It’s the changing of the guard in Oakland today, as Mayor Sheng Thao leaves office after being recalled by the voters. The City Council President will serve as interim Mayor, while the Council gets ready to approve deep cuts in public safety spending. Mayor Sheng Thao, overwhelmingly recalled by the voters in November, steps down today after less than two years on the job. She remains defiant and unrepentant, despite presiding over a tumultuous regime that saw a fight with the police chief, the departure of the Oakland A’s, stubbornly high crime and persistent homelessness, and now a massive budget deficit.

Thao will be replaced for three weeks by City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, and then the council will choose a new temporary Mayor in January. Meanwhile, expect a contentious meeting of the Council this afternoon, as city leaders and constituents fight over how to close this huge deficit without hurting city services.


For more, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern.