Natalie Orenstein

Every two years, hundreds of Oakland residents leave their homes before the crack of dawn and fan out across the city to look for neighbors who sleep on the streets, in parks, and on doorsteps. It’s the biennial Point-in-Time Count, a survey of unhoused r... See more

Oaklanders often criticize the news media for focusing disproportionately on the horrifying or the scandalous. And let’s face it: this is a complicated city with its share of challenges to overcome. At The Oaklandside, we’re not immune to overdoing it on ... See more

Oakland’s Black Arts Movement and Business District won official recognition from the state this month, guaranteeing financial and technical assistance for the cultural zone over the next few years. The district — located along the 14th Street corridor be... See more

One Oakland councilmember’s hand gesture at a meeting Tuesday has made national headlines, gone viral on social media, and dominated local political discourse. During a contentious council meeting over Flock surveillance cameras, Councilmember Ken Houston... See more

Dozens of sunken or abandoned boats polluting the Oakland estuary will soon be lifted out of the waters under a two-year contract approved by the Oakland City Council on Tuesday night. The council authorized a $1.5 million agreement with Lind Marine, a Va... See more