Robert Baker tells Oakland voices, “When I think about Oakland, I think about community pride and activism. I see people who really care and are protective of Oakland and its culture and reputation.” There was a period of Oakland’s history where this valuable culture could be observed in the Raiders jerseys, Warriors hats, and Oakland […]
Tag: Oakland
What to Make of the Rise in Catalytic Converter Theft in California
In September of last year, my car’s catalytic converter was stolen. As a college student with minimal experience with cars, I was only made aware by my neighbor, who informed me that the “horrible, growling noise” coming from beneath my car was a telltale sign that the catalytic converter was no longer there. The next step, […]
Oakland’s Response to Remarkably Higher Crime Rates
On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, Oakland’s city council approved the implementation of a fifth police academy. This decision came after the city experienced its 100th homicide of the year. The measure passed with a 6-2 majority vote, with council President Nikki Fortunato Bas and council member Carroll Fife voting against the measure. Both Bas and […]
The Debate Around Reopening K-12 Schools in the Bay Area
Covid-19 has undoubtedly harmed our most vulnerable communities disproportionately. This effect has not just been seen on overall public health— it is also apparent throughout our education system. Due to the structure of public school funding, each school throughout the state differs enormously with varying degrees of resources. Public schools are beginning to face unprecedented […]
Playing Fair with Stadiums
Last July, Inglewood residents received flyers in the mail from an organization known as IRATE Inglewood – Inglewood Residents Against Takings and Evictions. These mailings, as one might guess, were opposed to a new neighborhood development –– the potential construction of a new basketball arena. It was decidedly doom-and-gloom. People would lose their homes to […]
Popping the Berkeley Bubble
“So…why’d you pick Berkeley?” my new friend asks, looking at me over the rims of his glasses. It’s a frequently asked question during Welcome Week, the favorite of awkward strangers-turned-conversationists in the dorms. Walking down Telegraph Avenue, I think about the answer as I take in the melange of people and activities around me. There’s […]