Thread by @hyphy_republic

On a tip now of researching the background of current Port of Oakland Commissioners, proposed by Libby Schaaf and appointed by City Council. Check back on this thread now and again

Let's start with Joan H. Story

Story is a real estate attorney and partner at the extremely powerful and influential Sheppard Mullin, where she was also an E-board member. Story has been a consistent donor to Schaaf, both before and after her appointment in 2015. She gives to Schaaf in off-election years.

Notably, Story also gives to Schaaf-associated candidates. She donated to Peggy Moore, former staffer for Schaaf, when she ran against Kaplan and Abel Guillen, a Schaaf ally. She gave to the anti-Desley Brooks PAC & a Schaaf-associated PAC

At Sheppard, Story has represented Macarthur Transit Partners, developers of BART property at Macarthur station. Sheppard is experiencing tremendous profit growth, but laid off substantial non-legal office staff during Covid, regardless.

Sheppard is Tesla's anti-union lawyer and Tesla/Sheppard's tactics and rhetoric appear a bit dirty

I'll have more on another Port Commissioner tomorrow.

One last thing on Story: as @OHglass1 pointed out that recently appointed Planning Commissioner Jennifer Renk is also a real estate lawyer at Sheppard Mullin. Renk is also a board member at a prominent Yimby org sheppardmullin.com/jrenk

@OHglass1 On to Barbara Leslie. Leslie was appointed to the Commission in 2018 and is also the CEO of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce. She was formerly ATT&T gov affairs liaison, and has worked in Oakland City Administration.

@OHglass1 Leslie is a founder of the Chamber's "oakpac", the influential independent expenditure committee that takes in large amounts of money from some of the most toxic presences in the City. Leslie has been a "principal officer" of the PAC since 2017.

@OHglass1 Leslie was the principal officer of OakPac when it spent tens of thousands of dollars to unseat Desley Brooks.