Good times, bad times

Newark makes council appointment, while another announces he will not run for re-election; County takes yet another stab at sheriff's oversight. Plus, campaign finance data

Mario Juarez during his campaign for the Oakland City Council. PHOTO/Shane Bond

SCANDAL IN THE EAST BAY

—SUPER MARIO’S PART—Oakland businessman and long-time Alameda County Democratic Party operative Mario Juarez appears to be among the central actors in the FBI investigation focusing on Oakland and the East Bay.

—It’s increasingly clear a partnership named Evolutionary Homes that included Juarez and the Duong Family went awry somewhere along the line.

—Although it is not clear if two alleged attacks on Juarez—one he says occurred at the offices of California Waste Solutions, the other at his home—is related to the matter.

—Regardless, Juarez has a track record for aggressively responding to threats against him.

—“The truth is I f—k with whoever f—ks with me,” Juarez told me in March after he sent attack text messages that targeted Loren Taylor, then an opponent in the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee March Primary.

—In the past, Juarez has created similar websites to harshly criticize opponents. He did so during the 2022 Oakland mayoral election with websites to denigrate candidates Loren Taylor and Ignacio De La Fuente, Juarez’s long-time enemy.

—Similarly, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has been the subject of Juarez’s attack websites.

—It’s not exactly surprising that Juarez created a harshly worded website dedicated to criticizing the Duongs, Oaklandside reported.

—HAGGLING OVER PRICE—But, that Juarez, the Duongs, and Price attended a meeting on Jan. 7 at the office of California Waste Solutions in Oakland is indeed surprising.

—The item reported in the San Francisco Chronicle on June 28 deserves some attention.

—Price’s spokesperson told the Chronicle that Price agreed to the meeting following services for slain Oakland police officer Tuan Le.

—Juarez, a longtime supporter of former Alameda County DA Nancy O’Malley, has expressed strong dislike for Price in the past.

—For her part, Price is known to harbor resentment toward her opponents and critics.

—Why these two, at times, volatile personalities were in a meeting together could provide hints as to why sources said the FBI had asked questions about Price.

—A few weeks after the meeting, Price charged Juarez with a felony for allegedly passing more than $53,000 in bad checks related to mailers created by Juarez late in the 2022 Oakland mayoral campaign.

—BETTER TIMES—An Instagram video posted earlier this year by Andy Duong of California Waste Solutions has been making the rounds around East Bay politics.

—The short video includes Duong recording his guests in various states of revelry. Included in the video is Mario Juarez.

—San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo makes a late appearance in the video after the camera pans over a table full of cocktails.

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