ONE DOWN,
MANY TO GO...
Four politicians, one photo. They campaigned together, voted together on City Council, and branded themselves Oakland’s “Squad.”
One of them — Sheng Thao — is on trial in federal court, accused of selling her office to the Duong family: secret hit mailers, a promised recycling contract, and 300 modular homes. The other three? Still on the public payroll.
Nikki Fortunato Bas is on the government’s witness list — and now is an Alameda County Supervisor.
Rebecca Kaplan employed both Thao and her co-defendant partner Andre Jones. She spent 16 years deep in the city’s waste contract wars. She now holds a $149,000 City Hall job made for her (on Barbara Lee’s watch) with no public recruitment. Not charged. Not a witness. Why not?
Carroll Fife is all over the trial record: a recorded call filed by prosecutors describes “Carol” demanding those housing units for West Oakland “to do all the press release.” Not charged. Not a witness. Why not? Turn the page. > > >