Stories from March, 2009:


Dellums’ presence as risky as his performance

The shooting deaths of four Oakland police officers have touched Oakland and the entire nation, and have also exposed the growing disconnect Mayor Ron Dellums has with the city he is supposed to lead. Friday's public memorial service at Oracle Arena for...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-31-09 · 1 Comment »

Surely, all can see Oakland needs help - soon

It is literally a crying shame that it has cost the lives of four Oakland police officers to bring national focus to the stunning crime problem facing this city, but rest assured, everyone is watching now. The huge public funeral today at Oracle Arena, which...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-27-09 · 2 Comments »

Surely, all can see Oakland needs help - soon

It is literally a crying shame that it has cost the lives of four Oakland police officers to bring national focus to the stunning crime problem facing this city, but rest assured, everyone is watching now. The huge public funeral today at Oracle Arena, which...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-26-09 · 3 Comments »

Surely, all can see Oakland needs help - soon

It is literally a crying shame that it has cost the lives of four Oakland police officers to bring national focus to the stunning crime problem facing this city, but rest assured, everyone is watching now. The huge public funeral today at Oracle Arena, which...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-26-09 · No Comments »

Police deaths give leverage to toughen gun laws

If history repeats itself, the fatal shootings of four Oakland police officers on Saturday afternoon will become the next benchmark in the national debate on a federal law to ban assault weapons. If there is a grain of hope to be gathered from a loss so...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-24-09 · 1 Comment »

Oakland - it’s time to back the badge

The deaths of four Oakland police officers gunned down in the line of duty Saturday afternoon are undisputable, immutable, irrevocable proof of the chaotic level of predatory violence on the streets of this city. Even as crime dipped in the first three months...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-23-09 · No Comments »

A’s ownership giving Oakland the cold shoulder

As a lifelong Cleveland Browns football fan, I've been through this before. It's tough to hear a beloved sports franchise tell fans that the 41-year love affair is over and they are leaving for greener pastures, but that's exactly what the Oakland Athletics...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-17-09 · 2 Comments »

Oakland’s new tactics on crime appear to help

The sun seems to be shining a bit brighter than usual on Oakland's often-violent streets. Major crimes - particularly killings - have subsided so far this year just as more officers and new outreach workers have been deployed in the city at the urging of...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-13-09 · 1 Comment »

Oakland’s new tactics on crime appear to help

The sun seems to be shining a bit brighter than usual on Oakland's often-violent streets. Major crimes - particularly killings - have subsided so far this year just as more officers and new outreach workers have been deployed in the city at the urging of...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-12-09 · No Comments »

Proposed hotel tax a positive step for Oakland

The Oakland City Council's plan to increase the city's hotel tax rate by 3 percent and use the proceeds to help pay for key entertainment venues and promote business travel represents a break from recent tradition. The proposal is good news for Oakland...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-06-09 · No Comments »

Proposed hotel tax a positive step for Oakland

The Oakland City Council's plan to increase the city's hotel tax rate by 3 percent and use the proceeds to help pay for key entertainment venues and promote business travel represents a break from recent tradition. The proposal is good news for Oakland...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-05-09 · No Comments »

Auditor seeks residents’ pressure on nepotism

Because she believed so few of her administrative counterparts would listen, Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby appealed directly to residents in her continued attempts to investigate nepotism, cronyism and patronage in city government. In an e-mail sent to...

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Source: SFGate: Chip Johnson · 03-03-09 · No Comments »