A powerful union suddenly got behind a recall effort targeting embattled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, declaring Wednesday that the Democrat “cannot be trusted” after her campaign “falsely” claimed it had received an endorsement from the organization.
Oaklanders Defending Democracy, the anti-recall organization headed by Thao, posted an image Monday on their website showing the Northern California Carpenters Union against the recall despite the union not making an endorsement of Thao, according to a press release published Wednesday. Now, the union is supporting her recall, emphasizing her conduct in the fiasco as well as the city’s growing problems under her administration.
“Mayor Sheng Thao disrespected our 36,000 union members. By falsely using our name and logo, it shows she cannot be trusted,” Jay Bradshaw, executive secretary treasurer of the union, said in the press release. “Further, she has not had the strength of character to even apologize for her transgression to our members, many of whom live and work in Oakland and are suffering the high crime rates, lack of affordable housing and other ills that our city is facing.”
The recall effort against Thao coincides with an explosion in crime across the city, with a 2023 city-wide crime report showing motor vehicle theft up 44% from 2022, robbery up 38%, violent crime up 21% and overall crime up 17%. Thao also cut the Oakland Police Department’s (OPD) number of open positions from 728 to 678, according to Oaklandside in August.
Support for Thao’s recall is at 56%, according to a July poll from Binder Research. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price also faces a recall, but has more support, showing 37% of respondents want to keep her, 41% support recall and 22% are undecided.
The NCCU is officially endorsing the recall of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. Read the full press release below. pic.twitter.com/Qf87RNUf1K
— Nor Cal Carpenters Union (@NorCalCarpU) October 30, 2024
“Right now, Oakland is in a downward spiral under Mayor Thao’s administration’s lack of leadership,” Bradshaw said in the press release. “The city faces insolvency. We lost out on millions in state funds to help combat retail theft. Crime against individuals, small businesses and neighborhoods is out of control. Mayor Thao and her campaign failed to even submit a statement in the official voter’s guide about why she should remain in office,”
The union filed an ethics complaint with the Oakland Public Ethics Commission and California State Fair Political Practices Commission, in addition to sending Thao a cease-and-desist letter, over the use of its logo and the endorsement on Monday, according to the press release.
“Our union values our members’ honor and integrity. We must protect our members, working families, and the residents of the City of Oakland, which we call home,” Bradshaw said in the press release.
Thao’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/YouTube/Sheng Thao for Oakland Mayor 2022)
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