(Editor's Note: As part of the Inside Oakland Series, Oakland Local is launching "Oakland Police: An inside look at a troubled department." Contributing Editor Jennifer Inez Ward writes about the importance of conducting this investigative project.)

(Editor's Note: As we end 2011 and move into a New Year, the Oakland Local staff and featured contributors would like to share some of our favorite stories, experiences and thoughts over the last 12 months.)

As Occupy Oakland looks to make its next move and perhaps set up additional encampments, I've put together a short list of buildings that need the energy of the movement. Some of these spaces have sat empty for years. Others, get so little love, they might as well be vacant. Let me know your suggestions.

The Parkway Theater

(Editor's note: Now that her Living In Debt series for Oakland Local is completed, contributing editor Jennifer Inez Ward looks back at what motivated her to pitch this piece and shares what she learned along the way.)

Things done got real interesting at Oakland City Hall - not that they were boring before.

In case you hadn't noticed, Mayor Jean Quan has been MIA from City Hall for several days.

In case you missed it, Oakland has been a bubbling hotbed of political and community activism these days.

City Hall Scene is a weekly blog post on news, views and events coming out  of 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Drama is stirring up big at Oakland City Hall, and so many issues are swirling around Frank H. Ogawa plaza that it's hard to keep track sometimes. The next several weeks however, should bring clarity to some of these challenges.