Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s tenure ends Tuesday after a hard-fought recall campaign led by local labor and progressive groups. Elected in 2022 by a razor-thin margin, Thao’s term was plagued with controversies, starting with the firing of Oakland Police Chief Leronne Armstrong following an investigation into misconduct. That set the stage for a recall effort, which gained momentum amid an FBI raid and an ethics probe into her council days. Despite Thao’s defiant defense, voters decided in November, with 60% backing her removal. As her last day approaches, the city looks ahead to new leadership amidst a turbulent chapter, residents stated.