Building Trades Council endorsed candidate accused of domestic violence, now Alameda County Dems may do the same

Labor unions spent $140,000 on IE supporting Sheng Thao

ELECTION 2022

Days until Election Day: 54.

AC TRANSIT

—During the 2018 election, the Alameda Labor Council took heat for issuing support for embattled AC Transit At-Large Board Director Joel Young, despite allegations against him of domestic violence.

—Four years later, as Young is fighting an uncertain re-election, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County announced its endorsement of Young’s campaign. There has been little opposition toward the endorsement.

—Young was accused by a girlfriend of striking her in the face after she discovered him in bed with another woman in 2011.

—I broke the domestic violence story in the East Bay Express. I urge you to read the article based entirely on court records. At the time, Young was a candidate for 18th Assembly District seat eventually won by Rob Bonta.

—Last week, the East Bay Times endorsed Young’s re-election and, in addition, to labor’s support, the Alameda County Democratic Party could be next.

—Young was nominated for the party’s endorsement. He will face opponent Alfred Twu, a Berkeley planning commissioner, for a chance at gaining the party’s valuable endorsement this Saturday.

ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL

—CLIMATE THREAT—When it comes to the effects of climate change, Alameda, being an island, is facing more than an existential threat. At a candidate forum for the Alameda City Council’s two at-large seats on Tuesday, the question of mitigating the problem was posed.

—On the threat of sea level rise and other consequence related to climate change, candidate Jim Oddie said, “We will feel it before our friends in Berkeley, Danville, or anywhere else.” During his past tenure on the council, Oddie helped pass various waterfront protections along with a stormwater fee program.

—Councilmember Tony Daysog, seeking re-election, was also a part of those efforts. Daysog said not only should the city focus on fortifying its waterfront, but also on the effect sea-level rise poses for the entire island, in particular, maintaining its capacity to handle increasing amounts of storm water.

—The climate change question highlighted the experience gap between Oddie and Daysog and the rest of the council field. It’s no knock against their opponents. Top to bottom, this is one of the strongest group of candidates in any council race in Alameda County.

—Hannah Groce, who is closest in progressive background to Oddie, appeared cautious in her comments on Tuesday. Tracy Jensen has a great amount of lower-level political experience, but it remains to be seen whether she’s attempting to speak to all sides of all issues. Meanwhile, newcomer Paul Beusterien potentially has some political chops, but he often looked frantic and disorganized during the forum. It happens, but he shouldn’t be discouraged.

CITY NEWS

OAKLAND

--ALPR REMAINS IN THE AIR--The Oakland Police and the city’s Privacy Advisory Committee continue to be at loggerheads over the future of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs).

—The Oakland City Council’s Public Safety Committee kicked the issue back to the Privacy Committee on Tuesday for further discussion. OPD continues to say its past difficulties with providing data on the use of the ALPRs is a software issue. They want approval for $16,000 to upgrade their system.

—But the Privacy Committee is adamant that OPD has consistently failed to show any transparency on its use of ALPRs. 

—Brian Hofer of the Pricacy Advisory Committee said there’s a “lop-sided fact pattern” when it comes to OPD’s history of not being forthcoming about its ALPR data.

—The Privacy Committee voted earlier this year to recommend the city end its ALPR contract. Hofer said the question of the voter-approved committee’s power is on the line.

—“Are we an oversight body or not?” Gofer said. The ALPR question could come to the Privacy Committee next month with an eye on the issue returning to the Public Safety Committee in November.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

—NEW THAO IE—A committee named “East and South Bay Working Families United sponsored by labor organizations” spent $140,000 today on a phone and canvassing campaign in support of Oakland mayoral candidate Sheng Thao, according to a finance report.

—The IE, which was created on Wednesday, is backed by the California Federation of Teachers, California Federation of Labor, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, and SEIU California State Council, according to a finance filing.

—NEW KAPLAN IE—SEIU Local 1021 is going even further to bat for Rebecca Kaplan’s bid for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. A new Independent Expenditure Committee was filed on Wednesday named “Alameda County Tenants Families and Workers supporting Rebecca Kaplan for Supervisor 2022 sponsored by Service Employees International Union Local 1021.”

—MONEYBALL—Below is Form 497 contributions ($1,000 or more) filed Wednesday through Thursday morning. *-local city campaign contribution limit.

COUNTY

ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-DIST. 3

—Rebecca Kaplan (Alameda County Board of Supervisors-Dist. 3), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $2,500.

ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

—Pamela Price (Alameda County District Attorney), Jennie Otis of Oakland, $1,000; Oliver Kroll of San Francisco, $1,000.

—Terry Wiley (Alameda County District Attorney), Danny Lau of Pacifica, $1,000; Eileen McAndrew of Oakland, $1,100.

AC TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

—Joel Young (AC Transit Board of Directors-At-Large), California Conference Board Amalgamated Transit Union Small Contributor Cmte, $2,500.

CITY

ALAMEDA

—A Better Alameda, Supporting Spencer, Opposing Ashcraft For Mayor Supporting Daysog & Beusterien, Opposing Oddie For City Council (Alameda Mayor/City Council), Dennis Cox of Alameda, $1,000; Kira Comini, $1,000.

OAKLAND

—Working Families for a Better Oakland supporting Sheng Thao for Oakland Mayor 2022 (Supporting Thao), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $45,000.

—Janani Ramachandran (Oakland City Council-Dist. 4), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $1,700.

—Kevin Jenkins (Oakland City Council-Dist. 6), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $1,700.

SAN LEANDRO

—Lee Thomas (San Leandro Mayor), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $4,900*.

—Celina Reynes (San Leandro City Council-Dist. 1), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $1,000.

—Ken Pon (San Leandro City Council-Dist. 1), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $1,000.

—Xouhoa Bowen (San Leandro City Council-Dist. 5), International Association of Firefighter Local 55 PAC, $1,000.

LIVERMORE

—Carol Wahrer (Livermore City Council-Dist. 1), John Orourke of Livermore, $4,900*.

UNION CITY

—Yes on Z (Supporting Measure Z half-cent sales tax extension), Richard Valle for Supervisor 2022, $10,000.

STATE LEGISLATURE

10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT

—Lily Mei (10th State Senate District), PG&E Corporation and Affiliated Entities, $4,900.

—Aisha Wahab (10th State Senate District), California Professional Firefighters PAC Small Contributor Cmte, $9,700; California State Council of Service Employees Small Contributor Cmte, $9,700; California State Council of Laborers PAC Small Contributor Cmte, $4,850; Local 1245 IBEW Executive Board, $4,000.

20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

—Liz Ortega-Toro (20th Assembly District), Ash Kalra for Assembly 2022, $4,900; IAFF Local 689 PAC, $1,000.

16TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), Abbott Laboratories Employee Federal PAC, $2,500.