#WheresSheng?!

Loren Taylor criticizes Sheng Thao’s leadership; CNN’s devastating story on crime in Oakland; county ad hoc committee begin reparations discussion

Last year’s Oakland mayoral campaign is running into overtime for Loren Taylor raising questions about his interest in 2026.

CITY NEWS

OAKLAND

—TAYLOR MADE SWING—Loren Taylor lost last year’s ranked choice Oakland mayoral race by a mere 682 votes. But Taylor, who is out of office, appears to be back on the campaign trail.

—In recent months, as fears of rising crime in Oakland has turned to unfettered anger from its residents, Taylor has been periodically taking potshots at Mayor Sheng Thao’s performance.

—On Tuesday, Taylor raised the temperature by criticizing Thao’s lengthy junket to Vietnam as the city’s public safety continues to suffer. Taylor even created the hashtag #WheresSheng?!.

—The gist of Taylor’s social media posts have largely focused on a lack of leadership at the mayor’s office.

—“Effective leaders lead by example,” Taylor tweeted last month in the wake of Thao accepting a 37 percent salary increase. “We need a leader who sacrifices alongside us vs taking xtra $ while we suffer.”

—SO FAR AWAY—Among insiders in Oakland and quite a few commentaries on social media, there’s questions being raised about whether it was necessary for Mayor Sheng Thao to travel abroad on an eight-day “trade mission” to Vietnam amid a gathering storm of fears over violent crime and perceptions of a lack of leadership at all levels of its city government.

—Thao’s foreign trip has rendered her invisible as instances of brazen crimes pop up on social media and local broadcast with regularity.

—When it was announced that Gov. Gavin Newsom was sending California Highway Patrol to aid Oakland Police, Thao was missing from the media coverage.

—On Tuesday, Thao announced a “Talking Transition” town hall series to allow residents to express what they want from her new administration. By the time the first event is held next month, Thao will have been in office for nine months.

—Instead of dealing with the firing of a popular police chief during her first month in office, Thao could have been staging these types of public outreach efforts and pressing the flesh with constituents.

—Thao also provided no response to a CNN story posted on Monday night that has the potential to further fuel a gathering storm of discontent about public safety in Oakland, not only against her administration, but also embattled Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price.

MORE INSIDE:

• How that devastating CNN piece could affect Oakland and Alameda County at large

• Appeals court rules on non-citizen voters

• Outlook on reparations commission comes to county supervisors

Quick note: Thank you to some of the insiders out there for delivering some nice scoops during the dog days of the August recess.

Also, thank you to some of our new subscribers for asking questions like, what is an IE? What cities are included in District 7? I appreciate the editorial reminder to write with more clarity.