Libby Schaaf on running for state treasurer, and the state of Oakland

Schaaf on Thao indictments: "It's pretty clear the evidence in the indictment does not leave a lot of questions about what happened."

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf joins East Bay Insiders TV this morning to talk about her campaign for California state treasurer next year, the current state of city, and the FBI’s public corruption investigation in Oakland.

ON RUNNING FOR STATE TREASURER: “California definitely is at a moment where people are losing trust in their government. They're not feeling a sense of value when they write that tax check. And, you know, one of my great passions is to make government a little less irritating. That's really I think the primary experience that people have with government these days. I'd like to change that.”

ON OAKLANDERS PASSING A CHARTER REFORM AMENDMENT: “Just on a practical level I’ll tell you also why I don't think that going back to the city manager form of government will be better for Oaklanders.

“Oakland already has eight people who are passing policies, writing policies, passing policies. They're legislators. I think Oaklanders deserve one elected official that they elect who they are watching. And believe me, when you're the mayor, you get watched every day.”

ON THE FBI INVESTIGATION: “I read that indictment, it was eye-popping. It's pretty clear the evidence in the indictment does not leave a lot of questions about what happened.

“So, I am hopeful that Oakland is going to move away from that really unfortunate chapter… Barbara Lee is a great antidote to that moment. Talk about someone who inspires trust and feelings of goodwill.”

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—More inside:

• COUNTY NEWS: County officials asked to rethink heavy fines in east county illegal soil dumping cases.

• CITY NEWS: Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee forms working group to explore sweeping city government reforms, and a potential 2026 charter amendment.

• Fremont City Council to host student delegation from Taiwan.

• D.C. NEWS: Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna continues to raise his national profile.

• East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell continues to raise eyebrows by his latest turn as a TicTok influencer.