Who is Mario Juarez?

In this week’s episode, we catch you up on speed cameras coming to Oakland's most dangerous roads, share some good news about Oakland’s costly coal terminal lawsuit, and tell you about a City Hall clash between a city council member and a high-up city staffer accusing each other of ethics violations.Plus, holiday gift guides to help you shop local in three Oakland neighborhoods.But first, a deep dive into one of the most important stories we've published all year — a major investigation into Mario Juarez, the man who appears to be the FBI's key informant in the federal corruption case against former Mayor Sheng Thao.Heads up: The Oaklandside’s most important fundraising drive of the year is happening right now. Our reporting is free for everyone in Oakland because residents like you pitch in to make sure Oakland has the high-quality coverage our beautiful city deserves. Our year-end fundraising drive is on until Dec. 31 and we hope you will be part of it. You can donate here—and thank you.