News

Oakland Animal Services, which runs the City’s animal shelter, is at capacity for dogs and has announced extended hours and reduced fees to increase adoptions.

Beginning Monday, May 16, festival organizers may apply for grants from the City of Oakland’s Neighborhood Voices for Festivals program for next year: 2022-23. Applicants must be Oakland-based nonprofits and all festival activities must be presented in Oakland between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

The City of Oakland has released a draft set of Downtown Oakland Specific Plan (DOSP) Zoning Amendments designed to encourage affordable housing, support arts and culture, promote transit, encourage economic opportunity, enhance green spaces, and protect historic areas.

The City of Oakland has been awarded $14.8 million of Homekey funding to acquire and convert the Piedmont Place motel into housing that will address the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors.

Oakland City Administrator Ed Reiskin today announced the appointment of Mr. Anton “Tony” Batalla as the City’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective May 2.

From May 1 to 7, 2022, Oakland will celebrate Small Business Week with more than a dozen virtual and in-person workshops and other activities for small business owners and entrepreneurs. See the full schedule and registration links at www.oaklandca.gov/SBW.

Housing & Community Development (HCD) Director Shola Olatoye today announced she has enhanced her leadership bench by creating two deputy director positions focused on the department’s core functions: housing and community development.

Through April 22, 2022, the Oakland Workforce Development Board (OWDB) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide adult and/or youth and young adult career services to help individuals gain skills, credentials, and employment while helping businesses connect with a qualified workforce. 

On March 15, the Oakland City Council passed a series of Ordinances to make the Flex Street Initiative a permanent option for businesses to use outdoor public rights-of-way. The existing permit programs will remain mostly unchanged and free through July 2023.

Following a call for qualifications in November, the Cultural Strategists-in-Government (CSIG) Program has announced the initial cohort of artists and cultural practitioners who will bring new perspectives and creative thinking to help City staff address some of Oakland’s greatest problems together with the City’s diverse communities. Four Strategists have been selected, and the application deadline for six additional project slots has been extended to Monday, February 28, at 5 p.m.