Recall funders are flexing
Former Alameda County sheriff is making an odd comeback; Beckles takes on Arreguin. Plus, campaign finance data
ELECTION 2024
PRICE RECALL
—NOW THEY’RE JUST SHOWING OFF—A day before Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s group opposing her recall kicks off its campaign at an undisclosed location in Oakland, Reviving the Bay Area, the committee bankrolling her ouster dropped off more money bags.
—The Independent Expenditure Committee reportedly funded by local real estate interests, contributed a total of $175,000 on Wednesday to Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE), the group seeking to recall Price.
—Reviving the Bay Area’s latest contributions to SAFE brings the known total of donations to $565,000 since Oct. 21.
—On its own, SAFE has raised $212,662, as of the most recent filing period, ending on Sept. 30.
7TH STATE SENATE
—LET THEM SPEAK—Last Tuesday’s Berkeley City Council was postponed after activists demanding the city council support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict took over the meeting.
—The decision to prematurely end the meeting was made by Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who is a front-running candidate in the 7th State Senate District primary next March. Amid loud chants calling for a ceasefire, Berkeley councilmembers left the dais and will return on Nov. 21.
—Jovanka Beckles, the AC Transit board director who is also a contender in the 7th District primary, criticized Arreguin for not allowing the activists speak at Tuesday’s council meeting.
—“What in the name of BS democracy is going on in Berkeley by the Mayor? Silencing speakers is some serious mess,” Beckles posted Tuesday on X.
—Beckles has made her stance on the Middle East conflict very clear. On Wednesday, she said Israel’s military response against Gaza is “genocide.”
CAMPAIGN FINANCE DATA
—MONEYBALL—Below is Form 497 campaign contributions ($5,000 or more) filed Nov. 10 through Nov. 15.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
PRICE RECALL
—Save Alameda For Everyone: Recall DA Price, Reviving the Bay Area, $25,000 (Nov. 10), $150,000 (Nov. 13).
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), ACE Development Company LLC, $5,500 (Nov. 14).
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), Operating Engineers Local No. 3 Statewide PAC Small Contributor Committee, $5,500 (Nov. 14).
—Liz Ortega (20th Assembly District), California Applicants' Attorneys Association - Small Contributor Committee, $5,000 (Nov. 13); California Applicants' Attorneys Association PAC, $5,000 (Nov. 13).
STATE SENATE
—Rhodesia Ransom (5th Senate District), Consumer Attorneys of California PAC, $5,500 (Nov. 13).
—Sandre Swanson (7th Senate District), 2100 Livingston Street Land, LLC, $5,500 (Nov. 13).
—Dan Kalb (7th Senate District), Howard Wenger of Walnut Creek, $4,500, $518 (Nov. 14).
—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), Laborers Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition PAC Small Contributor Committee, $10,900 (Nov. 6); Laborers Local Union 270 PAC Small Contributor Committee, $5,500 (Nov. 6); Laborers Local 304 PAC Small Contributor Committee, $5,400 (Nov. 6); John Foster of Pleasant Hill, $5,500 (Nov. 10); Montezuma Wetlands, LLC, $5,500 (Nov. 13).
COUNTY NEWS
ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIR BOARD
—FAIRLY ODD COUPLING— The popular carnival game in which players use a water pistol to pop a balloon might be very different attraction at next year’s Alameda County Fair because of new member to the Alameda County Fair Board.
—Former Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern was named to the Fair Board on Wednesday, despite not being known as a fun and games type of guy.
—It’s an odd return to local governance for Ahern, who was on the receiving end last year of one of the biggest electoral upsets in Alameda County history. The long-time sheriff was defeated by newcomer Yesenia Sanchez.
SANTA RITA JAIL
—ANOTHER SETTLEMENT—Alameda County Board of Supervisors formally approved a $7 million settlement with the family of Maurice Monk, the county counsel reported out of closed session on Tuesday evening.
—The settlement had been previously reported last week by various news outlet. The Board of Supervisors approved the settlement on Aug. 31.
—Monk was an inmate at Santa Rita Jail and died in custody in 2021. The lawsuit charged that Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies failed to properly monitor Monk, who suffered from mental illness, and he may have been dead for up to 72 hours.
—Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has opened an investigation, and charges against the deputies involved could be forthcoming.
—SALT SUBSTITUTE—An annual inspection of Santa Rita Jail in Dublin found the tracking of medical syringes is a problem, and food served to inmates is high in sodium, the county’s healthcare services agency will tell the Board of Supervisors at a Public Safety Committee meeting this morning.
HEALTH CARE
—GIVE ME A BREAK—Nurses at Oakland’s Highland Hospital are charging Alameda Health System (AHS), the operator of the health care facility, with illegal labor practices.
—Representatives from SEIU Local 1021 told the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that AHS reneged on a promise to comply with a new state law that guarantees acute care health care workers be paid an hour break.
—Senate Bill 1334 has been law since last January and Highland nurses have still not received pay for their breaks, they told the board.
—Union reps said AHS’ inaction is wage theft and a public safety problem. The underlining issue, they added, is Highland’s lack of staffing, which is inhibiting the ability for nurses—some working non-stop for 16 straight hours—to have a break.
—SEIU intends to send the Board of Supervisors a formal complaint letter, the union said.
—Labor issues at Highland Hospital have been common in recent years. A previous conflict between nurses and management has paved the way for oversight of AHS to shift from its governing board to the purview of the Board of Supervisors.
PODCAST
—EPISODE 74 PREVIEW—Former East Bay Republican Assemblymember Catharine Baker is now a member of the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
—She joins the podcast for a lengthy discussion on the lack of civility in politics, being the East Bay’s last Republican elected to the state Legislature, and government transparency.
—The episode drops on Friday morning at 6 a.m. Check your inbox.
—In Part 2, which drops on Monday morning, Baker offers some of her old war stories, including the 2018 Assembly race in which President Trump and the national Republican brand negatively impacted her campaign for re-election.
—Program note: Here’s the upcoming holiday schedule:
Friday - Podcast, no newsletter
Monday - Podcast, no newsletter
Tuesday - Newsletter at 6 a.m.
Wednesday - Newsletter at 6 a.m.
Thanksgiving - No newsletter
Black Friday - No newsletter