How 2 fringe groups and a friendly judge helped pull off Sheriff Chad Bianco’s ballot seizure Emails obtained by CalMatters trace the development of a years-long case that ultimately led to the unprecedented seizure of 650,000 ballots.

Anat Rubin and I co-wrote a story for @calmatters.org about the people behind Sheriff Chad Bianco's "election investigation" -- sovereign citizens, Christian nationalists, and "constitutional sheriffs."
calmatters.org/investigatio...

Does anyone actually want smart glasses?

Why do tech companies keep trying to make that a thing?

Deputy district attorney says she was retaliated against for whistleblowing In a sprawling complaint, a prosecutor claims the Alameda County DA’s office “extorts” welfare fraud defendants and badly mishandled a conflict of interest.

A deputy Alameda County district attorney alleges she was retaliated against by her boss, DA Ursula Jones Dickson, after she raised concerns about a series of problems, from a conflict of interest with the grand jury to the treatment of welfare fraud defendants....

oaklandside.org/2026/04/21/a...

Back in 2022, I got a tip that some people associated with a sovereign citizen group called New California were trying to get Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco to investigate voter fraud. Bianco's office told me there was *no* investigation. But these emails said otherwise.

50 homeless patients at Children’s Hospital will get placed in housing Families will pay just $250 in rent through the joint program between the Oakland Housing Authority, UCSF, and Alameda Alliance.

A new program aims to provide stable housing to families whose newborns and children are undergoing intensive treatment at Children's Hospital Oakland.

oaklandside.org/2026/04/21/c...

Oakland police illegally keep information from those who request it, says attorney A five-year-old class action lawsuit forced OPD to become more transparent. But now the city is violating a court-enforced agreement, according to a lawyer representing journalists.

A five-year-old class action lawsuit forced OPD to become more transparent. But now the city is violating a court-enforced agreement, according to a lawyer representing journalists.

Sideshow participants can be fined in Oakland. Why has the city never done this? City officials offered no explanation for why Oakland has never used a 2023 ordinance to crack down on street chaos.

City officials offered no explanation for why Oakland has never used a 2023 ordinance to crack down on street chaos.

City settles with injured cyclist for $512,000 over a pothole The Town has paid tens of millions of dollars in settlements over the last 10 years due to poor road maintenance.

The Town has paid tens of millions of dollars in settlements over the last 10 years due to poor road maintenance.

A cheat sheet for The Oaklandside’s Alameda County district attorney candidates forum It’s sold out, but you can still tune in via Zoom. Here’s a primer on the candidates and their priorities.

Who should be Alameda County's District Attorney?

@oaklandside.org & Berkeleyside are hosting a DA candidates' debate on 4/29 in Oakland.

Have a question you want to ask Ursula Jones Dickson, Pamela Price, or Gopal Krishan?

Let us know.

oaklandside.org/2026/04/15/a...

This educator is turning Instagram into a classroom about Oakland’s ecosystems Saumitra Kelkar is on a mission to restore native plants. He’s teaching East Bay residents about where to find rare flowers, plants, trees and wild bees.

Saumitra Kelkar is on a mission to restore native plants. He’s teaching East Bay residents about where to find rare flowers, plants, trees and wild bees — all in The Town.

Before the EZ’s Lounge mass shooting, warnings surfaced at another nightclub with the same owner Fights and illegal alcohol sales allegedly swirled around Lava Lounge, a KONO venue. Neighbors say the city should have closed it sooner.

Fights and illegal alcohol sales allegedly swirled around Lava Lounge, a KONO venue. Neighbors say the city should have closed it sooner.

Pete Hegseth’s holy war: the militant Christian theology animating the US attack on Iran The Bible-thumping US defense secretary is overseeing another strategic disaster in the Middle East. Is this a war or a crusade?

something deeply wrong with a religious movement that is okay with bombing schools full of children but draws the line at blasphemous slop memes

anyways here’s my most recent article

Before the EZ’s Lounge mass shooting, warnings surfaced at another nightclub with the same owner Fights and illegal alcohol sales allegedly swirled around Lava Lounge, a KONO venue. Neighbors say the city should have closed it sooner.

In the years prior to the deadly mass shooting inside EZ's in downtown Oakland, another club about a mile away racked up dozens of complaints.

Neighbors said the city should have acted faster to close it. It was operated by the same person who ran EZ's.

oaklandside.org/2026/04/13/i...

This educator is turning Instagram into a classroom about Oakland’s ecosystems Saumitra Kelkar is on a mission to restore native plants. He’s teaching East Bay residents about where to find rare flowers, plants, trees and wild bees.

California is a global biodiversity hot spot.

And Oakland — in spite of its urban/industrial sprawl — is still filled with wild habitats hosting amazing and rare plant species.

Very cool story from @chroniclesofazu.bsky.social following an Oakland naturalist.

oaklandside.org/2026/04/10/n...

A quick guide to the Oakland charter reform debate Three new systems of government are on the table and could reach ballots in November. Use this table to keep them straight.

Three new systems of government are on the table and could reach ballots in November. Use this table to keep them straight.

Alameda County leaders oppose ICE jail in former Dublin women’s prison The Board of Supervisors unanimously stands against FCI Dublin’s conversion into an immigration detention center — though the county has no jurisdiction over federal property.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously stands against FCI Dublin’s conversion into an immigration detention center — though the county has no jurisdiction over federal property.

After 10 years of fighting, ‘No Coal’ activists gear up for new battle With Oakland’s legal defenses exhausted, a coalition is strategizing a new way to stop construction of a coal export terminal.

Oakland residents who have spent 10 years trying to stop construction of a coal export terminal in their city are pivoting pursuing a new campaign strategy that involves air pollution regulations.

More here - oaklandside.org/2026/04/08/n...

Endangered salmon returned to California’s far north — then the money dried up Two years ago, Newsom touted a partnership with the Winnemem Wintu tribe to restore dwindling salmon. Now — the state is ending its support, with no new funding in sight.

We should tear down Shasta Dam.

calmatters.org/environment/...

How the world's largest wildlife crossing became the target of right-wing hate Southern California's landmark $114 million wildlife crossing is almost complete.

This is a marvelous project and we need thousands more all over the country. www.sfgate.com/la/article/c...

As 3 Oakland homeless shelters close, city and residents question outcomes A West Oakland “community cabin” site and 71st Avenue RV lot are shutting down. A hotel is undergoing a planned conversion to affordable housing.

A West Oakland “community cabin” site and 71st Avenue RV lot are shutting down. A hotel is undergoing a planned conversion to affordable housing.

And tomorrow, or the day after, or the week after, markets will dive on news that the war will drag on... The real story is volatility, not a 1-day increase.

bsky.app/profile/apne...

Celebrating Nowruz, the Persian new year, at a time of war Members of the East Bayʻs Iranian American community express fear, stress, sorrow, and hope as the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran unfold.

Members of the East Bay's Iranian American community express fear, stress, sorrow, and hope as the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran unfold.

Sheriff’s deputies thought they'd stopped a criminal. But license plate cameras led them to the wrong person To avoid a sprawling web of new surveillance cameras, thieves are swapping license plates, creating serious risks for unsuspecting drivers.

To avoid a sprawling web of new surveillance cameras, thieves are swapping license plates, creating serious risks for unsuspecting drivers.

Oakland classrooms reached scorching temperatures last week. Parents are demanding action The Oakland Unified School District has funds set aside for heat abatement. Families want to see the district spend it preparing for the fall’s heat waves.

The Oakland Unified School District has funds set aside for heat abatement. Families want to see the district spend it preparing for the fall’s heat waves.

Are ICE agents coming to Oakland’s airport? Immigration agents are appearing at airports throughout the country to support TSA. What does that mean for OAK?

Immigration agents are appearing at airports throughout the country to support TSA. What does that mean for OAK?

Did a modified gun make the Oakland nightclub mass shooting deadlier? Surveillance video of the March 7 shooting suggests an illegally converted automatic pistol was used. Firearms experts say these machine guns are increasingly accessible.

At least one of the firearms used in the Oakland nightclub mass shooting at EZ's Lounge earlier this month appears to have been an illegally converted automatic pistol.

Oakland police say these weapons are deadlier and becoming more common.

oaklandside.org/2026/03/24/i...

Did a modified gun make the Oakland nightclub mass shooting deadlier? Surveillance video of the March 7 shooting suggests an illegally converted automatic pistol was used. Firearms experts say these machine guns are increasingly accessible.

At least one of the firearms used in the Oakland nightclub mass shooting at EZ's Lounge earlier this month appears to have been an illegally converted automatic pistol.

Oakland police say these weapons are deadlier and becoming more common.

oaklandside.org/2026/03/24/i...

Sheriff’s deputies thought they'd stopped a criminal. But license plate cameras led them to the wrong person An Oakland woman's license plates were stolen off her car and replaced with ones associated with a 'serious crime' leading to her getting pulled over by sheriff’s deputies.

The switcheroo created a host of problems for Nomura, more than just the police stop. It also illustrates a problem facing the Bay Area: As license plate readers scan more roads, thieves are confusing the vast surveillance network by stealing and swapping plates.

oaklandside.org/2026/03/23/a...

César Chavez sexual abuse allegations shake Oakland community The Mexican-American labor movement icon had deep ties to Oakland. A NYT investigation uncovering claims of rape and abuse is causing a reckoning.

Cesar Chavez organized in Oakland in the 1950s. In the 60s and 70s he returned, seeking support for UFW campaigns — and he lent his growing name, endorsing local movements politicos.

This week, Oakland reckons with allegations he sexually abused girls and women.

oaklandside.org/2026/03/19/c...