Darwin BondGraham

What are Flock cameras, and why are they controversial in Oakland? Police can track the movements of vehicles with these powerful license plate reader surveillance cameras. But critics say they’re ripe for abuse.

What are Flock cameras, and why are they controversial in Oakland?

oaklandside.org/2025/11/20/f...

Skyline High students stage walkout protest against 'unsafe conditions' Hundreds of students walked out of class at 11 a.m. today to protest a lack of safety on campus after a student was injured in a shooting last week.

For the record, Oakland Unified's administrators refused to grant Oaklandside's journalists access to the Skyline campus today to cover the student protest.

We're up there anyway to hear from young people about safety issues in Oakland schools and solutions.

oaklandside.org/2025/11/18/s...

According to OPD, ICE doesn't currently use CrimeTracer. But many other federal law enforcement agencies do use it.

Zhou says because of interest among California cities to block access to immigration enforcement agencies, he thinks some vendors may someday offer software that allows local police to silo their data and prevent certain other agencies from accessing it.

OPD Sgt. Yun Zhou is explaining how the CrimeTracer app works. The app allows OPD officers to search through thousands and thousands of crime reports and other documents, like a Google search through police records.

Waiting for tonight's Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission meeting to start. The board is supposed to hear reports about OPD's CrimeTracer Forensic Logic software and illegal dumping surveillance cameras.

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Support The Oaklandside Support nonprofit local news in Oakland. The Oaklandside provides free nonprofit local journalism and information for Oakland residents. Become a member today.

If you read The Oaklandside and appreciate what we do, consider becoming a member and supporting our newsroom with small monthly contribution. It's small donations that power our hyperlocal reporting.

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Weigh in on changing Oakland’s government at sessions this fall Mayor Barbara Lee’s charter reform working group will present options at upcoming community meetings for a 2026 ballot measure.

Mayor Barbara Lee’s charter reform working group will present options at upcoming community meetings for a 2026 ballot measure.

Over 1,000 artifacts stolen from Oakland Museum of California, police say The Oakland Police Department says it is working with the FBI’s Art Crime Team to investigate the burglary.

The Oakland Police Department says it is working with the FBI’s Art Crime Team to investigate the burglary.

A federal agent shot a pastor in the face with a chemical weapon. What can California do about it? A violent response to an Oakland protest raises the same legal questions other states are grappling with as Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies.

A violent response to an Oakland protest raises the same legal questions other states are grappling with as Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies.

Oakland City Council kills lawsuit against Southwest Airlines Southwest allegedly violated the city’s labor laws. Five councilmembers voted last Thursday to dismiss a legal action enforcing the rules.

Southwest allegedly violated the city’s labor laws. Five councilmembers voted last Thursday to dismiss a legal action enforcing the rules.

Poll finds Oakland voters support Mayor Barbara Lee, want more cops The Oakland Chamber of Commerce’s annual survey examined voters’ attitudes toward public safety, homelessness, and more.

The Oakland Chamber of Commerce’s annual survey examined voters’ attitudes toward public safety, homelessness, and more.

Oakland, Berkeley residents bracing for delay in SNAP benefits in November Elected officials and food pantries are scrambling to meet the moment. Food is still available for those in need, they say.

Elected officials and food pantries are scrambling to meet the moment. Food is still available for those in need, they say.

A federal agent shot a pastor in the face with a chemical weapon. What can California do about it? A violent response to an Oakland protest raises the same legal questions other states are grappling with as Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies.

If federal agents (ICE, CBP) commit crimes in the course of immigration or law enforcement operations, can state and local police and prosecutors charge them with a crime?

Here's a deep dive into that question through the lens of one recent incident in Oakland.

oaklandside.org/2025/10/29/f...

Oakland City Council kills lawsuit against Southwest Airlines Southwest allegedly violated the city’s labor laws. Five councilmembers voted last Thursday to dismiss a legal action enforcing the rules.

City of Oakland drops lawsuit against Southwest Airlines over allegations the company violated sick leave laws for its employees at OAK.

oaklandside.org/2025/10/30/o...

A federal agent shot a pastor in the face with a chemical weapon. What can California do about it? A violent response to an Oakland protest raises the same legal questions other states are grappling with as Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies.

If federal agents (ICE, CBP) commit crimes in the course of immigration or law enforcement operations, can state and local police and prosecutors charge them with a crime?

Here's a deep dive into that question through the lens of one recent incident in Oakland.

oaklandside.org/2025/10/29/f...

Oakland's 'tortious interference' bankrupted a coal company. Now the city could owe millions. The decision, by a federal bankruptcy judge in Kentucky, is a massive legal blow against the city's long-running effort to stop construction of a coal export terminal in West Oakland.

This is a major financial and environmental blow to Oakland.

oaklandside.org/2025/10/28/o...

I think you're right!

Anyone know the exact manufacturer and model of this less-lethal projectile launcher?

Those could be galerina — extremely toxic.

Correction/clarification: ICE does not appear to have ever been a part of the planned "surge" operation that has been paused.

It's safe to say ICE's routine operations in the East Bay will be continuing. Only the "surge" operation by CBP has been canceled, for now.

Oakland mayor, sheriff say ICE, CBP operations canceled for East Bay The Alameda County Sheriff's Office confirmed that federal officials have paused operations in the East Bay.

Breaking: ICE, CBP, Trump admin have called off any "surge" operation in the East Bay — for now.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez say the feds have backed off.

oaklandside.org/2025/10/24/i...

I wouldn't say Oakland was the main target. Trump mainly talked about San Francisco.

It's unclear what's going to happen at this point.

Unclear. Trump only said San Francisco. But we're trying to learn more right now.

The Bay Area appears to be getting the full Trump treatment.

He blasted the region and its cities as dangerous, threatened to send in federal agents and troops. Took steps to do so. Then at the last minute, he says he's pausing because of a great personal phone call with a few rich guys.

Trump says federal agents 'will not surge San Francisco' In a Truth Social post, the president said calls with San Francisco’s mayor and some tech titans convinced him to wait, for now.

Trump says "surge" operation of federal agents in San Francisco is paused following phone call with SF Mayor Lurie and some tech titans.

Unclear what this means for Oakland and other Bay Area communities. Little is known about the DHS operation Trump ordered.

oaklandside.org/2025/10/23/t...

If you have direct knowledge of DHS operations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and want to share what you know with the media, get at me on Signal or in a DM here. My email is darwin@oaklandside.org

Press officers for the Coast Guard, CBP, and ICE are all now telling me I must contact Department of Homeland Security headquarters for any information about the unfolding immigration operation in the San Francisco Bay Area, and protests.