Who Controls Oakland? Follow the Money

Oakland is at a turning point. The 2024 elections made one thing painfully clear: While billionaires didn’t outright buy our democracy, they created chaos trying. From shady PACs and backroom deals to city-funded failures and political opportunism, the fight for power in Oakland is anything but fair.In this episode, I'm following the money to expose:- The old campaign finance violations that keep corrupt systems alive- How Libby Schaaf’s political maneuvering shaped elections and boosted careers- The billionaire-backed PACs—Empower Oakland, Revitalize East Bay, and others—trying (and failing) to control East Bay politics- Ken Houston’s rise to City Council despite controversy and no-bid city contracts worth millions- Why Oakland’s homelessness crisis keeps getting worse despite massive city fundingThis episode continues to pull back the curtain on who’s really running Oakland—and what their political games mean for the future. No fluff. No spin. Just facts.Support the show