"We all knew that she was pretty corrupt and dishonest in addition to being incompetent," said Tuan Ngo with Asian Unite, one of the groups behind the Sheng Thao recall. This comment reflects the sentiment of some community members who have long viewed Thao's administration as tainted by corruption. The perception of dishonesty has made it difficult for Thao to defend her actions amidst serious allegations that could impact public trust in local leadership.
"I'm honestly shocked and disappointed. This is sadly not the first time that the city of Oakland has experienced what is considered pay to play politics. And allegations of corruption are always a blow to the public's trust and city hall," said Janani Ramachandran, highlighting the ongoing struggle Oakland faces with corruption in its leadership. This sentiment underscores the necessity for transparency and integrity in governance, especially for a city burdened by past scandals.
"It's devastating, but at the end of the day as an elected leader myself, I'm going to respect due process in the rule of law," Simon said. "In terms of what this means for Oakland, there are real issues facing this town: affordable housing. I just landed and the crisis that is on our streets of homelessness is real. Public safety is real. There is a mental health crisis and that is real." This statement emphasizes the pressing issues Oakland faces beyond political corruption, highlighting a commitment to due processes while addressing critical civic challenges.
"The allegations contained in the criminal indictment are devastating. There should be no tolerance whatsoever for such behavior in public office," said former Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who has stated her intentions to run for Oakland mayor. Her remarks reflect a call to action for stronger ethics in governance, signaling a community demand for accountability from elected officials amidst swirling corruption allegations.
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