Thousands of striking Oakland city workers hit the picket lines

Libraries, Head Start day care centers, recreation spots and other nonemergency city services shut down as employees hit picket lines to push for better pay raises, less use of part-time workers and other demands. Police, fire and 911 services remained open and staffed.

But for the most part, life in Oakland seemed like just another day — this was, after all, simply the first day of a strike.

Most people in the proudly progressive city knew some things would be closed Tuesday, and the disruption to city services was largely greeted by residents and workers downtown with an approving shrug.