California Waste Solutions under investigation for campaign contributions to city officials including Mayor Thao
FBI raided Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home on June 20, 2024
Raid part of corruption investigation against Mayor Thao and her supporters
Recall election against Mayor Thao in November with over 40,595 valid signatures collected
Oakland, California, has been making headlines recently due to two significant developments: an FBI raid on the home of Mayor Sheng Thao and the announcement that she will face a recall election in November. Let's delve deeper into these events and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Firstly, on June 20, 2024, FBI agents raided Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home located on Maiden Lane in the Lincoln Highlands neighborhood. The raid was part of an ongoing investigation involving political corruption against Mayor Thao and her supporters. California Waste Solutions, a company that manages Oakland's curbside recycling program, has previously been under investigation for campaign contributions to city officials including Mayor Sheng Thao.
Secondly, organizers have collected enough signatures to force a recall election against Mayor Thao in November. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters confirmed that Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) had gathered over 40,595 valid signatures, surpassing the required 25,000.
Retired Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte, who is also the president of OUST, accused Mayor Thao of having
Oakland Democratic Mayor Sheng Thao is facing a recall election on November’s ballot after community organizers collected over 40,595 valid signatures.
Retired Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte spearheaded the recall and accused Thao of having ‘blood on her hands’ due to rising crime rates and dismantling of the Oakland Police Department.
Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) submitted its petition two weeks ago, which was confirmed by Alameda County officials.
Recall supporters criticized Thao for the ‘dismantling’ of the Oakland Police Department and her failure to meet a deadline for a grant to combat retail theft.
Thao later took responsibility for missing the grant deadline. Other allegations include her remark about MLB’s Oakland Athletics ‘not being missed’ after they relocated to Las Vegas, and the firing of Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong.
Accuracy
FBI raided Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home on Maiden Lane in the Oakland Hills
Retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte is the president of OUST.
Thao received 40,000 first-place votes during the first round of voting in November 2022.
Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) reportedly collected 40,595 signatures.
Deception
(75%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes retired Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte making accusations against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, implying that the mayor is responsible for rising crime rates and the dismantling of the Oakland Police Department. However, no evidence is provided to support these claims beyond Harbin-Forte's statements. The author also selectively reports on specific complaints from recall petition signatories without providing context or counterarguments. Additionally, emotional language is used throughout the article to manipulate readers' emotions and create a negative perception of Mayor Thao.
OAKLAND LOCALS BLAME HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT FOR CITY REMOVING TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO STOP COPPER THIEVES
Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) submitted its petition two weeks ago, and on Wednesday, officials in Alameda County confirmed they had met the threshold of 25,000 voter signatures.
One resident called the state of the city the worst since she began living there in 1985.
Retired Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte told local media Thao has ‘blood on her hands’ amid rising crime, grand theft auto and instances of people being robbed on the street.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority with the quote from retired Judge Harbin-Forte stating 'Thao has
"Businesses were not leaving Oakland at this pace before she came into office,"
"Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) submitted its petition two weeks ago, and on Wednesday, officials in Alameda County confirmed they had met the threshold of 25,000 voter signatures."
"Recall proponents ultimately collected 40,595 valid signatures on the recall petition."
FBI raided Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home on Maiden Lane in Lincoln Highlands neighborhood at around 5:30 a.m. on June 20, 2024.
California Waste Solutions, which manages Oakland’s curbside recycling program, has previously been investigated over campaign contributions to Oakland city officials including Mayor Sheng Thao.
Supporters of a recall against Mayor Thao blame her for not doing enough to fight crime and for the city’s failure to apply for millions of dollars in state money to fight retail crime.
Former police chief LeRonne Armstrong called the FBI raids ‘a sad day for the City of Oakland’ and urged unity to address public safety, leadership, and budget deficit issues.
