Wheels on the bus

Oakland's finances are trending toward bad, which is down from really bad; Cut day at several school districts; Labor union pours $100k into IE backing Oakland council candidate

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—The saga at the AC Transit Board of Directors over the appointment of its general manager last November to a similarly compensated new role as a senior advisor is about to be rekindled.

At a closed session meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. this afternoon, AC Transit officials will discuss a response to a complaint letter, dated Feb. 10, alleging the board violated noticing provisions in the Brown Act, the state law that promotes government transparency.

The complaint asserts the Nov. 13 closed session meeting in which the board created the position of senior advisor, and subsequently named former AC Transit General Manager Michael Hursh to the position was not properly noticed.

In the new role, Hursh is set to earn through next September the same amount as he did as general manager, more than $500,000 a year.

In December, AC Transit Board Director Sarah Syed blasted the move, calling it a “sweetheart deal.”

The letter demands that the board’s actions at the November closed session meeting be rescinded.

Last year, Hursh accused Syed of intimidation and bullying tactics. An independent investigation released in December could not substantiate the claims. However, the investigation found Syed interfered in the duties of Hursh and staff.

—A defiant Syed avoided censure by the board on Jan. 8 for the interference claim. No direct vote was taken by the board, but they later directed Syed to participate in executive training.

—More inside:

• Previous Oakland City Council budget cuts appear to be making some headway with a still massive year-end deficit on the horizon.

• Hayward Unified is in chaos. The school board voted to cut more than 150 positions in order to close a large funding gap, and then placed the superintendent on leave.

• Oakland and Dublin school boards also made excruciating budget cuts.

• D.C. News: Simon offers rebuttal to SOTU; Conservative provocateur says he has audio of Swalwell speaking inappropriately about a host of matters.

• Campaign finance data: Labor drops $100,000 to support Oakland council candidate.

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