Hallie Applebaum

Oct 16, 2023 | oaklandnorth.net | Hallie Applebaum |Cecil Egbele

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Wednesday that allows churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious organizations along with nonprofit colleges to build affordable housing on their properties. The bill, SB4, introduced by State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, allows religious organizations to build housing without conducting environmental reviews, receiving approval from local governments or requesting zoning changes.

Oct 16, 2023 | oaklandnorth.net | Chris Lee |Hallie Applebaum

The editors at Street Spirit, an East Bay newspaper focused on homelessness, are nearly halfway to meeting their fundraising goal to revive the shuttered newspaper. Bradley Penner, the newest editor of Street Spirit, and Alastair Boone, its outgoing editor, are working on a long-term funding plan for the paper once they secure enough money to relaunch in January. So far, they’ve raised $100,000 of their $250,000 goal through private donations.

Oct 15, 2023 | oaklandnorth.net | Nicole J. Caruth |Hallie Applebaum

Oakland City Council recently approved the city’s first Environment Justice Element to address pollution, health food access and other health risks over the next two decades. But many of the recommendations Oakland residents put forth were ignored, some community leaders say.  City Council approved the 222-page Environmental Justice Element last month as part of the city’s 2045 General Plan.