Latest news with #OaklandHousingAuthority
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Arrests in probe of Oakland carjacking tied to pot dispensaries
The Brief Seven suspects were arrested during raids by Oakland police and outside law enforcement agencies. The arrests stem from a probe into a carjacking of an armored van tied to marijuana dispensaries. The investigation comes amid a violent week in Oakland, in which officers exchanged gunfire with other suspects. OAKLAND, Calif. - Seven suspects, including three juveniles, were arrested by Oakland police and outside agencies for various crimes, authorities said Friday. The suspects are being held in connection with a homicide, shootings, street armed robberies, burglaries and escape from a juvenile facility, said acting Oakland police Capt. Steve Valle. What we know During the arrests on Thursday, police seized 10 guns, including an assault-type pistol and handguns with extended magazines. "These individuals were targeting businesses in East Oakland that were known for carrying large quantities of cash," said Assistant Chief James Beere. The backstory KTVU has learned the investigation was prompted by a Jan. 30 carjacking in East Oakland where an armored van carrying money for marijuana dispensaries was robbed at gunpoint. According to court records, the van was cut off on Oakport Street by three men in a Maserati and a Hyundai Genesis. One gunman seeking access to the vault in the van yelled, "What's the code? Open it, or you're going to die" before the group took off with $80,000 and the van. "They did an extreme amount of prepping and planning, and when they committed the robbery, it was executed in extreme detail," Beere said. Robert Benjamin, 18, already facing weapons violations and Donte Kittling Jr., 20, have been charged by Alameda County prosecutors with carjacking. The arrests come after a violent week in Oakland, especially for police officers. On Monday, Oakland Housing Authority police exchanged gunfire with a suspect armed with a high-powered rifle. Later that same day, two Oakland officers were involved in a shootout with another suspect near 92nd Avenue and D Street. The suspects in both gunbattles were arrested and charged with attempted murder. And on Tuesday, two officers were hurt when a stolen-car suspect rammed their patrol car in the parking lot of the DMV on 85th Avenue. "Any time there's violence in the community, whether it's a police officer or a community member, it's unacceptable, and that will become our priority," Beere said. Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and The Source Interviews, information from Oakland police, court records
CBS News
28-01-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Oakland Housing Choice vouchers give families a chance at owning a home
OAKLAND — For the first time since 2011, people were able to apply to get on the waitlist for an Oakland housing choice voucher, formerly known as Section 8 housing. Recipients of a housing choice voucher are responsible for paying 30-40 percent of their monthly income towards rent and utilities, and some eventually use their voucher for the city's homeownership program, like Alyssia Simpson. "I never thought I would see the day that I would actually purchase a home, and I've done it," said Simpson. "It's my home for me and my family." Simpson purchased her first home a little over a year ago. She said the only reason she was able to do it is because is because of Oakland's housing choice voucher still commonly referred to by its former name of Section 8. "Honestly, I don't know. I don't know where my family and I would be living," said Simpson, pondering what would happen if she never applied for a housing choice voucher. "I don't even know if we would have a home to live in." Simpson first applied about 15 years ago. She spent five years on the waitlist then she got a letter in the mail that she was up for her voucher and she and her children would be able to move into an apartment. Simpson spent nearly a decade renting, then moved into the homeownership program. It allows participants to use their subsidies towards a monthly mortgage payment. "Sometimes it's surreal for me when I pull up to my house, and I'm like ' I own that. Fhis is my house. I own it.' Wow. I can't even explain how surreal it is sometimes." In order to be eligible for a housing choice voucher an applicant must make under 50% of the median income for the area, for a family of four in Oakland that's just under $78,000 a year. It's been nearly 14 years since the waitlist was last open, Executive Director of the Oakland Housing Authority Patricia Wells said she's been waiting for this day. "It's a long time coming," said Wells. Despite the waitlist opening, the Oakland Housing Authority has not received any new vouchers from the federal government. Instead, they are planning to re-issue existing vouchers from recipients who have moved on from the program. Wells explains while many of the applications come from Oakland, there are also applicants from throughout the US. "We've received over 18,000 applications. And keep in mind the 18,000 folks will be put into a lottery because the waitlist will only have 5,000 slots." OakHA will work its way through all the people on that waitlist, they hope they will be able to re-open the waitlist again in five to eight years. Simpson knows applying for Section 8 still comes with a stigma, but she hopes anyone who is eligible will apply anyway. It has allowed her not only to buy a home, but go back to school, get her master's degree and advance her career. "Don't feel like Section 8 is going to limit you in what you want to do in your life," said Simpson. The waitlist closed on Jan. 26.
