A small group of about 20 community activists critical of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao rallied outside of Oakland City Hall on Sunday, calling for her resignation.
“She has been conspicuously absent on the budget crisis,” said Edward Escobar, one of the event organizers. The group held signs criticizing Thao and her allies on the City Council, Nikki Bas and Carroll Fife, and demanding their resignations.
“If you or I committed such a failure, we would be fired immediately,” Escobar said. “Her behavior is not acceptable.”
The group, led by organizations the Coalition for Community Engagement and #AsiansUnite, chanted “Where is Sheng?” and “Sheng Thao Resign!”
The rally followed an FBI raid on Thao’s home and a mass shooting at Lake Merritt that left 15 people wounded last week.
Thao has yet to address the public since the raid on her home a few days ago.
Although the subject of the investigation is unclear, investigators removed numerous boxes from Thao’s house in Lincoln Highlands and raided three properties connected to the Duong family, owners of California Waste Solutions. The investigation comes only days after a recall effort against the first-term mayor qualified for the November election, leaving local political observers stunned.
According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, Thao’s attorney, Tony Brass, said officials at the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not indicate that Thao was the target of the raids. He also stated that the mayor would cooperate with the investigation and issue a public statement next week.
Seneca Scott, one of the lead organizers of the recall effort, spoke at the event saying the budget crisis should convince Oakland voters to recall the mayor.
“The budget right now, if they pass it, will bankrupt this city,” Scott said.
Earlier this month, around 40,000 Oakland residents signed the recall petition— far more than the 24,644 valid signatures needed to compel a new election.
The City Council is expected to discuss placing the recall on the November ballot during a July 2 meeting.
Local businessman Francisco Acosta said he supports the recall because of Thao’s supposed failure to reduce crime in the city.
“I’m a realtor and I don’t feel safe going through the streets of Oakland, or the whole Bay Area, showing houses, trying to help people realize the American dream, when there is so much danger going on,” Acosta said.
Oakland saw a devastating spike in crime during the pandemic that has slowly begun to recede. According to data, total citywide crime was down 33% as of June from year-to-date statistics in 2023.
While the data says crime is dropping, Acosta is not convinced.
“Even in broad daylight you don’t feel safe because Oakland has been going in a downward spiral. It’s a very dangerous place. And with the budget cuts, it’s only going to get worse.”
