It is barely a year after Sheng Thao became the Mayor of Oakland, California. However, there are indications that residents may recall her before the next elections in November.
Thao made a record of becoming the first Hmong-American mayor of a major city in the United States. She is a 38-year-old single mother who was raised in poverty and has been a victim of domestic violence.
Right after graduating from UC Berkeley, Thao worked for city council members. She was eventually elected to the Oakland City Council in 2018. Thao became Mayor on January 5, 2023.
However, things are looking gloomy for Thao. There are indications that a group is mobilizing to submit a notice for her recall. Organizers and volunteers in the said group met recently in the Montclair area of Oakland. The first step in their effort to recall Mayor Thao is to gather 250 signatures for the notice of intention.
ALSO READ: Philadelphia’s First Female Mayor Declares Public Safety Emergency
Residents are voicing their displeasure about the recent rise in insecurity in Oakland. To make things worse, Thao is foot-dragging over appointing a new service chief.
A month after Mayor Thao assumed office, she fired Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong. Since then, Oakland has been without a police chief. According to the Mayor’s public statement, Armstrong’s dismissal resulted from his lack of initiative in handling two misconduct cases.
However, towards the end of 2023, the Oakland Police Commission then submitted the names of three potential candidates for chief. But guess whose name showed up again? Armstrong. So, Mayor Thao rejected the list.
POLL — Do You Support Stricter Gun Control Laws and Assault Weapon Bans?
During a recent interview where the question of appointing a police chief came up, Thao came up with an entirely new idea. According to her, Oakland is in a peculiar situation where it would be out of place for the local police commission to nominate candidates to become police chief.
So, Thao is considering putting a constitutional amendment to the ballot during the coming election. The amendment will vest the responsibilities of appointing a police chief solely on the city mayor. According to Thao, the Mayor bears responsibility for cases of insecurity in the state, so it should be the call of that office to select capable hands for the role.
Mayor Thao admits that the amendment to appoint a police chief is a long-term goal that may not be achieved during her tenure. However, she is willing to set the ball rolling.
ALSO READ: “It Didn’t End Well!” New York City Mayor Blamed for “Cops, Camera, Care” Initiative
Unfortunately, with the growing unpopularity, residents may not welcome her idea. Robberies, burglaries, and car thefts have increased significantly in Oakland, and locals are no longer sitting still.
Residents are starting to conclude that Thao’s administrative laxity is the cause of the waxing crime waves in the city. Also, the recent shooting of Officer Tuan Le is another reason why residents are insisting on recalling their Mayor. They are quite impatient to wait for the next elections.
You Might Also Like This:
Tennessee Town Council Brings Chick-fil-A’s Proposed Mega Restaurant Plan to a Halt
Philadelphia Measles Outbreak Has Providers on Alert as Infected Residents Flout Quarantine Rules
Michigan Teen Speaks Out After Suing School District for Racial Slurs and Threats
Authorities Arrest Montana Fire Chief in Connection to January 6 Capitol Riot
Family of Arizona Professor Killed On Campus Gets $2.5 Million Settlement From University
