From the Lafayette PD facebook page link:

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at about 11:15 AM, Orinda police responded to a reported auto burglary where suspects in an Acura RDX stole tools from a work truck. The Acura was linked to auto burglaries in Lafayette, Orinda, and the Alamo area in the past few weeks. At about 11:45, a Lafayette police officer located the vehicle in a residential area in Lafayette. The Acura fled from the officer and a pursuit was initiated. It was terminated when the suspect vehicle drove westbound in the eastbound HWY 24 onramp at Acalanes Road. An area check was conducted but the Acura was not located. Minutes later, Lafayette police were dispatched to a grand theft of tools from a construction worker's vehicle.
A CHP helicopter later located the Acura driving recklessly on Oakland streets before it parked in front of a home on the 7200 block of Fresno Street in Oakland. The occupants of the vehicle entered a property. Oakland police were able to take both suspects into custody without incident. A search of the Acura resulted in the recovery of stolen property from the auto burglaries that happened in Lafayette and Orinda yesterday. Officers conducted a search of the property finding additional evidence. The suspects, who were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, are identified as: 23-Year-old Joel Hernandez-Lobatos of Oakland He was booked on the following charges: grand theft, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, and drug possession. He is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail. 31-year-old Urubiel Hernandez-Lobatos of Oakland He was booked on the following charges: grand theft, conspiracy, felony evading, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in lieu of $85,000 bail.

Just got approved for an apartment in the neighborhood with my partner. Just wondering how’s the neighborhood and what grocery stores do yall go to?

https://sfstandard.com/2026/10/14/one-can-smoke-much-pot-who-viral-joint-smoking-muni-bus-driver/

Paywall bypass: https://archive.li/Fn8BG

Oakland is a diverse community. For all of us to get along, Oaklanders learn about other cultures in school, activities, and workplaces.

For Chinese, we often say "have you eaten yet"? Even if the words aren't said, food and drink will come out for visitors, adult children or anyone who drops by. When I entertain, I need to work sure there's an abundance of food. The worst faux pas is for people to leave my house hungry.

Please share from your own background. Any disrespect or criticizing other cultures may lead to comment removal.

Questions are allowed to other cultures if made in good faith.

So what slang or tradition can you share so that others can get a peek inside your cultural background?

Get cozy this fall with Skip the Small Talk - it’s a chill, sincere event focused on connection! We will be at Fluid510 in Oakland!

It’s a guided conversation event—think speed-friending vibes, but calmer and more intentional. 

You rotate through short conversations with prompts that skip past surface-level small talk. It’s structured enough to make it easy, but relaxed enough to feel natural.

Most people come alone. The crowd tends to be thoughtful, open, and just… normal humans who want more community.

Here’s the link if you’re curious:

• Sat, 10/24 - https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-fluid510-saturday-october-24-2026 

October 13th, it turns out, is the date when the sun sets almost perfectly over Alcatraz and between the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge when viewed from the Oakland hills.

We were fortunate that Karl took the night off.

Got a text from PG&E that we may lose power for 2 days because of winds. 2 days. WTF. Groceries, kids, WFH, night, life…

Can someone tell me why there are so many tents around the lake now? I know it’s always been an ongoing situation but now there seems to a lot more along Lakeshore and a big encampment near the veterans hall. Didn’t they say they were going to stop this?

Edit:

Supposedly Amauri Collins-McMurray is the person to contact. They are the “ Deputy Chief, Office of Homelessness Solutions”

Email: ACollinsMcMurray@oaklandca.gov
Phone: 510-238-2105

Maybe if they get enough calls and email about it we can see at least a temporary cleanup

I don't understand why everyone keeps voting for tax increases and then get surprised when the money is mismanaged or not spent the way it was promised. It is like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Vote for the transit tax and put your trust in politicians doing the right thing, then get upset when the money is not spent how they said.

Will you be shocked and upset if the money is not spent as promised or mismanaged?

Anyone now why there are lots of sirens blaring? Wed. 8:35am

this is for the lady who’s dog was attacked by two black bullmastiffs- first i’m so sorry you had to witness that. i watched the whole entire event unfold. i wanted to console you but i also wanted to get a picture and or video of the shitty dog owner so i ran leaving you in the hands of another witness. i do have a video of him and his truck that i will more than willingly pass along.

please keep safe out there. and also shout out to the other good souls that showed compassion in this horrible situation …. keep doing the right thing.

"Former Oakland mayor Sheng Thao is on trial for corruption and bribery in a pay-to-play scheme with Oakland's recycling contractor, California Waste Solutions. Thao was recalled by Oakland voters in 2025; current mayor Barbara Lee was elected to in her place to fill the remainder of her term."

https://oaklandreport.news/x/h-oakland-former-mayor-sheng-thao-corruption-trial-jury-selection-begins-today

2nd time asking, hoping for maybe more traction.

Since 2020, I've been doing election monitoring. It feels good to do something to keep elections safe & to prevent voter intimidation & electioneering.

However, it sometimes feels kinda like a "feel-good" public service. I've been to Concord, SF, etc. Polling places in the greater bay area are generally fine. People that might be breaking any rules are generally not doing it on purpose or maliciously.

This year, I was planning on doing the same. But I feel like I want to do more. I tried to find organizations where I could sign up to drive people to polling places.

Rideshare2Vote does NOT have any California opportunities listed. I am having a hard time finding any place to offer my time & vehicle.

I have heard that churches have often organized rideshares. But I'm atheist. I would be happy to drive folks, but I just don't go to church & have no connection to one.

Does anyone have any resources on where I might be able to offer my services? 99% of my friends vote by mail or drop their ballots off. None of them need rides, lol.

But I know some folks are really into going to the polls on election day & I am here for it even if I had dropped off my ballot long before.

PLEASE SHARE OPPORTUNITIES IF YOU KNOW OF ANY! I KNOW OTHER FOLKS WHO WOULD LOVE TO DO THIS!

Hey everyone! I think I dropped my keys in a Bart car this morning just as it arrived at the West Oakland station. Orange carabiner and one key has a blue grip on it. I'm putting my faith in the community! Please dm me if you have any clues!! Thanks

Hey all, I'm moving into a room in the Seminary neighborhood this week, around 62nd Ave. I grew up in San Pablo and mostly stuck to the Pinole/Richmond/El Cerrito area, so I don't really know Oakland at all.

I work evenings, so I'll usually be getting home late at night. For anyone who lives or has lived around here:

Realistically, how bad is the violence around here, especially at night? Any blocks or corners to avoid?

Any good spots nearby? Gyms, barbershops, grocery stores, etc.

Appreciate any honest takes, good or bad. Thanks!

We’ve been reporting the encampment on 7th Street, wrapping around onto Gerry Adams Way in Oakland, since 2023. After three years of reports, we’re incredibly frustrated by the lack of meaningful action from the city.
The attached photos show what it looks like today. It has grown substantially and is now directly up against residential properties.

There are also abandoned cars, and street parking is increasingly limited, particularly at night.
There have been incidents involving individuals breaking into mailboxes and attempting to enter a residential home. A couple of months ago, an older woman living down the street had her entire yard taken over. I can’t confirm whether the individuals involved in each incident live in the encampment, but these are serious concerns that residents in the area are dealing with.

There have also been multiple fires at this location, with the fire department responding many times. Meanwhile, the encampment keeps getting bigger and closer to people’s homes. Residents are worried that another fire could ignite a fence and spread to the neighbouring houses. People could lose their homes, and lives could be at risk. How much worse does this need to get before the city takes meaningful action?

We’ve submitted numerous 311 reports, contacted city officials, and had MACRO come out many times. Reports have been marked closed even though the encampment remains. Despite repeated outreach, we still haven’t received a clear plan or timeline for addressing it.
I recognise that the people living there need support and somewhere to go. At the same time, residents deserve safe access to their homes, secure mailboxes, and a meaningful response to repeated reports of fires and other safety concerns.

Has anyone in Oakland successfully got the city to address a persistent encampment next to residential properties? What actually helped? Is there a department, escalation process, or community organisation we should contact beyond 311, MACRO, and the local councilmember?

When is the city going to address this, and what can residents do to get an actual response? Being told a report is “closed” when the situation remains unresolved is exhausting.

"The claim that BART has not reduced service is false. BART is running 20 trains an hour through the Transbay Tube at peak rush hour service, which is 17% lower than back in 2019. BART has reduced service on all lines except the Y-Antioch line for efficiency. When 9 and 10-car trains were the default train length back in 2019 at rush hour, today, it’s closer to 6-cars for most of the peak hour service. The reason BART service appears higher than 2020 is simply because the G-Fremont line extended into the South Bay after 2020, and South Bay train service is paid for by the South Bay’s transit agency VTA.

The claim that BART has not cut costs is also false. BART has actually reduced operational spending by $516 million since 2020 and capital spending by $549 million. BART refused to hire more staff and cancelled service improvements. Operational expenses at similar levels as they were six years ago is proof of the cost-cutting measures. BART is the 7th most cost-effective passenger rail system in the country."

It's a very busy week! https://oakland-review-of-books.ghost.io/ghost/#/editor/post/6ace43b703465200011c5eca

We added some more specificity to East Oakland neighborhoods thanks to some helpful feedback from readers last week!

Since half of the internet doesn’t believe it’s in Oakland.

Hi all! I’m a 30-year-old woman who’s lived in the Bay Area on and off for the last 15 years. I have a lot of great individual friends, but since grad school I haven’t had a real group of friends, and I miss that a lot.

I’ve tried bringing my friends together. They like each other, but they don’t really click as a group. So I’m hoping to meet people and build something from scratch.

Any advice on how to do that here?

I am newish to Oakland and moved her a few months ago. I need a new dentist and am looking to schedule my bi-annual cleaning. It's so hard to find one that seems right! At first I went for a quick visit to Timothy Han DDS in Chinatown. He was the only employee for his business (receptionist, dentist, etc.) and the place was pretty dingy with an even dirtier outside exterior. It felt off putting while there so it not sure I'll go back. Then I found Grand Lake Dental and Won-Jo Lee DDS by Adam's Point which is close to me. But I see mixed reviews there too about them trying to get customers to spend money on needless procedures. It feels like buying a car where everyone is out to screw you over. I have a PPO with Cigna, can someone help! I just want a dentist that is honest, good at what they do, and not trying to just collect money from you.