Shomik Mukherjee

Oakland may seek to give its mayor more power, signaling big-city ambitions The proposed fix is quickly polarizing key advocates.

Oakland may seek to give its mayor more power, signaling big-city ambitions www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/02/10/o...

Can Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee help end the police’s federal oversight? A judge is optimistic. If Judge William Orrick does relinquish control of the often scandal-ridden department by the end of this year, he may ultimately credit Mayor Barbara Lee.

Can Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee help end the police's federal oversight? A judge is optimistic. www.mercurynews.com/2026/01/31/o...

An iconic performing arts venue is back open. Can Oakland keep it alive? the building’s return is not just important for its nostalgic value: it’s also a key test of Oakland’s economic recovery.

An iconic performing arts venue is back open. Can Oakland keep it alive? www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/01/24/h...

Do sports have a future at Oakland Coliseum? The A’s may hold the keys. The A’s may soon come into an ownership stake in the iconic stadium-arena complex.

Do sports have a future at Oakland Coliseum? The A’s may hold the keys. www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/01/15/o...

Is Oakland’s police watchdog body truly independent? Its latest power struggle could be a crucial test. The police commission still seems to be struggling to gain footing within Oakland’s complex bureaucratic tangles.

Is Oakland's police watchdog body truly independent? Its latest power struggle could be a crucial test. www.mercurynews.com/2026/01/09/o...

A councilmember’s obscene gesture went viral. His policies are reshaping Oakland’s politics. It was the latest of several recent policy decisions by a mostly new council — just two of the eight members have served beyond a first term — that seems to reflect a sea change in Oakland’s …

A councilmember's obscene gesture went viral. His policies are reshaping Oakland's politics. www.mercurynews.com/2025/12/20/o...

A controversial Oakland port development moves forward after city loses ‘coal war’ “At this point, it’s just another development project,” Oakland’s top administrator said. “The city has exercised all its legal options.”

A controversial Oakland port development moves forward after city loses ‘coal war’

www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/12/11/o...

Coach John Beam, beloved staple of Oakland sports, dies from gunshot wound It was a shocking loss for athletes, coaches and Oakland residents who had come to rely on the wisdom and dedication of a man known around town simply as Coach Beam.

Breaking: Coach John Beam, beloved staple of Oakland sports, dies from gunshot wound www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/14/j...

Ex-Oakland mayoral staffer prepares to file lawsuit alleging wrongful termination In separate legal filings, former chief of staff Leigh Hanson and junior staffer Brandon Harami take aim at the conduct of other city leaders.

New: Ex-Oakland mayoral staffer prepares to file lawsuit alleging wrongful termination www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...

Plea deal may be in works for San Leandro councilman charged in federal corruption case Word of a possible plea deal came as prosecutors publicly linked Bryan Azevedo’s case to a sprawling corruption case out of Oakland.

New: Plea deal may be in works for San Leandro councilman charged in federal corruption case www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/05/p...

ICE, Border Patrol operations in East Bay are officially ‘canceled,’ officials say It was not immediately clear whether federal agents had already left the region.

Breaking: ICE, Border Patrol operations in East Bay are officially 'canceled, officials say

www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/24/i...

Two injured after security personnel open fire on truck approaching Coast Guard Island, site of immigration protests The shooting happened around 10 p.m. at the entrance to Coast Guard Island in East Oakland.

Two injured after security personnel open fire on truck approaching site of East Bay immigration protests, reporting w/ Jakob Rodgers: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/24/c...

Trump calls off federal ‘surge’ to San Francisco San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said Trump agreed to halt a deployment in a phone conversation Wednesday night.

latest news w/ Ethan Varian: Trump calls off federal ‘surge’ to San Francisco www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/23/s...

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said Thursday she had spoken to SF's Daniel Lurie about his call w/ the president. Lee, however, appeared to come away with little clarity about whether Trump's promise to call off the Nat'l Guard would also mean a withdrawal of CBP from the East Bay.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said Thursday she had spoken to SF's Daniel Lurie about his call w/ the president.

Lee, however, appeared to come away with little clarity about whether Trump's promise to call off the Nat'l Guard would also mean a withdrawal of CBP from the East Bay.

Bay Area leaders, immigrant advocates react with alarm to reported federal immigration crackdown More than 100 federal agents — including some from U.S. Customs and Border Protection — prepared to arrive Thursday at Coast Guard Island.

Bay Area leaders, immigrant advocates react with alarm to reported federal immigration crackdown www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/22/b...

Former NFL running back Doug Martin’s brain to be tested for CTE, authorities confirm The condition, which can cause erratic behavior and severe mental illness, is associated with repeated head trauma and has been found in hundreds of former NFL players in recent years.

New: Former NFL running back Doug Martin’s brain to be tested for CTE, authorities confirm to Jakob Rodgers www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/21/f...

‘It’s really tragic’: Details emerge after former NFL star Doug Martin’s death in Oakland police custody Martin’s death — after what police described as a “brief struggle” with officers — sent shockwaves through Oakland.

NEW: More details emerge about retired NFL star Doug Martin's final moments before his death in Oakland police custody.

+ Former coaches who witnessed Martin's ascent to an all-pro career recalled his determination & easygoing temperament. (w/ Jakob Rodgers) www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/20/i...

Ex-NFL running back Doug Martin dies in Oakland police custody, sources say Born in Oakland, Martin spent seven seasons in the NFL.

As my colleague Jakob Rodgers first reported last night, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Doug Martin died while in Oakland police custody

More on Martin’s life:
www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/19/e...

How long will Oakland be stuck with a security company linked to key figure in federal corruption case? It may take three months or longer for a new contract to be prepared, officials estimated.

How long will Oakland be stuck with a security company linked to key figure in federal corruption case? www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/16/o...

High-ranking Oakland official who spoke to feds about ex-mayor leaves for another East Bay city Duffey is in line to be the new city manager in Brentwood, an eastern Contra Costa County city with about 67,000 residents — roughly six times smaller than Oakland’s population.

New: G. Harold Duffey, the high-ranking Oakland official who said he gave the feds key evidence that led to criminal indictments against ex-Mayor Sheng Thao and others, is leaving the city.

He's making his way to Brentwood in eastern Contra Costa County: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...

How will the search for yet another police chief tip the balance of power in Oakland? Unlike several predecessors, Mitchell was not fired due to scandal, but simply appeared to grow weary of the various forces designed to hold the city’s police accountable.

New: Chief Floyd Mitchell grew tired of having to answer to “so many bosses” in Oakland, leading him to resign after just a year and a half

Now, those same “bosses” need to collaborate in hiring a new police chief. It hasn’t been easy in the past:

www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/12/h...

Marc Benioff has already left San Francisco behind The Salesforce CEO now principally lives, works, and votes elsewhere, but as he argued in an interview with The Standard, “nobody has given more than my family.”

After he called me from his private plans, Marc Benioff called @eshugs.bsky.social. This is another great read as Dreamforce begins.

sfstandard.com/2025/10/13/p...

Oakland issued checks to police officers, city workers who had personal info exposed in ransomware attack The data breach in 2023 led to reams of sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, being published on the dark web.

New: Oakland issued checks to police officers, city workers who had personal info exposed in ransomware attack www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/07/o...

Oakland leaders, wary of Trump threat, prepare to defend workers in potential ‘criminal proceedings’ Oakland and San Francisco are among cities where President Donald Trump has threatened to send federal troops.

full story: Oakland leaders, wary of Trump threat, prepare to defend workers in potential ‘criminal proceedings’ www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/03/o...

Public agencies are required to offer employees a civil defense but not a criminal one, though in ordinary circumstances the council may take time to decide whether to protect workers against the latter type of charges. But the threat of the federal government coming to Oakland appears to have Richardson on high alert. If approved, the legislation would place him in the unusual position of deciding whether to represent city workers in criminal court, which likely would require outside counsel.

New: Oakland may allow its city attorney to arrange a legal defense for public officials facing criminal charges, w/o needing council's approval.

Sounds ominous, but it's really preparation for a scenario where the Trump admin accuses city workers of obstructing ICE/Nat'l Guard

The AI Kids Take San Francisco Brilliant, workaholic teenagers are flooding the city — and reshaping our future in their image.

I spent some time wandering around SF with some kids who read minds, raise millions, and subsist on Celsius nymag.com/intelligence...

Running out of options, what new tax could Oakland ask voters to approve? The city’s options are limited, but its leaders hope an expiring pension tax would offset a potential new increase.

New: Running out of options, what new tax could Oakland ask voters to approve?

www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/09/30/o...

A message from Assata Shakur's daughter, Kakuya Shakur:

sorry :/ will work on that