Friday fight card
DA Pamela Price faced upset Oakland Hills residents; Union City mayor and councilmember traded barbs, and Rep. Eric Swalwell nearly brawled with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
COUNTY NEWS
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—MISDIRECTION—Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price told her supporters to show up in force to a public safety meeting in the Montclair District of Oakland.
—They complied in what was a disjointed, often frustrating two-hour meeting that included Price and an Oakland Police captain.
—Price arrived 20 minutes late with at least seven staffers, including several large men. When Price headed to the restroom during the meeting, four of these bodyguard-like staffers led the way.
—On several occasions, Price supporters effectively changed the direction of the conversation with outbursts.
—One woman, nearly in tears, thanked the heavens for sending Price to her. She did this on two other occasions during the meeting. “There’s a lot people who look at me and see hope,” Price said.
—Paul Cobb, the publisher of the Oakland Post, led another outburst by questioning the intention of the media at last night’s meeting, despite the irony of the assertion.
—If the intent was to run out of the clock before Price faced any uncomfortable questioning, it worked.
—Few Montclair neighbors were able to ask questions, leading some to become antsy. “We don’t want to hear your dog and pony show!” said one attendee seated behind me. Some left the meeting early.
—Price spent about 30 minutes on a PowerPoint presentation detailing what the DA’s offices does and its history. Earl Warren was mentioned twice.
—But when asked about a recent incident last May involving nine juvenile youths who allegedly committed up to 35 robberies in Oakland, but were released the next day, Price addressed the situation.
—Price sidestepped any role in not seeking charges against the teenagers. Instead, placing the decision on a charging attorney in her office. She added her office could not determine which of the nine committed the crimes.
—Other highlights:
“The district attorney is not the police,” Price said. “The district attorney is not the person who stops crime from happening. The district attorney is the person who decides after a crime has occurred, what does justice look like?”
A resident asserted no confidence that crime can be abetted. “How do we stop this hamster wheel?” Price responded, “I’m looking at the captain.”
Another resident who was recently the victim of a violent carjacking asked Price, “How are people doing this with impunity and brazenness?” Price handed off the question to the police captain.
On the murder of a Home Depot security guard in Pleasanton, Price said the suspect was charged with homicide, which is typically a sentence of 25 years to life. If enhancements, which Price opposes, are added, it could mean another 25 years in prison. Price argued an individual in prison that long will essentially be a ward of the state once they are released from prison.
CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—LICENSE TO SURVEIL—Councilmember Kevin Jenkins wants to bring Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) to Oakland. Jenkins intends to introduce legislation for the license plate readers after the August recess, he said on Thursday.
—“Oaklanders, as a Councilmember & fellow resident, I've seen and felt the growing concerns about our city's security,” Jenkins tweeted in a lengthy thread. “The unanimous sentiment? We need change NOW. Enough is enough!”
—Earlier this week, the Berkeley City Council approved 52 ALPRs as a sense that crime is rising permeates with residents in the East Bay’s most progressive bastion.
—Surprisingly, Berkeley proved to be the canary in the coal mine when it comes to the resurgence of ALPRs in the East Bay. Other cities such as Alameda and San Leandro, among others, have approved ALPRs, along with discussions to expand their use.
—“I acknowledge the potential privacy issues,” Jenkins tweeted. “But rest assured, I’ll collaborate with our advisory privacy commission & the council to develop a policy that respects & ensures the safety of every Oaklander.”
UNION CITY
—‘DON’T TREAT ME LIKE A CHILD’—Union City Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernacci is losing control of her council.
—The prelude to the dust-up on Tuesday night seemed unremarkable. A relatively simple consent item approving members to a few commissions. Like many cities, the appointment process is controlled by the mayor.
—But Union City Councilmember Jaime Patiño pulled the item from consent and recommended changes to Dutra-Vernaci’s appointments. She told him the motion was out of order.
—When Dutra-Vernacci failed to get another to second the motion to approve her appointments, she exclaimed, “really?”
—“I would like to go on-record that three councilmembers are choosing to ignore all of the fine applicants that we had for these positions,” Dutra-Vernacci said after seconding the motion.
—Patiño and Councilmember Gary Singh voted against the appointments. Councilmember Jeff Wang abstained.
—The political rivalry between Dutra-Vernacci and Patiño is one of the hottest in the East Bay. When Patiño attempted to clarify his position, Dutra-Vernacci stopped him.
—“Don’t treat me like a child. I can speak,” Patiño told Dutra-Vernacci
—Dutra-Vernacci responded, “Not if I don’t give you permission to.”
—“Oh, so you are treating me like a child,” Patiño said. He later told Dutra-Vernacci that he works for the city, not her.
HAYWARD
—CYBERATTACK UPDATE—The City of Hayward’s computer system is back online, the city announced on Thursday.
—No additional information was offered regarding the cyberattack that occurred on July 9. However, the city suggested a ransom was demanded by, still unknown to the public, cyberthieves.
—”At this time, the City is not commenting on the identity of the intruders, investigations of the incident, parties involved, information gathered by investigators or ransom sought,” the city said.
D.C. NEWS
14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—‘ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?’—One of my fondest memories in reporting was in 2012 when East Bay Rep. Pete Stark called an up-and-coming Eric Swalwell a “fucking crook,” at the end of a candidate forum in Hayward.
—I remember calling Swalwell, then a Dublin councilmember, to ask whether Stark had indeed made the comment to him. Swalwell and the Republican candidate in that race corroborated the exchange in which Stark also denied Swalwell a handshake.
—Stark’s history of poor behavior, and unruly comments to his colleagues over the years, was one of the reasons why the congressional district needed change, Swalwell often said on the stump. Stark’s comments to him that night only underscored his argument, Swalwell told me.
—Fast forward 11 years and Swalwell was reportedly involved in fight with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that would have made even Stark blush.
—The Daily Beast reports that Swalwell and McCarthy exchanged words on the House floor during the censure hearing last month for Rep. Adam Schiff.
—“This is pathetic. You’re weak. You’re a weak man,” Swalwell told McCarthy, who gave Swalwell a long, icy stare, according to the report.
—When India’s prime minister visited the Capitol, the two again tussled.
—McCarthy told Swalwell, “If you ever say something like that to me again, I’m gonna kick the shit out of you.”
—“Are we going to do this,” Swalwell responded, appearing to initiative a fight.
—McCarthy told Swalwell, “Call me a pussy again, and I’ll kick your ass.”
—“You. Are. A. Pussy,” Swalwell responded with cadence.
ELECTION 2024
ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DIST. 1
—DAVID’S GOLIATH WARCHEST—It’s anticipated that Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert’s forthcoming fundraising report is going to be stuffed with cash. Large $5,000+ donations to his campaign have landed into his re-election coffers with great frequency over the past few months.
—In addition, Haubert’s campaign just held his annual BBQ fundraiser at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds on July 29, and is organizing another large fundraiser in Fremont next month.
—Both fundraisers list a $10,000 top-tier contribution. (The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has a $20,000 cap on individual contributions per election cycle.)
—If Haubert’s finance report, which show contributions through June 30, is robust, with these two major fundraisers coming after the reporting deadline, expect an even bigger cache of cash when the next report lands in the fall.
—During the 2020 election cycle, Haubert raised, by far, the most money of any candidate in any race in Alameda County. Haubert reported almost $600,000 in contributions. The next closest was Derreck Johnson, a candidate for the Oakland City Council, who raised over $230,000.
—Haubert doesn’t have a known March primary challenger and a credible candidate isn’t expected to arise, begging the question of whether he has eyes for a higher office sooner than later?
9TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—COCO & DRO SEAT—San Ramon Councilmember Marisol Rubio has filed an intent to run in next year’s 9th State Senate District seat being vacated by state Sen. Steve Glazer.
—Rubio, viewed as a Democratic up-and-comer in East Bay politics, challenged Glazer in 2020, garnering 24 percent of the primary vote, but it wasn’t enough to advance to the November General Election. She won a seat on the San Ramon City Council last year.
—The redistricted 9th State Senate District is now mostly a Contra Costa County seat, but oddly drawn to include San Leandro and unincorporated Alameda County, almost as an afterthought.
—Fifteenth District Assemblymember Tim Grayson and 16th District Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan may also be angling for the seat.
