Filipa ioannou

As its arts scene bloomed over the past decade, Oakland garnered attention from news outlets, including the New York Times — not for horrific shootings or its beleaguered police department, but for its hipster cachet. The arts became a magnet for trendy restaurants and nightclubs in the city’s Uptown corridor, and the streets were packed every first Friday of the month for a massive gallery walk and outdoor festival. Oakland touted its arts scene in marketing materials, beginning with the 2005 “Meet Downtown Oakland” campaign and continuing in current brochures from the city’s nonprofit tourism bureau, Visit Oakland. … [Read more...] about As Oakland arts scene thrived in industrial spaces, city fell short on monitoring

That’s not the case elsewhere. San Francisco is sending inspectors to spot check “10 or 11” buildings that may pose a threat to those living in them, said Bill Strawn, spokesman for the city’s Department of Building Inspection. In Richmond, Mayor Tom Butt said that even before the fire, officials were scouring the streets — and the Internet — for commercial enterprises that weren’t paying for an annual business license or undergoing required fire inspections. They’ve found hundreds, he said. … [Read more...] about Oakland in no rush to find Ghost Ship-style buildings