A small group of about 20 community activists critical of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao gathered outside Oakland City Hall on Sunday and called for her resignation.
“With the budget crisis, their absence is conspicuous,” said Edward Escobar, one among the event's organizers. The group held signs criticizing Thao and her allies on the City Council, Nikki Bas and Carroll Fife, and calling for his or her resignations.
“If you or I were to commit such a lapse, we would be fired immediately,” Escobar said. “Your behavior is unacceptable.”
The group, led by 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 injured last week.
Thao has not made any public statements because the raid on her home a couple of days ago.
Although the topic of the investigation is unclear, investigators have removed quite a few boxes from Thao's Lincoln Highlands home and searched three properties linked to the Duong family, owners of California Waste Solutions. The investigation comes just days after a recall attempt against the mayor, who was in his first term and qualified for the November election, and has left local political observers stunned.
According to a report within the San Francisco Chronicle, Thao's attorney Tony Brass said officials from the U.S. Attorney's Office didn’t indicate that Thao was the goal of the raids. He also said the mayor would cooperate with the investigation and make a public statement next week.
Seneca Scott, one among the foremost organizers of the recall campaign, said on the event that the budget crisis should persuade Oakland voters to recall the mayor.
“If the current budget is passed, the city will go bankrupt,” Scott said.
Earlier this month, around 40,000 Oakland residents signed the recall petition – excess of the 24,644 valid signatures needed for a brand new election.
The City Council is anticipated to debate whether to place the recall resolution on the November ballot during a gathering on July 2.
Local businessman Francisco Acosta said he supported the recall because Thao had allegedly failed to scale back crime in town.
“I'm a real estate agent and I don't feel safe walking the streets of Oakland or the entire Bay Area, showing homes and trying to help people achieve the American dream when there are so many dangers,” Acosta said.
Oakland experienced a devastating spike in crime through the pandemic, which is now slowly declining. According to data, overall crime across town fell 33% in June in comparison with the 2023 annual statistics.
Although the info suggests a decline in crime, Acosta just isn’t convinced.
“Even in broad daylight, you don't feel safe because Oakland is in a downward spiral. It's a very dangerous place. And with the budget cuts, it's only going to get worse.”
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