The Oakland chapter of the NAACP has called for Mayor Sheng Thao’s resignation following the FBI raids on her home and those of several associates. The chapter believes the city is now “shrouded in a cloud” and that Thao should step down ahead of potential recall efforts.
Thao has been absent since the raids, with her spokespeople unable to provide information on her whereabouts or schedule. The mayor’s absence has only added to the city’s crisis, which has been ongoing for some time.
The FBI raids targeted the homes of David Duong and his son Andrew, owners of California Waste Solutions, a recycling company with a lucrative contract with the city. A third raid was conducted at the offices shared by the company and the Vietnamese American Business Association, led by multiple members of the Duong family.
The Duongs have been accused of injecting themselves into city, state, and national politics, allegedly trying to buy influence and power. The company was awarded a billion-dollar contract to run the city’s trash and recycling collection services in 2014, despite objections from some Oakland city officials.
The Duongs have also been accused of overcharging some landlords in multiunit buildings, making millions more in profit than they should have. In 2021, the city sued the company, and the parties settled under a deal where CWS would refund the landlords $6 million and reduce their monthly premium service rate.
The Duong family has a long history of involvement in Oakland politics, with David Duong donating thousands of dollars to local and state campaigns. His son Andy has also donated to local and state campaigns, including to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
In 2019, the Public Ethics Commission and the state Fair Political Practices Commission launched an investigation into David Duong and his family after receiving a tip that they secretly gave thousands of dollars to Oakland City Council members’ campaigns. The investigation is ongoing.
Thao’s connection to the Duongs is also under scrutiny, with the mayor leading a trade delegation to Vietnam in 2023, sponsored by the Bay Area Council and the Vietnamese American Business Association. The delegation included Oakland and Alameda County officials, as well as several members of the Duong family.
