Oakland

All Oakland decisions in one place. City Council votes and the committee work that shapes them. What passed, what changed, and what this means for you.
05
May

Oakland renews phone-cracking contract over fierce public pushback

Oakland City Council: Council renewed a $140,000 Cellebrite phone-cracking contract 6-2, then imposed the full $915,135.40 fine on owners who illegally cut 38 protected trees.
5 min read
21
Apr

Oakland pauses contract waivers; summer jobs plan heads to council

Oakland Life Enrichment Committee: The committee pulled a $500K apparel deal off the agenda and backed over $3.1M for summer youth jobs. City administration paused local-business waivers.
3 min read
21
Apr

12 of Oakland's 13 flusher trucks are down. Contracts head to council.

Oakland Public Works and Transportation Committee: $16,815,000 in equipment contracts cleared on a 3-1 vote amid a fleet crisis. New FEMA flood rules also advanced to council May 5.
4 min read
24
Mar

Oakland could double dumping fines and add drone detection

Oakland Public Works and Transportation Committee: Backed doubling dumping fines (up to $5,000) and a no-plate offense, plus a $150,000 drone pilot to map dumping. All head to council April 14.
4 min read
24
Mar

A grocery store may become the library Oakland lost in 1981

Oakland Life Enrichment Committee: Members backed buying a $3,495,000 San Pablo Ave grocery store to become the Hoover Branch Library (4-0), and voted 3-1 on continuing kids' food contracts.
3 min read
24
Mar

Oakland reports 614 officers as rivals offer up to $70K bonuses

Oakland Public Safety Committee: OPD's first vehicle GPS tracker policy, which adds new reporting, heads to a council vote April 14. OPD reported 614 sworn field officers in a recruiting update.
2 min read
24
Mar

Oakland pulls rent rule changes; park deal moves to council

Oakland Community and Economic Development Committee: A package of proposed rent rule changes was pulled 3-1 for more outreach. A $0 Tyrone Carney Park deal heads to the April 14 council vote.
3 min read
10
Mar

Oakland may move parking out of its transportation department

Oakland Public Works and Transportation Committee: A plan to move parking out of OakDOT went to the full council after a packed hearing. Plus state funds for two housing projects.
4 min read
10
Mar

452 homeless beds at stake as Oakland adds spending rules

Oakland Life Enrichment Committee: The committee backed funding to keep 452 shelter beds open, added six-month performance reports, and received the city's five-year homelessness plan.
4 min read
10
Mar

Oakland backs $900,000 to revive its police cadet program

Oakland Public Safety Committee: Members backed as much as $900,000 to reinstate OPD's cadet program, 4-0, and sent it to the full council for a March 16 vote.
2 min read