Oakland City Hall News from The Oaklandside

City Hall

FBI demand records from Oakland mayor’s office, other city officials

by Eli Wolfe and Darwin BondGraham July 8, 2024, 3:55 p.m.July 9, 2024, 4:02 p.m.

A federal grand jury has subpoenaed documents about California Waste Solutions and the Duong family.

Sheng Thao, looking concerned, speaks at a podium outdoors.

City Hall

Where did it go wrong for Sheng Thao?

by Natalie Orenstein July 8, 2024, 1:43 p.m.July 8, 2024, 5:53 p.m.

Oakland’s mayor has faced one nightmare after another, from a devastating hacker attack to a shocking FBI raid. How did Thao become the most embattled mayor in Oakland history?

City Hall

AG Rob Bonta received campaign funds from owners of Oakland karaoke bar raided for drugs, sex trafficking

by Darwin BondGraham July 3, 2024, 5:27 p.m.July 9, 2024, 4:00 p.m.

Music Cafe and its managers—targeted for ketamine sales and sex trafficking in 2018—provided California’s top law enforcement officer with $37,000.

City Hall

Oakland passes budget, but big cuts are still on the table

by Eli Wolfe July 2, 2024, 4:38 p.m.July 2, 2024, 4:38 p.m.

The City Council’s plan depends on the successful sale of the Coliseum. $63 million in cuts will be needed if the deal doesn’t materialize by September.

City Hall

‘Recall Sheng Thao’ campaign refuses to cooperate with ethics investigators, faces lawsuit

by Darwin BondGraham and Eli Wolfe July 1, 2024, 4:30 p.m.July 1, 2024, 4:31 p.m.

Did the recall campaign violate political fundraising laws? Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission wants to know but recall organizers refuse to hand over records.

City Hall

FBI raids in Oakland: A timeline of key events and relationships

by Jose Fermoso and The Oaklandside July 1, 2024, 2:32 p.m.July 9, 2024, 3:58 p.m.

Over a decade ago, California Waste Solutions won a major city contract. Then, allegations of laundered political money surfaced. Now, the FBI is hovering over Oakland. Here’s an evolving list of dates and records.

City Hall

Andy Duong allegedly laundered donations to Oakland officials through Chinatown karaoke bar

by Darwin BondGraham June 29, 2024, 2:45 p.m.July 9, 2024, 3:56 p.m.

Investigators claim Duong—whose home was searched by the FBI on June 20—was affiliated with the “Music Cafe,” a bar infiltrated by undercover law enforcement in 2018.

City Hall

Before FBI raids, the Duongs may have feuded with an Oakland businessman

by Eli Wolfe June 28, 2024, 5:54 p.m.July 9, 2024, 3:55 p.m.

Mario Juarez was shot at days before the FBI raided the homes of David and Andy Duong. The Duongs and Juarez were investors in a housing company.

City Hall

Oakland’s big budget crisis: what you need to know

by Eli Wolfe June 28, 2024, 2:48 p.m.June 28, 2024, 2:48 p.m.

There’s plenty that could distract city leaders—FBI raids, a mass shooting, complex business deals—but they must pass a budget in the next several days.

City Hall

After FBI raids, Oakland City Council kills plan to strengthen government watchdog

by Eli Wolfe June 27, 2024, 4:00 p.m.July 9, 2024, 3:53 p.m.

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.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao in front of a podium with a microphone

City Hall

Darwin BondGraham covers Mayor Sheng Thao’s woes on KQED’s Forum

by Callie Rhoades June 27, 2024, 11:51 a.m.July 9, 2024, 3:51 p.m.

Darwin BondGraham, Oaklandside’s Senior News Editor, discusses the recent FBI raid, the latest of many struggles for the Oakland mayor.

City Hall

Kings of trash: How the Duongs built a business empire in Oakland

by Natalie Orenstein, Callie Rhoades and Eli Wolfe June 26, 2024, 4:23 p.m.July 9, 2024, 3:48 p.m.

The family at the center of an FBI investigation has spent decades collecting cardboard and local politicians.

City Hall

After alleging corruption by Oakland officials, a congressional candidate gets a tough question

by Darwin BondGraham June 26, 2024, 4:14 p.m.July 9, 2024, 3:46 p.m.

In a fiery speech in front of City Hall, Jennifer Tran accused Sheng Thao and others of a wide array of crimes. Reporters asked about donations to her own campaign.

City Hall

5 days after Oakland FBI raids, here’s what we do—and don’t—know

by Darwin BondGraham June 25, 2024, 5:50 p.m.July 9, 2024, 3:45 p.m.

We don’t know if Sheng Thao committed a crime, what the FBI was looking for in her home, how the Duong family is related to any of this, and much more.