2024 Rewind, Part II: FBI raids shock the East Bay political world; subject of investigation remains unknown
April-June: Recalls qualify for November ballot; budget woes emerge not just in Oakland, but elsewhere in Alameda County; Berkeley's special elections yield two new CMs; Delaine Eastin passes
Over the last full week of 2024, let’s look back at the events that shaped a historic year in East Bay politics.
Part three of Rewind 2024 will resume with July through September on Thursday, and October through December on Friday.
—MONEY PIT—The breadth of Oakland’s fiscal problems become clear with the emergence of a $177 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2023-24. Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson institutes a hiring freeze. Funding for “Democracy Dollars,” a campaign finance voucher program approved by voters, is also on the chopping block. Huge shortfalls will emerge by the second fiscal quarter of the current year. April 1 - “Watching the sheriff.”
—LAST STOP—Long-time BART Board Director John McPartland announces his resignation. McPartland was not expected to run for re-election, but the early move triggers likely candidates in the fall, like Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez, to quickly apply for the appointment. April 1 - “Watching the sheriff.”
—TELL THEM GOODBYE—Oakland officials offer the A’s a three-year, $97 million deal to play at the Coliseum until the team’s proposed ballpark in Las Vegas is built. The offer is significantly higher than the A’s current deal. The A’s begin looking elsewhere for a temporary home. April 3 - “Kicking the can.”
—BLEE, ACT II?—Barbara Lee’s is floated as a possible cabinet appointment by the Biden administration for secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. April 11 - “Is Lee HUD bound?”
—OAKLAND’S NEW TOP COP—Floyd Mitchell, who was named Oakland’s next police chief on March 27, was slated to come to start work on April 27. But the date is changed to sometime in mid-May. Mitchell would also be plagued by an ability to receive proper approvals that would allow him to don the uniform. April 15 - “Alameda may ban animal testing.”
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—PRICE RECALL HEADS TO BALLOT—The recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price will be on the ballot after Alameda County’s registrar certified 74,757 valid signatures out of more than 123,000 submitted by Save Alameda For Everyone. SAFE needed at least 73,195 valid signatures to qualify for a special recall election. The group exceeded the amount by only 1,500 signatures. April 16 - “DA Pamela Price recall is on.”
—ELECTION CONSEQUENCES—A month after defeating Jennifer Esteen in the primary, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley replaces her on the Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). During the campaign, Miley also removed Esteen from the Alameda Health System Board of Trustees. April 16 - “DA Pamela Price recall is on.”
—HOUSING HYPOCRISY—Newark Councilmember Mike Bucci takes exception with Realtors accepting a proclamation honoring the Fair Housing Act. “I’m disappointed that the Association of Realtors was here to accept it instead of a local non-profit or community group that’s out here really doing the work encompassed in the Fair Housing Act.” April 17 - “When Newark tried to give a fair housing proclamation to landlords.”
—YOUTH MOVEMENT—Cecilia Lunaparra, a 22-year-old student at Cal, wins Berkeley’s District 7 special election. Lunaparra takes over for Rigel Robinson, who resigned in January. April 17 - “When Newark tried to give a fair housing proclamation to landlords.”
—BAD NEWS FOR RATS—A push to ban animal testing at Alameda Point fizzles after the Alameda City Council, instead, permits FDA-certified animal research on city-owned properties at Alameda Point. April 18 - “Will Alameda County, Oakland ever seal a sports deal?”
—’DRO DEPARTURE—San Leandro City Manager Fran Robustelli decamps to Florida, accepting the same position in St. Pete’s Beach. The city quickly promotes Janelle Cameron to interim city manager and later she becomes permanent. April 19 - “Alameda County safety net provider is facing $100 million budget shortfall.”
—SO CRINGE—At his second State of the City address, San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez III admonished those in attendance for not showing enough enthusiasm. April 24 - “San Leandro mayor's state of the city was so cringe.”
—DO IT OR ELSE!—Hayward officials acquiesce to a complaint letter stating its at-large council elections are illegal and approves district-based elections beginning in 2026. April 18 - “Will Alameda County, Oakland ever seal a sports deal?”
—CALL FOR SPECIAL RECALL ELEX—The group leading the recall of DA Pamela Price demands the Board of Supervisors call for a special election. “We asked for a special election. We did not ask for this to go over until November,” SAFE co-founder Brenda Grisham tells the board. April 18 - “Will Alameda County, Oakland ever seal a sports deal?”
—UNHEALTHY HOSPITAL—Alameda Health System, the quasi-governmental body that runs Highland Hospital and other safety net hospitals, reports a $100 million budget shortfall. “We typically have a budget gap, but not to this degree,” AHS’ chief financial officer said.
—PRICE CHARGES OFFICERS—Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price filed criminal charges against the three Alameda police officers involved in the 2021 death of Mario Gonzalez. However, the charges were dropped by the DA’s office last week. April 19 - “Alameda County safety net provider is facing $100 million budget shortfall.”
—ICON PASSES—Delaine Eastin, an East Bay and statewide political legend, dies. She was 76. Eastin began her political career on the Union City Council before being elected to the state assembly, and serving as state superintendent of public instruction. April 26 - “Delaine Eastin, influential East Bay and statewide official, passes at 76.”
MAY
—RETAIL THEFT BLUNDER—Oakland’s city auditor blasts the administration for its lack of leadership and disorganization leading to the failed application last year for $15.6 million in state funding to combat retail theft. May 2 - “City auditor: Poor leadership, chaos doomed Oakland's ill-fated retail theft grant.”
—CITY MANAGER TRADE—Berkeley City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley announced her resignation on Monday after nine years at the helm. Berkeley will name Emeryville City Manager Paul Buddenhagen as her replacement. May 7 - “Second shot for state senate hopefuls.”
—WATER IS OUR BOND—Pleasanton, beset with water issues, including the existence of PFAS in some of its wells, approves the issuance of a $19 million bond to help improve the city’s water delivery system. “We’re an old city at 130 years,” Pleasanton Mayor Karla Brown said. “We have a lot of old pipe.” May 8 - “Rooted in budget shortfall.”
—VICTORY FOR CHILD CARE—Up to $500 million in funding for child care services in Alameda County is freed up after Measure C, a half-cent sales increase approved by voters in 2020, escapes a legal challenge. “Voters have spoken and the court has affirmed the sales tax is legal,” Supervisor David Haubert said. “This is going to be a huge benefit to the county.” May 13 - “The sudden influx of up to $500 million for child care in Alameda County.”
—NOTED DEM ORGANIZER PASSES—Peggy Moore, a well-known Oakland and California Democratic Party organizer and activist, dies in a car crash in San Diego County, along with her partner, Hope Wood. Moore was 60. May 13 - “The sudden influx of up to $500 million for child care in Alameda County.”
—BUDGET GAP—Alameda County reports an estimated $68 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year. Rising employee costs and pensions continue to drive the county’s deficit. The shortfall, however, is quite average for the county and is balanced without much pain. May 14 - “DA Pamela Price: Rep. Eric Swalwell is critical of me because I'm a Black woman.”
—PRICE RECALL DATE IS SET—The Alameda County Board of Supervisors chose Nov. 5 as the date of the DA Pamela Price recall over a vastly more expensive summer special recall election. May 16 - “Alameda County's historic recall election is set for Nov. 5.”
—UNEVEN HOMELESSNESS COUNT—Alameda County’s annual point-in-time count finds homelessness has dropped three percent. Solutions for combating homelessness appear to be working in Berkeley, Emeryville, Fremont, Piedmont, San Leandro, and Union City, but not Oakland. May 16 - “Homelessness increased in Oakland, Hayward, Alameda; decreased in Berkeley, Fremont, San Leandro.”
—THAO RECALL PETITION DRIVE—Group seeking to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao announce they have 40,000 signatures in hand a month before its deadline to submit. Around 25,000 valid signatures are needed to place the question on the ballot. May 21 - “A recall doubleheader in November?
—The BART Board of Directors appoint Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez to the District 5 seat left open by John McPartland’s resignation. May 28 - “Election Day in Berkeley.”
—THANK YOU SO MUCH—Igor Tregub, the chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party, wins Berkeley’s District 4 city council special election. He replaces Kate Harrison, who resigned in January. May 29 - “Igor Tregub takes early lead in Berkeley's District 4 special election.”
JUNE
—AT-LARGE AND IN CHARGE—Former Oakland police chief LeRonne Armstrong enters the race for Oakland’s at-large city council seat. “I told you when all the drama happened that I wasn’t done,”Armstrong said. “I told you that I would continue to serve and now I’m running a campaign.” June 3 - “Every new beginning comes from other beginning's end.”
—DUBLIN’S NEW MAYOR—Dublin Councilmember Michael McCorriston is appointed acting mayor following Melissa Hernandez’s appointment last month to the BART Board of Directors. The move leaves the council’s two frontrunners for the open mayoral race with no advantage in the fall. June 4 - “Dublin has a new mayor.”
—GRAY CLOUDS—The Alameda City Council halts cloud-brightening research being conducted aboard the U.S.S. Hornet at Alameda Point. A consultant hired by the city found the research which involves spraying saltwater-based mist into the air for short amounts of time was safe. Some residents and the council believed otherwise. June 7 - “Janani has been exiled.”
—THAO JOINS PRICE—The petition to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is certified by the Alameda County registrar. The Thao recall will join the recall of DA Pamela Price on the Nov. 5 ballot. June 19 - “Thao recall qualifies.”
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—THE RAIDS—Agents from the FBI, IRS, and U.S. Postal Service raid the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. Raids are also conducted on the homes and businesses belonging to the Doung Family, owners of California Waste Solutions, the city’s recycling franchise. To this day, the FBI has not said a word about the subject of their investigation. June 20 - “Here's what we know about the FBI raid on Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.”
—RENIA DESCRIBES WEB OF CORRUPTION—Renia Webb, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s former chief of staff, alleges a pay-to-play scheme existed in the mayor’s office. Webb, who is running in the Oakland mayoral special election next spring, says the FBI contacted her about the arrangement. June 24 - “Bigger than Thao.”
—THAO DECLARES INNOCENCE—After days of silence, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao addresses the FBI raid on her home. “I have not been charged with a crime and I am confident that I will not be charged with a crime because I am innocent,” she defiantly says, but suggests a wealthy, right wing conspiracy. June 25 - “Defiant and conspiracy minded.”
—SINKING SHIPS—Within a few days, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s new attorney quits; as does Francis Zamora, who leads Thao’s communications team. The same day, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s right hand man, Otis Bruce, Jr., abruptly resigns; and Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez announces a move to become county manager in New Mexico. Are they all related? June 26 - “Seneca Scott Derangement Syndrome.”