While I enjoy the Oakland Tribune, something happened today that made me really sad: zero mention about a new candidate for the Oakland mayoral race next year. This little news item was published by the San Francisco Chronicle instead.
According to the Chronicle, Robert Bobb will join the mayoral candidate race. After serving for many years as Oakland city administrator, Bobb threw his hat into the ring and plans to return home from his temporary Detroit gig.
Now there are three unofficial candidates counting Jean Quan, our Montclair-Laurel city council rep; presumed front-runner Don Perata, the former state senator; and newest arrival Bob Bobb. Most Oaklanders assume that current Mayor Ron Dellums will retire after his single term in office.
Back to the Oakland Tribune’s miss, though. It’s one thing to drop extra or non-essential coverage. Or forego unaffordable investigations, Pulitzer prizes be damned. (Though I felt that State of Play, the new flick featuring Russell Crowe as the investigative journalist, was bittersweet.)
When city news isn’t broken by Oakland’s official paper of record, that’s quite noticeable to locals. Although the Tribune was scooped by the City across the Bay’s gumshoe, you would think the item warranted some mention today. We figure it will get printed tomorrow.
In the meantime, let’s take a moment here and shake our heads…no, no, no.
Today in Montclair, 94611 
Did you read this story from the Trib today?
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_12214291
Bobb is NOT a new candidate; bidding now for the race is “premature”. He has alot on his plate with his current job.
Nice, the Tribune posted news about the mayoral race this evening:
“The speculation that I have somehow made some official announcement is not true at all,” Bobb said. “I’ve not made any announcement that I’m going to do anything.”
So our city’s gumshoe has set the official record straight.
We are already seeing the future of local news. The Trib does not have the resources or vision to be the paper of record anymore, stopped doing so about 5 to 10-years ago. Fortunately, we live in an urban area with many excellent news blogs to not only pick up the slack but in many ways advance the reporting. Still, less news staff at any paper is bad for democracy. Thank you quality bloggers.
Mike, I can agree with the second half of your comment. Then again, for the Chronicle to come up with some false story about Bobb, and the Tribune (seemingly) telling it as it is, that is really pathetic (of the Chron). The Trib may not always be “the paper of record”, if at all. However, they sure as heck are better at reporting their home big stories than the failing Chronicle.
The Tribune published story today (Saturday, noon) about another potential candidate:
Election far off, but field of would-be Oakland mayors growing
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_12227189
“The Oakland mayor’s race is 18 long months away, but you can add Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Scott Jackson’s name to a growing list of folks interested in the top post.”
So they are picking up the torch, and reporter Cecily Burt seems to be on this beat.