2024 Rewind, Part IV: Price, Thao recalled; election surprises; censures aplenty; Oakland's budget woes deepen
Eric Swalwell for DA? Long Beach police find Alameda councilmember inebriated
Over the last full week of 2024, let’s look back at the events that shaped a historic year in East Bay politics.
OCTOBER
—I.O.U.—Oakland Councilmembers Treva Reid and Janani Ramachandran pressed the city administration on whether they received a $15 million payment due on Tuesday. They didn’t. It’s a development that could place the city on the path to fiscal ruin. Oct. 2 - “Is Oakland's Coliseum land deal about to crumble?”
—Months of heated rhetoric climaxes with Rep. Eric Swalwell endorsing the recall campaign against DA Pamela Price. “District Attorney Pam Price has failed the people of the East Bay and we are uniting to seek her recall from office,” Swalwell said, flanked by the families of victims of violent crime.” Oct. 3 - “‘The cops catch and Price releases’: Swalwell deals a blow to DA Price, endorses her recall from office.”
—FLOOD GATES OPEN—Rep. Eric Swalwell’s high-profile endorsement of the DA Pamela Price recall leads police unions from every city in Alameda County to join the fray. Some pony up $10,000 to support the recall, the Alameda County Prosecutors' Association adds $40,000. Oct. 7 - “Once a risky move, police unions line up against Price.”
—RELUCTANT REGISTRAR—Alameda County supervisors direct the registrar of voters to release cast vote records, visual representation of the vote, but the registrar is not totally on board. Oct. 9 - “Alameda County supervisors direct reluctant registrar to release cast vote records”
—SMELLING BLOOD—Even though the election is weeks away, the sharks are already circling for Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s job. Gov. Gavin Newsom floats football great Marshawn Lynch’s name as a possible candidates if Thao is recalled. Oct. 11 - “IE believes Fremont mayoral candidate will pay a price for his support of DA.”
—BOMBSHELL FILING—Oakland businessman Mario Juarez, a player in the FBI public corruption investigation, claims Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price shook him down for a $25,000 donation to her campaign to oppose the recall in exchange for dropping felony charges against him. Juarez made the claim in a court filing. Oct. 11 - “Bombshell: DA Price accused of asking for $25,000 bribe to fund campaign against her recall.”
—FOUNDING FATHER—Pete Snyder, Dublin’s first mayor, passes away. Snyder was part of the effort to incorporate Dublin in 1982. He served as mayor from 1982 through 1986, and again from 1990 through 1994. Oct. 17 - “Casting doubts.”
—I DRINK ALONE—Alameda Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer is found by police on a sidewalk in Long Beach, Calif. in a drunken state, according to police body-camera video released two weeks later. Spencer was in town for the League of California Cities Convention. Spencer would lose re-election to her council seat. Oct. 21 - “Return of the ranked choice voting.”
—DOUBLE GUT PUNCH—Former Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley endorses the recall of her successor, DA Pamela Price. “Alameda County cannot afford to keep Pamela Price as their district attorney,” O’Malley said. On the same day, an Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce poll indicates strong public support for recalling both Price and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. Oct. 24 - “Poll indicates Thao, Price are likely to be recalled.”
—SEE YOU IN COURT—Rep. Eric Swalwell threatens a defamation lawsuit against Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price after she suggests his motive for endorsing her recall from office was to cover up unethical behavior he allegedly committed while serving as an Alameda County prosecutor. Oct. 25 - “Bauters outraised, outspent Bas during the supervisorial race's final stretch.”
—EMERGENCY DONOR—Alameda Health System agrees to take over operations of Hayward’s St. Rose Hospital just days before an Oct. 31 deadline. Oct. 30 - “Running neck and neck.”
NOVEMBER
—ELECTION SURPRISES—Voters recall Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. Nikki Fortunato Bas comes from behind to win the open District 5 seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and Adena Ishii pulls a major upset and becomes Berkeley’s next mayor. New mayors are elected: Raj Salwan in Fremont, Sherry Hu in Dublin, Jack Balch in Pleasanton, and Gary Singh in Union City. Jesse Arreguin and Tim Grayson are elected to the state Senate, along with Jerry McNerney. Nov. 6 - “With crime on their minds, Oakland, Alameda County voters recall Thao and Price.”
—CENSURE IS IN THE AIR—Censure and other types of public rebuke for poor councilmember behavior is agendized in Alameda, San Leandro, and Emeryville. Alameda councilmembers decide against condemning Trish Herrera Spencer for her behavior in Southern California. But San Leandro Councilmembers Fred Simon and Victor Aguilar, Jr. are censured for interfering with the former city manager’s duties. Emeryville censures Councilmember Kalimah Priforce for multiple ethics violations.
—JUST SAD—Recalled Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price seeks to adjourn a meeting of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee in her own memory. Nov. 14 - “Pamela Price moved to adjourn the Democratic Central Committee meeting in her own memory.”
—CANDIDATE LIST—The list of potential replacements for Oakland mayor is filling up fast. Rep. Barbara Lee is interested. Former mayoral candidate Loren Taylor is already in the race. Nov. 14 - “Pamela Price moved to adjourn the Democratic Central Committee meeting in her own memory.”
—B-WORD RETURNS—Oakland’s budget shortfall is now an estimated $93 million. The initial version of a council finance report references the possibility of bankruptcy. A new version omitting the reference and several others is quickly posted. Nov. 18 - “Oakland is on the verge of financial disaster.”
DECEMBER
—ONLY GETS WORSE—Fitch Ratings and S&P downgrades Oakland’s credit rating, a strong sign the financial world is getting very skittish about the city’s fiscal health. Dec. 4 - “Emeryville censures councilmember for publicly disclosing closed session info, failure to report campaign contributions.”
—THAO’S REPLACEMENT—Oakland Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas resigns from her District 2 seat to become acting mayor for about three weeks. Bas will be sworn in as an Alameda County supervisor in January. Dec. 4 - “Emeryville censures councilmember for publicly disclosing closed session info, failure to report campaign contributions.”
—COMING HOME?—Rep. Eric Swalwell is showing strong interest in seeking the appointment to replace recalled Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Contenders to replace him in the 14th Congressional District begin lining up. Dec. 6 - “Trust the process.”
—DRO GETS ‘THE LETTER’—Following Hayward this year, San Leandro is likely the next East Bay city to switch to district-based council elections after receiving a complaint letter by an attorney representing a former city council candidate. Dec. 6 - “Trust the process.”
—BOLD MOVES—Alameda County Treasurer Henry Levy tells the Board of Supervisors that he divested from Caterpillar after selling three bonds associated with the company worth $36 million. The move is applauded by supporters of Palestine. Dec. 11 - “On his own, Alameda County treasurer divested from Caterpillar, a symbol of trauma for Palestinians.”
—BETTER LATE THAN NEVER—Due in January 2023, Alameda County finally submits its housing element plan for the unincorporated areas, despite opposition. The state had set a Dec. 31 deadline for its submittal. Dec. 13 - “Alameda County approves long-overdue housing element.”
—SEE YOU NEXT YEAR—Fittingly, yet another chance for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to approve a watered down Just Cause tenant protections is torpedoed. “This is a complete embarrassment that we have already compromised on so many components of this ordinance and we are saying it’s still not enough,” Supervisor Elisa Marquez said. Dec. 18 - “Can. Meet road. Alameda County supervisors deliver another setback to renters protections.”
