On October 15, a group of residents and business owners from Oakland’s Chinatown held a press conference at Fuxing Plaza to oppose the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao. Local representatives expressed that initiating a recall just months after Thao took office is undemocratic and could lead to instability, potentially resulting in as many as five different mayors over the next three years. They emphasized that under Thao’s leadership, crime rates have dropped, and she has shown strong governance.

Mayor Thao herself was present at the event, highlighting her achievements, including job creation. She pointed out that the recall effort is being funded by a hedge fund manager who does not even reside in Oakland.

Dozens of Chinatown residents rallied against the recall, holding signs that read, “Rich elites manipulating the recall, citizens rise to fight back” and “Beware of the recall’s motives, aiming to seize power amid chaos.” A handful of supporters of the recall also showed up, leading to heated exchanges with Thao’s supporters.

Stewart Chen, a physician and president of the Orange County Immigrant Coalition, stated that it’s unfair for a recall to be launched less than two months into Thao’s term, as she hasn’t had enough time to demonstrate her effectiveness in governance and leadership.

Chen noted that if the recall is successful in early November, the current city council president, Nikki Fortunato Bas, would become the acting mayor. Bas is also running for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and if she wins, she would be sworn in as early as January. This would mean a rapid transition to a new city council president, resulting in a special election about four months later. The new mayor would serve only two years to complete Thao’s unexpired term, leading to the possibility of up to five mayors in a short span of under three years, which would contribute to political chaos.

Kenneth Tang, director of the APEN Action Network, also voiced strong opposition to the recall, warning that it could lead to “extreme political turmoil.”

Mazuolin, the head of the Chinatown Community Safety Team, and Elaine Peng, president of the Asian Pacific American Progressive Alliance, both affirmed the improvements in public safety since Thao took office.

Despite facing some isolated heckling, Mayor Thao remained undeterred at the event, reiterating her accomplishments and seeking the support of the community.