Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. John Russo’s relationship with other Oakland city leaders continues to deteriorate as council members and Mayor Jean Quan step up their criticism of the city attorney. The Chron reports that Councilwoman Desley Brooks called out Russo for not personally attending any closed-door sessions with the council for at least six months. The mayor and councilmembers, including Rebecca Kaplan, also harangued Russo for soliciting a legal opinion from the US Attorney’s Office about their discarded proposal for large medical cannabis farms. They’re also upset at Russo’s decision to no longer represent the city as it attempts to hammer out a new plan for taxing and regulating large pot growing operations run by dispensaries. Quan also scoffed at Russo’s contention that he sought the US Attorney’s legal opinion at the request of the council, saying “nobody on the council believes” the city attorney.
