The stars are aligned in Oakland: The Raiders
stay; A’s will move to Howard Terminal.

YEAR-IN-PREV16W | Sadly, predicting political races in the East Bay is very easy. With a high- percentage of certainty, the candidate with the most fundraising will win. If you add strong union and Democratic Party support, the likelihood is almost 100 percent. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for some surprising outcomes ahead in 2016. Here are five somewhat “out there” predictions for next year:

>>>Rent control ballot measures in Alameda and Richmond will fail in November. Simply too much money from landlord groups to foster doubts in the mind of voters. The campaign tactics by landlords will be shameful, but demoralizing in their effectiveness.

>>>Those preparing for a Nancy Skinner and Sandre Swanson Democratic slugfest in November will be disappointed. Regardless of who is number two in June, Skinner takes the oath of office in January 2017.
>>>A very poor first year for Alameda Mayor Trish Spencer only gets worse. Spencer’s shockingly inept political skills are further inflated by her opposition to rent control and the advocacy group’s portrayal of her as a villain. They may even try to recall her, but that never gets anywhere. Nonetheless, she will be drained with still another two years in her term.
>>>Oakland doesn’t get its act together concerning the Raiders, but a positive resolution falls into their lap. The Raiders ultimately build at the current Coliseum complex, while a path is clear for the A’s at Howard Terminal. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf is hailed as the savior of East Bay sports.
>>>Rep. Mike Honda will withstand a brutal re-election campaign. The victory may even be a late come-from-behind effort linked to the presidential election. No doubt Honda will be running on empty. This time next year, the prediction for 2017 will be he finally retires in 2018.
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