A group that is working to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is also urging voters to reject California's Proposition 3, which would remove language prohibiting same-sex marriage from the state constitution. It is believed to be one of the few groups advocating against same-sex marriage, as most organizations and newspapers, particularly in the Bay Area, have endorsed the proposition.
Foundational Oakland Unites is responsible for the mailer, which landed in mailboxes less than a week before the November 5 election. Major funding is from Philip Dreyfuss, a hedge fund billionaire who lives in Piedmont and has contributed nearly half a million dollars toward the Thao recall, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. According to the disclaimer on the mailer, Dreyfuss is the ad committee's major funder at $760,319.16. The cost of the mailer was $66,164.
Nathan Click, a gay man who is spokesperson for the Yes on 3 campaign, blasted the campaign literature.
"This mailer is extremely deceiving," Click stated in an email. "It is especially disturbing that this group uses rainbow and LGBTQ+ imagery to try and convince voters to oppose Prop 3 and marriage equality.
"Californians won't be fooled — Prop 3 will remove discriminatory language in the state's constitution against LGBTQ+ couples and protects the right to marriage for everyone, regardless of race or gender," Click added.
Recent polls show broad support for Prop 3 with 68% of likely voters in favor of it.
Both Thao and Price have been critical of the recall efforts against them, saying they are being waged by billionaires who don't support their progressive policies. Recent polling suggests both women will be recalled in the November 5 election.
A spokesperson for Thao, a straight ally, stated that she supports same-sex marriage and was critical of the mailer.
"Mayor Thao supports marriage equality and opposes coal in Oakland," the spokesperson stated. "The people funding and promoting her recall are opposed to marriage equality and support coal in Oakland. The people of Oakland share Mayor Thao's values and at a time when Oakland is experiencing one of its most significant reductions in crime in recent history we believe residents will overwhelmingly vote no on the recall."
The mayor reiterated what she told the Bay Area Reporter at the September 8 East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club's Pride breakfast, that the recall could create instability because of the city having multiple mayors over the next several years.
If she is recalled, Thao would leave office as soon as the election is certified. That would leave the council president as interim mayor until a special election is held. After the special election is held, then that winner would serve out the remainder of Thao's term until 2026, when the mayor's race would be on the ballot.
In an open letter to Dreyfuss, Thao accused him of working for coal interests in the city, as the Chronicle reported.
"Residents don't want the $10 million cost of a recall or the chaos and instability it will bring to Oakland," the spokesperson added. "Nor do they want their government controlled by polluters and those who seek to roll back the clock on equality."
Price did not respond to a request for comment.
Dreyfuss apparently deleted his X account last year, but not before liking anti-LGBTQ comments such as one that was critical of Pride flags in school classrooms.
The mailer urges a no vote on almost all the California ballot measures. In addition to Prop 3, it also recommends a no vote on Prop 6, which aims to enhance public safety and reduce taxpayer costs by prioritizing rehabilitation in California prisons to impose involuntary servitude on incarcerated people.
Three people associated with Foundational Oakland Unites are featured in the mailer: Tanya Boyce, who is executive director of the Environmental Democracy Project and president of the group; Chris Moore, a public safety advocate who is chief financial officer; and Duane Tatum, an account executive who is secretary of FOU. Contact information could not immediately be located for Boyce and Moore; Tatum did not respond to a message via Instagram.
The mailer endorses two gay candidates — Emeryville City Councilmember John Bauters, who is seeking the District 5 seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and Warren Logan, who is running for the District 3 seat on the Oakland City Council.
Bauters wrote in a text, "I fully support Prop 3."
Logan stated he, too, supports the initiative.
"I very proudly support LGBTQ rights, including same-sex marriage — which is how I was able to marry my husband in Oakland last year," Logan wrote in an email. "I will be voting Yes on Prop 3, and encourage Oaklanders to do so too. I hope that all Californians vote to codify those rights as we all stand against bigotry anywhere in our state."
Seneca Scott, a member of the Oakland NAACP, is also a leader against the Thao recall. He ran for mayor against Thao two years ago. In June 2022, Scott was photographed at an Oakland First Friday event wearing an anti-trans sandwich board that read, "Dad, noun. A human male who protects kids from gender ideology." Scott was standing next to well-known transphobe Chris Elston. "He's an independent candidate who knows we shouldn't be blocking puberty in children," Elston wrote in the post that accompanied the photo. (Scott told us at the time that he's not transphobic.)
But recently, Scott posted on X about Fluid510, an LGBTQ club in downtown Oakland co-owned by gay couple Sean Sullivan and Richard Fuentes. Scott was referencing how Fuentes attended a rally in support of Thao and against the recall.
"Fluid510 is about to go out of business soon," Scott posted on X. "Book it."
He was responding to a post by Moore, "@ritchiefuentes co-owner of fluid510 was on the NBC News tonight supporting Sheng Thao — ignoring that Sheng Thao is bankrupting Oakland. If you support the Recall of Sheng Thao, remember to skip Fluid510 club..."
Reached Friday, Fuentes condemned the posts and the divisiveness of the pro-recall campaign.
"I have been a supporter of every mayoral administration since Ron Dellums," Fuentes said in a brief phone interview. "I support our elected officials because when they succeed then Oakland succeeds. Everybody should be respected."
He was critical of "outsiders attacking small businesses just because of a difference of opinion."
"People love Fluid. People come to Fluid because it's a community space that welcomes everyone," Fuentes added.
He said that he did see the X posts but did not engage online.
"That behavior is not acceptable," Fuentes added.
Updated, 11/1/24: This article has been updated; two gay men are endorsed on the mailer. Also, a statement on behalf of Mayor Thao has been added.
Updated, 11/4/24: This article has been updated with a comment from Warren Logan.
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