Oaklandside 510

The Oaklandside
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An Oakland news podcast from the journalists at Oaklandside, Oakland’s independent nonprofit newsroom. Each week we’ll catch you up on the biggest news in Oakland, go behind the scenes with Oaklandside reporters for context and analysis you won’t find anywhere else, and tell you about cool events around the Town.

  1. 7h ago

    We hired 12 Oakland high schoolers to investigate their own schools

    For the first four months of this year, twelve Oakland public high schoolers were embedded in our newsroom. They worked with Oaklandside reporters to examine what’s working in OUSD, what’s not, and how it all impacts students.  They brought us stories we simply didn’t know about, and helped us understand them far better with their help. Today, we sit down with one of our student fellows to talk about two stories she reported on: one on Oakland's glitchy free student bus pass program, and one on how social media makes school fights worse. Then, our education reporter Ashley McBride talks with Castlemont High School's principal about why his school has been investing in a powerful alternative to AP classes — and how it could be a truly empowering choice for more Oakland students. Student fellowship reporting discussed in this episode A free student bus pass is great — if you can get itAs school fights spread on social media, OUSD struggles to keep upSkyline High School has 17 AP classes. 9 high schools have 0. OUSD has a serious college prep gapAll of our stories these student reporters publishedFind all these stories and more at oaklandside.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

  2. Jul 17

    Oakland's new police chief: a Purple Heart, three decades at OPD, and he'll actually talk to reporters

    Mayor Barbara Lee has named James Beere, a nearly 30-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department, as the city's permanent police chief.  Public safety reporter Roselyn Romero joins host Tasneem Raja for a deep dive into who Beere is, how he got the job, why so few OPD chiefs have lasted long in the role, and one big way he's already different from his predecessor — he'll actually talk to the press. We talk about what Beere is facing at the start of his new job: the department's 23-year federal oversight seemingly at the finish line, a staffing shortage and an overtime crisis Beere is trying to rein in, contract talks with the police union, and a recent officer-involved shooting near Fruitvale. Stories we cover in this episode: Oakland's new chief Barbara Lee names James Beere as Oakland's permanent police chiefOakland's interim police chief has long-term plansOakland has had a shockingly high number of police chiefs Hiring a police chief in Oakland has always been messyOPD's federal watchdog Oakland police on track to exit federal oversight by SeptemberStaffing and overtime Overtime at OPD is now much harder to greenlight, following investigation by OaklandsideResidents hope OPD's rampant use of overtime will be addressed in new police union contractAccountability and access Former OPD Chief Floyd Mitchell refused to sit down with the press. Will the next chief be more accessible?Recent fatal shooting by Oakland police Oakland police fatally shoot person near Fruitvale they say was armedFind all these stories and more at oaklandside.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

  3. Jul 10

    Bar Skula and Reem's open in Oakland, OMCA heist, illegal fireworks complaints

    This week's episode is Nosh-centric: Nosh editor Tovin Lapan and reporter Skylla Mumana join Tasneem to talk through three recent Oakland restaurant openings — a "Luka's remix" on Grand Avenue, Gwyneth Paltrow's goop kitchen, and a worker-owned flagship for Reem's — and what each says about the state of Oakland's food scene right now.  Plus, a preview of Nosh's third annual Pop Nosh food festival on July 18. Also this week: Oakland has a new interim city administrator, a deep dive into the data behind Oakland's illegal fireworks complaints, a book of Oakland High School students' medical writing now being taught at Samuel Merritt University, an update on the still-unsolved Oakland Museum of California heist, and six Oaklanders whose names happen to match their jobs. Stories we cover in this episode: Nosh Bar Skula — a 'Luka's remix' — opens on Grand Avenue, across from Lake MerrittGwyneth Paltrow's goop kitchen has landed in the East Bay. We tried itReem's ready to debut worker-owned flagship in Jack London SquareEvents Taste the latest in East Bay cuisine at Pop Nosh 2026City Hall Betsy Lake confirmed as Oakland's interim city administratorPublic safety It's 'a war zone': Oakland residents file hundreds of complaints each year about illegal fireworksCan Oakland's stolen museum artifacts still be recovered? A former FBI art crime sleuth says yesEducation Oakland High students wrote a book about medicine and culture. It's being taught at Samuel Merritt UniversityArts & community When your name matches your job: 6 Oaklanders with aptronymsFind all these stories and more at oaklandside.org and eastbaynosh.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

  4. Jul 3

    Good news about Oakland!

    We spend a lot of time on this podcast covering Oakland's hardest problems. Today, we did something different — we asked our reporters to bring us something good.  Not feel-good fluff, but real progress and real people doing hard work to make Oakland better. In this episode:  Oakland schools go phone-free this August in a rare moment of agreementDeadly traffic crashes hit a multi-year lowYouth Radio reopens after two years darkOPD inches toward the end of 23 years of federal oversightColiseum deal moves forward, possibly with more money on the tableHomelessness in Oakland drops for the first time in more than a decadeStories in this episode: Cellphone ban in Oakland public schools starts in August As school fights spread on social media, OUSD struggles to keep up Oakland's roads are slowly getting safer  Youth Radio is back on the mic Oakland police on track to exit federal oversight by September Oakland Coliseum sale to Black-led developer group inches forward How hot is the Oakland Arena? A second bidder has emerged to buy it Homelessness drops 20% in Oakland, the first decline in years Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

  5. Jun 26

    Why is Oakland always in a budget crisis?

    Fiscal cliff. Structural deficit. Unanticipated emergency. If you've lived in Oakland for any length of time, you've heard the warnings — firehouses closing, academies canceled, the biggest deficit ever — and then watched the city keep running anyway. So what's actually going on? City Hall reporter Eli Wolfe and housing and City Hall reporter Natalie Orenstein help untangle why Oakland lurches from one budget crisis to the next, why it never quite goes over the edge, and who absorbs the damage when it doesn't. Stories we reference in this episode: The structural deficit Oakland's big budget crisis: what you need to knowIn her first budget as mayor, Thao stares down Oakland's biggest deficit everPolice and fire cuts may be needed to fix Oakland's longterm budget problemsThe "b" word Oakland accidentally published a report saying the city could face bankruptcyWhere the cuts land Oakland budget cuts finalized on eve of big leadership changesOakland to cut $2.6M for youth, Meals on Wheels, and violence preventionBudget cuts devastated an Oakland public safety program. Now neighbors are scraping byThe current moment 'Nobody's Happy Budget': Oakland adopts $4.2 billion spending planAt vague preview of Oakland budget, officials pledge no layoffs or service cutsHow is Mayor Lee balancing Oakland's budget?Crime, the economy, and revenue New report links crime to Oakland's budget crisisOakland made a big financial mistake failing to collect business taxes, audit findsFind all these stories and more at oaklandside.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

  6. Jun 19

    Oakland First Fridays fights for its future

    For 20 years, Oakland First Fridays has turned a stretch of Telegraph Avenue into a monthly street festival. Now organizers say a false media narrative, one that ties off-site, late-night violence to the event, has driven away sponsors and put the festival's future in doubt.  Arts and community reporter Azucena Rasilla and public safety reporter Roselyn Romero join us to explain what's happening, why the blame is misplaced, and what it would take to keep First Fridays going. Plus:  Oakland's new "nobody's crazy budget"a private foundation's $9 million to fight illegal dumpingOakland Unified's remaining budget gap and a commitment to keep violence-intervention teams in schoolsMia Bonta's pushback on a Trump-funded coal terminal; a rare occult book collection that needs a new homea ride-along with Oakland Animal Controlan Oakland nonprofit's James Beard-honored work on prison foodand your guide to celebrating Juneteenth.Stories we cover in this episode: First Fridays First Fridays at risk as sponsors pull out amid false links to violenceFalse media narratives threaten Oakland's First Fridays, say organizersCity Hall 'Nobody's crazy budget' avoids layoffs and includes film incentives, shelter beds, and illegal dumping crewsSF tech investor pours $9M into illegal dumping fight in OaklandEducation OUSD cut its deficit by two-thirds, but a $38M gap remainsOUSD commits to violence intervention in Oakland schools next yearHealth and environment Mia Bonta wants a planned coal terminal in West Oakland to face more environmental scrutinyHousing and homelessness 13,000 rare occult books for sale: Inside the home of a bookseller facing eviction in OaklandArts and community A day with Oakland Animal Control is as wild as the animals they helpNosh How an Oakland organization became a national force for better prison mealsThings to do How to celebrate Juneteenth in OaklandFind all these stories and more at oaklandside.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

  7. Jun 12

    Oakland's World Cup moment — and the Mount Rushmore of Oakland sports

    The Australian men's national soccer team — the Socceroos — are calling Oakland home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, training at the Oakland Roots and Soul facility in Alameda. Oaklandside freelance sports reporter Anne Marks tells us what that means for the city, how Oakland is welcoming fans from around the world, and what local restaurants are doing to celebrate. Then: who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Oakland sports? Anne asked mayors, coaches, journalists, team executives, and historians — and got some great answers and some great arguments. Plus: Barbara Lee launches her re-election campaign, new data on Oakland's Flock surveillance cameras, a deadly crash in Fruitvale, turmoil at a homeless services nonprofit, Oakland Carnival, and new food openings. Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

  8. Jun 5

    Measure E looks set to fail. What that means for Oakland politics

    Oakland voters appear to have rejected Measure E, the $192 parcel tax that city leaders and unions had counted on to fund police, fire, homelessness services, and illegal dumping cleanup.  We break down what happened, what it means for the city budget, and what it signals heading into the November election.  Plus: Remembering Wilson Riles Jr., the 580 truck ban, cell phones and girls sports in OUSD, Sable Lounge opens, and more. News editor Darwin BondGraham joins host Tasneem Raja. Stories we cover in this episode: Measure E Measure E looks set to fail. What does that mean for Oakland politics? Measure E: Oakland voters are being asked to approve a new parcel taxOakland Measure E: Early results show voters skeptical of parcel tax Other stories in this episode: Community Wilson Riles Jr., Oakland councilmember and activist, dies at 79Education Oakland Unified moves toward districtwide cell phone banHow Oakland Unified's girls sports programs came back from the brinkTransportation Caltrans studies lifting decades-old big rig ban on I-580Health Rep. Lateefah Simon secures $1 million for pediatric cancer research at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital OaklandNosh Sable Lounge opens in Grand LakeUpcoming events and sports games we discuss: Oakland Carnival: the 12th annual celebration of the African diaspora, with drummers, dancers, live music, and foodOakland Spiders, Saturday, June 6 at Fremont High SchoolFree Prince tribute DJ set, Saturday night at Moonglow on Telegraph Avenue.Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org.

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About

An Oakland news podcast from the journalists at Oaklandside, Oakland’s independent nonprofit newsroom. Each week we’ll catch you up on the biggest news in Oakland, go behind the scenes with Oaklandside reporters for context and analysis you won’t find anywhere else, and tell you about cool events around the Town.

Information

  • Creator
    The Oaklandside
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Oaklandside 510
  • Show Website
    Oaklandside 510

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