Oakland Focus News | Oakland News Online Blog

SF Chronicle Columnist Chip Johnson and The ANG Newspaper Group is calling for Oakland School Board Member Chirs Dobbins to step down. Here's the story, but I'm not using Chip's column here as to read his account makes the matter sound as if they were having regular sex. There's no proof of that kind of relationship, but it doesn't look good, that's for sure. I have to admit that much of this seems like people wanting to engage in gossip. BUT, Chris should have had better judgement than to take up the kind of association that's being reported. But I only met him once, during a rally to save the Oakland A's. It's too bad all around because Chris seemed to be totally into his position on the school board. On second thought, maybe too much so. Here's another account... Oakland school board member Chris Dobbins went on several dates with a 17-year-old girl, sent her inappropriate text messages and e-mail, and had several late night rendezvous...

This wonderful video was passed to me via a link by a YouTube contributor. You simply must watch it. I'm very happy that we as a group are finally coming together to take control of our image and debunk myths. Click here for more information on "What Black Men Think."

According to Forbes , San Francisco and Oakland rank #4 as the best place for singles. Now, they ranked such amenities as nightlife and culture, and I'll say that it's certainly gotten better even over the last two years. It seems that -- from my perspective -- diversity is less of an issue now, even than two years ago. Plus, well, there are a lot of single people here. But what's cool is that Oakland's part of the index, and it's reflection of the growing number of places to go here. Personally, I've always thought of San Francisco and Oakland as one big city, anyway.

According to today's Oakland Tribune , the Wayans have dropped out of any futher development discussions with the City of Oakland regarding the path of West Oakland land that I've long considered really under Port ownership. They ceased talks because the Port's plans would get in their way. The land near it has been part of the redevelopment plans for the Port for decades, al the way back to when I was Economic Advisor to Mayor Harris. The Wayans proposal is really not well suited for that part of town, but for Third and Linden Street, near Jack London Square.

This is a shocking report delivered as a video by me and about a document and its findings called "Violent, Property, Crime & Arrest Rates" in Oakland. The video has the details and I'll lay them out in a text fashion in another blog post.

I just went over for a quick visit and yep, post after post on crime in Oakland. Vsmoothe will eventually be driven to deep depression over this -- best to stop before it's too late. That's what I did!

From the Oakland Tribune Oakland newsman Bailey to be laid to rest Wednesday By Kristin Bender, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE Article Last Updated: 08/07/2007 02:47:50 AM PDT It was in 1973 when Chauncey Bailey asked his journalism teacher at Merritt College for some career advice that would forever change the coverage of African-American issues in Oakland and make Mr. Bailey a noted and constant presence in print, radio and television here for the past 15 years. Back then, Mr. Bailey had recently earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from San Jose State University but, not unlike many young people, he wasn't quite sure what to do next. "He asked me, 'Should I join the Black Panther Party or go into the newspaper business?" said Bailey's former journalism instructor Charles Aikens, who worked as a sports writer for the Oakland Tribune in the late 1960s. "I said, 'It would be better to get that daily newspaper experience and bring the skills you ...