Eli Wolfe
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City Hall reporter for @Oaklandside. Previously @SJSpotlight and @FairWarningNews. Always looking for stories: eli@oaklandside.org.
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Articles by Eli Wolfe
‘We had just committed a crime’: Mario Juarez describes alleged deal with Thao
While jurors in the Oakland corruption trial have heard about the alleged bribery scheme for weeks already, it’s only been described to them by prosecutors and alluded to through complex lines of questioning and displays of evidence. On Friday, as the trial wrapped up its third week, the jury finally got to hear directly from a participant in the alleged conspiracy.
Did Sheng Thao actually have the power to steer city deals in exchange for bribes?
Federal prosecutors had two former city officials take the stand today to describe how Oakland’s government works, from who’s in charge to the minutiae of how city contracts are executed.
Incumbents dominate fundraising in Oakland elections this year
This year’s election for mayor and seats on the Oakland City Council has been relatively sleepy, but that hasn’t stopped the incumbents from raising big sums for their campaigns. Barbara Lee has been the most successful fundraiser, by far. Voters elected the former member of congress last April to finish the term of Sheng Thao. Recalled by voters in 2024, Thao is currently defending herself in a federal corruption trial. Lee has raised more than $367,000 this year.
Secret recordings played for jury in Sheng Thao corruption trial
The inner workings of Evolutionary Homes, one of the companies at the center of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s federal corruption trial, were illuminated for the jury today as federal prosecutors drew from roughly 45 minutes of audio secretly recorded by someone who attended the firm’s board meetings in 2023 and early 2024. Cecilia Mendez wasn’t just an employee of Evolutionary Homes; she was also a former romantic partner of Mario Juarez, a co-founder of the company.
Oakland firefighters union reaches tentative contract with city
Oakland leaders say a tentative deal has been struck to resolve another major union contract. On Tuesday, city officials announced a tentative agreement with IAFF Local 55, which represents Oakland’s roughly 500 firefighters.
Oakland city workers will strike Nov. 5 if no deal is reached
One of Oakland’s biggest unions says the city has a little over a week to finalize a new bargaining agreement or their members will walk off the job — marking the first strike by a city union in nearly a decade. About 150 of those workers, with the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21, marched raucously through downtown during their lunch break on Tuesday.
There’s no recording of Sheng Thao taking a bribe, defense argues
There’s no evidence that the alleged bribery scheme between Sheng Thao and three others actually happened. The government’s case is based on the untrustworthy account of informant Mario Juarez. That’s what defense attorney Erik Babcock tried to demonstrate in court Thursday, beginning an energetic cross-examination of FBI Special Agent Katherine Barclay during the second week of trial in the Oakland corruption case.
Oakland residents are increasingly optimistic about the city’s future, according to a new poll
Oakland has had no shortage of problems in recent years. But according to a recent survey, many residents think the city is turning a new leaf. A poll released yesterday by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce shows that 46% of surveyed residents feel like Oakland is headed in the right direction, compared to 36% who say the city is going in the wrong direction. It’s the first net positive result for this question since the chamber started asking it in 2017.
An Oakland police officer allegedly let a suspected drunk driver go. Shortly after, the driver killed someone
Gianni Robinson was driving northbound on I-880 in Oakland on Nov. 29, 2025, when, according to police records, she crashed into another vehicle that had stopped ahead of her. Killed in the collision was 31-year-old Anmol-Kiran Kaur Bassi, who had halted in a lane on the highway after being involved in a fender bender, according to court records. Robinson was transported to Highland Hospital with injuries.
Temescal Pool incident could lead to legal trouble for Oakland
The potential financial consequences of a chemical incident that injured swimmers last month at Temescal Pool are starting to emerge for the city of Oakland. One of the people swimming at the Pool on Sept. 10, when dangerous chemicals were suddenly released into the water, is a lawyer, and they have filed a claim against the city — essentially a precursor to a lawsuit.
Janani Ramachandran doesn’t have a challenger in District 4. You can still review her City Council record
As District 4 voters cast their ballots for their next City Council member, they have just one choice: Janani Ramachandran, who is running unopposed. From the mayoral election to city council, Oakland elections are notably quiet this year — with school board seats being an interesting exception.
Thwarted in 2022’s mayoral election, Loren Taylor watches Thao in the hot seat
The first week of former Mayor Sheng Thao’s trial on bribery and conspiracy charges has seen a revolving cast of family members, media, demonstrators, and political observers pack the federal courtroom and wait outside the courthouse in downtown Oakland for a glimpse of the defendants. One of the most notable observers in the courtroom this week was former Councilmember Loren Taylor.
‘I hate that f— playboy’: Thao’s former chief of staff recounts Vietnam trip fallout
Sheng Thao’s former chief of staff, Leigh Hanson, was questioned for several hours on the stand today about what she saw inside the former Oakland mayor’s administration the year and a half before the FBI raided Thao’s home. Hanson generally kept her cool throughout the hearing — the third day of trial — sharing concerns and praise for Thao’s style of leadership. Thao looked on with a neutral expression from the defense table.
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
'The real Sheng Thao is not guilty' 'He was, and is, the consummate hustler'
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
Federal prosecutors sought to portray former Mayor Sheng Thao as a greedy politician “who put her own monetary interest above the people that she was supposed to serve,” as a high-profile corruption trial got underway in downtown Oakland on Wednesday. The government and defense attorneys for Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong each began making their cases to a jury of 12, in a courtroom packed shoulder-to-shoulder with media and members of the public.
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
Federal prosecutors sought to portray former Mayor Sheng Thao as a greedy politician “who put her own monetary interest above the people that she was supposed to serve,” as a high-profile corruption trial got underway in downtown Oakland on Wednesday. The government and defense attorneys for Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong each began making their cases to a jury of 12, in a courtroom packed shoulder-to-shoulder with media and members of the public.
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals Original
Federal prosecutors sought to portray former Mayor Sheng Thao as a greedy politician “who put her own monetary interest above the people that she was supposed to serve,” as a high-profile corruption trial got underway in downtown Oakland on Wednesday. The government and defense attorneys for Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong each began making their cases to a jury of 12, in a courtroom packed shoulder-to-shoulder with media and members of the public.
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
Federal prosecutors sought to portray former Mayor Sheng Thao as a greedy politician “who put her own monetary interest above the people that she was supposed to serve,” as a high-profile corruption trial got underway in downtown Oakland on Wednesday. The government and defense attorneys for Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong each began making their cases to a jury of 12, in a courtroom packed shoulder-to-shoulder with media and members of the public.
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
Federal prosecutors sought to portray former Mayor Sheng Thao as a greedy politician “who put her own monetary interest above the people that she was supposed to serve,” as a high-profile corruption trial got underway in downtown Oakland on Wednesday. The government and defense attorneys for Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong each began making their cases to a jury of 12, in a courtroom packed shoulder-to-shoulder with media and members of the public.
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
Federal prosecutors sought to portray former Mayor Sheng Thao as a greedy politician “who put her own monetary interest above the people that she was supposed to serve,” as a high-profile corruption trial got underway in downtown Oakland on Wednesday. The government and defense attorneys for Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong each began making their cases to a jury of 12, in a courtroom packed shoulder-to-shoulder with media and members of the public.
Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
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Thao trial opens with fiery allegations, strenuous disavowals
Federal prosecutors sought to portray former Mayor Sheng Thao as a greedy politician “who put her own monetary interest above the people that she was supposed to serve,” as a high-profile corruption trial got underway in downtown Oakland on Wednesday. The government and defense attorneys for Thao, Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong each began making their cases to a jury of 12, in a courtroom packed shoulder-to-shoulder with media and members of the public.
Radisson Hotel owner will pay major wage theft settlement to Oakland workers
Three years ago, Oakland accused the Radisson Hotel near the airport of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from its own workers. After a lengthy legal battle, the city has won a major settlement which will be paid to those employees. The City Council approved an end to the case last Thursday during closed session.
Sheng Thao trial updates
The latest A judge refused to order the government to hand over tax returns for Mario Juarez. Defense attorneys claim Juarez may have received a windfall of cash right after federal raids in 2024. Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, city contractors David and Andy Duong, and Thao’s former partner Andre Jones stand accused of a bribery scheme. The alleged conspiracy burst into headlines in 2024 when the FBI raided their homes. Read our explainer to understand what’s alleged and how the trial will work.
Tax records of key FBI informant in Oakland corruption trial will remain a mystery
When a jury hears the corruption case against Sheng Thao and others beginning next week, one piece of information they won’t be able to consider in reaching their verdict is the tax returns of the federal government’s star witness Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers offered no explanation for her ruling during a hearing on Thursday, but she refused to order the prosecution to produce Mario Juarez’s tax records.
Sheng Thao’s trial is next week. Here’s your cheat sheet
Starting next week, former Mayor Sheng Thao will appear in Courtroom 1 of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in downtown Oakland to stand trial for bribery and conspiracy. Oakland residents can expect wall-to-wall coverage of the multi-week case, much of it delving deep into the weeds of the alleged conspiracy. Readers who haven’t been following the case closely may struggle to keep track of the characters, evidence, allegations, and stakes.
Who are the Oakland candidates challenging Mayor Barbara Lee?
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee is running for a full term in this year’s election. Compared to the crowded special election in 2025 to fill out the remainder of Sheng Thao’s term after her recall, Lee faces a much smaller field of candidates this year. None of them have matched her in terms of fundraising, endorsements or governing experience. But Lee’s opponents are undeterred. All of them have ideas for how to make the city a better place to live, if they can convince voters to give them a chance.
Coal company’s $1 billion lawsuit against Oakland dismissed
A coal company’s attempt to sue Oakland for $1 billion dollars fell flat this week after a federal judge ruled that the case didn’t belong in his courtroom. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton, who serves in the Western District of Kentucky, agreed with the city of Oakland and dismissed a lawsuit brought by Insight Terminal Solutions, or ITS.
Why are so few people running for office in Oakland this year?
Most election years, crowds of candidates compete for a handful of seats on the Oakland City Council and for the job of Oakland mayor. But outside of the heated competition for seats on the Oakland Unified School District board, November 2026 is far less contested than previous elections. District 4 Councilmember Janani Ramachandran is running unopposed, as is the city auditor, Michael Houston.
Newsom and Bonta create new hurdle for Trump-backed Oakland coal terminal
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 40, the Community First Coal Review Act, into law, adding a new hurdle that developers will have to clear to build a coal terminal in West Oakland. The law, which was introduced this summer by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, will require anyone who wants to build a large-volume bulk coal facility to first complete an environmental impact report that describes in detail the operations and potential environmental impacts.
The highs and lows of Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s record
When Barbara Lee ran for mayor in 2025, she faced a crowd of challengers, including one well-known rival with a flush war chest and motivated supporters. That made for a close contest. This year, Lee faces three competitors, none of whom have comparable money, name recognition, or endorsements. Even so, Lee says she’s not taking any chances. “I don’t accept it’s not a competitive race,” Lee said in an interview with The Oaklandside. “I’ve had a lot of campaigns, and I run to win.
The highs and lows of Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s record
When Barbara Lee ran for mayor in 2025, she faced a crowd of challengers, including one well-known rival with a flush war chest and motivated supporters. That made for a close contest. This year, Lee faces three competitors, none of whom have comparable money, name recognition, or endorsements. Even so, Lee says she’s not taking any chances. “I don’t accept it’s not a competitive race,” Lee said in an interview with The Oaklandside. “I’ve had a lot of campaigns, and I run to win.
‘I’m pissed’: Watchdog group continues Oakland police spending investigation
The Oakland Public Ethics Commission has declined to drop an investigation of how OPD misspent $12,000, citing concerns with the department’s failure to turn over evidence. During a meeting last week, the commission directed its chief investigator, Tovah Ackerman, to gather more information about how OPD drew money from the Measure Z fund to pay for a May 2024 trip to Washington D.C., to honor a fallen colleague.
Were chemical injuries at Temescal Pool linked to Oakland’s failure to hire?
Two weeks ago, a mistaken chemical release at the Temescal Pool exposed swimmers to dangerous concentrations of hydrochloric acid and chlorine, sending several to the hospital. City officials are investigating the incident and still haven’t shared details about how the two chemicals — which are normally used to balance pH and kill bacteria — were suddenly released in the pool while swimmers were doing their morning laps.
Flock’s Oakland cameras are tracking millions of trips. Are safeguards enforceable?
Last December, the Oakland City Council approved a $2.25 million deal with Flock Safety, the controversial surveillance company that’s built a national network of cameras to track the movements of millions of Americans for police departments. But before they agreed to the deal, city leaders, responding to concerns from the community, asked that safeguards be put in place to ensure Flock’s data gathered from Oakland’s streets isn’t misused, as has happened elsewhere.
New state law gives Oakland power to boot cars of illegal dumpers
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law on Sunday that will give local governments the ability to slap boots on vehicles that have multiple unpaid tickets for illegal dumping. The state currently permits law enforcement and parking officers to immobilize vehicles that have been issued multiple delinquent parking tickets and other fines. Authored by State Senator Jesse Arreguín, the law adds unpaid illegal dumping tickets as one of the things that can lead to a boot.
Indicted Oakland businessman bundled money for Nikki Fortunato Bas’ 2024 supervisor campaign
It was March 1, 2024. Then-Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas was locked in a tight primary campaign against eight other candidates seeking the District Five seat on the powerful Alameda County Board of Supervisors to represent Berkeley, part of Oakland and other East Bay cities. The election, which would determine the two candidates who would face off in November, was four days away.
Indicted Oakland businessman bundled money for Nikki Bas’ 2024 supervisor campaign
It was March 1, 2024. Then-Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas was locked in a tight primary campaign against eight other candidates seeking the District Five seat on the powerful Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The election, which would determine the two candidates who would face off in November, was four days away. That day, Bas had a phone call with Andy Duong, whose family company, California Waste Solutions, was negotiating with the city of Oakland over a major land deal.
Pest control services on hold for city buildings after Oakland fails to pay bills
If you notice more rodents and roaches crawling around Oakland City Hall, it’s possibly because the city hasn’t paid one of its vendors for pest control. Omega Termite and Pest Control, an East Oakland-based company, claims the city has failed to pay roughly $73,000 for pest control services for many months. Omega’s president, Allen Robert Kanady, told The Oaklandside that some of his invoices are nearly a year old.
Oakland corruption trial: will Mario Juarez’s checkered past be put to the jury?
As the corruption trial of former Mayor Sheng Thao nears, prosecutors and defense attorneys are waging a last-minute fight over what jurors will get to hear about the background of a key witness: Mario Juarez. On Monday, attorneys for David Duong, the head of California Waste Solutions who is accused of bribing Thao, asked a federal judge to let them cross-examine Juarez about his lengthy and contentious legal history.
Sheng Thao used Signal. How about other Oakland elected officials?
The use of encrypted messaging apps by government officials has drawn scrutiny in recent years. An AP investigation last year found that officials at every level of government across the country are using encrypted apps. Officials may rely on them because they offer greater security from cyber threats. But good governance advocates have raised concerns that many public officials use them to hide their conversations about government business.
Oakland contracting practices are riddled with problems, auditor finds in new report
When Oakland needs to pave its roads, build a park, or retrofit a public building, it hires experienced construction companies. Each year, Oakland spends hundreds of millions on these “capital improvement” projects. And for many years, the city has built in local hiring requirements and incentives for local and small businesses to encourage a competitive environment that supports the local economy.
Illegal dumpers in Oakland could have their cars booted
The city of Oakland may soon get a new power to combat illegal dumping: the ability to immobilize vehicles that have outstanding tickets for the crime. State Senator Jesse Arreguín, who represents Oakland, introduced Senate Bill 1218 in March to combat the scourge of illegal dumping, which affects many parts of the East Bay.
OPD officers found to have botched internal affairs case sue city
In April 2023, Alameda County prosecutors made headlines when they charged Oakland homicide detective Phong Tran with bribing a witness and committing perjury. But OPD’s internal affairs investigation of Tran, completed the previous year, had found no wrongdoing. Five months earlier, OPD had cleared him to go back to work.
What did Oakland get after dismissing lawsuit against Southwest? Fewer flights
Last October, the Oakland City Council voted to drop a major lawsuit against Southwest Airlines. The City Attorney had accused the airline — the nation’s third largest — of depriving some of its 3,000 of its employees of paid sick leave and retaliating against some who tried to use their time-off benefits. The city settled similar allegations with Southwest in 2020, but new complaints about other violations prompted the City Attorney to restart litigation.
Alameda County officials approve $1.5M for gender-affirming care, LGBTQ health
Rainbow Families Action rallies at Sutter Health at 2000 Powell Street in Emeryville to oppose cuts to gender affirming care on Dec. 8, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of Rainbow Families Action. The Board of Supervisors voted this month to approve a $1.5 million initiative that will expand resources for LGBTQ individuals living in Alameda County.
Is a data center coming to downtown Oakland?
Last week, news came out that a local developer is planning to install a data center in downtown Oakland. The proposal has excited some and startled others. In online discussions, questions swirl about the project’s scope, why it’s happening downtown, and what it might mean for the city’s energy grid. And news that two other tech companies — Tesla and a startup founded by Jeff Bezos — are leasing big industrial warehouse spaces in West Oakland has generated even more confusion among Oaklanders.
Alameda County officials approve $1.5 million for gender-affirming care, LGBTQ health
The Board of Supervisors voted last week to approve a $1.5 million initiative that will expand resources for LGBTQ individuals living in Alameda County. The funding, which comes from Measure W, will go toward the LGBTQ Community Center, a nonprofit based in Oakland, to provide a slew of services, including gender-affirming healthcare, mental health support, crisis response and prevention services, and healthcare navigation for nonbinary and LGBTQIA+ residents.
The money man behind Oakland’s blockbuster Coliseum deal speaks out
After years of meandering closed-door negotiations and a string of big changes to one of the biggest real estate deals in Alameda County history, the sale of the Oakland Coliseum to a group of private developers appears to be on track. To prove that things are going in the right direction, the man financing the deal has emerged to talk about it.
$30 minimum wage won’t appear on November ballot after Alameda County leaders call for study
Alameda County voters won’t get to weigh in this year on a proposed increase to the minimum wage in unincorporated parts of the county to $30 an hour. Rather than schedule the measure for the Nov. 3 election, the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to conduct a study. This will delay the measure from being placed on the ballot until 2028, unless a special election is held in 2027. The 3-2 decision sparked outrage from a crowd who showed up to support the initiative.
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