Lily Mei response to scathing article is Trump-like, does not include denial
More $$$ to IE backing Oakland mayoral candidate IDLF
ELECTION 2022
Days until Election Day: 60.
10TH STATE SENATE
—SHRUG EMOJI—A day after it was revealed Fremont Mayor Lily Mei had dangerously mixed her private life with her work as an elected official, she again avoided confirming the story or deny it. Instead, her campaign posted a conspiratorial statement outside the eyes of voters and political watchers in the East Bay. The cryptic statement was tucked it into a Sacramento-based newsletter on Friday morning.
—Clearly, Mei’s campaign did not want to spotlight the investigation that found she had compromised herself and the city she represents by texting partially nude texts to at least one East Bay official.
—Instead, the campaign posted a rather unprofessional statement in the Capitol Morning Report that neither includes my full name, where the article is located, rambles on about an unfounded conspiracy, and includes a broken link to a press release.
—In the statement, Mei did not deny the allegations in the article, but asserted there is no evidence.
—It appears Mei has cracked. She strangely calls on her opponent Aisha Wahab to tell me to retract the story and “take it down.” I have not been contacted by anyone asking for a retraction.
—In the statement, Mei twice calls me a “low-life blogger,” a somewhat antiquated term. Ironically, if Fremont and the 10th State Senate District had a mainstream reporter covering the city or this race, the campaign would have sidestepped me and sent this statement to them. But they couldn’t. There’s no press. If they could, the reporter would have simply asked, did you send the sexts? And she would have to answer yes or no.
—To be clear, I reached out to Mei’s campaign through a surrogate working on her campaign. I was told someone would contact me on Wednesday afternoon. I gave a 4 p.m. deadline. Then I was told Mei would call me from the airport. I waited until 10 p.m. This is why Wednesday’s newsletter was published on Thursday morning.
—Furthermore, I take particular exception with Mei conjuring the spirit of Donald Trump and his hate for the free press. I take her comments as a serious threat to my safety. Any hint of this type of language coming from Mei towards me again in the future and any threat from one of her supporters will be dealt with swiftly.
—This is verbatim language that Trump has used against the press. I do not know the full breadth of those who support Mei’s campaign. In the past, Mei has sought support from Christian conservatives in the South Bay. If there are zealots among her supporters, this type of rhetoric against a reporter doing his job puts me in danger.
—I have tirelessly covered Alameda County politics for the past 12 years. I’ve worked on the staffs of the East Bay Express and Alameda/Oakland Magazine for 10 years. I’m the last man standing in the local press corp. I’m not a worker bee. I’m the owner of this small business. I work for my paid subscribers.
—I’ve always worked to shine the light on local government and elected officials, and I do it bluntly. That’s because I strongly believe in government and I take it very personal when elected officials disrespect their constituents. Furthermore, anybody that knows me or has followed me over the years knows that absolutely nobody tells me what to do.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—MONEYBALL—Back to business. On Wednesday, Alameda County Democratic Party leaders mentioned some contributions to the central committee were in the mail. On Friday, one from SEIU Local 1021 arrived as the local party hopes to steer the committee back to its core functions—fundraising and getting Democrats elected in Alameda County.
—In a developing story mentioned in yesterday’s newsletter, the backers of an Independent Expenditure Committee supporting Oakland mayoral candidate Ignacio De La Fuente is becoming more clear. Oakland philanthropist Phil Tagami, the main backer of Oakland’s bulk terminal, contributed $50,000 to the De La Fuente IE, it was reported on Friday. Earlier this week, Jon Brooks, an SoCal investor, seeded the IE with $50,000. At this moment, the IE is the most well-funded mayoral committee in Oakland.
—Meanwhile, an IE in support of Oakland mayoral candidate Sheng Thao received $25,000 from the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee on Friday. On the radar is a third IE in the Oakland mayor’s race that supports candidates Loren Taylor, Treva Reid, and De La Fuente.
—Large Form 497 contributions ($1,000 or more) filed Thursday through Friday afternoon. *-local city campaign contribution limit.
COUNTY
ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
—Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, SEIU Local 1021 Candidate PAC, $3,000.
AC TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—Sarah Syed (AC Transit Board of Directors-Ward 3), Jo Ann Rzeppa of Buena Vista, Colo, $4,900; Stella Saxon of Karnes City, Tex., $2,500. Stewart Chen (AC Transit Board of Directors-Ward 3), Stewart Chen, $5,500; Stevenson Dela Cruz of San Leandro, $1,500; Ying Da Luz of San Francisco, $1,000; Prime Circle Insurance Services, Inc. of San Leandro, $1,000.
CITY
OAKLAND
—Valerie Bachelor (Oakland School Board, Dist. 6), Teachers Parents and Friends of Angela Normand 2020, $1,500.
—Jennifer Brouhard (Oakland School Board, Dist. 2), Teachers Parents and Friends of Angela Normand 2020, $1,500.
—Pecolia Manigo (Oakland School Board, Dist. 4), Oakland Education Association PAC, $1,800*; Teachers Parents and Friends of Angela Normand 2020, $1,500.
—Californians for Safer Streets Supporting Ignacio De La Fuente for Mayor of Oakland 2022 (Supporting De La Fuente), Oakland Bulk & Oversized Terminal LLC, $50,000.
—Working Families for a Better Oakland Supporting Thao for Oakland Mayor 2022 (Supporting Thao), Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 Political Committee, $25,000.
ALAMEDA
—A Better Alameda, Supporting Spencer, Opposing Ashcraft For Mayor Supporting Daysog & Beusterien, Opposing Oddie For City Council (San Leandro Mayor) Karen Lithgow of Alameda, $1,000.
SAN LEANDRO
—Juan Gonzalez (San Leandro Mayor) Makinya Ward of San Leandro, $1,000.
LIVERMORE
—Craig Bueno (Livermore Joint USD School Board), Livermore Education Assoc. PAC, $1,750. Emily Prusso (Livermore Joint USD School Board), Livermore Education Assoc. PAC, $1,750.
PLEASANTON
—Dean Wallace (Pleasanton City Council-Dist. 1), Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 PAC, $1,000.
HAYWARD
—Tom Wong (Hayward School Board), Thomas Mancino of San Francisco, $1,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—Aisha Wahab (10th State Senate District), Faculty for our University's Future, a Committee Sponsored by the California Faculty Association Small Contributor Cmte, $9,500; Women in Power PAC, $4,900; Sprinkler Fitters Local 483 Legislative PAC, $4,900; IBEW Local 180 PAC, $3,000; Faculty Association of California Community Colleges PAC, $2,000.
—Lily Mei (10th State Senate District), Pony.ai.inc. of Fremont, $4,000.
20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Liz Ortega-Toro (20th Assembly District), Association of California School Administrators PAC Small Contributor Committee, $9,700; UA Journeymen & Apprentices Local #250 PAC Small Contributor Cmte, $4,900; Women in Power PAC, $2,400; California Machinists Non Partisan Political League, $1,000.
18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), Walgreens Company, $4,000.
16TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), Albertsons Safeway, $2,000; Ring Central, Inc., $1,500.