Oakland Voices

Former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle was sentenced to two years maximum today for killing Oscar Grant III. Mehserle will receive 10 months off of that sentence for time served, and he may end up spending just 70 more days in state prison. Follow us at twitter.com/OaklandVoices for coverage from the streets of Oakland & the courthouse in LA.

By Christopher Johnson, Oakland Voices Project Coordinator (From The Oakland Tribune – Posted 10.29.2010) “Mama once told her youngest brother he was ‘found by grandpa at the poker game.’” Mama is 90-year-old Ruth Dennis —

By Brian Beveridge OAKLAND, CA – It is generally held that Oakland has a professional baseball team. It is called the Oakland A’s. Players wear green and yellow uniforms and they play ball in a Coliseum.

By Tyrese Johnson OAKLAND, CA – “West Oakland residents need resources that are free,” asserted Liz Derias, formerly of  the youth advocacy group Leadership Excellence. In 2008, the City of Oakland enlisted Derias’ help. She led

DIARY OF A FIEND: A FAST-FOOD JUNKIE KICKS THE HABIT
By Dawneka Akins
This entry is part of my 31-day journey giving up some of the unhealthy eating habits I’ve had for most of my life. Fast food is everywhere – on every corner, on TV, and on huge billboards all over the city. For me, eating well with a low income, no car, and limited time is difficult. Dodging bad food – all I’ve known for 21 years – has become one of the biggest challenges of my life.

DIARY OF A FIEND: A FAST-FOOD JUNKIE KICKS THE HABIT
By Dawneka Akins
This entry is part of my 31-day journey giving up some of the unhealthy eating habits I’ve had for most of my life. Fast food is everywhere – on every corner, on TV, and on huge billboards all over the city. For me, eating well with a low income, no car, and limited time is difficult. Dodging bad food – all I’ve known for 21 years – has become one of the biggest challenges of my life.

By Oakland Voices Contributor Cameron Wilson OAKLAND, CA – The bus ride from downtown Oakland to Oak Center is never monotonous.  There is always something different to see, from the changing seasons to people going

By Oakland Voices contributor Sultanah Corbett OAKLAND, CA – Pot, purple, cheeba, iz – Oakland’s recreational users have lots of names for marijuana. If Proposition 19 – or, as some advocates call it, The Regulate

(Also printed in The Oakland Tribune) By Adimu Madyun OAKLAND, CA — On New Years Eve 2008, Jack Bryson warned his two sons and their friends to stay out of San Francisco. “I was worried

DIARY OF A FIEND: A FAST-FOOD JUNKIE KICKS THE HABIT
By Dawneka Akins
This entry is part of my 31-day journey giving up some of the unhealthy eating habits I’ve had for most of my life. Fast food is everywhere – on every corner, on TV, and on huge billboards all over the city. For me, eating well with a low income, no car, and limited time is difficult. Dodging bad food – all I’ve known for 21 years – has become one of the biggest challenges of my life.