Over a dozen FBI agents rummaged through Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home yesterday, appearing to leave with boxes and bags of material. Federal agents also searched two homes and an office linked to the city’s recycling contractor, California Waste Solutions.
Since then, Thao has been conspicuously quiet. She has not been seen in public and hasn’t issued any statements on social media or to the press.
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No one The Oaklandside was able to reach over the past 24 hours has heard from the mayor—including several members of the City Council.
The FBI raids and mayor’s silence comes as the city is barreling toward a June 30 deadline to balance the budget in the face of a massive deficit. Tragic violence also struck Oakland Wednesday evening when Juneteenth celebrations were disrupted by an illegal sideshow that turned into a shootout at Lake Merritt. Fifteen people were wounded by gunfire.
City leaders we reached today said they’re in the dark about what Thao is planning to do next. However, they said they’re confident that Oakland will meet the deadline to amend its $2.2 billion budget.
“The role of the mayor in this process is to give the council her version of the budget and we amend it from there,” Councilmember Carroll Fife told The Oaklandside. “Her role in this process ended when she gave her version of the budget—technically, there’s not anything for her to do at this point.”
The mayor can be used to break tie votes, which is uncommon but not without precedent. Last summer, Thao was brought in to break a tie vote over what type of grant writer to hire for the city.
Councilmember Kevin Jenkins said today that there was a false rumor floating around that Nikki Fortunato Bas was going to resign to take on the role of interim mayor and appoint him as the new Council President.
“That’s not true,” Jenkins told The Oaklandside. “I talked with Nikki, we’re going to figure things out.”
Representatives for the city administrator’s office did not answer our questions about whether they’ve been in contact with the mayor but they did provide information about how the city operates.
“Under the City Charter, the City Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and fiscal operations of the City under the policy guidance of the Office of the mayor,” wrote spokesperson Sean Maher. “In his capacity as City Administrator, Jestin Johnson directs City agencies and departments to ensure the goals and policy directives of the Mayor and City Council are implemented.”
In a message to city staff Thursday evening, Johnson did not directly reference the mayor or FBI raids but instead thanked workers for their service.
“I know from the time I’ve spent with you already that Oakland has its share of eventful days and challenging moments,” Johnson wrote. I am reaching out this evening to tell you that across the board, you have always impressed and humbled our community with your dedication to your work and to serving our community together.”
Justin Berton, a communications consultant who was Libby Schaaf’s spokesperson when she was mayor, said Thao’s silence over the past 24 hours could be for a variety of reasons.
“I don’t know the situation, she may have been talking to attorneys or talking to FBI agents all day. We’re all guessing,” he said.
However, the mayor’s silence creates a “vacuum of leadership,” Berton said. “Constituents are all left to fill in the void […] The city’s residents are very curious about whether their mayor is at the center of a public corruption scandal, and whether she’s distracted.”
Berton said Oaklanders were looking for leadership following the mass shooting at the lake. “Frankly, they’re not hearing from their city leadership about what the response to this tragedy is. Functionally, it’s a difficult time for the city.”
