The John Bauters issue
Bauters allegedly has secret admirers in Emeryville, a new campaign commercial, and two new large contributors; Councilmember's melee may get swept under the rug; Fremont to appoint new councilmate
CITY NEWS
SAN LEANDRO
—TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG?—Don’t expect a quick conclusion or accountability following the altercation on Saturday afternoon involving San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo and former Councilmember Lee Thomas.
—The city’s next step is likely to include the hiring of an independent investigator, which means release of the surveillance video showing the incident and resolution will almost certainly not come before the Nov. 5 election in District 2.
—The city used the same strategy last year after placing San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen on paid administrative leave. An independent investigator was hired, but the report describing Pridgen’s alleged wrongdoing has never been released to the public.
—The handling of the Azevedo incident is the first test of new San Leandro City Manager Janelle Cameron.
—But an investigation of the Azevedo incident is superfluous. I witnessed the incident in full and wrote the account of what occurred in yesterday’s newsletter. In addition, San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez also witnessed the melee.
—Footage of the incident, however, will be important if the former councilmembers who were injured decide to file a claim against the city.
—Two eyewitnesses believe they saw Azevedo move aggressively toward Thomas. But the incident erupted in a blur and recollections in these situations can be incomplete to a certain extent.
FREMONT
—IF YOU’RE SECOND, YOU’RE FIRST—Kathy Kimberlin, field director for Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert, is expected to be appointed to the Fremont City Council tonight.
—Fremont Councilmember Jenny Kassan offered her resignation on Aug. 22, and effective the day the council approves her successor.
—Rather than allowing the public to apply for consideration of the appointment, the Fremont City Council last week made the unorthodox move to only consider the second-place finisher from the District 3 race in 2020.
—Kimberlin lost to Kassan by nearly four percentage points in the 2020 campaign.
OAKLAND
—MEASURE U OUTLAY—More than $113 million in Measure U affordable housing bond money is set to be allocated as the Oakland City Council returns to action today with a slate of three committee meetings.
—Oakland voters approved Measure U in 2022, an ambitious $350 million bond for the construction of affordable housing.
—The request for approving the allocation of bond proceeds at today’s Community and Economic Development Committee meeting is substantial, but it still isn’t enough to meet demand.
—Last February the city received 16 application requests for nearly $193 million in new construction funding. However, the city’s Housing and Community Development Department only had $92 million to offer.
—Rather than have the program oversubscribed with funding requests, city staff is urging the council to adopt a “pipeline approach” to proposed developments rather than a strategy of that may not align with the city’s development process.
—BUILT FORD TOUGH—The Ford Store in San Leandro might want to do a credit check on the city of Oakland before sending them any cars.
—Last month it was reported that Oakland did not pay a local car dealership for Mayor Sheng Thao’s SUV.
—This morning’s Public Works and Transportation Committee includes a funding request for the purchase of 68 vehicles for the Oakland Police Department at a cost of $4.5 million.
EMERYVILLE
—EVERYBODY LOVES JOHN—Emeryville resident and school board candidate Brian Donahue has long been a thorn in the side of Councilmember John Bauters.
—Last night, Donahue described seeing Bauters at the Solano Stroll and asking him about public policy.
—Bauters said Donahue is secretly gay and in love with him, Donahue claimed at Monday’s council meeting.
CANDIDATE FORUMS
—Metropolitan Greater Oakland Democratic Club: Oakland City Council Districts, 1, 3, 5, 7, at-large candidates, tonight, 7:30 p.m. ZOOM.
—City of Alameda Democratic Club: Alameda City Council candidates, BART Director-Dist. 7, EBMUD Director-Ward 5, East Bay Regional Park District Director-Ward 4; Wednesday, 6 p.m.; 1303 High Street, Alameda. ZOOM.
—League of Women Voters Eden Area: San Leandro City Council-District 2; Thursday, 5:30 p.m. ZOOM.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 5
—AD WATCH—Alameda County supervisorial candidates John Bauters released a campaign video on Monday that touts his unofficial title as “America’s bike mayor” and his accomplishments on the Emeryville City Council.
—The second half of the 30-second spot, though, strongly evokes the upbeat tone of a brand name drug commercial.
—Ask your doctor if Bauters is for you.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—CRYPTO CONTRIBUTION—Alameda County supervisorial candidate John Bauters received a maxed-out, $20,000 campaign contribution on Monday from Konstantin Richter, the founder of Blockdaemon, a blockchain platform, according to finance records. Bianca Walser of Berkeley also contributed $20,000 to Bauters campaign in District 5.
—TRIBUTE PAID—Last week, Tri-Valley Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan paid alms to the California Democratic Party. Now it’s Assemblymember Liz Ortega’s turn. Ortega’s campaign account contributed $129,000 to the California Democratic Party on Friday, according to finance records.
—💰MONEYBALL—Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on Sept. 9:
ALAMEDA COUNTY
—Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, Construction & General Laborers Local Union 304 PAC, $3,000. TOTAL: $1,500.
RECALLS
—Protect the Win for Public Safety, Oppose the Recall of DA Price (Opposing Price recall), Harold Orr of Oakland, $1,000; Tony Ogbeide of Hayward, $1,000. TOTAL: $2,000.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—John Bauters (District 5), Maya Ravi of Orinda, $20,000; Konstantin Richter of Orinda, $20,000; Bianca M. Walser of Berkeley, $1,000. TOTAL: $41,000.
—Nikki Fortunato Bas (District 5), Dignity CA Service Employees International Union SEIU Local 2015, $20,000. TOTAL: $20,000.
EDEN HEALTH DISTRICT
—Sabrina Aranda (District ), Laxman Reddy of Calabasas, Calif., $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.
CITIES
BERKELEY
—Berkeley Citizens for Safe Streets (Supports Measure FF parcel tax), Laurie Capitelli of Berkeley, $3,000. TOTAL: $3,000.
HAYWARD
—Austin Bruckner Carrillo (Hayward USD), Hayward Education Association PAC, $2,966. TOTAL: $2,966.
—Peter Bufete (Hayward USD), Hayward Education Association PAC, $2,966. TOTAL: $2,966.
—Sara Prada (Hayward USD), Hayward Education Association PAC, $2,966. TOTAL: $2,966.
PLEASANTON
—Jack Balch (Pleasanton Mayor), Ashit Jain of Pleasanton, $5,000. TOTAL: $5,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), Daly for Insurance Commissioner 2026, $5,500. TOTAL: $5,500.
—Marisol Rubio (9th Senate District), The California Women's List, $1,250. TOTAL: $1,250.
—Jerry McNerney (5th Senate District), California Federation of Teachers COPE, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), eBay Inc., $2,000. TOTAL: $2,000.
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), Foster Interstate Media, Inc., $2,500; John Foster of Pleasant Hill, $2,500. TOTAL: $5,000.
—Liz Ortega (20th Assembly District), Operating Engineers Local Union 3 Statewide PAC Small Contributor Committee, $10,900. TOTAL: $10,900.
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), eBay Inc., $1,500. TOTAL: $1,500.
