee, the committee that schedules all legislation to the Council's agendas, can be a pretty boring meeting. But this past Thursday's Rules Committee, October 16, was far more exciting [relatively] than usual from a news gathering standpoint. Two arcs that Oakland Observer has been diligently following reached
oakland-observer.ghost.io
October 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
OO's Reporter's Notebook recounts an eventful Rules meeting Thursday, where Council's questionable handling of OPC's appointment process continued into murky waters, and Houston's Encampment "Abatement" returned unexpectedly, among many other things
Making the original Encampment Abatement reporting thread public as its coming up again. Several videos here from life-long Oakland residents now homeless, and its worth taking a look at.
October 18, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Making the original Encampment Abatement reporting thread public as its coming up again. Several videos here from life-long Oakland residents now homeless, and its worth taking a look at.
Oakland has almost half the homicides it had in 2023, a decline that began in mid-2024 and has steadily continued today. There is no way to undercount the murders by a substantive amount.
October 17, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Oakland has almost half the homicides it had in 2023, a decline that began in mid-2024 and has steadily continued today. There is no way to undercount the murders by a substantive amount.
OO was only publication to note this to date---given new process, its conceivable ABC Security will finish its time w/Oakland after 2 years of non-contracted work. It's mostly bungling at this point; but Gallo specifically asked ABC be awarded contract
How long will Oakland be stuck with a security company linked to key figure in federal corruption case?
It may take three months or longer for a new contract to be prepared, officials estimated.
www.eastbaytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:10 AM
OO was only publication to note this to date---given new process, its conceivable ABC Security will finish its time w/Oakland after 2 years of non-contracted work. It's mostly bungling at this point; but Gallo specifically asked ABC be awarded contract
It's hard to read the substantive changes in Jenkins/Ramachandran proposed Council Rules of Procedure as anything but a way of diminishing public participation in the council process. They'll be discussing them today at Rules
October 16, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It's hard to read the substantive changes in Jenkins/Ramachandran proposed Council Rules of Procedure as anything but a way of diminishing public participation in the council process. They'll be discussing them today at Rules
This is CM Wang claiming at a private Chamber of Commerce event that Privacy Advisory Commission prevented a community from buying Flock w/their own funds, using the story to demonize Commissioners. It's false. Only tech owned/run and/or purchased by City needs PAC approval
October 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This is CM Wang claiming at a private Chamber of Commerce event that Privacy Advisory Commission prevented a community from buying Flock w/their own funds, using the story to demonize Commissioners. It's false. Only tech owned/run and/or purchased by City needs PAC approval
Despite Flock's participation with Trump's immigration machine and a negative recommendation from the Privacy Advisory Commission, OPD is bringing a plan for panopticon level surveillance in Oakland run by a problematic company that is rep'd by a former AIPAC lobbyist.
October 16, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Despite Flock's participation with Trump's immigration machine and a negative recommendation from the Privacy Advisory Commission, OPD is bringing a plan for panopticon level surveillance in Oakland run by a problematic company that is rep'd by a former AIPAC lobbyist.
After a significant public backlash that included every major arts organization, including the Oakland Symphony, Ramachandran's ill considered and perhaps personal deletion of the cultural affairs director will be reversed via budget amendment
October 16, 2025 at 1:13 AM
After a significant public backlash that included every major arts organization, including the Oakland Symphony, Ramachandran's ill considered and perhaps personal deletion of the cultural affairs director will be reversed via budget amendment
Push back from small pro-police group pressured Selection Panel to re-do OPC Selection process after already choosing Farmer & Garcia Acosta. They said another applicant had been excluded. That candidate dropped out on day of 2nd vote. Another got 0 votes oakland.granicus.com...
October 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Push back from small pro-police group pressured Selection Panel to re-do OPC Selection process after already choosing Farmer & Garcia Acosta. They said another applicant had been excluded. That candidate dropped out on day of 2nd vote. Another got 0 votes oakland.granicus.com...
So much to be concerned about Jones Dickson's loyalty to the people who put her in office. oaklandside.org/2025...
October 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
So much to be concerned about Jones Dickson's loyalty to the people who put her in office. oaklandside.org/2025...
The Rules committee has subject areas it can forward to Council, keep in committee or actually kill, & tomorrow will be an unusually full day of those. There's actually an open legal question about whether the Police Commission appointments are one of those.
October 15, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The Rules committee has subject areas it can forward to Council, keep in committee or actually kill, & tomorrow will be an unusually full day of those. There's actually an open legal question about whether the Police Commission appointments are one of those.
With the departure of Mitchell, the OPC roster--which will choose the candidate slate for his replacement--has rarely been more important. But its exactly at this time when the first ever Council opposition to a Selection Panel appointment is taking place
Oakland Public Safety Ecosystem Faces Upheaval; Chair Pulls Controversial Contract Ahead of Mayor's SOTC
Public Safety Upheaval; as Chief Mitchell Departs, the Police Commission Selection Panel Faces Pushback from Council That Could Change the Calculus Ahead of a New Chief Selection Process
A big City of Oakland public safety shuffle, and a possible secondary one, could bring significant change to Oakland’s public safety
oakland-observer.ghost.io
October 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
With the departure of Mitchell, the OPC roster--which will choose the candidate slate for his replacement--has rarely been more important. But its exactly at this time when the first ever Council opposition to a Selection Panel appointment is taking place