East Bay's Top 10 Stories of 2025: All About Trump
Trump's sudden, often confusing, adverse policies dominated the year. FBI probes, Swalwell for guv, MayorL ee, Hayward's finances, surveillance cameras, encampments, and council infighting
1. Alameda County’s response to Trump
Alameda County officials and city leaders reacted much like counterparts nationwide to the Trump administration’s shifting policies and repeated threats to cut federal funding. The uncertainty was not merely political—local officials often did not know how to maintain funding streams and public services while the administration either refined its goals or let threats fade. One warning that did materialize was H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Its passage in July stands to significantly restrict the county’s ability to provide services, including major Medicare cuts that will hit harder as January 2027 approaches. Trump’s impact was also acutely felt in the East Bay when he threatened to deploy the National Guard in Oakland and briefly ordered Homeland Security and ICE agents to Coast Guard Island near Alameda. Supervisors Nikki Fortunato Bas and Elisa Márquez worked to build a bulwark to protect residents—particularly immigrants—from the administration’s shifting and often belligerent policies.
2. FBI’s public corruption investigation expands
From the day FBI agents raided the homes of Sheng Thao and the owners of California Waste Solutions in June 2024, the federal corruption case appeared destined to be “bigger than Oakland.” That became clear in January 2025 when 18 FBI agents raided the home of San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo, later charging him with wire fraud and lying to federal authorities. While Azevedo’s case may conclude quickly in early 2026, the broader bribery and conspiracy investigation is likely to extend into other jurisdictions, further exposing the county’s political underbelly.
3. Existence of letter alleging ‘compromising situation’ brings scrutiny to AG Bonta
A May 2024 letter from Oakland businessman Mario Juarez to California Attorney General Rob Bonta resurfaced in 2025, alleging that indicted California Waste Solutions owner Andy Duong possessed a “compromising” video of Bonta and routinely recorded elected officials for leverage. The letter warned Bonta of Duong family activity tied to the federal probe that has already ensnared former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Duongs. Bonta forwarded the letter to the FBI and denies any improper involvement or knowledge of such a tape. Though there is no evidence he is a suspect, the episode fueled renewed scrutiny—amplified by nearly $468,000 in legal fees his campaign paid during the investigation—as he weighs a 2026 run for governor. The resurfacing of the letter coincided with heightened interest in Bonta’s statewide ambitions.
4. Swalwell runs for governor, and the cascading effect on the 2026 election
Ever since Eric Swalwell won a seat on the Dublin City Council in 2010, he appeared driven to seek higher office. After unseating Rep. Pete Stark in 2012, some pundits joked he would someday run for president—an ambition he briefly pursued in 2020. In November 2025, Swalwell announced his candidacy for California governor in a field with no clear frontrunner. Early polling in December looked promising for Swalwell, even as Attorney General Rob Bonta loomed as a potential contender. Swalwell’s decision instantly reshaped local politics. His 14th Congressional seat will be on the June 2026 ballot, and the 10th State Senate District could also open if Sen. Aisha Wahab joins the race to replace him, setting off a cascade of campaigns.
5. Oakland’s special mayoral election
Oakland’s special mayoral election offered a reset following the city’s financial turmoil and the previous mayor’s recall. Voters elected Barbara Lee, tasking her with stabilizing city finances amid a structural deficit and fraying public services. Since her April victory, Lee has lowered political tensions and brought needed stability, though a forward-looking agenda has yet to emerge. On the same ballot, voters passed Measure A, a half-cent sales tax raising the rate to 10.75 percent and generating roughly $20–$30 million annually to help prevent further service cuts. Looking ahead to June 2026, the city plans to place a parcel tax on the ballot expected to raise an additional $40 million per year.
6. Encampment policies
Encampment policy shifted across Alameda County following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling, which granted local jurisdictions broader authority to clear encampments. Berkeley quickly adopted an ordinance allowing removals while requiring support and shelter for displaced residents. In Fremont, controversy erupted after a proposed camping ban included language that appeared to criminalize providing food or water to the unhoused—phrasing later removed. Oakland revisited its encampment management policy, but Councilmember Ken Houston’s plan stalled amid conflicting state regulatory interpretations by year’s end. The evolving policies reflected longstanding friction between state and local authority, public safety advocates, and unhoused rights organizations.
7. Hayward suddenly faces a fiscal cliff
Hayward’s finances took a dramatic turn late in the year when officials discovered a $30 million shortfall in August. Structural imbalances tied to labor costs, inaccurate budget assumptions, and a puzzling $10 million downtown theater purchase propelled the city toward a fiscal cliff. Talk of bankruptcy surfaced publicly. A scramble to find short-term cuts continues and is expected to dominate early 2026. Stabilizing Hayward’s finances will be difficult, especially as labor unions and the city prepare for a showdown over proposed 3.5 percent wage reductions—setting the stage for a potential work stoppage by SEIU Local 1021 and IFPTE Local 21.
8. Cities fight for county’s Measure W funding
Alameda County’s long-awaited Measure W homelessness revenue—projected to total $1.83 billion by 2031—finally began flowing in 2025, including an initial $700 million infusion for housing and services. Supervisors allocated roughly 80 percent to homelessness solutions and 20 percent to safety-net programs, but not without pressure from cities seeking their “fair share.” Officials in Oakland, Hayward, and Berkeley pushed for allocations tied to demonstrated need, particularly Oakland’s disproportionately high unhoused population. The debate revealed competing visions for how to deploy unprecedented funding while balancing countywide coordination with localized demands.
9. Rise of surveillance cameras in the East Bay
Surveillance technology expanded rapidly across Alameda County in 2025. Oakland approved a $2.25 million, two-year Flock Safety contract to expand its ALPR network despite intense privacy concerns and questions about federal access to data. Supporters pointed to drops in vehicle thefts and police data linking the cameras to arrests and firearm recoveries, while critics warned of civil-liberties risks. Berkeley and other cities also increased camera use, though public reaction varied widely. In Fremont, for example, a vote to expand surveillance technology prompted little public comment, underscoring how differently communities weighed safety, privacy, and trust in local government.
10. Independent investigations, infighting debilitate San Leandro, East Bay MUD
Independent investigations and censure efforts consumed local institutions throughout 2025, often diverting focus from core public services. After a flurry of censure proceedings late in 2024, AC Transit failed to censure Director Sarah Syed in January. In San Leandro, ongoing conflicts and unresolved conduct allegations among councilmembers stalled policymaking and frayed public trust. At EBMUD, an investigation found Director April Chan violated conduct standards in interactions with staff and an artist, leading to censure despite investigators finding no racial motivation. The string of probes demonstrated how internal disputes and ethics controversies continue to sap time, energy, and progress in local government.
Top 10 Most Read EBI Stories of 2025
East Bay Insiders’ readers visited the Substack newsletter 3 million times in 2025. Here’s the Top 10 most read stories this year:
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