Why is Oakland always in a budget crisis?

Good news about Oakland!

We spend a lot of time on this podcast covering Oakland's hardest problems. Today, we did something different — we asked our reporters to bring us something good.  Not feel-good fluff, but real progress and real people doing hard work to make Oakland better. In this episode:  * Oakland schools go phone-free this August in a rare moment of agreement * Deadly traffic crashes hit a multi-year low * Youth Radio reopens after two years dark * OPD inches toward the end of 23 years of federal oversight * Coliseum deal moves forward, possibly with more money on the table * Homelessness in Oakland drops for the first time in more than a decade Stories in this episode: Cellphone ban in Oakland public schools starts in August [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/26/cellphone-ban-in-oakland-public-schools-starts-in-august/] As school fights spread on social media, OUSD struggles to keep up [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/17/oakland-school-fights-social-media-ousd/] Oakland's roads are slowly getting safer [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/23/oaklands-roads-are-slowly-getting-safer/]  Youth Radio is back on the mic [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/24/youth-radio-is-back-on-the-mic/] Oakland police on track to exit federal oversight by September [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/26/opd-nsa-reforms-federal-oversight-police-court-hearing/] Oakland Coliseum sale to Black-led developer group inches forward [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/28/oakland-coliseum-sale-to-black-led-developer-group-inches-forward/] How hot is the Oakland Arena? A second bidder has emerged to buy it [https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/16/how-hot-is-the-oakland-arena-a-second-bidder-has-emerged-to-buy-it/] Homelessness drops 20% in Oakland, the first decline in years [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/19/oakland-pit-count-homeless-drop-20-percent/] 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].

Why is Oakland always in a budget crisis?

Fiscal cliff. Structural deficit. Unanticipated emergency. If you've lived in Oakland for any length of time, you've heard the warnings — firehouses closing, academies canceled, the biggest deficit ever — and then watched the city keep running anyway. So what's actually going on? City Hall reporter Eli Wolfe and housing and City Hall reporter Natalie Orenstein help untangle why Oakland lurches from one budget crisis to the next, why it never quite goes over the edge, and who absorbs the damage when it doesn't. Stories we reference in this episode: The structural deficit * Oakland's big budget crisis: what you need to know [https://oaklandside.org/2024/06/28/oakland-big-budget-crisis-what-you-need-to-know/] * In her first budget as mayor, Thao stares down Oakland's biggest deficit ever [https://oaklandside.org/2023/04/24/in-her-first-budget-as-mayor-thao-stares-down-oaklands-biggest-deficit-ever/] * Police and fire cuts may be needed to fix Oakland's longterm budget problems [https://oaklandside.org/2024/10/22/oakland-police-fire-budget-cuts-unavoidable-2024/] The "b" word * Oakland accidentally published a report saying the city could face bankruptcy [https://oaklandside.org/2024/11/18/oakland-accidentally-published-report-bankruptcy-2024/] Where the cuts land * Oakland budget cuts finalized on eve of big leadership changes [https://oaklandside.org/2024/12/18/oakland-budget-cuts-finalized-on-eve-of-big-leadership-changes-sheng-thao-2024/] * Oakland to cut $2.6M for youth, Meals on Wheels, and violence prevention [https://oaklandside.org/2025/01/31/oakland-contracts-cut-meals-on-wheels-violence-prevention-budget/] * Budget cuts devastated an Oakland public safety program. Now neighbors are scraping by [https://oaklandside.org/2026/03/05/neighborhood-councils-oakland-public-safety-crime/] The current moment * 'Nobody's Happy Budget': Oakland adopts $4.2 billion spending plan [https://oaklandside.org/2025/06/11/oakland-budget-adopted-illegal-dumping-police/] * At vague preview of Oakland budget, officials pledge no layoffs or service cuts [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/14/barbara-lee-budget-proposal-oakland-measure-e/] * How is Mayor Lee balancing Oakland's budget? [https://oaklandside.org/2026/05/19/how-is-mayor-lee-balancing-oaklands-budget/] Crime, the economy, and revenue * New report links crime to Oakland's budget crisis [https://oaklandside.org/2025/06/25/oakland-bay-area-council-economic-institute-report-public-safety-crime/] * Oakland made a big financial mistake failing to collect business taxes, audit finds [https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/02/oakland-business-tax-audit-collect-revenue/] 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 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].