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Oakland announces potential rent increases starting July 1
(KRON) — Oakland City Council’s emergency rent moratorium, adopted in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will end on Sunday, the city announced. From March 8, 2020, to June 30, Oakland’s emergency moratorium prohibited rent increases above the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI). Rent Adjustment Programs (RAP) - such as those based on uninsured […]
$20 billion in new funding for Bay Area housing will be on November ballot
Bay Area voters will get to decide on a first-of-its kind housing bond in November. Officials from the Bay Area’s counties and major cities voted unanimously on Wednesday to put a $20 billion regional general obligation bond on the Nov. 5 ballot. If passed by voters, the measure would distribute the sizable chunk of change for affordable housing construction and preservation among nine counties.
Newsom signs law allowing restaurants to keep surcharges, fees on checks
ALAMEDA, Calif. - Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Saturday that keeps surcharges on restaurant and bar checks in the state legal. Senate Bill 1524 will make restaurants exempt from another new state law banning "junk fees." "I understand both sides of the debate, but I just...
California, Bay Area cities take action on illegal fireworks
Unofficial fireworks are illegal in many Bay Area communities, so why do they fill the skies on the Fourth of July holiday?. Every year, local fire departments issue warnings about the risk of personal injuries and the threat of forest fires due to fireworks, especially in the hills where dry grass and vegetation provides fuel for fires to spread quickly.
Sick of sideshows, Oakland residents demand speed bumps, other deterrents
OAKLAND, Calif - Residents of Oakland Hillcrest Estates are demanding that the city install sideshow deterrence devices, like speed bumps, to curb reckless drivers from doing donuts in front of their homes and drawing huge crowds to their neighborhood. Specifically, the neighbors want road barriers, which also include devices called...
Massive cuts likely to balance Oakland budget without Coliseum sale
The Oakland City Council is set to hold a special meeting to pass its budget on Friday afternoon.In May, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao submitted a proposed budget, which includes more than $100 million from the sale of the Oakland Coliseum property. But on Tuesday, the finance department submitted a revised budget proposal that does not include that money."It was technically presented as an alternative, but in reality, we know it is the only option," says Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran.Ramachandran says it's fiscally irresponsible for the city council to build a budget to include the deal with no sale date...
Oakland designates new LGBTQ Cultural District
For the first time, the City of Oakland has an LGBTQ Cultural District for Pride Month. In November 2023, City Council passed a resolution to make the Lakeshore area a safe haven for those in the queer community. Comittee chair of the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District, Jeffrey Myers said he knew this area was special the first time he visited. "Oh my god, all these gay people, this is gay heaven," said Myers. Myers moved to the Bay Area nearly two decades ago, after years of feeling unsafe being himself. "Coming from the south where I'm from - Charleston, South...
East Bay engineer dedicates himself to cleaning up the Bay Area
During a time when there is a lot of uncertainty about the future of Oakland, one local engineer has been trying to spread some civic pride in his hometown and across the rest of the Bay Area.Among all of the trash that littered the corner of 17th St. and Brush St. in Oakland, is a Bay Area treasure. His name is Andy Wang. Andy makes his living as an engineer in Livermore, but he lives to beautify Bay Area communities by cleaning up hot spots for illegal dumping. "It just doesn't have to be this way," he said. "I just...
District Attorney Pamela Price Acknowledges Misconduct in Alameda DA Office before Her Arrival
OAKLAND, CA — Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price briefly addressed misconduct within her office and announced immediate changes, including the resignation of Chief Assistant District Attorney Otis Bruce, Jr., during a press conference held this week here. Price acknowledged how her office is reorganizing its efforts, citing how they...
Oakland residents pack city hall meeting to voice concerns about budget cuts
A historic budget deficit in Oakland has many people worried about severe cuts to city services. Oakland is facing an estimated $177 million shortfall in the next fiscal year, which starts on July 1st.About 30 minutes before the Friday afternoon budget meeting at city hall, a long line of Oaklanders waited to get into the council chamber."We matter. Do not close our [senior] centers, don't throw us under the bus," said one woman while waiting to get inside The city opened two overflow rooms for the budget meeting since the chamber was packed with people. One of the people who...
San Francisco bar behind $4.7 billion lawsuit won against NFL Sunday Ticket
A jury has ordered the National Football League to pay $4.7 billion in damages to subscribers of NFL Sunday Ticket. This comes from a lawsuit claiming the NFL violated anti-trust laws with its subscription service. The main plaintiff in the case is Mucky Duck bar in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood."I think it is encouraging for small business owners that you can take a fight to major corporations" said Robert Freund, an e-commerce lawyer. "It can be done and this is a major victory for small businesses and consumers."Owners of Mucky Duck filed the lawsuit almost a decade ago claiming...
Oakland Airport Hilton closure will see over 150 people lose their jobs
(KRON) — Over 150 people are set to lose their jobs as a result of the Hilton Oakland Airport Hotel closing. According to state filings, 152 workers will lose their jobs due to the permanent closure of the hotel located at One Hegenberger Road on the city’s troubled Hegenberger business corridor. The hotel, which has […]
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