Board members will soon have to decide whether to appoint a new board director or order a special election. It’s not yet clear which route they’ll choose. OUSD’s school board has to decide between two methods of filling a soon to be vacated District 5 board director seat: appointing a…

Workers say they want higher wages, scheduling reform, a just cause clause for terminations, and a say in how the company is run. Workers at Berkeley’s popular salvaged goods store, Urban Ore, filed a petition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) stating their intention to form a union through…

In the year 2022, oral antiviral COVID treatments became widely available for the first time, but deaths from the virus still occurred about once every two days in Oakland. The Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau recorded 186 deaths last year in Oakland that were caused by COVID-19. The coroner’s bureau determined…

Starting in January, when new directors take office, there appears to be enough votes to overturn the closures planned for six schools. The Oakland Education Association along with some advocates and two school board directors-elect want schools slated for closure to appear now on the enrollment website, while the district…

Bed Bugs were found at Urban Ore on October 30, but during inspections on November 22, no bugs were found. While relieved, some workers say they are unhappy with how ownership has handled the issue, including how and what information about the bugs was shared to the public. The discovery…

Tenants have been on rent strike since September 1 say they have been facing “harassment” while management said they hired guards due to “threats.” Since tenants living in the ReNew on Merritt building on 1130 3rd Ave. in Oakland started collectively withholding rent, management has hired armed guards. Rent striking…

OUSD has stopped publishing the data as neighboring districts have continued to inform the community of total positive COVID cases among students and staff in their schools. The Oakland Unified School District is no longer publishing data this school year to inform students, staff, parents and the public about positive…

Roughly 25% of tenants in the building plan to withhold rent in an effort to get their landlords to effectively address habitability and safety concerns. Trinity Property Consultants and FPA Multifamily, the managers and owners of the building, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. A crowd of over…

Workers hope a union will give them fair scheduling, predictable raises, job security, adequate training, respect and a seat at the table. The company wants to communicate directly to workers ‘rather than through any third party.’ Workers who operate and provide services to customers riding the ferry that runs from…