Tracking a network of Bay Area political pressure groups, secretly funded by a handful of conservative tech and real estate robber barons.

San Francisco
Joined December 2023
The Phoenix Project retweeted
Coming soon to Public Safety Committee, "Drone as First Responder" program-drones sited on rooftops, piloted remotely from HQ, responding to calls, streaming surveillance before deploying police. Use Policy approved by PAC, use policy and acquisition approved by OPC last night.
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
I was handed this Oakland Watch booklet today that claims Sheng Thao and Barbara Lee lead the political machine responsible for corruption in Oakland. I was wondering who was associated with Oakland Watch and then the guy walked by again with Seneca Scott. Of course.
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
This is so vile. Cheating people of wealth to hand it to billionaires. This is a land grab on co-op housing, which has resident-owners. And giving 2/3 of it to luxury developers, sucking out their wealth and ownership of the land for minority units in a luxury project.
Major news: Over 2,000 new homes - with 267 co-ops, 133 affordable homes, 115 senior affordable homes - are coming to the Western Addition. Today, Mayor Lurie and I are introducing legislation to help finance and build one of the largest investments in the neighborhood in years at Freedom West. A historically Black-owned co-op, the new Freedom West project will be a historic undertaking. Every existing co-op owner will have access to a new co-op, ensuring no resident is displaced. A 6,000 sq ft STEM Innovation Center will be built. And development will focus on local hiring between our labor unions and community - ensuring a project for community is built by community. Legislation to create a Special Use District and authorize a Development Agreement is being introduced today, is expected to pass in the months ahead, with the first phase of senior homes to break ground early next year.
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
I think our data & politics team is among the best in the biz, & today's piece is an example why: a network map of San Francisco's interconnected, billionaire-backed groups, politicos & more. Gobs of money & a new class of donors that Lurie has brought in—explore it all below.
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
It's reputation laundering for Fairshake, just like Chris Larsen's recent apology tour. $362,000 to a progressive Democrat who is likely to win her seat is a small price to launder the $46.6 million and counting they are paying to keep Sherrod Brown out of the US Senate.
Fairshake, the crypto super PAC, is now spending for the progressive Aisha Wahab in the fight between two Democrats in California. Fairshake has taken some shots from folks who think the group is too Republican-coded and partisan. But here they are backing a more left-wing Democrat.
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Where do SFUSD Board candidates stand on school closures, special ed, enrollment policy, & board accountability? Hear directly from candidates on Wed, Oct 28 (6–7:30 PM). RSVP / Join: bit.ly/PPSBoardCandidateForu… #SFUSD #SanFrancisco #SFPublicSchools #SFElections #EducationMatters
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
It's amazing that the SF mayor is trying to run a campaign against affordable housing, demonizing nonprofits. He has so many nonprofits. - Believe in SF: a His $30m personal PR fund - Downtown SF Partnership - Tipping Point - Civic Joy Fund
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
shot, chaser
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
Scott Wiener’s congressional campaign is directly coordinating with a super PAC in an unusual arrangement that at times appears to stretch the bounds of campaign finance law: washingtonsun.com/influence/…
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BREAKING🚨 Washington Post has leaked a private list of donors to Trump’s ballroom. On the list is SF crypto billionaire and political megadonor Chris Larsen’s company Ripple Labs with $5m, bringing Larsen’s total Trump donations to $9.9m. washingtonpost.com/investiga…
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Larsen has also become one of the biggest spenders on California-wide issues, contributing $15m Grow California, an organization he co-founded backing candidates across the state, along with giving $12.5m to oppose prop 40, the CA billionaire tax.
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Locally in SF, he has become a major benefactor of GrowSF and the Abundance Network, as well as Empower Oakland across the Bay. He made headlines last month when he contributed $500k to D10 candidate Theo Ellington - the highest donation in the history of SF supervisor elections
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Also the two biggest funders of the Abundance movement, including $12.3m to CA YIMBY/YIMBY Action, $8m to Open NY (which runs Abundant NY) & $500k to the Abundance Network.
NEW — Two of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna, are back. They've donated $16 million to help the Democratic Party in the midterms. $8 million to Senate Majority PAC. And $8 million to Future Forward. Moskovitz, one of the co-founders of Facebook, and Tuna are influential voices in the AI safety movement.
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The Phoenix Project retweeted
NEW — Two of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna, are back. They've donated $16 million to help the Democratic Party in the midterms. $8 million to Senate Majority PAC. And $8 million to Future Forward. Moskovitz, one of the co-founders of Facebook, and Tuna are influential voices in the AI safety movement.
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Big money is flooding from Astroturf groups into San Francisco’s School Board race. Political pressure groups like GrowSF and Neighbors for a Better San Francisco have pledged six and seven figures to back candidates Phil Kim, Autumn Brown Garibay, and Tim Tung. 🧵
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Recently, the School Board - led by Kim - voted to end San Francisco’s lottery admissions system. These reforms among others pushed by GrowSF & co. such as school closures, vouchers, and charter expansion are what may lay ahead if they’re able to get their candidates into office.
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