Packing His Bags
Embattled San Leandro councilmember is preparing his exit strategy, and the move is likely to impact the prosecution of Thao, Jones, and the Duongs.
☕️MORNING BUZZ
Vol. VI, No. 1,169
—Embattled San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo appears to be preparing to leave town, offering the clearest signal yet of where the FBI’s East Bay public corruption case may be headed next.
Azevedo’s home in San Leandro’s Halcyon neighborhood sold Thursday, according to Realtor.com.
The three-bedroom, two-bath house was listed on Nov. 17—less than a week after Azevedo pleaded not guilty to federal felony charges of wire fraud and lying to investigators.
The property was listed for $825,000 and sold for $827,500.
The sale comes shortly after a U.S. magistrate judge ruled on Dec. 30 that Azevedo was ineligible for federally funded legal representation, finding he had sufficient assets to hire private counsel.
Azevedo’s next court date is Feb. 11, when he is scheduled to appear for a hearing that includes a potential change of plea, according to court records.
Taken together, the developments suggest the prosecution is nearing its end—and so is Azevedo’s tenure on the San Leandro City Council.
Sources say Azevedo does not plan to remain in San Leandro and is preparing to move out of state. If so, he is unlikely to attend tonight’s long-anticipated council vote on rent stabilization, an issue he has long championed.
—His absence would further fuel speculation that Azevedo is poised to accept a plea deal with federal prosecutors and is unlikely to face jail time, despite charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Doing so, may place additional pressure on indicted former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao; and her (former?) partner, Andre Jones; to cooperate with federal authorities against David Duong and Andy Duong, who were also indicted a year a go for bribery and
Relinquishing residency alone would trigger Azevedo’s immediate removal as the District 2 councilmember. A felony conviction would also require his removal under city law.
Either outcome would set in motion the process to appoint a temporary replacement. The appointee would serve through the end of the year and could run in the November general election to complete the remainder of Azevedo’s term through 2028.
Names circulating for a potential District 2 appointment include former San Leandro Mayor Shelia Young; former Councilmember Ed Hernández; school board member Leo Sheridan; and Silin Huang, district director for Alameda County Supervisor Lena Tam.
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—More inside:
CITY NEWS: Scandal in the East Bay: A timeline.
Years in the making, San Leandro weighs strict rent stabilization ordinance that has landlords worried.
Loren Taylor no longer supports a strong-mayor system of government for Oakland, and wants to scrap ranked choice voting.
New anti–human trafficking strategy to be announced this morning
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