Oakland First Fridays fights for its future

Oakland First Fridays fights for its future

For 20 years, Oakland First Fridays has turned a stretch of Telegraph Avenue into a monthly street festival. Now organizers say a false media narrative, one that ties off-site, late-night violence to the event, has driven away sponsors and put the festival's future in doubt.  Arts and community reporter Azucena Rasilla and public safety reporter Roselyn Romero join us to explain what's happening, why the blame is misplaced, and what it would take to keep First Fridays going. Plus:  * Oakland's new "nobody's crazy budget" * a private foundation's $9 million to fight illegal dumping * Oakland Unified's remaining budget gap and a commitment to keep violence-intervention teams in schools * Mia Bonta's pushback on a Trump-funded coal terminal; a rare occult book collection that needs a new home * a ride-along with Oakland Animal Control * an Oakland nonprofit's James Beard-honored work on prison food * and your guide to celebrating Juneteenth. Stories we cover in this episode: First Fridays * First Fridays at risk as sponsors pull out amid false links to violence [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/15/oakland-first-fridays-uncertain-future-lack-of-funding/] * False media narratives threaten Oakland's First Fridays, say organizers [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/18/oakland-first-fridays-safety-narratives-violence/] City Hall * 'Nobody's crazy budget' avoids layoffs and includes film incentives, shelter beds, and illegal dumping crews [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/15/nobodys-crazy-budget-avoids-layoffs-and-includes-film-incentives-shelter-beds-and-illegal-dumping-crews/] * SF tech investor pours $9M into illegal dumping fight in Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/11/illegal-dumping-crankstart-foundation-grant-oakland/] Education * OUSD cut its deficit by two-thirds, but a $38M gap remains [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/11/ousd-cuts-deficit-two-thirds-38-million-gap-remains/] * OUSD commits to violence intervention in Oakland schools next year [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/15/oakland-schools-violence-prevention-funding-proposals/] Health and environment * Mia Bonta wants a planned coal terminal in West Oakland to face more environmental scrutiny [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/16/mia-bonta-wants-a-planned-coal-terminal-in-west-oakland-to-face-more-environmental-scrutiny/] Housing and homelessness * 13,000 rare occult books for sale: Inside the home of a bookseller facing eviction in Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/15/pratum-eviction-occult-books-for-sale-oakland/] Arts and community * A day with Oakland Animal Control is as wild as the animals they help [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/11/oakland-animal-control-ride-along/] Nosh * How an Oakland organization became a national force for better prison meals [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/10/eating-behind-bars-prison-food-impact-justice/] Things to do * How to celebrate Juneteenth in Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/15/juneteenth-oakland-events-prescott-market-omca-ballers/] Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org [http://oaklandside.org]. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org [editors@oaklandside.org].

Oakland's World Cup moment — and the Mount Rushmore of Oakland sports

The Australian men's national soccer team — the Socceroos — are calling Oakland home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, training at the Oakland Roots and Soul facility in Alameda. Oaklandside freelance sports reporter Anne Marks tells us what that means for the city, how Oakland is welcoming fans from around the world, and what local restaurants are doing to celebrate. Then: who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Oakland sports? Anne asked mayors, coaches, journalists, team executives, and historians — and got some great answers and some great arguments. Plus: Barbara Lee launches her re-election campaign, new data on Oakland's Flock surveillance cameras, a deadly crash in Fruitvale, turmoil at a homeless services nonprofit, Oakland Carnival, and new food openings. Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org [https://oaklandside.org]. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org [editors@oaklandside.org].

Measure E looks set to fail. What that means for Oakland politics

Oakland voters appear to have rejected Measure E, the $192 parcel tax that city leaders and unions had counted on to fund police, fire, homelessness services, and illegal dumping cleanup.  We break down what happened, what it means for the city budget, and what it signals heading into the November election.  Plus: Remembering Wilson Riles Jr., the 580 truck ban, cell phones and girls sports in OUSD, Sable Lounge opens, and more. News editor Darwin BondGraham joins host Tasneem Raja. Stories we cover in this episode: Measure E * Measure E looks set to fail. What does that mean for Oakland politics? [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/03/measure-e-looks-set-to-fail-what-does-that-mean-for-oakland-politics/]  * Measure E: Oakland voters are being asked to approve a new parcel tax [https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/27/measure-e-oakland-parcel-tax-public-safety/] * Oakland Measure E: Early results show voters skeptical of parcel tax [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/02/primary-election-results-oakland-ballot-measures/]  Other stories in this episode: Community * Wilson Riles Jr., Oakland councilmember and activist, dies at 79 [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/01/obituary-wilson-riles-jr/] Education * Oakland Unified moves toward districtwide cell phone ban [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/01/oakland-public-schools-phone-ban-july-1/] * How Oakland Unified's girls sports programs came back from the brink [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/29/more-girls-are-playing-sports-at-ousd-than-ever-it-took-a-title-ix-fight-to-get-here/] Transportation * Caltrans studies lifting decades-old big rig ban on I-580 [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/29/truck-ban-i-580-could-end-oakland-caltrans-opposition/] Health * Rep. Lateefah Simon secures $1 million for pediatric cancer research at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/03/lateefah-simon-ucsf-1-million-dollars-federal-funds-cancer-research/] Nosh * Sable Lounge opens in Grand Lake [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/03/sable-lounge-grand-lake-merritt/] Upcoming events [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/02/oakland-events-things-to-do-june-3-to-7/] and sports games [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/29/28-sports-events-to-catch-in-june-oakland-calendar/] we discuss: * Oakland Carnival: the 12th annual celebration of the African diaspora, with drummers, dancers, live music, and food * Oakland Spiders, Saturday, June 6 at Fremont High School * Free Prince tribute DJ set, Saturday night at Moonglow on Telegraph Avenue. Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org [https://oaklandside.org]. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org [editors@oaklandside.org].

Oakland goes to the movies

Mayor Barbara Lee's proposed budget includes restoring a $250,000 film rebate program — a small but meaningful step toward making Oakland a filmmaking hub.  Arts reporter Azucena Rasilla explains what it would take to get more films made in Oakland, and why local filmmakers are cautiously optimistic. Plus: Oakland's speed cameras have issued 82,000 fines in their first 40 days, San Francisco police smash down the door of Elaine Brown's West Oakland building, rescue dogs sent from Oakland to a Humboldt County shelter were allegedly killed, and Art Murmur celebrates its 20th anniversary. Stories we cover in this episode: Film * Why more filmmakers could soon be eyeing Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/27/tax-incentives-for-oakland-filmmakers-mayor-proposed-budget/] * Boots Riley's raucous 'I Love Boosters' premieres in Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/29/oakland-i-love-boosters-boots-riley-grand-lake-movie-premiere/] * 3 Oakland artists picked for this year's Rainin Arts Fellowship [https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/27/rainin-foundation-grants-oakland-artists/] * Oakland Paramount Theatre's classic movie screenings are back! [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/08/oakland-paramount-theatre-classic-movie-screenings/] Road safety * Oakland speed cameras: 82,000 fines in 40 days [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/26/oakland-speed-cameras-82000-fines-in-40-days/] Public safety * SFPD smashes down door of Elaine Brown's West Oakland building in robbery search [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/22/sfpd-elaine-brown-black-panther-west-oakland/] City Hall * Rescue dogs from Oakland allegedly killed at shelter in Humboldt County [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/22/mirandas-rescue-shelter-humboldt-county-investigation-oakland-dogs-killed/] Sports and food * The Athletic Club is back with a new team betting on Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/27/athletic-club-sports-bar-uptown-new-ownership/] Upcoming events * Art Murmur 20th Anniversary [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/26/oakland-events-things-to-do-may-28-to-31-2/] Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org [http://oaklandside.org]. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org

Oakland's city administrator resigns after Oaklandside reporting on his texts

Oaklandside's reporting directly led to a major shake-up at City Hall: the resignation of Oakland's city administrator, one of the most powerful figures in the city. City Hall reporters Eli Wolfe and Natalie Orenstein explain who Jestin Johnson is, what the city administrator does, how The Oaklandside obtained the text messages that forced his resignation, and what this means for Oakland. Plus: three people are killed in a devastating East Oakland crash, First Fridays faces a funding crisis, AI use in Oakland schools is a "Wild West," AC Transit ridership rises as gas prices spike, Oakland's Planning Commission keeps canceling meetings (and why that might be a good thing), and a new barbecue spot is drawing lines before it even opens. Stories we cover in this episode: City Hall * City administrator Jestin Johnson resigns after Oaklandside reports on troubling texts [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/17/jestin-johnson-resigns-oakland-texts/] * Oakland city officials privately cheered Supreme Court ruling on homeless encampments [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/18/grants-pass-oakland-text-messages-marshawn-lynch/] Public safety * Three killed in East Oakland crash at International Boulevard and 85th Avenue [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/18/east-oakland-fatal-crash-international-boulevard/] Arts and culture * Oakland First Fridays faces funding crisis  [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/15/oakland-first-fridays-uncertain-future-lack-of-funding/] Education * AI in Oakland schools: a policy in progress, a "Wild West" in classrooms [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/18/oakland-ousd-artificial-intelligence-policy/] Transit * AC Transit sees first sustained ridership increase this decade as gas prices top $6 [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/18/oaklanders-are-flocking-to-hybrids-and-buses-are-gas-prices-driving-a-shift/] Housing and development * Oakland Planning Commission keeps canceling meetings — and that may signal progress [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/19/oakland-planning-commission-canceled-housing-streamlining/] Food * Saints Smokehouse brings smoked brisket and serious buzz to downtown Oakland [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/13/saints-smokehouse-bbq-rashad-armstead-chopped/] Find all these stories and more at oaklandside.org [http://oaklandside.org]. Have feedback or story ideas? Email us at editors@oaklandside.org [editors@oaklandside.org].