Bryan Azevedo, a San Leandro City Council member, has announced his resignation just two days before he's set to appear in federal court on corruption charges. The decision comes amid allegations that Azevedo accepted a $2,000 bribe as part of the scheme.
Azevedo, who is scheduled to change his not guilty plea on Wednesday, faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and lying to a government agency. Prosecutors say he agreed to secure a contract for an affordable housing company in exchange for a cut of the sales.
The council member's departure from office ends a tumultuous tenure that has been marked by controversy. Azevedo was elected to the San Leandro city council in 2020 and reelected in 2024, but his time in office has been marred by allegations of corruption.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that Azevedo may become a crucial witness against others charged in a broader East Bay corruption probe. The probe has already ensnared former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and the father-and-son business duo of David and Andy Duong, who are all facing federal conspiracy and fraud charges.
Azevedo's resignation is seen as a calculated move to avoid further scrutiny from federal authorities. His departure will likely be felt by his constituents in District 2, who had grown tired of the controversy surrounding his time in office.
Azevedo, who is scheduled to change his not guilty plea on Wednesday, faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and lying to a government agency. Prosecutors say he agreed to secure a contract for an affordable housing company in exchange for a cut of the sales.
The council member's departure from office ends a tumultuous tenure that has been marked by controversy. Azevedo was elected to the San Leandro city council in 2020 and reelected in 2024, but his time in office has been marred by allegations of corruption.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that Azevedo may become a crucial witness against others charged in a broader East Bay corruption probe. The probe has already ensnared former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and the father-and-son business duo of David and Andy Duong, who are all facing federal conspiracy and fraud charges.
Azevedo's resignation is seen as a calculated move to avoid further scrutiny from federal authorities. His departure will likely be felt by his constituents in District 2, who had grown tired of the controversy surrounding his time in office.
! Can't believe Bryan Azevedo would resort to taking a bribe and lying to get ahead like that. His resignation is kinda expected tho, I don't think anyone wants to deal with the drama anymore. It's crazy how one guy's actions can affect so many people and businesses in his district 
. And now he's gonna be a witness for the other guys charged? Like, what a twisted game of musical chairs...
like what can u do when someone on your team is corrupt? at least he's taking responsibility for himself, but still it's a big blow to the community, especially since they were already tired of all the drama surrounding his term 
and now he might be some kind of witness against other people in the corruption probe whoop-de-doo 
this whole thing just smells like a setup to me... i mean, come on $2000 for a cut of a contract? that's lowballing even for corruption 
and what really gets my goat is how all these East Bay bigwigs keep getting caught up in one another's messes. it's like they're all playing some crazy game of musical chairs with public money 
. Azevedo should've taken the heat instead of trying to weasel out... now who knows what kind of deal he'll get if he becomes a witness? 
This whole situation with Bryan Azevedo just got even more cringeworthy 
. I mean, a $2,000 bribe? That's some serious corruption 
! It's no wonder he bailed on his job as a city council member - who wants to be associated with that kind of shady stuff? 
. If Azevedo becomes a witness against others involved in the corruption probe, it's like he's doing the right thing by stepping down - even if it was to avoid scrutiny himself 
Just heard about Bryan Azevedo resigning before he even goes to court! Like, what's going on here? He was already in trouble, but I guess some people just can't handle the heat 
. It's weird that he's trying to cut a deal by stepping down, considering all the controversy surrounding his time on the council 
. I'm just hoping that justice gets served and that everyone involved is held accountable 
.
Fingers crossed he cooperates and turns those other bad apples into puppets who can't escape justice 
This whole situation is a total nightmare for his constituents, but at least they'll have one less headache now 
... Azevedo was supposed to make a difference for the community he represented, but instead, corruption won out 
. It's like, what's the point of having leaders if they're just going to prioritize their own interests over the people they're supposed to serve? 
.
. I guess you could say it's a bit of a silver lining... but for Azevedo and his constituents, I'm sure it's just a whole lot of hurt and frustration 
... fingers crossed 
. I'm all for accountability, but this case feels more like a fishbowl than a genuine attempt to clean up corruption 
. Prosecutors need to do their due diligence and show us that they're not just going through the motions 
. The circumstances surrounding his tenure on the San Leandro city council have undoubtedly left a stain on the office he held, but it's worth noting that some level of responsibility must be taken by those who abuse their power 
.
The whole situation just feels like a big mess 
.
. All I know is that it's gonna be hard for San Leandro to shake off this reputation for corruption 
. what's the real motive behind his resignation tho? was he scared of being held accountable or did he just want to save face for his constituents 
?
. I'm not sure if this is really his move or just a clever PR stunt, but either way, it's clear that his time in office was marked by some pretty shady dealings 
