2024 Rewind, Part I: Recall campaigns-one ongoing, one nascent-show staying power

CITY NEWS: Barbara Lee announces when she'll make decision about a run for Oakland mayor; Loren Taylor's campaign secures biggest name in California's political consultant game

Over the last full week of 2024, let’s look back the events that shaped a historic year in East Bay politics.

Part one of Rewind 2024 starts today, followed by April through June on Tuesday. We’ll skip Christmas Day, and resume with July through September on Thursday, and October through December on Friday.

—REWIND 2024—A contentious March Primary season was just coming into full bloom as the calendar flipped to 2024.

—The signature-gathering campaign to recall Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was continuing to gain steam, along with the early signs that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao would be next.

—Meanwhile, full-throated activists demanding local cities to approve resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza continued to bedevil Alameda County officials unwilling to acquiesce to their demands.

JANUARY

—RETURN TO SENDER—A letter penned by Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft hoped to register the city council’s support for an end to the conflict in Gaza, but it was rejected by three councilmembers who worried the statement risked further dividing the community. On the same night, activists in San Leandro, also demanding a ceasefire resolution, caused the city council meeting to adjourn and resume its discussions behind closed doors. Jan. 4 - “Alameda City Council rejects mayor's Gaza letter.”

—DEMS GONE WILD!—It may have been the most consequential moment for the future of the Alameda County Democratic Party. No amount of words can accurately describe the sheer madness of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee meeting on Jan. 6. You have to see it to believe it.

The antics would lead to a groundswell of liberal Democrats to band together a slate of candidates vowing to bring sanity back to the local party. Jan. 5 - “Dems Gone Wild.”

—THAO’S TURN—A notice of intention to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is filed with the city clerk. Jan. 7 - “Total Recall: Thao got next.”

—Donald Trump’s former hatchet man, conservative raconteur Roger Stone talked about assassinating East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell during a conversation in 2020. “It’s either Nadler or Swalwell has to die before the election. They need to get the message,” Stone said. Jan. 9 - Wahab aims to create merge lane for Bay Area's 27 transit agencies

—RESIGNATION #1—Berkeley Councilmember Rigel Robinson abruptly resigns from his District 7 seat, saying he’s “burnt out.” Robinson also ends his nascent campaign for Berkeley mayor. He will be the first of five Alameda County councilmembers to resign in 2024. Jan. 10 - State Senate primary is being waged on Arreguín's turf

—RESIGNATION #2—Weeks later, Berkeley Councilmember Kate Harrison follows Robinson out of the door, announcing her resignation from the District 4 seat. ”I’m doing this because I believe Berkeley’s processes are broken and I cannot in good time continue to serve on this body,” she said. Harrison, though, would continue her campaign for mayor. Jan. 31 - Second Berkeley councilmember abruptly resigns.”

—LIBBY 2026—Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announces that she’s opened a committee to run for California state treasurer in 2026. Jan. 12 - Game Planning the Price Recall.”

—DIVESTMENT STORIES—Hayward City Council divest from four companies that financially benefit from the conflicts in Israel. A few days later, three Hayward councilmembers who supported divestment changed their stories and said the resolution was actually about fossil fuels. It wasn’t. Jan. 25 - “Hayward approves $1.6 million divestment from four companies that support Israel.”

—FIRST HINT—In hindsight, the first of many hints about the events that led to the FBI raids in the summer arrives in January with news that Alameda County DA Pamela Price charged Oakland businessman and political rival Mario Juarez for passing bad checks during the 2022 election. Jan. 26 - Don’t expect sheriff’s oversight to begin anytime soon.”

FEBRUARY

—DEBATE AFTERMATH—Barbara Lee’s performance during the first U.S. Senate debate failed to do her any favors. Polling shows Lee’s, already with middling support is in a free fall. She trails the pack of candidates with just seven percent support. Feb. 2 - “'I'm not a defunder.' I want 2,000 police officers, Sheng Thao says.”

—SUPER DAN TO THE RESCUE—In one of the most refreshing, although risky political ads in recent memory, 7th State Senate District candidate Dan Kalb dons superhero garb and recasts himself as “Super Dan.” Feb. 7 - “Super Dan wakes up a sleepy state senate race.”

—CALL IN CHiPS—The mess in Oakland is beginning to harm Gov. Gavin Newsom’s designs for higher office. Newsom announces he’s sending 120 California Highway Patrol officers to stabilize crime in Oakland. Feb. 7 - “Super Dan wakes up a sleepy state senate race.”

—LEAVING HAYWARD—Long-time Hayward City Manager Kelly McAdoo announces she will leaving for the same job in Santa Barbara. Her last day is May 3. Hayward named Ana Alvarez as her permanent replacement last week. Feb. 14 - “San Leandro's council appointment debate is terribly deadlocked”

MARCH

—PRIMARY THOUGHTS—The March Primary delivers dominating wins for Alameda County District 3 Supervisor Nate Miley, who won re-election, Alameda County District 5 candidate Nikki Fortunato Bas advanced to the November runoff, along with top two wins for Jesse Arreguín (7th State Senate), and Lateefah Simon (12th Congressional District). The news is bad for Barbara Lee, who finished a distant fourth in the U.S. Senate primary. Mar. 6 - “Election night surprises.”

—PROGRESSIVE GUT PUNCH—The March Primary upends the far-left direction of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. Alameda County DA Pamela Price wins re-election to the central committee, but her slate of candidates are routed. Only eight of 28, including Price, win seats, while mainstream progressives and liberals take over. The new group will take their seats next month. Mar. 20 - “Fremont approves anodyne statement on Gaza conflict.”

—JACK’S BOOTS ON THE GROUND—Pleasanton Councilmmeber Jack Balch announces his candidacy to unseat incumbent Mayor Karla Brown. In his opening statement, Balch calls for Pleasanton to “live within our means.” Mar. 15 - Price recall opponents receive a dose of hopium.”

—FIRST RECALLS UP—The first of what will be recall elections for four separate elected officials in Alameda County is approved. Sunol voters will decide the fate of school boardmembers Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley in July. Mar. 18 - “Reversal of fortune.”

—BOTHERING BONTA—Alameda County DA Pamela Price accuses California Attorney General Rob Bonta of “dereliction of duty” for not taking steps to investigate the petition drive conducted by the group seeking her recall. Mar. 19 - “Price bashes Bonta.”

—SURPRISING GAZA RESO—Fremont, led by Councilmember Desrie Campbell, becomes the second and last city in Alameda County to weigh in on the conflict in Gaza following Oakland. The resolution, however, is middle of the road, but a rare insertion of international issues in Fremont politics. Mar. 20 - “Fremont approves anodyne statement on Gaza conflict.”

—DEAL OR NO DEAL—Signs that the proposed $20 billion regional housing bond measure is on thin ice is witnessed in Fremont. “I can’t support something that I don’t know how much money I’m getting out of,” Fremont Mayor Lily Mei told county housing officials. “I want to know if Fremont will get back what they put in.” Mar. 22 - “‘Oakland, the big monster.’”

—RUSSELL CITY BLUES—The Russell City Reparative Justice Project wraps up its work with recommendations to the Hayward City Council for remedying racial and equity injustices that followed the force displacement of 1,500 residents in the early 1960s. The city has yet to make an actionable move toward any of the recommendations. Mar. 22 - “‘Oakland, the big monster.’”

—RFK STAY AWAY—In Oakland, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reveals his running mate is Silicon Valley insider Nicole Shanahan. Mar. 26 - “Another bid for just cause renters protections.”

—JUST NOT NOW—Like other tenants protections in unincorporated Alameda County over the past three years, a Just Cause ordinance is delayed yet again. This time an ad hoc committee made of two county supervisors are tasked with bringing compromise legislation. They will find little success. Mar. 27 - “Call in the punt team.”

—411 ON THE 510—There’s much more inside! Become an East Bay Insiders subscriber today and get full access to the inside scoop every weekday morning at 6 a.m.

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CITY NEWS

OAKLAND SPECIAL ELECTION

—BARE-LEE CERTAIN—There was the billboard thanking Barbara Lee for her service in Congress. A low-attended tribute in Lee’s honor held in Oakland. A public letter signed by mostly labor interests urging her to run for Oakland.

—The uneven build up to Lee’s candidacy for the Oakland special mayoral election concluded on Friday with a post on X that exuded uncertainty on her part.

—ACE IN THE HOLE—Meanwhile, Loren Taylor, the first candidate to file an intent to run in the Oakland special mayoral election last month, is in it to win it.

—Taylor has hired Bearstar Strategies, one of the top political consulting firms in the state.

—The powerhouse firm lead by Ace Smith, Juan Rodriguez, and Sean Clegg, have run some of the biggest campaigns in the state.

—They include Gov. Gavin Newsom’s re-election, Kamala Harris’s U.S. Senate campaign, Libby Schaaf’s run for Oakland mayor, and most recently, Lateefah Simon’s successful campaign for the 12th Congressional District seat once held by Barbara Lee.