This was a defining year for the city of Oakland.

In 2010, we saw street demonstrations, a new mayor get elected -- and, for the first time, city police officers were handed pink slips en masse. The Oakland Museum of California reopened this year, the city hosted its first marathon and the Oakland Underground Film Festival held its first summer event.

Meanwhile, unemployment remained high the past 12 months as the recession continued its stranglehold on the city (not to mention the country). Oakland schools got a big donation from Kaiser this year, but data released on the dropout rate of city students showed a troubling trend.

The implications of some of the events in 2010 will reverberate through the next several years. Here’s a quick look back:

1. Rank-choice voting changes the election landscape in Oakland. This was the year that forever changed how Oaklanders will vote for local officials. The rank-choice process allows voters to rank a first, second and third choice candidate for a single office. As a result, former State Sen. Don Perata lost the mayoral race to City Councilwoman Jean Quan because she received more second-and third-place votes.
2. The Oakland Police Department sees drastic cuts. Also, city police continue to be involved in controversial shootings. This was a year of upheaval for the OPD. Not even a year into his term as police chief, Anthony Batts saw his department cut by 80 officers as a result of budget constraints and a fight over officers contributing to their pension plans. OPD’s response, in part, was to announce that officers wouldn’t respond to 44 specific crimes. In addition, city officers seem to regularly be involved in controversial shootings that ranged from killing a barbershop owner, an alleged gang member and even a family dog.
3. Oakland gets a new mayor (the first Asian American for a major city) whose governing style will be a huge change for the city. Excitement continues to build in many parts of the city around incoming Mayor Jean Quan. Her administration is expected to be the polar opposite of Ron Dellums’ term — she has promised to be a hands-on mayor that regularly speaks to the media and attends community events.
4. Oakland had not one, but two major demonstrations centered around the killing of Oscar Grant. These demonstrations signaled that race, class and anger over the police, continue to bubble beneath the surface for the city. The trial of ex-BART police officer Johannes Mehserle for the killing of Grant brought out intense emotions in Oakland. After the July verdict was announced, there were major demonstrations that brought in people from around the country. The sentencing of Mehserle in November also got folks protesting downtown. Both demonstrations featured mass arrests by police for misdemeanor acts. Many of those acts, such as vandalism, were blamed by the police on nonresidents.
5. In a year where many local businesses stood on the brink of closing, the Parkway Theater is on the verge of coming back. Local developer J. Moses Ceaser is about to do what many thought was impossible - reopen the popular theater. While the lease has yet to be signed for the movie house, Ceaser has said that it will happen soon. A reopened Parkway Theater would be a big positive for both the residents around Park Boulevard and the city.
6. One of our former mayors becomes governor (again) and our current mayor leaves office with a whimper. Oakland seems to be an important stopping point for politicians. The latest example is our incoming governor, Jerry Brown. Like it or not, Brown used his two terms as mayor to springboard himself back into the governor’s office. Meanwhile, our current mayor Ron Dellums is leaving office with little fanfare, despite once being seen as a respected politician.
7. The Oakland Museum of California re-opens with a bang. May Day officially marked the reopening of the museum. After being closed for nine months, the museum threw open its doors for a 31-hour party to celebrate its two-year, $62 million capital improvement campaign.
8. Oakland goes hard in trying to keep the A's in town. Earlier this month, to the delight of many, city planners unveiled a stadium proposal designed to keep the Oakland Athletics in town. The proposed Jack London location would include both a ballpark and mixed development.
9. The Great Recession’s grip tightens on the city. Unemployment continues to climb high for residents, particularly for those of color. Some have said that in many parts of the city, 50 percent of adults are unemployed. It’s unclear if 2011 will bring better news for job seekers.
10. The dropout rate numbers were released and showed startling results. According to data, less than half of the freshmen who enter Oakland public high schools actually graduate. However, despite the troubling dropout numbers, the Oakland Unified School District did get a bit of good news this year. Kaiser Permanente announced plans to donate $7.5 million to city schools over the next three years.