City In Review: Chicago

Oakland · Then vs Now

Oakland: 2024-08 vs 2025-08

A side-by-side look at how Oakland shifted between two periods.

2024-08 2025-08 Change
Building permits 3 7 +133%
Construction value ($) $5,000 $2,005,235 +40005%
New business licenses 2 2 0%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 154 115 -25%
Reported crimes 73 65 -11%
Violent crimes 20 12 -40%
Failed food inspections 0 0

2024-08

Oakland logs three permits, $5,000 total

Oakland issued three permits in August, all through the city's express program. Together they totaled $5,000, down from $2.3 million in July. The month was otherwise quiet—no new business licenses and no service requests on record.

2025-08

Oakland permit value jumps to $2M on new construction

Oakland pulled just seven permits in August, half July's count, but their combined value hit $2 million—nearly 19 times the prior month. Two new-construction permits drove the surge. Express permits accounted for four of the seven. Service requests fell a third to 115, led by graffiti removal (11 calls) and pothole complaints (10). Crime dropped 34% to 65 incidents; violent offenses halved from 24 to 12. No new business licenses or closures recorded.

New businesses — 2024-08

  • METRO BY T-MOBILE (Limited Business License)
  • REGINA W HODGES (Peddler License)

New businesses — 2025-08

  • GS RESTORATION & PAINTING (Regulated Business License)
  • JANELLE KRISTIE SHELTON (Regulated Business License)