Renters push Oakland for rental inspections; $4.4M lead grant
Oakland Community and Economic Development Committee: A $4.4M lead-paint grant for low-income homes moved to the full council. The committee also reviewed the city's anti-displacement plan.
Oakland voters will decide a $192 tax on fire, 911, and trash
Oakland City Council: A $192 parcel tax for 911, fire, and homelessness heads to the June 2 ballot 8-0. The council also passed its SB 79 housing plan after a 4-4 tie.
Oakland pauses a Caltrans freeway deal, wants an encampment plan first
Oakland Public Works and Transportation Committee: A Caltrans freeway deal was held until March 10 over encampments. A West Oakland bridge retrofit and a $975,659 Home Depot deal head to council.
Oakland pulls a $23M+ homeless funding item, no new date set
Oakland Life Enrichment Committee: The committee pulled a $23M+ homeless funding package to a no-date pending list. It forwarded a Black New Deal study and a Race and Equity update to council.
Oakland backs license plate readers, drones, and 5 more police tools
Oakland Public Safety Committee: The committee voted to keep all 7 OPD surveillance tools, from plate readers to drones, and sent it to a March 3 council vote. Plus $3,409,389 in paramedic gear.
Taller buildings near Oakland transit? Council weighs in March 3
Oakland Community and Economic Development Committee: The committee backed exempting most properties from SB 79 until a local plan, and sent it to Council March 3. Unger's amendment failed 2-2.
Oakland rewrites sex-work law and funds Sausal Creek land return
Oakland City Council: The city's prostitution law now penalizes buyers and creates a survivor support fund. Plus $843,875 in Measure DD funds toward a Sausal Creek land return.
Oakland revives a trade-zone plan stalled since 2016
Oakland Community and Economic Development Committee: The committee backed a Foreign Trade Zone change and accepted an impact fee report. The jobs-housing fee brought in nothing this year.
Oakland study: most city contracts went to non-Oakland firms
Oakland Life Enrichment Committee: A city study found minority and women-owned firms got far less city work. The committee sent it to council 4-0 and forwarded senior and community grants.
Oakland firefighters' mental-health contract heads to council
Oakland Public Safety Committee: The committee backed a $700K mental-health contract for firefighters and sent it to the full council for a Feb 17 vote. Ken Houston named vice chair.