Did you shop locally this holiday season? Even if you traveled to a big box in the E-town, Oakland shares territory and sales tax with a percentage of Emeryville’s big box districts ... and you may have consciously spent a percentage of your holiday dollars in Oakland.

In recent years, our political leaders have become aware of the importance of shopping locally. Our new Mayor, Jean Quan, even spoke to the significance of the issue in her inaugural address. She asked Oaklanders to buy 25 percent more of their goods at home as a way to help pay for more police staffing. New Councilwoman Libby Schaaf is even leading by example - she told me that she only shops in Oakland. Her inaugural outfit was purchased in Montclair.

One of the great things about living in Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods are the traditions that generations have enjoyed such as annual Halloween events.