East Bay Insiders

With Dan Mendoza away in D.C., Steve Tavares and Shawn Wilson went old school with insights on the U.S. Attorney's target letter to San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo, San Leandro's mayor calling the city poor and striving to be average, the Trump administration's assault on local funding and sanctuary cities, and the surprising removal of Hayward's city manager.

The East Bay Insiders couples retreat in Mexico was a success. They let us back into America. We play some catch-up with San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo's excruciatingly bad TV interview; Oakland's budget situtation, Alameda County Dems bid to censure Eric Swalwell and Raj Rajwan, Pamela Price's new club, plus East Bay MUD's parking space-gate, and much more.

Progressive icon Barbara Lee is Oakland's next mayor. How did Lee hold off Loren Taylor's upstart campaign, and how will she tackle the city's pressing issues? Like Oakland, Pleasanton is facing a significant budget shortfall. So why were Pleasanton officials so fixated on orange signage at a gas station? Horse racing is a thing of the past at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, and why was Shawn Wilson so persistent about wrapping up this episode?

Oakland's special mayoral election is suddenly a close race. We break down what Barbara Lee and Loren Taylor need to do to win on April 15. Later, the behavior of elected officials at taxpayer-paid conferences and the incidient involving a San Leandro councilmember. Plus, a segment on Oakland Councilmember Kenny Houston; and Shawn's late 80s rap knowledge.

While Oaklanders are figuring out who will be their next mayor, Interim Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins sat down with us for coffee in a wide-ranging interview. Jenkins, who also serves East Oakland's District 6 council seat, chatted about juggling two big jobs at once, the upcoming budget process, his optimism about the Coliseum deal, a casino by the airport, his background as a county staffer, and telling his son a tall tale about dropping 60 points in a basketball game.