Sheng Thao#Recall

Thao was born on July 18, 1985,{{cite news |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Ken |title='Keep the Oakland A's in Oakland' — Q&A with mayor Sheng Thao on fighting for the team |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4681749/2023/07/12/oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-athletics-relocation/ |access-date=December 17, 2023 |work=The Athletic |date=July 12, 2023 |language=en}} and raised in Stockton, California.{{cite news |last1=Qin |first1=Amy |title=Oakland's Next Mayor Highlights Political Rise of Hmong Americans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/28/us/elections/oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-hmong-american.html |access-date=December 28, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=December 28, 2022}} Her parents were refugees from Laos who escaped from the Hmong genocide and eventually immigrated to the United States. Thao was the seventh of ten children and grew up in poverty, spending some of her childhood in public housing.{{cite news |title=Oakland City Councilmember Sheng Thao Announces Candidacy For Mayor |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/oakland-city-councilmember-sheng-thao-announces-candidacy-for-mayor|last=Lee |first=Amber |work=KTVU |accessdate=June 17, 2022|date=November 10, 2021}}

At age 17, Thao moved out of her home and began working at a Walgreens store in Richmond. After moving to Oakland in her 20s, she became a victim of domestic violence while in an abusive relationship.{{cite news |last1=Ravani |first1=Sarah |title=Second Oakland City Council member jumps into mayor's race |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/Second-Oakland-councilmember-jumps-into-mayor-s-16610150.php |access-date=November 25, 2022 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 10, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Alex |title=Oakland mayoral candidate: Sheng Thao |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/oakland-mayoral-candidate-sheng-thao/ |website=KRON4 |access-date=November 20, 2022 |date=November 3, 2022}} Thao left the relationship when she was six months pregnant, and then lived in her car and couch-surfed before and after her son was born. When her son was ten months old, Thao began attending Merritt College in Oakland while raising her son as a single mother and working as a research assistant.{{cite web |title=Sheng Thao Breaks Through |url=https://www.oaklandca.gov/news/2019/sheng-thao-breaks-through |publisher=The City of Oakland |accessdate=June 17, 2022|date=March 15, 2019}}

After she completed an associate's degree in legal studies at Merritt College, Thao transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a bachelor's degree in legal studies and a minor in city planning.{{cite web |title=District 4 Councilmember Sheng Thao |url=https://www.oaklandca.gov/officials/sheng-thao |publisher=City of Oakland |accessdate=June 17, 2022}}

Following her graduation from UC Berkeley in 2012, Thao worked for At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan as a paid intern. Thao later worked for Kaplan at the Oakland City Council, becoming her chief of staff in 2017.

File:Sheng Thao headshot.jpg

Thao decided to run for office in 2018, when the election for the district 4 City Council seat was an open race, lacking an incumbent. Thao ran on the priorities of tackling Oakland's housing crisis, improving public safety with better response systems and community policing, and building public infrastructure such as libraries and parks.{{cite web |title=Tuesday November 6, 2018 — California General Election |url=https://votersedge.org/en/ca/election/2018-11-06/alameda-county/city-council-city-of-oakland-district-4/sheng-thao |publisher=Voter's Edge |accessdate=June 17, 2022|date=November 6, 2018}} Thao defeated six other candidates and won with 54% of the vote.{{cite web |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Sheng Thao |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Sheng_Thao |accessdate=June 17, 2022 |publisher=Ballotpedia}}

Thao began her term as a member of the Oakland City Council in January 2019.{{cite news |last1=Veklerov |first1=Kimberly |title=New Oakland City Council takes charge |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/New-Oakland-City-Council-takes-charge-13515652.php |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=January 8, 2019 |language=en}} Thao served in the Oakland City Council's 4th district seat, representing the neighborhoods of Montclair, Laurel, Melrose, Redwood Heights, and the Dimond District.{{cite web |title=City of Oakland, CA - Council District Locator |url=http://gisapps1.mapoakland.com/councildistricts/ |accessdate=June 17, 2022 |publisher=Map Oakland}} She was the first Hmong woman to be elected as a member of a city council in the state of California and the first Hmong person elected to the Oakland City Council.{{cite web |date=January 7, 2019 |title=Sheng Thao of Oakland first elected Hmong American city councilwoman in California |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URselhFeca4 |access-date=November 20, 2022 |publisher=KTVU |language=en |via=YouTube.com}} On the city council, Thao served as president pro tempore.

During her tenure on the city council, Thao led efforts to expand the number of police academies from four to five, and co-authored ordinances approved by the council to address housing insecurity by expanding access for code-compliant RVs and mobile homes in the city.{{cite news |last1=Sciacca |first1=Annie |title=Another Oakland council member launches bid for mayor's race |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/11/10/another-oakland-councilmember-launches-bid-for-mayors-race/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=East Bay Times |date=November 11, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Ravani |first1=Sarah |title=One Oakland council member voted against adding more police academies. She's now backing them |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/One-Oakland-councilmember-voted-against-adding-16443928.php |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=September 8, 2021 |language=en}}

Thao took office on January 9, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Velena |title=Sheng Thao Sworn in as New Oakland Mayor |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/east-bay/sheng-thao-oakland-mayor-2/3125035/ |website=NBC Bay Area |access-date=April 11, 2023 |date=January 9, 2023}} As mayor-elect, her proposals included the development of 30,000 units of new housing over eight years, rent control and other protections for tenants, improving safety and sanitation for homeless residents, hiring more police officers, and increasing spending for education and violence prevention programs.{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Da |title=In revealing interview, Oakland's new mayor discusses her top priorities - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/interview-oakland-new-mayor-sheng-thao-discusses-priorities/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=CBS News Bay Area |date=January 8, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Fernandes |first1=Deepa |last2=Locke |first2=Ashley |title=Hmong culture inspires the values of the next mayor of Oakland, California |url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2022/12/15/hmong-american-mayor-sheng-thao |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=WBUR-FM |date=December 15, 2022 |language=en}}

{{See also|2022 Oakland mayoral election}}

On November 10, 2021, Thao announced her candidacy for Oakland mayor and the endorsements of council president Nikki Fortunato Bas, vice mayor Rebecca Kaplan, and Attorney General Rob Bonta.{{cite news |last1=Laird |first1=Cynthia |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Oakland councilwoman Thao jumps into mayor's race |url=https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=news&sc=latest_news&sc2=&sc3=&id=310468&oakland_councilwoman_thao_jumps_into_mayors_race |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=Bay Area Reporter}}{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Amber |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Oakland city councilmember Sheng Thao announces candidacy for mayor |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/oakland-city-councilmember-sheng-thao-announces-candidacy-for-mayor |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=KTVU Fox 2}} Her campaign also received support from labor unions, the Alameda County Democratic Party, and Ro Khanna, the U.S. representative for the 17th congressional district of California.{{cite web |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Shimok |date=November 19, 2022 |title=Sheng Thao is Oakland's next mayor, latest tally shows |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/11/19/sheng-thao-on-path-to-be-oaklands-next-mayor-latest-tally-shows/ |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=East Bay Times}}{{cite news |last1=Ravani |first1=Sarah |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Sheng Thao is Oakland's next mayor |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/Sheng-Thao-is-Oakland-s-next-mayor-17602918.php |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}} Loren Taylor, one of her opponents, was endorsed by Libby Schaaf, the incumbent mayor of Oakland, as well as London Breed and Sam Liccardo, the mayors of nearby San Francisco and San Jose.{{cite web |last1=Rasmus |first1=Allie |date=November 9, 2022 |title=2 frontrunners emerge in Oakland mayoral race |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/2-frontrunners-now-in-oakland-mayoral-race |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=KTVU}} By the end of the campaign, Thao and Taylor were considered to be the two front-runners.{{cite web |last1=Lin |first1=Da |date=November 19, 2022 |title=Sheng Thao leads Loren Taylor in latest vote count for Oakland mayor |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/sheng-thao-leads-loren-taylor-oakland-mayor-vote-count/ |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=CBS News}}

Thao, relating her own experiences, including childhood poverty, domestic violence, and renting, campaigned for increasing the funding of the Department of Violence Prevention in Oakland to improve access to affordable housing and reduce homelessness.{{cite news |last1=Breslau |first1=Karen |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Oakland Elects First Hmong-American Mayor of a Major US City |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-22/oakland-elects-first-hmong-american-mayor-of-major-u-s-city |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2022 |title=Oakland mayor's race: an interview with candidate Sheng Thao |url=http://oaklandside.org/2022/10/11/oakland-mayor-election-interview-candidate-sheng-thao/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=The Oaklandside |language=en-US}}

In June 2022, a former staffer filed an informal verbal complaint with the Public Ethics Commission that alleged Thao had Oakland City Council staff work on her campaign in a possible violation of state election laws. The staffer claims to have been fired after refusing to work on Thao's campaign.{{cite web |last1=Ravani |first1=Sarah |date=October 29, 2022 |title=Former staffer files ethics complaint against Oakland City Council member running for mayor |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Former-staffer-files-ethics-complaint-against-17543798.php |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=San Francisco Chronicle}}{{cite web |last=BondGraham |first=Darwin |date=November 3, 2022 |title=City's investigation of alleged misconduct by Sheng Thao started in June—not October |url=https://oaklandside.org/2022/11/02/investigation-alleged-misconduct-sheng-thao-leana-powell-public-ethics-commission-timeline/ |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=The Oaklandside}} Thao denied the allegations and the ethics commission opened an investigation in June 2022. After the matter was reported by a political blogger that supported one of Thao's competitors in October 2022, the allegations gained media attention.

On November 18, 2022, Thao won the election by 677 votes through a ranked-choice (instant-runoff) voting system. On November 22, 2022, the margin of victory increased to 682 votes, and her opponent Councilmember Loren Taylor conceded.{{cite news |last1=Taylor Jr. |first1=Otis R. |last2=Green |first2=Matthew |date=November 22, 2022 |title='Let's Get to Work': Sheng Thao Outlines Plans as Oakland's Next Mayor, After Loren Taylor Concedes |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11931400/sheng-thao-oaklands-next-mayor |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=KQED |language=en-us}} A recount was formally requested and received support from the city's chapter of the NAACP, but the required funding was not raised for the costs.{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Shomik |date=December 17, 2022 |title=No recount: Chaotic race to be Oakland's next mayor is officially over |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/12/16/no-recount-chaotic-race-to-be-oaklands-next-mayor-is-officially-over/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=The Mercury News}} Thao stated she supported the recount.{{cite news |last1=Marzorati |first1=Guy |date=December 17, 2022 |title=Oakland Mayoral Recount 'Forfeited' After Supporters Fall Short of Covering Cost |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11935550/oakland-mayoral-recount-forfeited-after-supporters-fall-short-of-covering-cost |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=KQED |language=en-us}}

After a law firm hired during the previous year by the City of Oakland produced an investigative report which was officially published on January 18, 2023, alleging misconduct in the Oakland police department, Thao placed Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong on administrative leave on January 19.{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Da |title=Oakland mayor says police chief's leave is not punitive |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakland-mayor-says-police-chief-leave-not-punitive/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=CBS News Bay Area |date=January 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao defends firing police chief; Armstrong files appeal |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-defends-firing-police-chief-armstrong-files-appeal/ |website=CBS News Bay Area |date=February 23, 2023|access-date=April 11, 2023}} During a press conference on January 21, Thao said "it's important that we look at taking the corrective action that is needed to make sure that we stay on track to make sure that we get out of the federal oversight," referring to the oversight the police department had been subject to for the past twenty years. Thao fired Armstrong on February 15, 2023, and indicated she had lost confidence in his ability to reform the police department.{{cite news |title=Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong fired over response to misconduct|last=Halpert |first=Madeline |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64663523 |work=BBC News |access-date=April 11, 2023 |date=February 16, 2023}} Armstrong filed a wrongful terminational lawsuit against the city of Oakland and Thao.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Former Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong files wrongful termination lawsuit against city, mayor |url=https://abc7news.com/oakland-police-chief-leronne-armstrong-wrongful-termination-lawsuit/14395174/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}} In March 2024, Thao appointed Floyd Mitchell as the new police chief.{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Sydney |last2=Green |first2=Matthew |date=2024-03-22 |title=Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Appoints Floyd Mitchell as New Police Chief {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11980455/oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-appoints-floyd-mitchell-as-new-police-chief |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}}

Thao's administration faced criticism from community leaders after missing a deadline to apply for the Organized Retail Theft Prevention (ORTP) Grant Program.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-18 |title=Oakland community leaders frustrated after city misses out on millions to fight retail crime |url=https://abc7news.com/oakland-misses-ca-grant-money-deadline-organized-retail-theft-businesses-press-conference/13796377/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en|author-first1=Lena|author-last1=Howland|author-first2=Leslie|author-last2=Brinkley}} The grant awards cities millions of dollars to fight retail crime through allocating funds "to hire more officers, create task forces and develop investigative units."{{Cite web |last1=Suratos |first1=Pete |last2=Jones|first2=Velena |date=2023-09-15 |title=Oakland loses out on grant funds to combat crime after missing application deadline |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/oakland-grant-funds-combat-crime-missing-deadline/3318569/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=NBC Bay Area |language=en-US}} An audit released in May 2024 conducted by the acting City Auditor of Oakland found that, "there was poor communication, within departments and between departments, there was no project management and no one really took charge."{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=Audit: Absent leadership, poor communication led to Oakland missing out on $15 million grant |url=https://abc7news.com/city-auditor-reveals-how-oakland-missed-out-on-grant-money-last-year-intended-to-help-fight-retail-crime/14751537/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en|author-first1=Lena|author-last1=Howland}} The City of Oakland prepared, but "did not successfully submit an application for the ORTP (Organized Retail Theft Prevention) grant."

In September 2023, Thao announced $2.5 million in more funding for the 911 response system.{{cite news |last1=Nguyen |first1=Candice |last2=Carroll |first2=Jeremy |date=September 11, 2023 |title=Oakland mayor announces $2.5M investment into city's 911 system |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/east-bay/oakland-upgrade-911-system/3315067/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=NBC Bay Area}}{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Sydney |date=September 20, 2023 |title=Oakland Passes Broad Public Safety Resolution Amid Rising Crime Concerns |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11961919/oakland-passes-broad-public-safety-resolution-amid-rising-crime-concerns |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=KQED |language=en-us}} In her State of the City address on October 17, 2023, Thao discussed crime and public safety, including efforts to improve the 911 system, obtain new California Highway Patrol officers, and hire a person responsible for applying to grants.{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Shomik |date=October 18, 2023 |title='The buck stops with me': Oakland mayor acknowledges struggles, crime problem in State of the City address |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/10/17/the-buck-stops-with-me-oakland-mayor-acknowledges-struggles-crime-problem-in-state-of-the-city-address/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=The Mercury News}} The Oakland Police Department's crime report for April of 2024 noted "33 percent fewer violent crimes overall this year compared to last year."{{Cite news |last1=Larson |first1=Amy |last2=Terisa |first2=Estacio |date=May 2, 2024 |title=Here's what latest data says about Oakland's crime rates |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/heres-what-latest-data-says-about-oaklands-crime-rates/ |access-date=July 7, 2024 |work=Kron4}}

In July 2024, Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, urged Oakland to allow more police pursuits. Currently, Oakland only allows police pursuits when a suspect is armed with a gun or involved in a forcible violent crime,{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Calif. governor calls on Oakland to allow more police pursuits, stop suspects from 'fleeing with impunity' |url=https://www.police1.com/law-enforcement-policies/calif-governor-calls-on-oakland-to-allow-more-police-pursuits-stop-suspects-from-fleeing-with-impunity |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Police1 |language=en-US}} a policy that has been in place since 2014.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Here's why Gov. Newsom is urging Oakland to update strict police pursuit policy |url=https://abc7news.com/post/gov-newsom-urging-oakland-update-strict-police-pursuit/15100297/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}} Newsom has described this policy as an "outlier."{{Cite web |title=Newsom urges Oakland to let police pursue more criminals|date=2024-06-26|website=KRON4|url=https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/newsom-urges-oakland-to-let-police-pursue-more-criminals/|access-date=2024-08-23|author-first1=Alex|author-last1=Baker}}{{Cite web |last=Seldon |first=Aja |date=2024-07-26 |title=Newsom presses Oakland to change strict policy on police chases |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/newsom-letter-oakland-police-chases |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=KTVU Fox 2 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants more police pursuits in Oakland |website=The Washington Times |date=2024-07-28|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jul/28/gavin-newsom-california-governor-wants-more-police/|access-date=2024-08-23}}{{Cite web |last=Hernandez|first=Jodi |date=2024-07-27 |title=Gov. Newsom urges Oakland to change strict policy on police pursuits |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/gavin-newsom-oakland-strict-policy-police-pursuits/3604917/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=NBC Bay Area |language=en-US}}

During Thao's tenure, several Oakland businesses closed due to safety concerns. In-N-Out, Denny's, Starbucks, Black Bear Diner, and Subway cited safety concerns for their employees and customers as the reasons for the closures.{{Cite web |last=staff • • |first=NBC Bay Area |date=2024-02-01 |title=Oakland crime concerns: List of businesses and companies leaving or taking action |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/businesses-leaving-oakland-crime/3440618/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=NBC Bay Area |language=en-US}} Other businesses, Raising Canes and Taco Bell, shut down dining rooms to reduce the risk of crime.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=Taco Bell closes most Oakland dining rooms due to safety concerns: report |url=https://abc7news.com/oakland-taco-bell-dining-closed-drive-thru-only-crime/14516017/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}} Kaiser Permanente, Clorox, and Blue Shield increased security and warned employees about crime in the area. In a statement to KTVU, Thao said she prioritized public safety and said "that she added police presence and employed technology 'to deter and respond to criminal behavior.'"{{Cite web |date=2024-01-23 |title=After In-N-Out announces closure, Oakland mayor says more needs to be done to combat crime |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/after-in-n-out-announces-closure-oakland-mayor-acknowledges-more-needs-to-be-done-about-crime |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=KTVU Fox 2 |language=en-US}} Thao's office provided statistics that showed a decline in some areas of crime in the Hegenberger Road corridor where In-N-Out was located.

For several months, Thao's administration continued negotiations with the owners of the Oakland Athletics for the team to stay in Oakland, which had begun during the administration of Thao's predecessor, Libby Schaaf.{{cite news |last1=Janes |first1=Chelsea |title=A's buy land in Las Vegas as they plan a move out of Oakland |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/04/20/oakland-as-las-vegas-land-deal/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 20, 2023}} In April 2023, the team president announced an agreement to buy land for a stadium in Las Vegas.{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Rachel |last2=Ravani |first2=Sarah |title='Not good partners': Oakland officials shocked by A's decision to pursue ballpark in Las Vegas |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/oakland-officials-shocked-a-s-decision-pursue-las-17908457.php |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 20, 2023 |language=en}} On April 20, Thao indicated she was open to continuing negotiations despite the announcement by the team. In July 2023, Thao and other Oakland officials met with MLB Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred and Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem to discuss the proposal for the A's to stay in Oakland.{{Cite news|url=https://abc7news.com/oakland-athletics-mayor-sheng-thao-rob-manfred-as-las-vegas-move/13491700/|title=Oakland mayor takes big swing to keep A's, meets with MLB commissioner in Seattle|last=Pratt|first=Casey|work=KGO-TV|date=July 12, 2023}} John Fisher, owner of the Oakland Athletics, rejected the City of Oakland’s "offer for a five-year, $97 million lease extension on the Coliseum" and a revised, "final three-year, $60 million lease," ultimately relocating the team to Las Vegas.{{Cite web |last=Horta |first=Joey |date=2024-04-04 |title=Oakland A's pack their bags for Sacramento after Coliseum negotiations fail |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/oakland-as-pack-their-bags-for-sacramento-after-coliseum-negotiations-fail |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=KTVU Fox 2 |language=en-US}}

Thao announced on May 22, 2024, that the City of Oakland would sell its share of the Coliseum (the former home of the Oakland A's) to the African American Sports & Entertainment Group (AASEG) for $105 million.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Oakland to sell its Coliseum share amid A's exit |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40199808/city-oakland-sell-share-coliseum-amid-exit |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The money from the sale was expected to "help fill shortfalls in the city's budget" and city officials said the sale would pave "the way for a proposed sports and entertainment destination site, thousands of new affordable housing units, and community benefits for historically neglected East Oakland." The deal has thus far not been completed.

In May 2023, Thao proposed a two-year $4.2 billion budget with city department mergers and hiring freezes proposed to help account for a $360 million budget deficit.{{cite news |last1=Sumida |first1=Nami |last2=Ravani |first2=Sarah |title=Charts show how Oakland mayor plans to spend $2 billion budget |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2023/oakland-budget/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 2, 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Shomik |title=Oakland mayor: New budget proposal will save city from drastic cuts amid record shortfall |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/01/oakland-budget-mayor-sheng-thao-proposal/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=The Mercury News |date=May 2, 2023}} A $4.2 billion budget was passed by the city council in June 2023 to address the deficit with some department mergers, hiring freezes to prevent layoffs, and spending cuts.{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Shomik |title=No layoffs, but cuts to violence prevention in Oakland's new $4.2 billion budget |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/06/27/no-layoffs-but-cuts-to-violence-prevention-in-oaklands-new-4-2-billion-budget/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=The Mercury News |date=June 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Eli |title=In one of its first big fights, Oakland's City Council narrowly balances $4.2 billion budget |url=https://oaklandside.org/2023/06/27/oakland-budget-2023-2025-city-council-approves/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=The Oaklandside |date=June 27, 2023}}

In 2024, Oakland faced a $117 million deficit. Thao and Oakland's city council approved budget changes that "will avoid drastic cuts but also rely on the still-pending sale of the city’s most valuable real estate property."{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Facing drastic cuts, Oakland approves budget that bets on Coliseum sale |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/07/02/facing-drastic-cuts-oakland-approves-budget-that-bets-on-coliseum-sale/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}} The pending sale of the Coliseum is "estimated to bring in $105 million." Financial analysts warned city officials against relying on sales of assets to "remedy short-term budget shortfalls."

A group called Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) organized to recall her from office and submitted a petition on June 5, 2024. On June 18, 2024, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters received around 40,000 petition signatures. A random sample projected that roughly 26% of the petitions, or somewhere around 10,753 signatures, were not "valid signatures of qualified registered voters" in the city.{{cite web |author1=Shomik Mukherjee |title=Recall effort against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has enough signatures for election |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/06/18/recall-effort-against-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-has-enough-signatures-for-election/ |website=The Mercury News |access-date=10 November 2024 |date=20 June 2024}} Alameda County's elections office estimated that the whole batch would exceed 110% of the necessary threshold, or enough to trigger a recall election outright without a full manual count of signatures. The recall was the first mayoral recall election in Oakland's history.{{cite news |last1=Mayer |first1=Phil |title=Thao recall receives enough signatures to appear on November ballot |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/thao-recall-receives-enough-signatures-to-appear-on-november-ballot/ |access-date=June 18, 2024 |work=KRON4 |publisher=Nexstar Media Group, Inc. |date=June 18, 2024}}

A small group of protestors rallied outside of Oakland City Hall calling for Thao to address a Juneteenth celebration mass shooting at Lake Merritt that wounded 15 people and the FBI raid at her home.{{cite web |title=Oaklanders demand Mayor Sheng Thao to publicly appear after raid, mass shooting |date=June 23, 2024 |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/oaklanders-rally-demand-mayor-sheng-thao-publicly-appear-after-raid-mass-shooting |publisher=KTVU}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-24 |title=Activists rally, urge Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to resign following FBI raid |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/06/23/activists-rally-urge-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-to-resign-following-fbi-raid/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}} The group supported the recall election and demanded Thao's resignation. The election was scheduled to coincide with the U.S. presidential election.

She was successfully recalled on November 5, 2024. 60.62% voted in favor of the recall and 39.38% voted against it. Former U.S. representative Barbara Lee was elected to fill the remainder of her term in April 2025.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with agents from the Internal Revenue Service and United States Postal Inspection Service, raided Thao's home on June 20, 2024 as part of a corruption investigation.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-22 |title=FBI raid of Oakland mayor rocks city, fuels questions over family's political influence |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-22/heres-what-we-know-about-the-oakland-fbi-raids-and-the-people-involved |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US|author-first1=Salvador|author-last1=Hernandez|author-first2=Ruben|author-last2=Vives}} Three other residences and properties belonging to the owners of Cal Waste Solutions, the Duong family, were also raided on the same day. Following the raid, the Oakland chapter of the NAACP called on Sheng Thao to resign.{{cite web |title=Oakland NAACP calls for Mayor Sheng Thao to resign after FBI raid |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/oakland-naacp-calls-for-mayor-sheng-thao-to-resign-after-fbi-raid/ |website=KRON4 |access-date=21 June 2024 |date=21 June 2024|last1=Mayer|first1=Phil}} On July 8, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office ordered the city of Oakland to hand over documents and records. Among the requested records in the subpoena are "communications related to Andre Jones and all calendar entries or records of the existence of planned or scheduled meeting with Thao or Jones from June 2022 to the present."{{Cite web |date=2024-07-08 |title=Oakland FBI raids: City ordered to hand over records in subpoena naming Mayor Sheng Thao's partner |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/07/08/oakland-fbi-raids-city-workers-told-to-preserve-records-tied-to-mayor-sheng-thaos-partner-following-subpoena/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}} On July 10, 2024, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California issued a new subpoena that "appear to be after police reports related to the Duong family, the owners of the city’s recycling contractor".{{Cite web |first1=Eli |last1=Wolfe |first2=Darwin |last2=BondGraham |date=2024-07-13 |title=FBI demands more records from Oakland, including police reports related to Duong family |url=http://oaklandside.org/2024/07/12/fbi-demands-more-records-from-oakland-subpoena-investigation/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=The Oaklandside |language=en-US}}

In January 2025, Thao was indicted by a federal grand jury on federal bribery charges. The charges allege a pay-to-play scheme in which the Duong family paid $75,000 to Thao in the form of negative advertisements against her opponents in the 2022 mayoral race as well as $95,000 to Jones for "no-show" jobs, in exchange for the city of Oakland renewing its recycling contract with Cal Waste Solutions and purchasing housing units from the Duongs' housing company.{{cite news |last1=Gardiner |first1=Dustin |title=Former Oakland mayor indicted on bribery charges |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/17/oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-indicted-bribery-charges-00199015 |access-date=17 January 2025 |work=POLITICO |date=17 January 2025 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/oakland-mayor-thao-indictment-bribery-scheme-6746ab11ac238f615b08dee19ae92816|title=Former Oakland mayor, longtime partner indicted in alleged bribery scheme|date=January 17, 2025|website=AP News}} Cal Waste Solutions has had a number of legal troubles prior to the bribery charges, including fines from the state for violating beverage container redemption laws and a lawsuit alleging that the company overcharged Oakland residents for recycling services between 2010 and 2021.{{cite news |last1=Seldon |first1=Aja |title=Oakland residents could be eligible to receive refunds for recycling overpayments |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/oakland-residents-could-be-eligible-refunds-overpayments-recycling-services |access-date=March 20, 2025 |publisher=KTVU |date=January 28, 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Staub |first1=Colin |title=Oakland recycling contract scheme draws federal scrutiny |url=https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2025/01/28/oakland-recycling-contract-scheme-draws-federal-scrutiny/ |website=Resource Recycling |date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}

As of 2024, Sheng Thao was living with her partner, Andre Jones, and their two children in a 4-bedroom home on Maiden Lane in Oakland's Lincoln Highlands neighborhood.{{Cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Rachel |last2=Angst |first2=Maggie |last3=Flores |first3=Jessica |last4=Neilson |first4=Susan |last5=Barned-Smith |first5=John |date=June 23, 2024 |title=FBI raids home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/fbi-raids-home-of-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-19523532.php |access-date=June 23, 2024}}{{Cite news |date=2024-06-20 |title=FBI raids home of Oakland's first-term mayor Sheng Thao |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/20/oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-fbi-raid |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Castañeda |first=Carlos |date=2024-06-23 |title=Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home raided by FBI agents; feds target other locations - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-fbi-raids-home/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} She met Jones during her internship with Oakland city Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan; Jones was Kaplan's chief of staff.{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Da |date=2024-06-23 |title=Former chief of staff for Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao alleges pay-to-play schemes - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/former-chief-of-staff-for-oakland-mayor-sheng-thao-alleges-pay-to-play-schemes/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

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{{s-bef|before=Libby Schaaf}}

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Category:1985 births

Category:21st-century American women politicians

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