Total Recall. Thao got next
City news returns; Man arrested for threatening life of Swalwell, family; Meet Vicki Sparkle-Titz. Plus, campaign finance data
CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—TOTAL RECALL—The nascent recall effort against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is focused solely on her handling of public safety.
—The notice of intention to recall petition includes these key points:
“Systematically dismantling the Oakland Police Department, leading to the city’s reputation as one of the most dangerous in America.”
Thao’s decision to fire Oakland Police Chief Leronne Armstrong last February, and the move hindering OPD from escaping more than 20 years of federal oversight.
Missing a deadline to apply for a state grant to help combat retail theft.
“Making Oakland a national leader in stolen cars.”
Failure to keep a “promise to appoint a new police chief or declare a state of emergency.”
A lack of “competency, credibility, judgment, and ability to lead what was once a great American city.”
—The recall is led by Brenda Harbin-Forte, a retired Alameda County Superior Court judge and former member of the Oakland Police Commission.
—There’s history between Harbin-Forte and Thao. Last June, Thao removed Harbin-Forte from the police commission.
—Thao has not issued a statement following news of the recall effort last Friday. Typically, this is a good idea. Doing so gives credence to the recall. But the avalanche of negative quotes in a number of articles over the weekend are quite severe, and piling up with no response from the mayor’s office.
—If the Thao recall moves forward to the petition phase, the campaign needs around 25,000 valid signatures of registered voters in Oakland to qualify for the ballot.
—Based on the early timeline, if successful, the recall might be able to be included on the November 2024 General Election ballot.
—NO SLEEP ‘TIL OAKLAND—Years ago, the music from an outdoor event at the Oakland Coliseum parking was so deafening that San Leandro’s mayor called up Oakland Mayor Jean Quan to knock it off.
—During Covid-19, the Coliseum’s curfew was increased from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. in order encourage outdoor events and social distancing.
—Now, the Oakland Coliseum Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is asking the Oakland City Council to make the 11 p.m. curfew permanent in order to “foster economic development.”
—A proposal at Tuesday’s Community and Economic Development Committee will allow up to 10 permits for amplified sound at the Coliseum over a three-year period.
—In addition, the Coliseum JPA will be required to conduct a study to discern the impacts on surrounding neighborhoods.
FREMONT
—SURPLUS LAND FOR HOUSING—Fremont has surplus land that one day could be converted to up to 307 residential housing units.
—But until then, the 9.59 acre property on Decoto Road, near Fremont Boulevard, needs a developer. Following a Request For Proposal process, the Fremont City Council is expected to allocate a total of $890,000 for land planning development.
—The state and region, as we all know, continues to grapple with a housing shortage, but the addition of new housing in Fremont is expected to be a big issue in this fall’s mayoral race between NIMBY-leaning former Fremont Councilmember Vinnie Bacon and current Fremont Councilmember Raj Salwan.
HAYWARD
—MOVIE MAGIC—Last year, Hayward appropriated $600,000 in loans to help bring back the popular Buffalo Bill’s Brewery on B Street. It was a prudent risk to prop up a downtown area that never seems able to get over the hump as a destination for locals.
—Now, Hayward is looking to buy Cinema Place, a movie theater that sits across from Buffalo Bill’s. The Hayward City Council, at a special meeting tonight, will discuss allocating $8.5 million to take over the property, and lease it to the city’s Hayward Economic Development Corporation.
D.C. NEWS
14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—FLORIDA MAN—A 72-year-old man from Florida was arrested last week for leaving life-threatening voicemail messages for East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell and his children.
—The voicemails were made to Swalwell’s D.C. office on Dec. 21, according to a criminal complaint, and contained threats of killing Swalwell and his children.
—The man also made repeated references to the congressmember’s relationship with a woman later revealed to be a Chinese spy.
—It’s not the first time Swalwell’s pointed rhetoric has elicited threats of violence from the right.
—Last year, Swalwell accused former 49ers fullback Bruce Miller of threatening him on social media. In 2022, a Pennsylvania man plead guilty to making threatening calls to Swalwell’s office.
ELECTION 2024
57 days to Primary Day
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 4
—SPARKLE-TITZ—East Bay LGBT leaders hosted a fundraiser benefiting Jennifer Esteen’s campaign for District 4 supervisor last Friday in downtown Oakland.
—The event featured a performance by drag performer Vicki Sparkle-Titz. Anya Dick served as mistress of ceremonies.
—After far-right protesters crashed several Drag Queen Storytime events across Alameda County last year, the intersection of local politics and drag performers has grown in prominence.
—Last month, Austin Bruckner-Carrillo, a candidate for the Hayward school board this fall, held a similar fundraiser.
U.S. SENATE
—ARE YOU READY FOR SOME DEBATES?—The first debate of the U.S. Senate primary campaign is set for Monday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m.
—The debate between Democrats Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Republican Steve Garvey will be held in Los Angeles and broadcast locally on KTVU.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—BANK NOTES—Alameda County District 1 Supervisor David Haubert is running unopposed this March, and has the largest campaign cash reserves on the board. Haubert shifted $19,000 from his re-election campaign to District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley’s re-election campaign committee on Friday.
—Chris Moore, a candidate for the open supervisorial seat in District 5, reported another maxed-out $20,000 contribution on Friday. The amount puts Moore at $41,000 in publicly reported contributions, a total that puts his campaign squarely in the mix of top fundraiser in District 5.
D5 PUBLICLY REPORTED CONTRIBUTIONS
John BAUTERS $73,500
Ken BERRICK $55,000
Ben BARTLETT $50,000
Chris MOORE $41,000
Nikki BAS $36,000
—MONEYBALL—Below is Form 497 campaign contributions filed on Jan. 5 through Jan. 7.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Nate Miley (District 4), David Haubert for Supervisor 2024, $19,000; National Union of Healthcare Workers Committee for Quality Patient Care and Union Democracy-Candidate PAC, $5,000. TOTAL: $24,000.
—Jennifer Esteen (District 4), LPAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000
—Chris Moore (District 5), Quintin Anderson of Redwood City, $20,000; Daniel Winkler of North Richmond, $1,000. TOTAL: $21,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Kathryn Lybarger (7th Senate District), Fund Her PAC, $2,500; San Francisco Labor Council Labor & Neighbor, $1,500. TOTAL: $4,000.
—Carlos Villapudua (5th Senate District), Associated Builders and Contractors Northern California Chapter PAC, $2,500; California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry PAC, $2,000; Sports Betting Alliance, $1,000. TOTAL: $5,500.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Liz Ortega (20th Assembly District), Steamfitters Local 342 PAC Fund, $5,500. TOTAL: $5,500.
