Tag Archives: Oakland

Lakeshore Lessons in Creativity and Reuse

Posted on April 9, 2013 by

If you’ve ever marveled at the wonderful window displays at Silver Moon Kids, you might be curious to know who creates that delicious whimsy. If you were to pass by now, you’d be blown away by the huge colorful “flowers” … Continue reading →

Posted in Art in Oakland, shopping in Oakland, small business | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Nonprofit Fights for Oakland School Libraries

Posted on April 2, 2013 by

One-third of the libraries in the city’s public schools remain closed due to budget cuts, but a nonprofit is working to reopen them. (first appeared in the East Bay Express, March 27 edition) By Pamela Drake It’s hard to keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Oakland & National Budget Catastrophe | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

How Not to Win Friends and Influence People. Stop it.

Posted on January 18, 2013 by

My mother never repeated the old saying to me that “you can catch more flies with honey” than with, I don’t know, catcalls? Well, my mother was a reporter and believed in “just the facts” anyway, not very homespun; but … Continue reading →

Posted in Oakland City Council | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Mass Murder, an Oakland Blogger Responds

Posted on April 3, 2012 by

Let’s get this out of the way first. The attack on Oaksterdam and other dispensaries in Oakland yesterday was not just useless and a waste of government resources, it was anti-democratic since Oaklanders and their representatives support medical marijuana overwhelmingly. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mayor Jean Quan:Embattled or Fighting for Oakland?

Posted on January 15, 2012 by

It’s an old cliché that almost everyone who writes about Oakland feels they must use. You know, it’s a gritty city. The latest one was the New York Times article that touted our new restaurants, which are great, don’t get … Continue reading →

Posted in Lake Merritt, Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland City Council, Occupy Oakland, shopping in Oakland | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Welcome to Thanksgiving in the Dimond

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

Abdo Alawdi is planning on sharing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with his family-wife, six children, numerous relatives-and 250 of his closest friends and neighbors. Mr. Alawdi, known as Abdo to most people, has been preparing massive Thanksgiving celebrations for his … Continue reading →

Posted in shopping in Oakland | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Occupy Oakland-What’s Next for the Movement?

Posted on November 18, 2011 by

I am a poster child for the 99%. I am a woman, an older person with no retirement savings, and I raised two kids by myself. My kids experienced chronic illnesses as children and one of them still struggles with … Continue reading →

Posted in Oakland & National Budget Catastrophe, Oakland City Council, Occupy Oakland | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Local Poet and Teacher Struggles to Regain her Home

Posted on July 28, 2011 by

It’s a story you’ve probably heard before and maybe discounted. Or, you thought, it can’t happen to me. Many of us Oakland progressives have spent most of our adult lives fighting for tenants’ rights so when things go so wrong … Continue reading →

Posted in struggling homeowner | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Oakland’s Frail Seniors At Risk Due to Brown’s Veto

Posted on July 14, 2011 by

Back in the late 70’s when California was flush and the governor rode a moonbeam into town, legislation was created to establish pilot programs to provide day care for the frail elderly. By 1978, that fateful year when Proposition 13 … Continue reading →

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Now is the Time for Adult Education

Posted on June 17, 2011 by

This week is the first anniversary of the last graduation of the Edward Shands Adult School. I had written last year that, “Thursday night may have been the last graduation the Edward Shands Adult School puts on. After 139 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Oakland & National Budget Catastrophe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments