CivicScoop • Stay ahead of local housing policy

CivicScoop: Know What’s Being Built

Stay ahead of local housing policy — without drowning in jargon. We track housing-related proposals from planning commissions and city councils so you understand what's changing, where, and what you can do about it.

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What Is CivicScoop?

An AI-powered lens on local housing policy

We monitor meetings & materials

Planning commission and city council agendas, staff reports, and draft ordinances — pulled weekly across your city and region.

AI distills what matters

Plain-English summaries with timelines, stakeholders, and what's at stake — no jargon required.

Action-oriented by design

Ready-to-send email templates and contacts so you can weigh in — or just stay in the loop.

How It Works

From dense PDFs to clear, timely alerts

We monitor local housing discussions & decisions.
Agendas, staff reports, draft ordinances — automatically aggregated each week.
AI summarizes key details.
We extract the policy, timeline, stakeholders, and what it means for your neighborhood.
Customized by your location.
Enter your ZIP code and we track proposals near you.
Timely alerts before votes.
Be first to know when decisions land — and how to voice your opinion.
Sample Report

Overview

Policy:
Proposed 84-unit development on Telegraph Ave
Hearing Date:
September 18 — Oakland Planning Commission
Location:
4900 Telegraph Ave, Temescal
Supporters:
YIMBY coalition, affordable housing advocates
Opponents:
Local neighborhood association, small business group
Key Issues:
Height variance request, 10% below-market units
View full proposal Email planner Attend hearing
Map around 4900 Telegraph Ave

Council & Commission Sentiment

Strongly Support
Support
Neutral
Oppose
Strongly Oppose
Strongly Support Pro
Councilmember Alvarez
“We need more homes near transit — this is a smart infill site…”
Commissioner Chen
“Leaning yes pending traffic study showing minimal spillover…”
Support +1
Commissioner Patel
“Supportive if small-business protections are strengthened…”
Neutral 0
Oppose −1
Councilmember Smith
“There’s no need for this — we’ve already reduced rents for high-income individuals, we need…”
Commissioner Lee
“Height variance sets a tough precedent for neighboring parcels…”
Strongly Oppose Con
Councilmember Rivera
“Oppose unless deeper affordability and storefront protections are added…”
View full vote history on similar issues of council members View all statements by council members

Timeline

Filed:
July 22
Staff Report:
September 9
Hearing:
September 18
Next Steps:
Commission vote → City Council referral (if appealed)

Stakeholders

Developer:
Telegraph Partners LLC
District:
D1 — Temescal
Nearby Orgs:
Temescal Merchants Assoc., Temescal Community Council
Contact:
Planner Jane Doe — jane.doe@oakland.gov
Who It’s For

Made for residents, professionals, and the civically curious

Neighborhood Residents Real Estate Professionals Housing Advocates Local Journalists Curious Voters
Launching Soon in Select Cities

Join the waitlist — be first to know when we launch near you

No spam — just launch updates and relevant alerts for your area.
Why It Matters

Local decisions shape affordability, walkability, and equity

But they’re often buried in dense PDFs or last-minute hearings. CivicScoop makes it easy to stay informed and involved — without spending hours decoding bureaucratic language.

About the Leadership Team

Ben Fong served on the Berkeley Planning Commission from 2016–2019 and was a former diplomat promoting democracy worldwide.

Partners & Beta Testers Wanted

Bring CivicScoop to your city or organization

Interested in piloting CivicScoop with your planning department, newsroom, or advocacy group? We’d love to collaborate.

Contact us →