Bay Area

Libby Schaaf: Guilty Former mayor agrees to $21,000 fine for serious election violations, avoiding criminal prosecution

Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who is currently running for State Treasurer in 2026, has agreed to pay a $21, 000 fine for serious violations of election rules to defeat political opponents in 2018 and 2020 city elections. Following a years-long investigation, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission last week concluded scrutiny of political wrongdoing by Schaaf and her political allies, saying she secretly plotted to organize, raise money, and lead campaigns in violation of election laws while she was still in office.

Published

7 months ago

October 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Libby Schaaf. Courtesy East Bay Express.

By Ken Epstein

Following a years-long investigation, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission last week concluded scrutiny of political wrongdoing by Schaaf and her political allies, saying she secretly plotted to organize, raise money, and lead campaigns in violation of election laws while she was still in office.

Investigators found that she secretly controlled several political committees that she used to attack elected city leaders who did not agree with her and to promote a ballot measure.

Ethics investigators also found that those who worked with Schaaf in violation of election law included the Oakland Police Officers Association, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, contractors, campaign consultants, along with others who were fined hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Under the proposed settlement agreement issued earlier by the Commission, those who faced the charges waived “all procedural rights” under the law.

“If respondents fail to comply with terms of this stipulation, then the Commission may reopen this matter and prosecute respondents to the full extent permitted by law,” according to the proposed agreement.

The settlement agreement continued:

“The respondents’ violations in this case are serious. The strict rules applying to candidate-controlled committees go directly to the very purpose of campaign finance law. Candidates for office, and (because) particularly high-ranking office holders such as the Mayor, have a disproportionate ability to bring in campaign money.”

One commissioner said that the terms of the settlement were too weak, insufficient to deter further violations.

“I think the penalties are really inadequate, and I worry that the ends have justified the means here,” said Commissioner Alea Gage, according to Oaklandside.

Several commissioners were concerned that the majority of the penalties are to be paid by two campaign committees, Oaklanders for Responsible Leadership and the Committee for an Affordable East Bay. However, these committees no longer function and have no money, meaning that collecting the fines will be problematic.

Schaaf is no longer mayor and therefore under less potential scrutiny, but many observers say she is still using similar tactics to smear opponents of her pro-real estate developer priorities, which in the current election include District 3 incumbent Councilmember Carroll Fife.

Schaaf’s tactics include finding a staffer or former staffer to run against her target. She raises money from corporate benefactors, finds endorsements, and encourages media attack campaigns that include lies and misrepresentations.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 3, 2025

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May 30, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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May 25, 2025

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Chevron Richmond Installs Baker Hughes Flare.IQ, Real-time Flare Monitoring, Control and Reduction System

While the sight of flaring can cause concern in the community, flares are essential safety systems that burn pollutants to prevent them from being released directly into the atmosphere. They activate during startup and shut-down of facility units or during upsets or equipment malfunctions. The typical flare stack is about 200 feet high so that vapors are well above street levels.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2025

Oakland Post

Image courtesy The Richmond Standard.

The Richmond Standard

Chevron Richmond recently installed flare.IQ, a real-time, automated system that will improve the facility’s flaring performance.

The technology, developed by Panametrics, a Baker Hughes business, uses sensors to monitor, reduce and control flaring in real time. It collects and assesses data on refinery processes, such as temperature, pressure, gas flow and gas composition, and adjusts accordingly to ensure flares burn more efficiently and cleanly, leading to fewer emissions.

“The cleaner the flare, the brighter the flame can look,” said Duy Nguyen, a Chevron Richmond flaring specialist. “If you see a brighter flame than usual on a flare, that actually means flare.IQ is operating as intended.”

“A key element in Baker Hughes’ emissions abatement portfolio, flare.IQ has a proven track record in optimizing flare operations and significantly reducing emissions,” said Colin Hehir, vice president of Panametrics, a Baker Hughes business. “By partnering with Chevron Richmond, one of the first operators in North America to adopt flare.IQ, we are looking forward to enhancing the plant’s flaring operations.”

The installation of flare.IQ is part of a broader and ongoing effort by Chevron Richmond to improve flare performance, particularly in response to increased events after the new, more efficient hydrogen plant was brought online in 2019.

Since then, the company has invested $25 million — and counting — into flare minimization. As part of the effort, a multidisciplinary refinery team was formed to find and implement ways to improve operational reliability and ultimately reduce flaring. Operators and other employees involved in management of flares and flare gas recovery systems undergo new training.

“It is important to me that the community knows we are working hard to lower emissions and improve our flaring performance,” Nguyen said.

Also evolving is the process by which community members are notified of flaring incidents. The Community Warning System (CWS), operated by Contra Costa County is an “all-hazard” public warning system.

Residents can opt-in to receive alerts via text, e-mail and landline. The CWS was recently expanded to enable residents to receive notifications for “Level 1” incidents, which are considered informational as they do not require any community action.

For more information related to these topics, check out the resources included on the Chevron Richmond, CAER and Contra Costa Health websites. Residents are also encouraged to follow @chevronrichmond and @RFDCAOnline on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), where additional information may be posted during an incident.