Nipping at Lee's heels

San Leandro, unlike its neighbors, doesn't have a rent stabilization ordinance. That may change soon; Amid Israel-Hamas conflict, Union City is being pressed to draft an ethical investment policy

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—Barbara Lee’s hastily organized press conference on Monday is another sign they feel their large lead in Oakland’s special mayoral election has evaporated.

Standing in front of a large array of green and gold Barbara Lee for Mayor signs, a long list of speakers extolled the former congressmember’s strong resume for mayor.

There was little new ground broken for Lee’s campaign, which appears stale and lacking any imagination of late, despite a press advisory billing her “bold” plans for Oakland.

The gathering came two days after Loren Taylor’s campaign released polling that showed he turned a 16-point disadvantage from last month into a virtual tie.

Internal polls should always be taken with a grain of salt, but there is chatter that a far more exhaustive poll commissioned by an IE shows similar numbers. In fact, the poll shows Taylor narrowly leading Lee, according to those who have seen it.

But the optics of Lee’s press conference on Monday—the bland rhetoric, lack of enthusiasm, and sparse crowd—was reminiscent of former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s similarly deflating press conferences during the dying days of the campaign to oppose her recall.

The notion the special mayoral election is presently a competitive race is becoming evident to others. It was mentioned in a piece published in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday.

—More inside:

• Oakland special election news with 20 days to Election Day.

• Appointed Alameda County DA is already getting ready for 2026.

• Thirteen Alameda County schools earned “distinguished school” distinction.

• San Leandro City Council is interested in rent stabilization, an ordinance that has long alluded them.

• A push for Union City to create an ethical investment policy might make one councilmember uncomfortable.

• Campaign finance data for Tuesday.

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