Zoe Corneli's blog

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Last week, Service Employee International Union members and immigrant rights advocates gathered in front of federal immigration offices in Oakland and took out their cell phones. In unison, they dialed the Department of Homeland Security public mailbox line to lodge complaints about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s enforcement activities.

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In February, we reported that a local budget deficit had forced the Newark Senior Center to close. Nearly all of the drop-in center's staff members were laid off, and the bingo boards and card tables were moved to a smaller space, formerly reserved for teens, in Newark's recreation center. 



It’s been a couple months since the seniors moved in with the teenagers and so far, everyone seems to be adjusting. 

Protesters gather at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. Photo by Chris Hoff.

As part of the March 4 "Day of Action" to protest budget cuts to education, demonstrators are converging on Oakland's Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. It's one of many sites across the Bay Area and the nation where students, teachers and their supporters are gathering today. Tune in to Crosscurrents at 5 p.m. PST (on 91.7 FM in the Bay Area and www.kalw.org worldwide) to hear full coverage.

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The U.S. Department of Education today released a list of 16 finalists in its “Race to the Top” competition, which will dole out $4.35 billion of federal stimulus money for school reform to a few lucky states. 

California was notably missing. 

A still from Stop the Mega Casino's television spot.

Under the name Stop the Mega Casino, gambling institutions including the Oaks Card Club in Emeryville launched an ad campaign over the weekend against a proposed Vegas-style casino at Point Molate in Richmond.

Californians are advised to avoid beaches, as a tsunami advisory is in effect.

Two young men struggle into a dragon costume for a Chinese New Year celebration in Oakland's Chinatown. Photo by Tashina Manyak.

Neon signs in windows offer psychic crystal ball readings by master fortune-tellers as I walk down Franklin Street.

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The sky is February grey and there's a slight morning chill to match. A swarm of birds run overhead, destined for greater heights, then dart, in a dramatic turn, one way, then another, then out of sight.

This particular patch of sky sits above the park, more cement than grass, filled this crisp morning with bodies in motion, not all in unison. Like the birds now gone there are clusters of bodies moving together. Separate groups with their unified movement.

The Madison Park Apartments. Photo courtesy of EBALDC.

Directly across from the Lake Merritt BART entrance, Laney College, and the Oakland Museum; on the outskirts of Oakland’s bustling Chinatown; nestled at the corner of two relatively quiet cross-streets—This is where you can find the Madison Park Apartments.

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Last week on Crosscurrents, I reported about a homeowner who had been waiting for about 9 months to get a loan modification from Chase. When I met him, about a week before the story aired, it seemed his modification was on the verge of being approved. A representative of Chase assured him, "Right now the best thing to do is just hang in there for a few more days, and hopefully we’ll know something very soon."