Oakland Focus News | Oakland News Online Blog

Oakland Musician Emily Palen and her band Knightress M1 will appear at The Uptown Nightclub in Downtown Oakland on Saturday, March 16th at 9 PM, PDT. If you remember Emily, she was last seen in this space talking about her then latest performance, her CD release party: Ms. Palen and her band will be joined by the Dead Clown Society, and Quart Of Blood Technique, as well as the talents of Kirsten Gerding, and Perish. It's just $8 and doors open at 9 PM. The Uptown is at 1928 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 451-8100

Thomas C. Frazier: was appointed the Oakland Police Compliance Director on Monday, but little is known about him. Over at Zennie62.com comes the discovery that Frazier didn't have the best relationship with African American police officers during his time as the top cop for Baltimore from 1994 to 1998 - many called him racist. Visit Zennie62 for more: Thomas C. Frazier: Oakland Police Compliance Director Called Racist Police Chief In Baltimore - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/03/05/thomas-c-frazier-oakland-police-compliance-director-called-racist-police-chief-in-baltimore-39556/

While the Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday event did take place, it was only a part of its former self. As you will see at Zennie62blog.com , patrons were just happy the event was going on, but many believed it can and should be larger.

The arrest of a young black man wanted in a string of crimes was caught on the camera of vlogger Kraig Debro. Here's the video: More at Zennie62: Target Emeryville, CA Arrest Caught On Camera By Kraig Debro

San Leandro, CA - The City of San Leandro’s City Council recently reached agreement to continue to retain the law firm of Meyers Nave and (former Oakland) City Attorney Jayne Williams and Assistant City Attorney Richard D. Pio Roda as the City’s legal advisors. The San Leandro City Council on Tuesday Feb. 19 asked that Jayne Williams and the City Manager Chris Zapata develop a new contract between Meyers Nave and the City to continue its contractual services to San Leandro. The Meyers Nave firm was founded in 1986 in San Leandro by Steve Meyers, Michael Nave, Libby Silver and Mike Riback. San Leandro City Attorney Jayne Williams has served as City Attorney to San Leandro for the past 10 years and Assistant City Attorney Richard D. Pio Roda, a principal with the Meyers Nave firm, has served San Leandro for the past four years. The full story at Zennie62Blog.com here: San Leandro, CA Continues with Meyers Nave Law Firm to Represent City

Here's the latest Transbay Transit Center Project Update press release. This one for March 1, 2013. Oh, and if you're new to this and wonder how the design you see was selected, watch this 2007 video: 10 Day Look Ahead: Construction Activities Friday, March 1, 2013 – Sunday, March 10, 2013 This week at Transbay... What to Expect This Weekend (3/2/13 – 3/3/13): Beale Street (Between Mission and Howard Streets): The OCS system (MUNI Bus Overhead Contact System) will be reworked this weekend at night with traffic lanes reduced from two lanes down to one lane until the OCS lines are moved to the western OCS poles. The Beale Street paving will also be reworked Saturday, March 2 with traffic lanes reduced from three lanes down to two lanes. Monday morning, March 4 the Beale Street traffic lane configuration will also move to the western two traffic lanes and the western sidewalk will re-open. The eastern sidewalk will be closed until early April 2013. Pedestrians are u

The Oakland State Of The City Address by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan was too long. Mayor Quan tried to make sure she mentioned everything - every part of Oakland from good news like the 5,000 new jobs last year, to revenue growth. Oakland Councilmember Libby Schaaf (District Four) said that she was happy that the Mayor was more inclusive in her speech, but Quan failed to give the Council credit for it's role in many of the improvements in public safety she talked about. New Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney was more complementary of the Mayor, and said that she talked about the wineries and other businesses that made Oakland more fun to live in. Let's give Lynette a year and hear what she says in 2014; I'll bet she's more critical after a year at the helm in her district . Stay tuned.

Over at Zennie62, a California-based company called Immunotech Laboratories is announcing new R&D digs, and more updates on a new way to fight cancer. Visit: Immunotech Laboratories (IMMB): Revolutionary Cancer Treatment, New R&D Facilities #BeatCancer

For some reason, the driver of this car you see decided to do 80 MPH on Grand Av Thursday night.  According to sources, after hitting the pole at the median where it starts after Bay Pl, the driver got out of the vehicle and ran when a person tried to see if he needed help.    Stolen car, perhaps?

Radio Bar in Downtown Oakland, California on 13th St near Broadway has a wild happening where they set the bar on fire while a girl in a bikini dances on it - Thursday nights. It's one of those things you have to see to believe and will have you saying "pour me another one!"

Oakland crime - too much of it. We had the robbery of The 7-11 across from the Whole Foods Oakland Store on Valentine's Day night last week. Then... two homicides that Saturday (that we know about). Now.. An Oakland woman reports seeing not one, but two car break-ins this Wednesday morning - more detail below. Meanwhile Oakland Councilmembers Libby Schasf (District 4 - Oakland Hills) and Lynette Gibson McElhaney talk about the Oakland City Council's decision to pay the California Highway Patrol 162K for 60-days of service in the form of five cars of two officers each, and one supervisor sergeant - all twice a week for that period. Here's Councilmembers Libby Schasf (District 4 - Oakland Hills) and Lynette Gibson McElhaney: And on the car break-ins: This report popped up in an email to me from an Oakland Yahoo Group (I didn't detail it to protect the name of the person) this morning: Hi Neighbors - Unfortunate news to report this morning. There w

We welcome Kraig Debro, who's best known as the KTVU TV Reporter as recently as last January.

Beth Schnitzer is a masterful marketing and sponsorship professional, and friend of this video-blogger, who stepped down from her position as Vice President Of Strategic Alliances for Pier 39 in San Francisco, and to focus on her new company, Spritz Marketing. Beth has represented Pier 39 in her position for 12 years, and for two years before that, John Bosch, her predecessor, told Ms. Schnitzer he wanted her to have his position when he stepped down. In 2000, Bosch made good on his promise, and Beth took his place. Since then, and for 12 years, Beth has stewarded the growth of Pier 39 as a recognized leader in providing excellent value-added to its sponsors and vendors.: More about Beth and Spritz Interactive Marketing at Zennie62.com > Beth Schnitzer Leaves Pier 39 To Run Spritz Marketing SF

On Monday, the City of Oakland held a meeting on the Art Murmur - First Friday shooting that was the focus of this Zennie62 video: More at Zennie62: Art Murmur – First Friday Oakland Shooting Focus Of Monday Meeting

This is happening today at 3 PM: This Sunday afternoon, February 10th from 3-5 pm at Holy Names University, Oakland's nationally-renowned crime consultant Robert Wasserman will be leading a critical community dialogue about controlling crime in our great city. I hope you will join us there. We all care deeply about public safety and know that we, as a community, must engage in conversation and reach some common conclusions to move forward in making our city the safe place it deserves to be.  Holy Names University has generously offered to host this event in their beautiful Valley Theater for the Performing Arts. Holy Names is conveniently located right off the Hwy 13 Redwood Rd. exit, at 3500 Mountain Blvd. (served by the 54 Bus Line).  Robert Wasserman is the Chairman of the Strategic Policy Partnership, which assists public agencies with policing strategy development and performance improvement. He is the author of Guidance for Buildin

There's an online petition this blogger will not link to that wants smoking banned around Lake Merritt here in Oakland.  I'm not a smoker, but others lighting up a cigarette or cigar outdoors does not bother me; it should not bother anyone at all. That it does, and that an online petition to ban smoking around Lake Merritt, thus leading to one more reason for the police to write unnecessary tickets, is the best example of the almost insane levels of neurotic behavior that have been allowed to grow in the Oakland of the 20th Century. There's so much green space, so many trees, and so few smokers, that the only way this kind of idea could float to the place of civic recognition is via the mind of an unhappy soul.  This person must walk outside and rather than think happy thoughts, is obsessed with what they think others should or should not be doing. Such a person is but one step from madness. Oakland is already not a fun place to be.  We have people who have been wi

Who is the sexiest woman in Oakland? This space would saw Megan Avalon if she were still a personal trainer at what is now FitnessSF. That's a question that no person or publication has ever asked in the entire history of Oakland.  Think about it. When we think of Oakland, we are almost programmed to think of crime news or budget deficits, or police brutality.  But the sexiest woman in Oakland?  Someone would get angry for objectification of the female form. But considering who the sexiest woman in Oakland might be is a more mentally healthy and positive endeavor than thinking about the next shooting.  At the end of the day, what would come out of such a practice is that a lot of women would feel really good about being recognized for looking good. Oakland has never done that, and if we're to really change this city, we have to inject a more positive image into it.  That starts with how we look at each other. So, the question remains: who is the sexiest woman in

Christopher Jordan Dorner, who wrote this manifesto - Christopher Jordan Dorner: Uncensored Manifesto Of Ex-LAPD Officer, Cop Killer - and is accused of killing a couple in Irvine and police officers in Riverside, is waging a war against the LA Police Department. Christopher Dorner sent a page to CNN's Anderson Cooper, which contained references to a coin that was given to him by William Bratton. Bratton, now a consultant to the Oakland Police Department, was the LA Chief of Police at the time Dorner was an officer. Bratton told Cooper he didn't remember Dorner, even though there's a photo of the two of them together. Stay tuned.

There's a memorial planned for 18-year-old Kiante Campbell, who was murdered during last Friday night's Art Murmur Shooting .  The memorial will be held at The First Place For Youth at 1601 Telegraph Avenue at the corner of Telegraph and 16th Street in Downtown Oakland.  It starts at 5 PM and goes to 8 PM.   

Reports are that the Oakland Raiders plan to reduce seat numbers in the upper deck for the 2013 season.  That's an obvious ploy to make it reasonable to increase ticket prices, but if the Raiders don't put a winning team on the field, all of that seat manipulation will not matter. The Raiders real problems rest in its front office, which, under GM Reggie McKenzie, has not made the kind of moves that are expected of an organization that's supposed to be on a winning track. From firing Hue Jackson, to bringing in an unproven and inexperienced head coach in Dennis Allen, then breaking up the coaching staff after a terrible season,  McKenzie has the Raiders on a path to failure. Sadly.