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Oakland's Día de los Muertos Festival, celebrating its 30th year, may face reduced attendance due to fears of federal immigration enforcement targeting the event. The festival, scheduled for Nov. 2, honors the resilience of the immigrant community with the theme “Aquí estamos y no nos vamos” (Here we are, and we’re not going anywhere).
Signal Coffee in Downtown Oakland announced a temporary closure due to staffing shortages, affecting its location in the Tribune Tower. Meanwhile, Top Dog, a popular hot dog joint on Lakeshore Avenue, faces imminent closure after the new building owner did not offer a lease renewal. The original Berkeley location remains open as the last operating site.
Early voting for California's Proposition 50, a Congressional redistricting measure, starts Oct. 25. Voters can also register conditionally on Election Day, Nov. 4, if they have not registered previously. Governor Newsom backs Prop 50 to counter partisan redistricting by Texas Republicans.
Benny Feilhaber concludes a tumultuous first season as coach of the Oakland Roots, who finished 10th in the USL Championship's Western Conference with a record of seven wins, eight draws, and 14 losses. The team struggled down the stretch, securing only one victory in their last three months, ultimately falling short of playoff contention. The Roots' history is marked by high expectations and repeated coaching changes, with Feilhaber being the sixth coach since the team's inception in 2019.
Law enforcement officers shot at a U-Haul rental van in Oakland after it allegedly reversed toward them during an immigration protest at Coast Guard Island. The FBI confirmed two individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with one subject in custody. The incident remains under investigation as local protests continue against federal immigration policies.
East Bay leaders, including Rep. Lateefah Simon and seven mayors, urged Republicans to collaborate with Democrats to end the ongoing federal government shutdown. The shutdown, which began on October 1, has financially strained local federal workers and jeopardized essential services like SNAP and Head Start programs.
Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson affirmed her office will not assist federal agents during an operation by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Bay Area. Protests erupted over concerns regarding increased immigration enforcement, prompting local officials to clarify their stance on cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced that Border Patrol operations are canceled for the greater Bay Area, including Oakland. This decision follows a planned surge operation by the federal government that was set to begin this Saturday. Protests against immigration crackdowns occurred at Coast Guard Island, where federal agents were seen preparing for an operation.
Fear of impending immigration enforcement operations has led to a significant drop in customer traffic in Fruitvale, Oakland, particularly affecting local vendors. Many business owners report sales down by as much as 70%, with the usual vibrant atmosphere subdued. Community members express concern over the potential impact of immigration raids on their livelihoods.
More than 100 people rallied outside Fruitvale BART Station in Oakland to protest the planned deployment of federal officers to the Bay Area. Activists demanded the removal of ICE and Customs and Border Protection, citing concerns over community safety and civil rights. Local organizations, including the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, organized the demonstration.