In the crowd assembled last night at Occupy Oakland was a group of 6 or 8 strong no-nonsense guys, some wearing shirts with City of Oakland shoulder patches and "facilities management" embroidered on the pocket. They said they were Oakland union workers there to support the protest, unofficially of course. The picture's angle conceals their faces just in case anyone is inclined to give them grief.

Page One

New: Oakland Mayor, Chief, Don't Plan to Dislodge Protest Now

By Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN)

Saturday October 29, 2011 - 11:25:00 AM

Occupy Oakland protesters are again pitching tents in the plaza in front of Oakland City Hall but Mayor Jean Quan and police Chief Howard Jordan said yesterday that they don't have any plans to remove the tents or the protesters at this time. -more-

New: Is Occupy Berkeley on a Collision Course With Berkeley? (News Analysis)

By Ted Friedman

Friday October 28, 2011 - 04:41:00 PM

Jim Hynes delivering directives, Monday, banning much of what was happening at Occupy Berkeley

Is Occupy Berkeley—Berkeley branch of the international anti-Wall Street movement—on a collision course with the city it occupies? -more-

The Oakland Commune and the Planned General Strike (News Analysis)

By Steve Martinot

Thursday October 27, 2011 - 08:02:00 AM

It is 11 pm on Wednesday night, 10/27/2011, and I just got back from the most amazing meeting I have ever been to in my life. It was held at the scene of Monday's carnage in Oakland where the Oakland cops crushed one of the most amazing demonstrations I have ever encountered.

For those of you who didn't get a chance to get down to the OccupyOakland encampment, it was astonishing. The people there had set up a village. There was a kitchen, a restaurant, a café, a library, a first aid station, and an art department, and all of this surrounded by well over 150 tents set up on the grassy area of the plaza. They had water and sanitary facilities (provided by the OEA), a calender, and many really interesting meetings. The cops attacked Monday night around 3 in the morning, and demolished it.

I won't waste my breath trying to explain that there was no reason to do this. The attack is estimated to cost between 3 and 5 million dollars, where a couple of thousand would have maintained sanitation, and provided a few social workers to help smooth over the inevitable conflicts that occur in small spaces across class, across ideology, and across levels of sobriety, especially among people already living on the edge because of their unneutralizable marginalization at the property interests's hands. -more-

Public Comment

Press Release: Barbara Lee Comments on Occupy Oakland

Thursday October 27, 2011 - 10:15:00 AM

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on Occupy Oakland:

“I shared my outrage and grave concern about the police brutality in Oakland directly with the Mayor. My thoughts go out to the injured and especially Scott Olsen. I strongly support the occupy movement and continue to stand with the peaceful protesters in this struggle for economic justice and equality.” -more-

Editorial

The City Council and the School District Play Fast and Loose with Public Funds in Berkeley

By Becky O'Malley

Monday October 24, 2011 - 10:51:00 PM

While no one’s paying much attention, a substantial part of the last remaining open space in flatlands Berkeley is being reconfigured by the Berkeley Unified School District in collusion with bureaucrats working for the City of Berkeley. There has been almost no meaningful public discussion either of the goals of planned lavish and well-funded building projects or of the schedule for carrying them out. -more-

Arts & Events

Ira Marlowe's World-Record Halloween Songathon

By Gar Smith

Thursday October 27, 2011 - 10:17:00 AM

Bay Area singer-songwriter Ira Marlowe is within days of pulling off a truly tricky treat. Since the first day of October, Marlowe has been posting a new, original and ghoulishly gleeful song for each and every day leading up to Halloween. Anyone can tune in for free. You just need to "friend" him on Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/ira.marlowe) If you need another infusion of Marlowe's macabre melodies after this first bite, you're in luck: he's got two live performances scheduled for the next week (see below). -more-

Back Stories

Opinion

Supporting the Occupy Movement By Victoria Q. Legg 10-26-2011

Why Were Berkeley Police Involved in Evicting Occupy Oakland? By Barbara F Barbour 10-26-2011

Press Release: California Nurses Condemn Mayor Quan's Raid on Occupy Oakland 10-26-2011

Letters to the Editor 10-25-2011

Press Release: NLG Demands Immediate Release of Occupy Oakland Arrestees Contacts: Rachel Lederman 415-350-6496 Michael Flynn 510-866-4981 Carlos Villarreal 415-377-6961 10-25-2011

The Clown with the Broken Leg By Carol Denney 10-25-2011

Letters 10-22-2011

Possible New Council Chambers By Councilmembers Jesse Arreguin and Kriss Worthington 10-22-2011

Two Haiku for Yemen By Gar Smith 10-22-2011