I’m sending out this rare Saturday column because of its importance. There was talk of recalling Thao even before her Wednesday firing of Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong. After she committed that heinous act, the recall chatter has turned into real action. With the firing, Oakland communities have had it with Thao, and whether she knows it or not, she’s facing an existential crisis barely one month into her mayoralty.
White people are pissed because they’re aware of Thao’s history of antagonism toward police and pro-crime policies, and they don’t like it. Black people are pissed off, because Chief Armstrong is Black, he was well-liked in the community, and they know he was doing a great job easing tensions between cops and people of color and working to end the Negotiated Settlement Agreement. The Asian community is up in arms, because Armstrong responded strongly to the wave of violence that was striking the AAPI community, and they respected him. I don’t know if the Latino community is as disturbed as the others, but attacking three out of Oakland’s four major ethnic communities is not the best way to remain in office.
I can’t share all the details of what I know—and what I know is only a fraction of what’s going on behind the scenes. But I can tell you that the wheels are in motion for a recall. Even people who are not necessarily political, and who are temperamentally disinclined to engage in hardball politics, are moved to do so. Thao has so insulted and disrespected so many people by firing Chief Armstrong that she’s succeeded in making even the most timid souls militant.
A question that’s also popping up is, If and when we recall Thao, who will take her place? You might think it would be, God forbid, the City Council president, Bas. But the official Procedures for Recalling State and Local Officials, prepared by the Office of the California Secretary of State and revised this year (2023), states that “Upon receiving certification of the sufficiency of the recall petition from the Secretary of State, the Governor must publish a notice for the holding of the recall election.” That election must be held within 180 days from “the date of certification of sufficient signatures,” but in all likelihood the election would be held fairly quickly, in order to ensure that Oakland has a functioning mayor. Which leads to the question, who would run in the election?
If we succeed in recalling Thao, it will be a gigantic repudiation of wokeness. That means that some far-left extremists who want to be mayor—Cat Brooks, Rebecca Kaplan, Carroll Fife—would seem to be non-starters. There’s always Ignacio de la Fuente, of course, a good man who wouldn’t stand a chance. Seneca Scott is still out there. And let’s not forget the man who came within 700 votes of actually being mayor: Loren Taylor. He’s been highly visible lately in the anti-Thao (or pro-Armstrong) movement, and he might be interested.
If you look at the Procedures for Recalling State and Local Officials, you’ll appreciate what a complicated, challenging process a recall is. It will take time, professional abilities (including lawyers) and a whole lot of spending money. But these things can be gathered, considering how widespread the resentment of Thao is.
It’s early at this point, except to say that important, well-connected and decent people are meeting and planning. This thing could drag out, but I have a feeling it won’t. All the parts should come together fairly quickly; the official launch of a Recall Sheng Thao movement could be announced by April. Meanwhile, check out the #RecallShengThao hashtag on twitter and spread it around. The topic also is growing on Facebook. Sheng Thao stupidly and needlessly started this fight, but we’re going to end it and win it.
Steve Heimoff