Back in court
Oakland's 'Fantastic Four' is due back in U.S. District Court this morning; County supes to approve $5.1 billion budget today; 'Cancun on three!': Hayward City Council is on vacation until mid-August
☕️MORNING BUZZ
—Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is due back in court this morning, along with her partner Andre Jones, and owners of California Waste Solutions—David Duong and Andy Duong.
The defendants were last seen in U.S. District Court in Oakland on April 24. This morning’s status conference with U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers begins at 10:30 a.m.
Federal prosecutors allege that Thao, Jones, and California Waste Solutions executives Andy Duong and his father David Duong engaged in a bribery and corruption scheme. All four have entered not guilty pleas. A trial date has not been set.
The Duongs allegedly funneled illegal campaign donations and personal benefits to Thao and Jones in exchange for favorable treatment in city contracts and decisions related to their recycling company.
The indictment details wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy charges, painting a picture of a quid pro quo relationship stretching across Thao's rise to mayor and her influence over city affairs.
At the April 24 hearing, the primary focus was the ongoing discovery process, with defense attorneys expressing concern over the pace of evidence sharing.
Prosecutors reported they had supplied around 400 gigabytes of documents, including financial records, phone data, and search warrants.
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—More inside:
Alameda County plans to put its fiscal year budget to bed today, including a large payment to reduce its unfunded pension liabilities.
Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas has some ideas for bringing transparency to the board’s budget process. But two supervisors responded with various levels of mockery.
The Berkeley City Council closed a $26.8 million budget shortfall, but used revenues from a voter-approved measure originally pitched for affordable housing to close a portion of its funding gap.
Amid great uncertainty this summer, Hayward city officials are taking nearly two months off.
Canary in the coal mine? San Leandro’s third quarter sales tax numbers are down 8%.
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