Natalie Orenstein

Fire injures 3 in downtown Oakland residential building 50 firefighters extinguished a blaze in a multi-story building. Three people were hospitalized with smoke-related injuries.

A fire 🔥 broke out this morning in the former Oaksterdam University building in downtown Oakland (1770 Broadway).

The top 4 floors are residential apartments. Three people were injured and hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.

oaklandside.org/2026/01/19/f...

Getting a permit to build in Oakland has been hellish. Will sweeping new reforms work? Expanded hours, same-day permits, and easier applications could help tackle communication voids and excruciating delays.

You can't report on housing in Oakland without hearing lots of mind-boggling, colorful, and concerning stories about permitting in the city.

Here's our deep dive into what it's like to seek a permit to build in Oakland and whether big new reforms will make it better.
oaklandside.org/2025/12/08/o...

The FBI’s Oakland corruption case relies heavily on the word of one man with a ‘checkered past’ For decades, Juarez has been at the center of bitter legal disputes — and the subject of criminal investigations — all while maintaining high-level political connections.

We went deep on the person who appears to be the key informant in the FBI's Oakland corruption case.

A close look at Mario Juarez's legal history, brought to you by 3 reporters, some 30 lawsuits, and several colorful incidents.
oaklandside.org/2025/12/01/m...

This is a few days late but the East Bay Yesterday award for Best Costume goes to @natalieorenstein.bsky.social

Empty podium with press microphones set up.

County officials are about to announce a plan for SNAP recipients at risk of missing November benefits.

But a federal judge just ruled this morning that the Trump admin. can’t withhold those payments.

Oakland turns out for ‘No Kings’ protest against Trump Protesters will begin to assemble at Wilma Chan Park at 11:30 a.m. for the march, one of some 2,500 No Kings actions taking place today across the country.

Keep a tab open with this @oaklandside.org story - we’ll update it throughout the protest

oaklandside.org/2025/10/18/o...

Thousands starting to march from Wilma Chan Park to the Lake Merritt amphitheater at Oakland’s No Kings protest. Follow @oaklandside.org for updates

He’s also randomly called “Jack” in the middle of that bio lol. Classic nickname for Dennis

Marvin Boomer’s loved ones share their grief — girlfriend slams CHP for deadly Oakland chase Boomer’s family will hold a church service for the beloved Castlemont teacher at Acts Full Gospel Church on Friday.

Read and take time with this story by @fermoso.bsky.social, who sat down with the family and partner of Marvin Boomer for an in-depth and moving interview.
oaklandside.org/2025/06/06/m...

Is a central figure in the Oakland FBI investigation seeking a Trump pardon? The idea that the president could help David Duong avoid bribery charges has cropped up in recent articles, including on a Duong company website.

Is David Duong seeking a pardon from Trump in the Oakland FBI corruption investigation? New with @roselynr.bsky.social and @darwinbondgraham.bsky.social
oaklandside.org/2025/05/16/o...

Weigh in on Oakland's budget 🌳💰🏙️

Each Oakland councilmember is holding a budget forum for their constituents to attend, learn, ask questions, and make requests.

Here's the schedule:

Barbara Lee springs into lead as Oakland mayor’s race flips The latest ballot count has Lee with 53% of the vote. Charlene Wang is poised to handily win the City Council District 2 seat.

Friday night flip in the Oakland election:

Barbara Lee is now leading and likely headed to the mayor's office.
oaklandside.org/2025/04/18/b...

Barbara Lee is picking up most of her support in Oakland's flatlands neighborhoods and North Oakland.

Loren Taylor is picking up his base of support in the hills, from Berkeley to San Leandro's border.

oaklandside.org/2025/04/15/o...

Oakland mayor’s race: No winner yet Taylor leads Lee in early results. But with many ballots left to count and a ranked-choice runoff on the horizon, the winner likely won’t be known tonight.

Loren Taylor leads Barbara Lee in the very early Oakland mayoral election results.

Charlene Wang has a stronger early lead for District 2.

Lots could still change as more ballots are counted tonight and this week.

oaklandside.org/2025/04/15/o...

An Oakland homeless shelter was left in shambles. Who’s to blame? How the mess at the Lake Merritt Lodge was made.

I visited the prominent Lake Merritt Lodge homeless shelter after the program moved out in Nov 2024 — and found startling, hazardous conditions.

I looked into oversight at the lodge and found a convoluted system that created confusion and, often, chaos.
oaklandside.org/2025/03/31/l...

The Oakland mayor race is heating up. But are voters tuning in? In conversations at a farmers market, some shared that they’re excited about Barbara Lee or Loren Taylor. But many said they’re uninterested or struggling to learn the facts.

Not a scientific poll, but @natalieorenstein.bsky.social talked to Oaklanders at a farmer's market recently.

Many don't know much at all about the special election and who's running for mayor.

Meanwhile, politocs are in an echo chamber on social media....

oaklandside.org/2025/03/19/o...

The winner of the Oakland mayor’s forum is the candidate who walked out “It was like a skit from ‘SNL,’” said Carol Strickman, an audience member who moved to Oakland in 1974.

This Chronicle story is strange.

Does Garofoli know how Oakland elections work?

Oakland uses ranked-choice voting, so this election could very likely be decided by the supporters of the candidates he contemptuously labels not "serious."

www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joe...

A cheat sheet for The Oaklandside’s mayoral candidates forum Who’ll be there? What are their platforms? What will they be talking about? All your questions, answered.

Here's a cheat sheet for the Oaklandside's sold-out mayoral forum tonight, whether you snagged a ticket or will be watching from home.
oaklandside.org/2025/02/26/o...

Berkeley residents form city’s first tenants union with power to bargain with landlords The group of residents in a North Berkeley building are the first to use new expanded renter protections passed under Measure BB.

Tenants in a North Berkeley apartment building have organized a tenant union under the new law in 2024's Measure BB. @berkeleyside.bsky.social article at
www.berkeleyside.org/2025/02/25/m...

Berkeley's iconic head shop Annapurna closes for good after 53 years Head shop Annapurna on Telegraph Avenue, central to the Berkeley's counterculture world, has closed after 53 years.

Head shop Annapurna on Telegraph Avenue, central to the Berkeley's counterculture world, has closed after 53 years.

High-end Oakland apartment buildings rocked by foreclosures and fire sales New buildings are being seized by lenders during a downturn in construction, rents, and tenancy.

A bunch of the newer Oakland apartment buildings are being foreclosed on or sold for pennies on the dollar
oaklandside.org/2025/02/14/o...

Appreciate that - we're talking about additional ways to present and share this info or the highlights

How is the Trump administration changing Oakland? Help us keep track We're turning to you to help us document the ways the East Bay community is changing in response to Trump. Submit your observations and tips here.

We're tracking changes in Oakland happening in response to Trump orders or threats (removal of language or art, changing of job titles, self-censorship or mandates from above, etc.)

If you observe something, let us know via this form, anonymously or otherwise.
oaklandside.org/2025/02/06/h...

Join the Oaklandside for a mayoral candidates forum in East Oakland We will be asking those running for mayor the hard questions about issues Oakland residents care most about.

We're hosting an Oakland mayoral forum on Feb. 26! It's free but RSVP is required. There's a form here to submit questions you'd like us to ask the candidates.
oaklandside.org/2025/02/05/o...

13 delightfully weird items from Oakland’s White Elephant Sale The annual warehouse rummage sale benefitting the Oakland Museum of California runs through early March.

Got to take a pause from covering contract crises, layoffs, and developer fees to write about talking bottle openers and vintage high chairs 🐘.
oaklandside.org/2025/02/04/o...

Should 'aiding' or 'abetting' a homeless camp be illegal? It may soon be a reality in this Bay Area city The move is alarming California activists who worry they could be placed in the ordinance’s crosshairs for helping their homeless neighbors.

The city of Fremont could make it illegal for someone to "aid or abet" a homeless camp. But the proposal backed by the mayor doesn't explain what that means. via @calmatters.org
calmatters.org/housing/home...

Interesting that this article includes a photo of the school shooter immediately under a paragraph describing how he collected photos of previous school shooters

Records shed new light on Sheng Thao’s possible involvement with Oakland security contract Thao and a high-ranking city official appear to have helped a security company named in the FBI’s corruption investigation retain a multi-million dollar contract, according to public records obtained ...

Thao and a high-ranking Oakland official appear to have helped a security company named in the FBI’s corruption investigation retain a multi-million dollar contract, according to public records obtained by The Oaklandside.

oaklandside.org/2025/01/24/o...

Condo developers say the city ripped them off. A Supreme Court case helped them—but could cost Oakland millions Affordable housing is tough to build in Oakland. The city relies on "impact fees" to do so, but that model faces a steeper challenge now.

Two local developers successfully protested the $120K in "impact fees" the city charged them for a Temescal condo project.

In their appeal, the builders cited a recent Supreme Court case — which could upend a primary way Oakland funds affordable housing.
oaklandside.org/2025/01/24/s...

Oakland official mentioned in bribery indictment quietly left his job on Friday Mayor Thao and her allies allegedly maneuvered Larry Gallegos into a key city of Oakland position as part of a bribery scheme.

The Oakland official named in the Thao indictment (“City Employee 1”) left his job on Friday
oaklandside.org/2025/01/21/l...