Oakland, Calif., Mayor Sheng Thao is in a heap of problems.
First, the good citizens of Oakland ( and certainly, there are a few ), banded together and less than nine months after Thao was elected, got 44, 000 names on a recall complaint.
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And finally things got worse.
The very next day, around 8 a. m., the FBI came a- knockin’. The commission was keeping mum about the assault, but at the same time officials hit Thao’s house, they even hit the home of Andy Duong, whose household owns and runs Cal Waste Solutions. A city government ethics board was looking into possible improper contributions to Thao and other candidates for Oakland in the city council.
Finally, Thao called an unexpected press conference. It was crazy. She pleaded stupid and claimed the FBI had collaborated on the recall effort.
When her past chief of staff Renia Webb dropped a weapon on the incident, that is when.
Andre Jones, Thao’s sweetheart, is accused by Webb of being the genius and initiating pay-to-play schemes during Thao’s and her partner’s campaigns for mayor and after she won.
” I had found out that Andre, her boyfriend, was encouraging people work in our leadership, promising individuals sessions on different commissions and boards”. said Webb.  ,” I certainly believe that, out of the tongue of the people that told me, they were promised roles, they were promised table jobs. And]they did often say ] Andre, you know? That’s who they would claim,’ Andre promised me this. ‘”
Webb claimed Jones was in charge and calling the photos. Thao, according to her, accompanied him.
” It’s terrible. He’s making her do things, pushing her to do things that I do n’t believe she would do otherwise. I only really do n’t”, said Webb.
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Thao has truly all. But the press event blindsided her private attorney, Tony Brass, and he resigned.
She contacted me, and the search warrant caused her to be in a significant problems. I followed my process. I have a particular method for handling inquiries. Our attorney- customer relation was quick- lived”, Brass told The Times. ” I have an view, and it appeared as though she had a different method. I did n’t think I was the right choice to follow her.
Soon after Brass resigned, the president’s head of connections, Francis Zamora, even abandoned the sinking ship.
” I resigned my place as Chief of Communications. For their sincerity and commitment, I thank my coworkers. It was a privilege to offer alongside them in the City of Oakland, according to Zamora in a speech.
No expression on his gratitude to the employer? Ugh.
When people of this caliber abandon you, says Bay Area public relations expert Sam Singer, “it says a bit.” Oakland is in” issue mode” and almost collapse-like. The City Council’s silence and Sheng Thao’s administration’s fragility are both deeply concerning.
As for Renia Webb, she tried in the immediate aftermath of the change, when Andre Jones was giving out tasks like candy, to get the consideration of Oakland’s town government. They were n’t interested.
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Webb said Thao at the time denied all the charges, telling another Webb was disgruntled, had mental health issues and made up rests.
What sense did it make if I supported her in the vote, led her transition team, and then suddenly I was completely lost in thought? asked Webb.
On February 3, 2023, the FBI reached out to Webb and conducted an interview for two and a half time.  , She said officials asked a lot of inquiries about Thao’s campaign cash.
” It was about campaign contributions, about some of the appointments, like to the]Port of Oakland ]”, recalled Webb.
Generally, I’d suggest that Thao is bread and that they’re measuring the windows for the next owner of the president’s business. But this is Oakland. And equally disgraceful behavior and indifference are spread.
Put your money on Thao’s persistence.
