Jaime Omar Yassin [TNH]
@hyphyrepublic.bsky.social
I'm @hyphy_republic on Twitter, aka The Oakland Observer, an Oakland journalist. Newsletter @ https://oakland-observer.ghost.io/ :One time contributions to the OO instead of subscription https://oakland-observer.ghost.io/#/portal/support
With such a constant focus on arguing for Flock, local media disdain actual real time investigations about whether it works. Take for example, the hi profile story about a horrible hit and run on 73rd by a speeding car in the bike lane. 6 Flock ALPRs, but no arrests?
November 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
With such a constant focus on arguing for Flock, local media disdain actual real time investigations about whether it works. Take for example, the hi profile story about a horrible hit and run on 73rd by a speeding car in the bike lane. 6 Flock ALPRs, but no arrests?
Just a note that at least one of the officers assigned to the "Real Time Operations Center", the nebulous delegation of OPD focused on acquiring and managing surveillance technology in charge of the Flock project is a board Director of the extremely political OPOA
November 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Just a note that at least one of the officers assigned to the "Real Time Operations Center", the nebulous delegation of OPD focused on acquiring and managing surveillance technology in charge of the Flock project is a board Director of the extremely political OPOA
Oakland People's Arms Embargo is stepping up the campaign to get Port Commission to ban weapons parts shipments that transit through the Oak airport to Israel for use in its genocidal war against Palestinians. Rally today at 3 ahead of 4pm public comment at Port.
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Oakland People's Arms Embargo is stepping up the campaign to get Port Commission to ban weapons parts shipments that transit through the Oak airport to Israel for use in its genocidal war against Palestinians. Rally today at 3 ahead of 4pm public comment at Port.
As reported weeks ago, the EAP is on its way back to Council on December 2nd. Worth noting, with months to respond to the redline version from state, and warning Oakland's likely to lose millions in funding in current version, there's no amendments from Houston or the D6 office.
November 20, 2025 at 5:24 PM
As reported weeks ago, the EAP is on its way back to Council on December 2nd. Worth noting, with months to respond to the redline version from state, and warning Oakland's likely to lose millions in funding in current version, there's no amendments from Houston or the D6 office.
An interesting reveal in suit is OPD's habit of bonding w/specific corps & foregoing bidding rules to maintain relationships--as it is now doing with Flock, so to Shotspotter in 2024. Ironically, OPD refused to put gunshot detection out for bid even tho Flock's Raven is cheaper
November 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
An interesting reveal in suit is OPD's habit of bonding w/specific corps & foregoing bidding rules to maintain relationships--as it is now doing with Flock, so to Shotspotter in 2024. Ironically, OPD refused to put gunshot detection out for bid even tho Flock's Raven is cheaper
Hofer's suit says that the only time OPD followed state law and settlement was during the brief months when OPD shut down its old ALPR system, after admitting it was useless, and before acquiring Flock
November 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Hofer's suit says that the only time OPD followed state law and settlement was during the brief months when OPD shut down its old ALPR system, after admitting it was useless, and before acquiring Flock
New: Brian Hofer/Secure Justice files suit to bar OPD from using ALPR. Suit alleges OPD has for years consistently violated local & state ALPR law, & existing settlement, by sharing data w/Fed, failing to monitor/prohibit unauthorized 3rd party use, & violating bidding process
November 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
New: Brian Hofer/Secure Justice files suit to bar OPD from using ALPR. Suit alleges OPD has for years consistently violated local & state ALPR law, & existing settlement, by sharing data w/Fed, failing to monitor/prohibit unauthorized 3rd party use, & violating bidding process
This is a list of the known jurisdictions that have cancelled Flock after recent revelations about the systems vulnerability to hacking and fed exploitation
November 18, 2025 at 12:33 AM
This is a list of the known jurisdictions that have cancelled Flock after recent revelations about the systems vulnerability to hacking and fed exploitation
A lot of organizations will represent tomorrow at Public Safety. actionnetwork.org/le...
November 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A lot of organizations will represent tomorrow at Public Safety. actionnetwork.org/le...
Tomorrow at 10am, APTP and other organizations will hold a rally to oppose OPD's expanded Flock proposal. The rally follows a letter signed by 38 organizations urging Council members and Mayor Lee to say no to Flock, a troubled, but growing, surveillance corporation
November 17, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Tomorrow at 10am, APTP and other organizations will hold a rally to oppose OPD's expanded Flock proposal. The rally follows a letter signed by 38 organizations urging Council members and Mayor Lee to say no to Flock, a troubled, but growing, surveillance corporation
The people who made Beam's murder a political referendum against electeds they love to hate should be ashamed. This is a purely national story, lack of resources for the mentally ill, a permissive view of, and low barrier to, guns.
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The people who made Beam's murder a political referendum against electeds they love to hate should be ashamed. This is a purely national story, lack of resources for the mentally ill, a permissive view of, and low barrier to, guns.
So far this initiative from CM Brown has flown under the wire, but seems significant. A) 4 pilot open alcohol areas [entertainment zones] in affluent districts, B) a nebulous AI buzz-word thing. The Oakland Fund For Public Innovation would get 1 MM GPF to oversee the programs
November 16, 2025 at 9:03 PM
So far this initiative from CM Brown has flown under the wire, but seems significant. A) 4 pilot open alcohol areas [entertainment zones] in affluent districts, B) a nebulous AI buzz-word thing. The Oakland Fund For Public Innovation would get 1 MM GPF to oversee the programs
I'm not a legal expert, but I think its truly bizarre to have a public record of a DA prosecutor helping the defense in an antagonistic exchange with the actual judge in open court. Even the completely invented charges against Price never approached this level of corruption
November 15, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I'm not a legal expert, but I think its truly bizarre to have a public record of a DA prosecutor helping the defense in an antagonistic exchange with the actual judge in open court. Even the completely invented charges against Price never approached this level of corruption
Grandmother of Stephen Taylor pointing out disturbing improper actions by office of DA Ursula Jones Dickson while case was in the AG's hands. UJD's office's attempt to collude with the defense for the SLPD officer who killed Stephen Taylor was denied today by the judge today.
November 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Grandmother of Stephen Taylor pointing out disturbing improper actions by office of DA Ursula Jones Dickson while case was in the AG's hands. UJD's office's attempt to collude with the defense for the SLPD officer who killed Stephen Taylor was denied today by the judge today.
In their presentation for Flock, OPD doesn't even bother trying to link the decline in homicides that began months before Flock ALPR was activated in Oakland to ALPR. It just sticks the data in there, hoping the fear of angering the OPOA will do the rest.
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In their presentation for Flock, OPD doesn't even bother trying to link the decline in homicides that began months before Flock ALPR was activated in Oakland to ALPR. It just sticks the data in there, hoping the fear of angering the OPOA will do the rest.
I don't see anything in the 8 MM dollar bail out for EBALDC that would require the org to pay the city back in the event of a sale of the troubled properties.
November 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I don't see anything in the 8 MM dollar bail out for EBALDC that would require the org to pay the city back in the event of a sale of the troubled properties.
Oaklandside needs ethics help in its public safety reporting. Here helping along the Oakland Report/Mandal slander about Commissioner Farmer which are provably false, then neglecting to mention Mandal/OR pushed the also provably false claims about OPD's pursuit policy Hofer rightly criticizes
November 13, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Oaklandside needs ethics help in its public safety reporting. Here helping along the Oakland Report/Mandal slander about Commissioner Farmer which are provably false, then neglecting to mention Mandal/OR pushed the also provably false claims about OPD's pursuit policy Hofer rightly criticizes
Good Fortune is disappointing, but recouped some of its potential with this conclusion, which is manifestly true. No one believes it more than standard capitalists, who wait for the govt to act to avoid rioting after they've taken the public for a ride. MAGA forgets at its peril.
November 12, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Good Fortune is disappointing, but recouped some of its potential with this conclusion, which is manifestly true. No one believes it more than standard capitalists, who wait for the govt to act to avoid rioting after they've taken the public for a ride. MAGA forgets at its peril.
Pro Socialism reporting at SF Business Times while regular folks wonder if they can afford groceries and thousands are laid off from a rapidly shrinking tech sector
November 12, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Pro Socialism reporting at SF Business Times while regular folks wonder if they can afford groceries and thousands are laid off from a rapidly shrinking tech sector
The Alameda Labor Council has endorsed the Oakland People's Arms Embargo at the Oakland airport!!!!
November 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The Alameda Labor Council has endorsed the Oakland People's Arms Embargo at the Oakland airport!!!!
But people should be very aware of what the State's ICH does agree with in the EAP changes. Vehicles would no longer be considered encampments, and they would be evaluated strictly on legal parking, operability and current registration. A move that's likely to increase homelessness, not decrease it
November 11, 2025 at 10:31 PM
But people should be very aware of what the State's ICH does agree with in the EAP changes. Vehicles would no longer be considered encampments, and they would be evaluated strictly on legal parking, operability and current registration. A move that's likely to increase homelessness, not decrease it
Redlined copy of CA ICH on "EAP" undermines the rationale of "abatement" view. Houston has promoted the EAP as a zero tolerance for Oakland encampments. But that's the opposite of state's POV on hi/lo sensitivity areas; the ICH says there MUST be a public place homeless can stay
November 11, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Redlined copy of CA ICH on "EAP" undermines the rationale of "abatement" view. Houston has promoted the EAP as a zero tolerance for Oakland encampments. But that's the opposite of state's POV on hi/lo sensitivity areas; the ICH says there MUST be a public place homeless can stay
Because of the Veteran's Day holiday next Tuesday, there's no Committee meetings scheduled, nor council meetings--altho as we've seen that could again change with very little notice. Next Committee mtgs scheduled for November 18
November 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Because of the Veteran's Day holiday next Tuesday, there's no Committee meetings scheduled, nor council meetings--altho as we've seen that could again change with very little notice. Next Committee mtgs scheduled for November 18
Oakland City Council will discuss the Insight and OBOT suits tomorrow in closed session
November 5, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Oakland City Council will discuss the Insight and OBOT suits tomorrow in closed session
Third consecutive OPD report listing zero homicides. Oakland is on track to have of its lowest homicide totals in a decades, with one of the lowest numbers of police in decades also. The how/why should be the number one focus of Public Safety Committee discussions and isn't.
November 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Third consecutive OPD report listing zero homicides. Oakland is on track to have of its lowest homicide totals in a decades, with one of the lowest numbers of police in decades also. The how/why should be the number one focus of Public Safety Committee discussions and isn't.