Zusha Elinson/The Bay Citizen

Jean Quan celebrates her surprise win in the Oakland mayor's race with state Assemblyman Sandre Swanson

Quan or her husband, who owns the car, hadn’t paid $1,000 in parking tickets. So a police technician affixed the boot of shame. 

To say that Quan has had a testy relationship with the police would be putting it mildly. Quan tried to get the police union to contribute to their pensions before 80 officers were laid off this summer. Then, there was the little incident where she was caught between police and demonstrators during protests in downtown Oakland over the verdict in the trial of ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle, causing some to call for an investigation into her interfering with police.

At the time Quan called the criticism of her actions a political stunt by the police union.  And, of course, her rival in the mayor’s race, Don Perata, was heavily supported and funded by law enforcement including the police union.

Quan has paid off the tickets, but can she expect close attention from the police going forward? Her car – thanks to this rap video she made for her campaign – should be familiar to most anyone who likes awkward, low-budget hip-hop music videos like this one: