Did the recall campaign violate political fundraising laws? Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission wants to know but recall organizers refuse to hand over records.
Tag: Oakland Public Ethics Commission
Posted inCity Hall
After FBI raids, Oakland City Council kills plan to strengthen government watchdog
Five councilmembers rejected a ballot measure that would have improved the city’s ethics commission, which is currently investigating cases involving current and former lawmakers.
Posted inCity Hall
Kings of trash: How the Duongs built a business empire in Oakland
The family at the center of an FBI investigation has spent decades collecting cardboard and local politicians.
Posted inCity Hall
‘I am innocent,’ Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao says in defiant first appearance since FBI raid
Oakland’s mayor says she’s not going anywhere and questioned the timing and reasoning for the FBI’s search of her home.
Posted inCity Hall
What we know about the FBI’s search of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home
The FBI hasn’t said what it’s looking for. But for years, state investigators have been scrutinizing how a major Oakland recycling contractor allegedly funneled money to politicians.
Posted inCity Hall
Confidential file alleges former Mayor Libby Schaaf secretly used political committee to raise money from city contractor
Orton Development is under investigation for a $100,000 contribution its president made to an Oakland ballot measure committee while it was negotiating with the city for the Kaiser Center redevelopment.
Posted inCity Hall
Libby Schaaf is under investigation for allegedly running a political committee that attacked a rival
Oakland ethics investigators accused Lyft of making an illegal $100,000 contribution to an anti-Rebecca Kaplan PAC in 2020. Behind the scenes, former Mayor Schaaf was allegedly running the show.
Posted inCity Hall
Oakland political watchdog finds serious violations by leaders of 2018 Children’s Initiative
Ethics investigators want to fine an officer of a committee used to raise nearly $2M for Measure AA. Former Mayor Libby Schaaf isn’t named in a proposed settlement, but she appears to be implicated.
Posted inCity Hall
How should Oakland set its mayor’s salary?
After blowback this summer, the Public Ethics Commission is proposing a new, potentially less politicized way to determine the mayor’s pay.
Posted inCity Hall
Oakland’s conflict of interest tracking system isn’t working
Many city officials have to disclose their personal financial information. But Oakland is struggling to enforce this anti-corruption rule.
Posted inCity Hall
Want to be an Oakland government watchdog? Join the ethics commission
Any Oakland resident who is registered to vote in the city can apply between now and Oct. 27.
Posted inCity Hall
Oakland lobbyists must pay to play, officials say
Oakland is making lobbyists pay a $500 registration fee to do business in town, but the Public Ethics Commission wants to cut nonprofits a break.
Posted inCity Hall
Oakland’s Democracy Dollars delayed, but not dead
The campaign finance reform initiative will be postponed until 2026 due to budget constraints. Supporters are using the extra time to prepare.
Posted inCity Hall
Oakland ethics commission reckons with “devastating” budget proposal
Oakland’s ethics watchdog might scale back the “Democracy Dollars” initiative while its enforcement program stagnates.
Posted inCity Hall
Oakland Public Ethics Commission hires new executive director
The city’s political watchdog agency hired Nicolas Heidorn, a leader in the popular but potentially stalled “Democracy Dollars” campaign.
Posted inCity Hall
Half the money in Oakland’s elections comes from outside the city. ‘Democracy dollars’ could change that
Under a proposed ballot measure, every Oakland voter would get $100 to contribute to candidates for mayor, City Council, and more.
Posted inCity Hall
Oakland issues its largest ethics fine ever, against a corrupt former building inspector
The Oakland Public Ethics Commission fined Thomas Espinosa approximately $309,000 for 47 violations, including accepting bribes.
