Oaklandside 510

Today: illegal dumping in Oakland. Why it keeps getting worse, what the city has tried, and what might actually work. Reporter Eli Wolfe joins us to sort out the mess.

And, we’ll talk about Boots Riley’s new film that debuted in Oakland, how the search for OUSD’s next leader got delayed again, who’s paint-bombing Flock cameras, and what you need to know before you vote in the primary election on June 2nd.

Stories we cover in this epi...

Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Raja sits down with Oaklandside's deputy editor Esther Kaplan and news editor Darwin BondGraham to take stock of the biggest stories of 2026 — crime, schools, road safety, Mayor Lee's first year, and the state of Oakland's arts and culture scene.

Plus: a major housing program for homeless families at Children's Hospital, a whistleblower shaking up the DA's office, a pothole settlement...

The City Council passed a new encampment policy giving Oakland more power to tow RVs and close camps. Our public safety reporter found that neighbors had been warning the city for years about the operator of EZ's Lounge before last month's mass shooting. And environmental groups are in court challenging plans to expand Oakland's airport.

Plus: the I-980 reimagining project enters its next phase, the city considers AI ...

This week, we're keeping things short and sweet, with a round-up of recent reporting from our newsroom.

A fire damaged one of Oakland's most beloved historic landmarks. Oakland voters may get to decide in November how their city government is structured. 

Environmental justice advocates’ decade-long fight to stop a coal terminal enters a new phase. 

A nonprofit bought a building to make it permanently affordable housing for ...

Oakland's 60-day warning period ended March 15th. Road safety reporter Jose Fermoso breaks down what 140,000 warnings revealed about where speeding is worst in Oakland — and what comes next.

And later in this episode, I’ll tell you about more recent news: thousands of Oaklanders joined the nationwide No Kings march, a strong-mayor proposal gets a cool reception at City Hall, three homeless shelters close as the city grapples wi...

City Hall reporters Eli Wolfe and Natalie Orenstein tracked every Oakland City Council vote in 2025 — all 138 of them at full council meetings, plus 519 more at committee meetings — to find out how your representative is doing the most basic part of the job.

Plus: a deeply sad update on the mass shooting at a downtown Oakland nightclub, one in five funded city jobs sitting vacant, a push to raise Oakland's minimum wage to $30 a...

After The Oaklandside's blockbuster investigation into runaway overtime spending at the Oakland Police Department, real policies were changed. 

Investigative reporter Beck Klein and news editor Darwin BondGraham break it down. 

Plus: Oakland's speed cameras start issuing real tickets, schools across California — including OUSD — hand out thousands of layoff notices, the City Council demands hospitals continue gender-affirmi...

Teachers nearly went on strike. More than 400 positions were cut. And the district still has $50 million in budget cuts left to find. Education reporter Ashley McBride breaks down everything happening in Oakland Unified right now — and what it means for students, educators, and the city.

Plus: a mass shooting at a downtown nightclub leaves two dead, Oakland's speed cameras issue a stunning 70,000 warnings in their first month, ...

Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Oakland on February 22nd for the city's ninth annual Black Joy Parade. We took our microphones out to meet some of the people who showed up and heard what the parade means to them — and what they want the world to know about Oakland.

Plus: a federal arrest near the Port of Oakland puts immigrant communities further on edge, Mayor Lee's office releases a draft plan ...

How is Mayor Barbara Lee handling homelessness, crime, housing, and other issues? Can private funds make up for the city’s budget shortfall? How are local leaders preparing to respond if there’s another federal immigration surge in the East Bay? And who’s going to run for mayor this year?

City Hall reporter Eli Wolfe and news editor Darwin BondGraham on recent City Hall and politics reporting.

Plus: Oakland Pride has a new home and n...

Preventing sex trafficking, supporting survivors

Sex trafficking has been a problem in Oakland for decades, but new legislation, a new mobile clinic, and a growing chorus of young survivors are reshaping how the city responds. Public safety reporter Roselyn Romero breaks it all down. 

Plus: Oakland's oldest queer bar becomes a site of immigrant resistance, Mayor Lee's philanthropic fundraising strategy, a West Oakland stree...

Oakland couples share how they found love in real life — at protests, festivals, schools, and house parties. Plus, where to eat and what to order this Valentine's Day, whether you're single, coupled up, or celebrating with friends.

Arts and community reporter Azucena Rasilla profiled couples whose relationships are deeply rooted in Oakland, and Nosh editor Tovin Lapan guides us through Valentine's desserts, singles sp...

This week, investigative journalist Beck Klein and news editor Darwin BondGraham walk us through Oaklandside's blockbuster investigation into OPD's runaway overtime spending, a story that has nearly 300,000 readers.

Plus: A councilmember's conflict-of-interest questions, the latest on Ken Houston's controversial encampment policy, students walk out to protest ICE violence, Mayor Lee's strong mayor proposal, ...

News editor Darwin BondGraham reflects on what’s happening in Minneapolis—where federal immigration agents have killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti—and what it means for Oakland, where ICE has already injured residents, chased people near our schools, and taken people from our courthouses.

Plus: Housing reporter Natalie Orenstein reports on a devastating fire at a downtown Oakland apartment building that displaced 5...

Oakland saw a historic drop in homicides in 2025—the fewest since 1967. But even as violent crime falls citywide, debates intensify over surveillance technology, federal immigration enforcement, and civilian oversight of police. 

Public safety reporter Roselyn Romero and news editor Darwin BondGraham help us make sense of Oakland's public safety moment.

Plus: AC Transit tweaks its bus schedule, OUSD enrollment exceeds projection...

Oakland's roads are in crisis—871 stretches have zero years of remaining life left. But there's also progress: bond money is finally flowing, bollards on International Boulevard have eliminated pedestrian deaths, and speed cameras are coming online. 

Oaklandside road safety reporter Jose Fermoso takes us deep into the data, the success stories, and what's next for Oakland's streets.

Also in this episode: Oakland n...

Deputy editor Esther Kaplan and news editor Darwin BondGraham join host Tasneem Raja to preview the biggest stories The Oaklandside will be covering in 2026—from OUSD's superintendent search and brutal budget cuts, to the mayoral and DA races, the FBI corruption trial, Oakland's budget crisis, and whether the city's historic drop in crime will continue.

Stories we cover in this episode:

OUSD superintendent search and b...

Oakland Unified School District faces brutal $102 million in budget cuts that will impact every school. Education reporter Ashley McBride breaks down what's getting cut, why the district is in crisis, and what happens next.

Plus: Oakland airport's new guest pass program raises concerns about TSA sharing passenger data with ICE, the ethics commission dismisses Ken Houston's complaint against a city official, Mills Coll...

The Nosh food awards are in! Hear about Oakland’s Best New Restaurant (Lucuma), Best Bar Overall (Tallboy), Best Coffee Shop (Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar), and much more. 

See all the Nosh winners in 2025.

Also in this episode: Oakland finally sells $285 million in Measure U bonds for roads and housing after years of delays, OUSD's school board faces tough decisions on $100 million in cuts, the city attempts to reform its notor...