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Oakland Observer on Campaign Schedule Through August

With Council meetings on break until September, OO will be more focused on dives into campaign financing, election news and fact-checking campaign platforms this month. During this time, OO will foregothe regular weekly newsletter on Monday, but articles and news roundups will appear regularly. Thanks for your support, hope to

A Campaign Finance Vehicle Using Funds from Just one Contributor Has Paid for the Majority of Thao Recall Campaign Expenses; AASEG on Track to Buy 100% of Coliseum Shares from City and A’s

A Campaign Finance Vehicle Using Funds from Just one Contributor Has Paid for the Majority of Thao Recall Campaign Expenses; AASEG on Track to Buy 100% of Coliseum Shares from City and A’s

Foundational Oakland Unites Expenditure Committee, a Vehicle for Recall Funds from Just one Contributor Foundational Oakland Unites [FOU], an independent campaign expenditure committee, has paid the majority of signature gathering bills for the recall of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao–and received all of its recently reported $605K in contributions from

PLA Requirement for Measure U Funding Moves Forward; Judge Hastily Recuses on Thao Recall Subpoena Ruling; Modern OPD Records Management System Moves to Full Council Vote; City, AASEG Agree on Term Sheet

PLA Requirement for Measure U Funding Moves Forward; Judge Hastily Recuses on Thao Recall Subpoena Ruling; Modern OPD Records Management System Moves to Full Council Vote; City, AASEG Agree on Term Sheet

In Confused Vote, Committee Forwards PLA Question for Measure U Funding to Council A controversial plan to add a Project Labor Agreement [PLA] that would compel affordable housing developers into expansive union contracts in Measure U-funded projects passed a significant hurdle Tuesday. The four council members in the Community and

City Hall Security Guard Contract in Doubt; Elevator Ordinance for Disabled Tenants Passes Unanimously; Port Commission Appointment Proceeds on Political Lines

City Hall Security Guard Contract in Doubt; Elevator Ordinance for Disabled Tenants Passes Unanimously; Port Commission Appointment Proceeds on Political Lines

Fraught City-Wide Security Guard Contract Founders in Late Night Council Vote A failed bidding process for the City’s security guard contract was a focus late into the night at the City Council's Tuesday meeting, leading to an ultimately frustrated vote to extend the City's contract.

Public Ethics Strengthening Measure Headed to Ballot; Public Record Spotlight on Federal Subpoena

Public Ethics Strengthening Measure Headed to Ballot; Public Record Spotlight on Federal Subpoena

PEC Strengthening Measure on Ballot After Reintroduction and Passage at Council In a dramatic reversal, the City Council voted to put a new Public Ethics Commission [PEC] ballot measure before voters in November at a Special Meeting Tuesday. The same ballot measure legislation failed at a previous meeting during budget

A Note to Subscribers and Readers About Committees This Week

Hello subscribers and readers, Since the founding of this newsletter, its been practice and promise to give a broad analysis and preview of legislation hitting Council committees. The budget crunch and attendant fiascos of the months of June and July, however, combined with a seriously impacted and dense CED committee

Circuitous and Contested Budget Process Has Ramachandran and Reid Voting Against Their Own Budget Amendments

Circuitous and Contested Budget Process Has Ramachandran and Reid Voting Against Their Own Budget Amendments

What Happened? In a five hour budget meeting Tuesday, 8 council members struggled, often divisively, with concerns over the risk of budgeting an unconfirmed $63 MM worth of revenue from partial payment of the City’s Coliseum stake. The meeting had been continued from a budget deliberation on Friday. A