Rally to Address Unlawful Votes Cast by Recalled Mayor Sheng Thao

On December 5, 2024, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters certified the decisive recall of Mayor Sheng Thao by 86,535 Oakland voters. This certification officially ended her tenure as mayor.

However, during a City Council meeting on December 17, 2024, Ms. Thao cast tie-breaking votes on critical ordinances. These actions were enabled by a legal memo from City Attorney Ryan Richardson, which contravened both California law and Oakland’s City Charter by erroneously granting her authority to act as mayor post-recall.

The East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) and (retired) Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte have submitted formal letters to the city, demanding the rescission of these ordinances, as they were enacted without legal authority. Despite clear legal arguments, city leaders have failed to address these concerns, further eroding public trust in Oakland’s government.

You can read the letter from EBRHA Board President, Wayne Rowland, HERE

A growing coalition—including EBRHA, the recall team, and local businesses—is calling on the City Council to immediately rescind the ordinances passed on December 17 and take meaningful steps to restore integrity and accountability in our city government.

We invite you to join us on February 4, 2025, at 330 2nd St., Oakland, CA 94607 (Jack London Square) for a rally to demand justice and ensure that Oakland’s voters are heard. Together, we can reinforce the principle that no public official is above the law.