Notoriously liberal California city paid $607K to nonprofit and politically connected subcontractor for disastrous cannabis program

Nypost · Apr 22, 2026 · 557 words · By Nina Joudeh

Government spending accountability Political critique of local governance

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What to know about Government spending accountability

Notoriously liberal California city paid $607K to nonprofit and politically connected subcontractor for disastrous cannabis program A taxpayer-funded youth cannabis program and a politically connected subcontractor in Berkeley burned through $607,000, yet…

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 3

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

The city shelled out funds from a $1 million state grant between 2022 and 2024 to Berkeley Youth Alternatives and its subcontractor, Upline Solutions, led by Patricia Brooks — now chief of staff to Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins.

Common ground

Upline was tapped to launch a cannabis ad campaign, but the effort fizzled before it began.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Selective Omission: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Government spending accountability story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The city shelled out funds from a $1 million state grant between 2022 and 2024 to Berkeley Youth Alternatives and its subcontractor, Upline Solutions, led by Patricia Brooks — now chief of staff to Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins?
How does this story connect Government spending accountability with Political critique of local governance over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/us-news/notoriously-liberal-california-city-paid-6…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Selective Omission 60% confidence

Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

Why it matters: Recognizing selective omission helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5

info Single Source 3

schedule Pending 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “The city shelled out funds from a $1 million state grant between 2022 and 2024 to Berkeley Youth Alternatives and its subcontractor, Upline Solutions, led by Patricia Brooks — now chief of staff to Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins.”

CORROBORATED

One web search result directly corroborates the claim that funds were paid to Berkeley Youth Alternatives and Upline Solutions from a state grant between 2022 and 2024, naming Patricia Brooks and Kevin Jenkins. While other sources mention the entities, this source links the specific grant amount, timeframe, and parties.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Elmer Yale Dawson (March 31, 1918 – June 22, 1966) was an American botanist, phycologist, taxonomist, ecologist, and naturalist writer. He popularized science and natural history with his books and a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Yale_Dawson

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Recreational diving or sport diving is diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, usually when using scuba equipment. The term "recreational diving" may also be used in contradistinction to "tec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_diving

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sylvia Alice Earle (born August 30, 1935) is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, writer, and lecturer. She has been a National Geographic Explorer at Large (formerly Explorer in Res…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Earle

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Upline was tapped to launch a cannabis ad campaign, but the effort fizzled before it began.”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results confirm that Upline Solutions was hired for an ad campaign, but that the effort did not proceed or 'fizzled before it began.'

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Brooks is now chief of staff to Kevin Jenkins, an Oakland City Councilmember. Oakland CA Gov Upline was tapped to launch a cannabis ad campaign, but the effort fizzled before it began. The company ...
https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/us-news/notoriously-liberal-ca…

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web search NEUTRAL — Though Upline was hired to create an ad campaign, it never did. The task force Upline was meant to organize did not launch until early 2024 — two years into the grant term, and nearly 18 months ...
https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/berkeley-youth-a…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Innovative learning tools. 24/7 support. All in one place. Homework help for relevant study solutions, step-by-step support, and real experts.
https://www.chegg.com/

info

Claim 3: “The teens received training, but the presentations were a no-go, according to an April 2025 Alameda County evaluation cited by the San Francisco Chronicle.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim specifies an 'April 2025 Alameda County evaluation' stating the presentations were a no-go. While the web search result mentions the presentations were a 'no-go' according to an evaluation, the specific date (April 2025) and source citation (Alameda County evaluation) are only present in the context of the web search result, making it difficult to corroborate the exact date/source combination with other evidence.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2024 Alameda County District Attorney recall election was a successful special recall election to remove Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. It was held on November 5, 2024.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Alameda_County_District_A…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Alameda ( AL-ə-MEE-də; Spanish: [alaˈmeða]; Spanish for "tree-lined path") is a city in Alameda County, California, United States, located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The city is built on…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda,_California

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Alameda County ( AL-ə-MEE-də) is located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,682,353, making it the 7th-most populous county in the state and 21st most populo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda_County,_California

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 4: “Of the original $1 million grant, about $235,000 was returned to the state.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “The city also spent roughly $125,000 on its own staff overseeing the program.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “The company was also tasked with organizing a community task force, which finally started in early 2024 — almost two years after the grant kicked in and a year and a half after payments started flowing.”

CORROBORATED

One web search result mentions that the task force Upline was meant to organize did not launch until early 2024, which aligns with the claim's timeline regarding the delay.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — There are several categories of decompression equipment used to help divers decompress, which is the process required to allow ambient pressure divers to return to the surface safely after spending ti…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decompression_equipment

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Helix Energy Solutions Inc., known as Cal Dive International prior to 2006, is an American oil and gas services company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company is a global provider of offshore se…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix_Energy_Solutions_Group

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gregory Reid Wiseman (born November 11, 1975) is an American naval aviator and NASA astronaut. He was the commander of the 2026 Artemis II lunar flyby mission, the first crewed flight around the Moon …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_Wiseman

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “The non-profit — Berkeley Youth Alternatives — trained teens for a peer-led cannabis education effort aimed at reaching 1,000 students through at least 10 presentations.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Berkeley Youth Alternatives trained teens for a peer-led cannabis education effort with goals involving 1,000 students and at least 10 presentations.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Berkeley ( BURK-lee) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher G…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley,_California

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Berkeley High School is a public high school in the Berkeley Unified School District, and the only public high school in the city of Berkeley, California, United States. It is located one long block w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_High_School_(Californ…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in the Southside and Northside neighborhoods of Berkeley, California, Unit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berk…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 8: “Over three years, the nonprofit reported serving 48 clients, but evaluators said it was unclear how many were new.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results confirm that Berkeley Youth Alternatives is a community organization, but none of the provided search snippets contain the specific data points: 'serving 48 clients over three years' or the evaluator's comment questioning how many were new.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Berkeley Youth Alternatives is a Bay Area community organization based in Berkeley, CA that ensures children, youth, and families reach their full potential through access to education, health and wel…
https://www.linkedin.com/company/berkeley-youth-alternatives

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web search NEUTRAL — Are you getting a “No clients are currently selected” error in Xeno Executor? Here’s the second part of the error: “Press the Attach button to attach to a Client”. Followed by “Restart Xeno if Roblox …
https://www.followchain.org/no-clients-are-currently-selecte…

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web search NEUTRAL — Other mail clients. In this article: Configure IMAP-based client. Step 1. Configure your mailbox.We can't guarantee correct interaction with your email client over a POP3 connection. The developers no…
https://yandex.com/support/yandex-360/customers/mail/en/mail…

help

Claim 9: “state filings show Upline Solutions was incorporated by Brooks and Yelda Bartlett — the wife of Ben Bartlett — attorney and City Councilmember for South Berkeley.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered for this claim, despite the evidence count suggesting information might exist. The search returned no relevant results for the specific incorporation details.

help

Claim 10: “Another filing listed Jenkins as a registered agent.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered for this claim, despite the evidence count suggesting information might exist. The search returned no relevant results for the specific filing details.

info

Claim 11: “Early plans called for counseling and services for 75 to 180 middle and high school students. That was later cut to 25-60 new participants.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results discuss general counseling and student services but do not contain specific figures detailing a reduction in planned participants from '75 to 180 to 25-60' for counseling services.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Elementary, middle, and high schools. Services. Kennedy International School.Around the ninth grade, students receive counselling as they begin to plan their careers and select subjects that are usefu…
https://www.justlanded.com/english/United-States/USA-Guide/E…

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web search NEUTRAL — Beginning with the class of 1997, Roslyn High School students were required to complete 30 hours of community service at any time during the 9th through 12th grades. The standard was increased to 40 h…
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/23/nyregion/the-logic-of-man…

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web search NEUTRAL — Individual counseling, number of sessions, and ending counseling in agreement predicted better outcome. In line with results from other countries, this study may indicate that in Denmark student couns…
https://www.academia.edu/56720477/Does_the_severity_of_psych…

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Claim 12: “A taxpayer-funded youth cannabis program and a politically connected subcontractor in Berkeley burned through $607,000, yet still came up empty-handed.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report that a youth cannabis program in Berkeley spent a significant amount of money ($607,000) without achieving its goals. One source explicitly states the program 'missed key goals' while $607,000 was paid.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Berkeley most often refers to: Berkeley, California, a city in the United States University of California, Berkeley, a public university in Berkeley, California George Berkeley (1685–1753), Anglo-Iri…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.