The FBI's grip on Oakland's political landscape continues to tighten as new subpoenas signal an investigation branching out to the Oakland Police Department (OPD). According to ABC7 News, the latest round of documents requested includes internal OPD phone directories since March and police reports involving the politically connected Duong family dating back to the beginning of April.
In a display of federal interest that broadened the scope of an inquiry first made public after an FBI raid on Mayor Sheng Thao's house last month, the new subpoenas incorporate the former North Gateway site of the Oakland Army Base and plan to deal with local homelessness. Amidst the scrutiny lie the interests of California Waste Solutions, owned by the Duong family, who proposed establishing a recycling plant to alleviate West Oakland's congestion.
Greg Woods, a professor at San Jose State University's Department of Justice Studies, emphasized the gravity of the situation. "This is significant because we appear to be entertaining a massive corruption investigation that is currently underway by the grand jury, at the instruction of the Department of Justice," Woods said, as per ABC7 News. He added that the subpoena's aim might not directly accuse the OPD but to vet if any complaints were filed akin to those under the grand jury's review.
As the FBI delves into potential dealings implicating the OPD, an intriguing subplot concerns Evolutionary Homes, which shares an office building with California Waste Solutions. The company's ties with Mario Juarez, who faced felony charges earlier this year, and their aggressive push for a piece of the city's anti-homelessness funding have been scrutinized in light of the raids. "He was just a little more aggressive", Councilmember Carroll Fife said, as cited by Mercury News about Juarez's presentation of housing plans using shipping containers.
The raids have fostered a political storm for Mayor Thao, who has been fervently denying any misconduct, asserting her distance from being the investigation's nucleus. According to a Hoodline report, Thao stated, "I am not the subject of investigation and I have done nothing wrong," despite allegations concerning her partner Andre Jones and her administration's operational transparency.
.jpg){kind=link}