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I hate to write this, but if someone comes to me at Strada like the way this person did they're off to jail. What's so bad is that others allowed this to happen. I know we're not supposed to fight back, but -- why? Why not? I mean if someone's going to come up to me and try to take my business possessions, why can't I fight them? Crime wave targeting Cal students Armed robber snatches 6 laptops in one of many brazen offenses By Doug Oakley, STAFF WRITER Article Last Updated: 09/13/2007 08:38:54 AM PDT Click photo to enlargeAlison Duncan Kerr, right, works with her back against the wall at Cafe Strada across from UC...«123»University of California, Berkeley, students are being kicked, punched and robbed at gunpoint in an alarming wave of violent crime on and around campus. Armed robberies on campus and in the nearby neighborhood usually increase at the start of the school year, according to police. But this year, the number of robberies has gone way up since sch

Phil Tagami , developer of The Rotunda Building and The Fox Theater, and always interested in the new and innovative, has embarked on something very new media, and that's because it's new media. It's called "Tagami Vision" and is less an expression of his point of view and more a presentation of what others -- including me -- think of Oakland. Phil started dabbling in video-blogging at the behest of his brother Ted Tagami, who's established a great reputation in buying ads for new media companies. Ted, like myself, has a video channel on Blip.tv and had Phil start his own channel . But that idea and channel have morphed into the high quality presentation that is Tagami Vision . Tagami Vision has District Attorney Tom Orloff, Oakland City Attorney John Russo, and others as guests and more people in the future. It's only a matter of time before it becomes appointment Internet viewing. It's that good.

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

Oakland journalist shot dead in street Motive not known in slaying of Post editor By Harry Harris and Angela Hill, STAFF WRITERS Article Last Updated: 08/03/2007 07:33:11 AM PDT Unidentified mourners observe a moment of prayer at the spot where Oakland Post editor Chauncey... OAKLAND — In what police called a targeted killing, longtime Bay Area journalist Chauncey Bailey was ambushed and fatally shot Thursday morning at 14th and Alice streets in downtown as he walked to the Oakland Post, where he recently had been named editor. Investigators so far have only a vague description of the gunman and no motive in the shooting. "We have not ruled out anything, including whether it was work-related or a personal dispute," said Oakland homicide Sgt. Derwin Longmire. "But this was no random act. He was the target of a deliberate murder." About 7:25 a.m., Bailey, 57, a former Oakland Tribune reporter, was walking to work from an apartment where he had recently been living nea

I am in the process of uploading a video question for the CNN YouTube Debates and all of a sudden the whole place shook violently for about five seconds, which really seemed like an long time. Maybe it was a "4" on the Richter Scale? The Earthquake website had a ? by it which means the size of this things' not yet known. I'm sitting here wondering if the earth's going to shake again. I hope not, but you never know... Ok. It came in as a 4.2 quake. Here's the information: Magnitude 4.2 - regional moment magnitude (Mw) Time Friday, July 20, 2007 at 4:42:22 AM (PDT) Friday, July 20, 2007 at 11:42:22 (UTC) Distance from Oakland, CA - 4 km (2 miles) ENE (69 degrees) Piedmont, CA - 4 km (3 miles) ESE (113 degrees) Moraga, CA - 7 km (4 miles) SW (234 degrees) Alameda, CA - 8 km (5 miles) NE (51 degrees) Coordinates 37 deg. 48.4 min. N (37.807N), 122 deg. 11.3 min. W (122.188W) Depth 5.8 km (3.6 miles) Location Quality Excellent Location Quality Parameters Ns