Swalwell takes heat for wanting to expel Russian college students
Hayward is getting frustrated with its pot permitholders; Return of the Oakland PACs
—NYET TO RUSSIAN STUDENTS—Rep. Eric Swalwell is taking heat after he called for Russian college students in the U.S. to be expelled following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Swalwell made the comments during an appearance today on CNN.
—Swalwell said the move is meant as a way to retaliate against Russian President Vladimir Putin and many of the students who are the children of Russian oligarchs, he later told news outlets. Reaction was swift and brutal, with some equating Swalwell’s idea to the forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
—Of course, Swalwell’s comments also reignited the conservative realm’s social media pastime of skewering the East Bay’s congressman’s reported dalliances with an alleged Chinese spy. During the CNN interview, Swalwell also advocated for closing the Russian Embassy in the U.S.
ELECTION 2022
OAKLAND
—REFRESHED PACS—Because of Oakland’s size, no other city in Alameda County comes close to the oversized influence of political action committees. It’s within this shadowy sphere were the punches are thrown in mayoral and contentious city council race. And those left hooks and pounding jabs, delivered as mailer, attack websites, and ads, require big money. It’s still eight months before ballots appear in Oakland mailboxes, but there are early signs that some political action committees are readying their fall campaigns.
—The Oakland Jobs PAC, a committee formed by influential Oakland insider Greg McConnell recently filed forms with the Alameda County Register of Voters that indicate the PAC has begun raising funds for the November election cycle. OakPAC, a committee backed by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, did the same. Both PACs have been big players in the city’s elections in recent years. Both filings state they intend to support and oppose Oakland candidates. These two PACs have typically been transparent in their pro-business stances and the developers and business people who support their PACs. With some other PACs, who can never be certain.
—Move Oakland Forward Now, a PAC formed by Mario Juarez, a former Oakland City Council candidate and well-known Alameda County Democratic insider, appears to be resuming fundraising, according campaign finance reports. Move Oakland Forward Now was the PAC that distributed a “Recall Libby Schaaf” mailer last year, despite Schaaf being termed out of office at the end of this year. The purpose of the mailer still receives quizzical looks from insiders.
SAN LEANDRO
—NO SHOW—San Leandro mayoral candidate Bryan Azevedo did not appear for a meet and greet event last night hosted by the San Leandro Democratic Club, of which he is a member. The virtual event included some candidates for the 20th Assembly District (which now includes San Leandro), Alameda County District Attorney and Sheriff, along with candidates for San Leandro mayor. It was to be the first time the current field of mayoral candidates appeared together in public. The three who did show up were given three minutes each to the address the club.
—Azevedo ditched the event for unknown reasons. It’s not the first time he has avoided public appearances and forums like this one. Azevedo won the District 2 seat in 2020 without ever appearing at a public forum. He avoided a League of Women Voters virtual event late in the campaign by failing to turn in documentation required by the advocacy group. In the end, the forum was cancelled. His reluctance for appearing with opponents and speaking in public is becoming a growing talking points among San Leandro insiders.
—The current field includes former San Leandro Councilmember Lee Thomas, community activist Juan Gonzalez, and San Leandro Councilmembers Azevedo and Corina Lopez. Spoiler Alert! Lopez appeared at last night’s event, but has not officially announced her candidacy. As reported here earlier this week, Lopez’s candidacy is imminent.
CITY NEWS
HAYWARD
—POT PERMIT PROBLEMS—Some Hayward officials are growing concerned about the slow pace of its two unopened cannabis dispensaries. Both received permits over a year ago. One of the permitholders still doesn’t even have a location. The other, which was slated to occupy the former Hayward Fishery restaurant location, has also shown little progress in opening its doors for business.
—Hayward Councilmember Aisha Wahab expressed frustration with the two cannabis permitholders during a council meeting on the city’s budget last Tuesday. “If a permitholder can't open in one or two years, " Wahab said, "it's realistically our responsibility to pull [the license.]” Three years ago, San Leandro faced similar circumstances with two permitholders. The San Leandro City Council eventually delivered an ultimatum: open your doors by the end of the year or lose your permits. Both eventually opened before the deadline.
—Hayward’s situation comes after the city’s Finance Department reported robust tax revenues from just of its permitted dispensaries. A dispensary on B Street that generated $268,000 in tax revenue this fiscal year. "We've got one dispensary doing pretty big business," Hayward Finance Department Director Dustin Clausen said.
—The two dispensaries’ lack of progress comes amid rumors in Hayward of small permitholders attempting to sell their permits to large cannabis entities, and thereby undermining the city's desire to help a diverse group of cannabis dispensary owners get a start in the business.
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