'The Company Was Bought'
A cryptic remark from Bryan Azevedo, a mysterious sponsorship offer and a campaign of personal attacks raised questions that still linger as the federal public corruption case heads toward trial
☕️MORNING BUZZ
Vol. VI, No. 1,309
—It was one sentence that stuck in my mind.
Much later after I was approached with an offer to “sponsor” the East Bay Insiders newsletter for $2,000 a month, I learned of a curious remark allegedly made by then-San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo.
According to a source, Azevedo dismissed growing rumors about his conduct during the now-infamous 2023 trade mission to Vietnam, which included then-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and more than 50 local officials and business leaders.
Why wasn’t he worried about anything coming out?
Because, Azevedo told a council colleague that “the company was bought.”
I can’t pinpoint exactly when I first heard the comment, but it was likely after the FBI raided the homes of Thao and California Waste Solutions owners David Duong and Andy Duong in June 2024.
Another Piece of The Puzzle
At the time, much of the public still had no idea what federal investigators were pursuing. I had already begun publicly questioning whether the Vietnam trip was connected to the widening corruption investigation, particularly because of Azevedo’s unusual presence on the delegation.
The trade mission was organized in conjunction with the Port of Oakland. Azevedo had no obvious connection to the Port, San Leandro has no seaport, and international trade was hardly a defining part of his political portfolio. His participation always struck me as unusual.
The “company was bought” comment offered no context. Was Azevedo referring to East Bay Insiders? Some other business? I surmised the source who relayed the remark did not have the slightest inkling of what the comment might mean. But I did.
It became another piece of an increasingly puzzling picture.
Around the same time, I was hearing repeated—though unverified—stories about Azevedo’s alleged behavior in Vietnam.
I would later learn about a rumor that there was an alleged plan to buy East Bay Insiders for $250,000.
Did Azevedo Think I Took The Bribe?
By late summer and early fall of 2024, I had become convinced that investigators were examining something that Azevedo had done. What I didn’t yet understand was the scope of the FBI’s case.
One question kept nagging at me: Did Azevedo believe I had accepted a payoff to stay quiet about Vietnam?
The strongest fact pointing in that direction was also the simplest: I never published a story about Vietnam because I never had enough verified information to publish a story. Even today, I still don’t.
The timing became even more interesting because Azevedo was simultaneously fighting for his political life.
Throwdown In The ‘Dro Town
Seeking re-election in 2024, Azevedo faced former Councilmember Ed Hernandez in their third consecutive head-to-head council race since 2016. Hernandez had defeated Azevedo in 2016 before Azevedo claimed the seat in 2020. Their latest contest served as the rubber match, and tensions were palpable heading into a September candidate forum at the San Leandro Library.
By then, Azevedo projected confidence—sometimes way past the point of arrogance. He was combative during the campaign, quick to snap at critics and, on that Saturday afternoon, visibly irritated. Members of his family accompanied him and appeared equally on edge. At one point, his mother openly criticized Hernandez to some attendees, including a former San Leandro mayor.
During the forum, Hernandez repeatedly challenged Azevedo’s record. One of Azevedo’s responses drew particular attention when he suggested public safety unions should stay out of politics—a striking statement from a politician long aligned with organized labor and certain public safety interests.
After the forum ended, I approached Azevedo in the library lobby to give him an opportunity to clarify those remarks. It was, in many ways, a chance to walk back what could become a politically damaging statement.
He declined.
As he moved away, former San Leandro Councilmember Lee Thomas recorded the interaction on his cellphone. Thomas later said he believed Azevedo appeared ready to confront me physically. I didn’t personally feel threatened, but moments later Azevedo redirected his attention toward Thomas. The two briefly scuffled in what later became known as the “Throwdown in the ‘Dro Town.”
I’ve long wondered whether the pressure Azevedo appeared to be carrying that night had less to do with politics than with the federal investigation.
Whether he had already been contacted by investigators remains unknown, but it’s one of many unanswered questions that could become clearer when the Thao-Duong corruption trial begins on Oct. 19.
Whether Azevedo actually believed I had accepted a bribe remains impossible to answer. What happened afterward, however, is well documented.
A Zennie Story
Following the library confrontation, Azevedo’s campaign launched an aggressive public relations effort targeting Hernandez, Thomas and me.
The campaign enlisted Oakland blogger Zennie Abraham, whose online videos and commentary have long circulated in East Bay political circles. Abraham published content portraying Azevedo as the victim of an attack and falsely suggested Thomas had committed a crime against Azevedo’s mother.
In one article, Abraham falsely claimed I was known to accept money in exchange for favorable news coverage.
Ironically, Abraham himself had previously acknowledged to me in an article I wrote for the East Bay Express in 2019 that he accepted payments to produce favorable public relations stories.
That raised another question: Where did Abraham’s narrative originate?
Campaign finance records later showed Azevedo’s campaign paid Abraham $3,000 for communications work during the 2024 election—a substantial expenditure for a San Leandro City Council race. Azevedo narrowly defeated Hernandez that November.
The episode represents more threads in a broader story that continues to unfold as federal prosecutors prepare to take the Oakland public corruption case to trial.
* Bribes not accepted.
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IT’S WHAT THE INSIDERS READ.
🎙️EAST BAY INSIDERS PODCAST
The Story They Didn’t Want East Bay Insiders to Write
—EPISODE 136—For the first time, East Bay Insiders founder Steve Tavares tells the behind-the-scenes story of how he was unexpectedly pulled into what would become the East Bay’s sprawling public corruption scandal.
—Steve reveals the alleged efforts to influence his reporting surrounding the infamous 2023 Vietnam trip, including escalating offers of money that he says were intended to discourage negative coverage.
—He walks listeners through what happened, how he responded, and how the story ultimately became part of the FBI’s ongoing public corruption investigation.
—The episode also explores newly surfaced allegations of bribery by an unincorporated Livermore resident involving a senior aide to Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert—a figure who also appears in the broader FBI story above.
—Finally, we lightens the mood by casting the movie version of one of the East Bay’s wildest political dramas, and who steals every scene?
—Listen on Substack or download episodes at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—💰MONEYBALL—Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on June 22-30:
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Scott Sakakihara for Senate 2026, California Dental Association PAC, $11,800; Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy, $5,900. TOTAL: $17,700.
—Tim Grayson for State Controller 2030, Bay Area Legislative Leaders PAC, $5,900. TOTAL: $5,900.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Mia Bonta for Assembly 2026, CVS Health/CVS Pharmacy, Inc., $5,900; M. Quinn Delaney of Oakland, $5,900; Bay Area Legislative Leaders PAC, $5,900. TOTAL: $17,700.
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan for Assembly 2026, Bay Area Legislative Leaders PAC, $5,900; Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, $5,900; Blue Shield of California, $5,000. TOTAL: $16,800.
—Liz Ortega-Toro for Assembly 2026, M. Quinn Delaney of Oakland, $5,900; Bay Area Legislative Leaders PAC, $5,900. TOTAL: $11,800.
—Alex Lee for State Assembly 2026, M. Quinn Delaney of Oakland, $5,900; Bay Area Legislative Leaders PAC, $5,900. TOTAL: $11,800.
—Buffy Wicks for Assembly 2026, California Association of Health Plans PAC, $5,900; Dimension Energy LLC, $5,000. TOTAL: $10,900.
—Build the Future: Alex Lee Ballot Measure Committee, Association of California School Administrators PAC Small Contributor Committee, $5,000. TOTAL: $5,000.
