Former San Leandro police chief one of four in line for Oakland job
Just cause renters protections again put on hold; New IE spent $450,000 against SD7 candidate; Oakland philanthropist drops $1.2 million on progressive IE
CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—’DRO-AKLAND—Former San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen was fired last week, but he could in position for a promotion as Oakland’s future police chief.
—He was one of four candidates selected by the Oakland Police Commission on Tuesday night. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has the option to selected one of them to become the city’s next police chief.
—A community forum is scheduled for Thursday night to hear from the four candidates.
—Here are the other contenders:
Floyd Mitchell—Former police chief of Lubbock and Temple, Tex. Current president of the Texas Police Chief Association.
Lisa Davis—Current lieutenant colonel and the investigations bureau commander for Cincinnati Police Department.
Luis Molina—Current assistant deputy mayor for public safety in New York City. Former commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction.
—Thao rejected a list of three candidates in December that also included Pridgen, who was also a finalist for Oakland police chief in 2020.
—Pridgen was removed as San Leandro police chief on Feb. 20 after being placed on administrative leave since September. But the exact reason why Pridgen was placed on leave and later removed is unknown.
—As reported here yesterday, despite Pridgen’s circumstances his chances are strong, although it's uncertain if Thao would choose a candidate that she already sidestepped two months ago.
—In San Leandro, Pridgen was touted as a police reformer. Insiders say his dismissal was political in nature. Essentially, a struggle between Pridgen and San Leandro’s powerful police union.
—MORE INSIDE: Subscribe today to receive all the East Bay political news in your inbox every weekday morning at 6 a.m.
COUNTY NEWS
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—JUST CAUSE CONTINUED—Unincorporated Alameda County’s quest for renters protections will have to wait another few weeks, if ever.
—Supervisor Nate Miley’s proposed just cause ordinance was continued after a motion by Supervisor David Haubert on Tuesday.
—The reappearance of the ordinance just one week from an election that could potentially change the makeup of the Board of Supervisors raised eyebrows on both sides of the issue.
—Tenants groups derided Miley’s ordinance on Monday as being inadequate. Landlords believed their concerns about just cause remained unanswered.
—In addition, landlords expressed skepticism about what Miley is trying to accomplish with an issue that is one of the major sticking points between him and challenger Jennifer Esteen, who is a strong proponent of renters protections. Miley has typically sided with landlords.
—In real terms, the fate of renters protections in unincorporated Alameda County most likely rests on the results of next week’s election. A win by Miley could mean less robust renters protections in the future. An upset by Esteen could flip the board to a pro-renters majority in 2025.
—EAST BAY INSIDERS LIVE!—Thank you to all who attended last night’s inaugural East Bay Insiders Live! at Awaken Cafe in downtown Oakland with our special guest former Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor.
—I’ll have more on the big night in tomorrow’s newsletter. In the meantime, look out for future events in your city. San Leandro or Alameda is next up.
—Episode 83 with Loren Taylor will be available to download later today.
ELECTION 2024
—VOTER TURNOUT—As of Feb. 27.
Santa Clara County 99,575 returned—10%
Contra Costa County 72,366—10%
San Joaquin County 36,010—10%
Alameda County 66,168—7%
CALIFORNIA 2,011,096—9%
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—BANK NOTES—Rarely in Alameda County politics have we seen an overwhelming show of force like the onslaught independent expenditure committees are laying on Kathryn Lybarger in the 7th State Senate District primary.
A relatively new IE named East Bay Forward, expressly created to oppose Lybarger’s campaign, dropped $450,000 on Tuesday for television and digital ads.
East Bay Forward is backed by $400,000 from Uber, $100,000 from the California Apartment Association, and $100,000 from Housing Providers for Responsible Solutions, according to finance records. The IE was created on Feb. 20.
—Two Alameda County District 5 supervisorial candidates replenished their campaign coffers on Tuesday. Ken Berrick, as referenced on last Friday’s East Bay Insiders Podcast, gave his campaign a $50,000 infusion of cash, and Chris Moore reported a total of $20,000 on Tuesday.
—Oakland philanthropist Quinn Delaney contributed $1.2 million to the Progressive Era PAC on Tuesday.
—Yes on Measure I to Upgrade HUSD Schools, the Hayward school district’s $550 million infrastructure bond, reported raising $74,000, according to filings posted on Tuesday.
But nearly all of the money was reported weeks late, and could potentially result in a hefty fine from the California Fair Political Practices Commission. That is, if anybody bothers to report it.
—It looks like Jerry McNerney went of a fundraising trip to Southern California recently. The Tri-Valley 5th State Senate District candidate raised $49,400 on Monday. Many of the donors reside in the Los Angeles area.
—MONEYBALL—Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on Feb. 27.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—David Haubert (District 1), John Protopappas of Oakland, $1,000; International Association of Firefighters Local 55 PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $2,000.
—Nate Miley (District 4), Myrtle Davis of El Cerrito, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.
—Jennifer Esteen (District 4), Wilson Riles of Oakland, $1,000; Cathryn Campbell of El Cerrito, $1,000; Simona Farrise of Berkeley, $1,000. TOTAL: $3,000.
—Chris Moore (District 5), Wayne Lippman of Pleasant Hill, $10,000; Fred Morse of Oakland, $10,000. TOTAL: $20,000.
—Ben Bartlett (District 5), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 595 PAC Small Contributor Committee, $2,500; Aundre Speciale Pasadena, $1,000. TOTAL: $3,500
—Ken Berrick (District 5), Ken Berrick of Oakland, $50,000; Bay Area Citizens PAC, $4,000; Michael Alonso of Castro Valley, $1,000; Patrick Burns of Oakland, $1,000. TOTAL: $56,000.
SUPERIOR COURT
—Mark Fickes (Office #12), SEIU Local #1021 Candidate PAC, $10,000. TOTAL: $10,000.
HAYWARD
—Yes on Measure I to Upgrade HUSD Schools (Measure I - Hayward USD bond), TRIGroup Inc., $20,000; Bertos Architecture, $10,000; BHM Construction, $10,000; Engie Services, $7,500; Vista Environmental, $5,000; FE Controls Corporation, $5,000; Kitchell Corporation, $5,000; Cumming Management Group, $5,000; Blach Construction Company, $3,000; Orbach Huff & Henderson LLP, $2,500; Eric Fletcher of Hayward, $1,000. TOTAL: $74,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Jesse Arreguin (7th Senate District), California Operators PAC, $5,500; TOTAL: $5,500.
—Dan Kalb (7th Senate District), Michael Ubell of Oakland, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.
—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), - California Medical Association PAC, $4,100; Visa, Inc., $3,350; Hollywood Park Casino Company, LLC, $3,000; AT&T Services Inc. and its Affiliates, $2,000; California Farm Bureau Federation Fund to Protect the Family Farm, $1,500; California AIDS PAC-State, $1,000. TOTAL: $14,950.
—Jerry McNerney (5th Senate District), SEIU United Healthcare Workers West PAC, $10,900; John Laird for Senate 2024 Sacramento, $5,500; Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, $5,500; Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, $5,500; Deborah Chang of Redondo Beach, $5,500; Wylie Aitken Aitken Cohn of Santa Ana, $5,500; Nancy Skinner for Treasurer 2026, $4,000; Nelson & Fraenkel of Los Angeles, $2,500; Rizio Lipinsky of Riverside, $1,500; Randy Repass Watsonville, $1,000; Carl Anduri of Lafayette, $1,000; Matthew Hallinan of Berkeley, $1,000; Randy Repass of Watsonville, $1,000. TOTAL: $49,400.
—Carlos Villapudua (5th Senate District), PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, $3,000; AT&T Services Inc. and its Affiliates, $1,500. TOTAL: $4,500.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), SEIU United Healthcare Workers West PAC, $10,900; Hollywood Park Casino Company, LLC, $3,500. TOTAL: $14,400.
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), AT&T Services Inc. and its Affiliates, $2,500. TOTAL: $2,500.
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), State Building and Construction Trades Council of California PAC, $10,900; California Operators PAC, $4,000; California Chamber of Commerce PAC, $1,500. TOTAL: $16,400.
—Liz Ortega (20th Assembly District), Professional Engineers in California Government PAC Small Contributor Committee, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.
—IE SPENDING—Form 496 Independent Expenditure Committee (IE) spending in support and opposing candidates or ballot measures filed on Feb. 27.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Nikki Fortunato Bas (District 5), Asian Pacific Environmental Network Action Candidate Committee. SUPPORT (Mailer—$6,096). TOTAL: $6,096.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
—Janevette Cole (Area 5), Charter Public Schools PAC. SUPPORT (Literature—$14,966, Texts—$1,608). TOTAL: $16,574.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Kathryn Lybarger (7th District), East Bay Forward, a coalition of Technology and Housing Providers and Professionals opposing Kathryn Lybarger for Senate 2024. OPPOSE (TV/Web ads—$337,252). TOTAL: $337,252.
—Kathryn Lybarger (7th District), East Bay Forward, a coalition of Technology and Housing Providers and Professionals opposing Kathryn Lybarger for Senate 2024. OPPOSE (TV/Web ads—$112,417). TOTAL: $112,417.
—Tim Grayson (9th District), Cooperative of American Physicians Independent Expenditure Committee. SUPPORT (Mailer—$16,189, Digital ads—$3,276). TOTAL: $19,465.
—Tim Grayson (9th District), Dart Container Corporation. SUPPORT (Mailer—$8,815, Digital ads—$1,185). TOTAL: $10,000.
—Carlos Villapudua (5th District), Keeping Californians Working, a Coalition of Insurance Agents, Technology, Energy, and Health Care Providers. SUPPORT (Literature, polling—$46,000). TOTAL: $46,000.
