Free Republic

akland politics are heating up. On July 9, the City Council voted to place a recall referendum for Mayor Sheng Thao on the November ballot. Public discussion has focused on last month’s raid on the mayor’s home by the FBI, IRS, and US Postal Service in a broad but as-yet-opaque investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering. Yet the campaign against Thao has other motivations—and ignoring them would be a big mistake. Spearheaded by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte and members of Oakland’s minority communities, the campaign gathered more than 40,000 voter signatures in favor of...

A mayor in southern Mexico was found murdered in the back of van, just days after another politician was killed in the same region. Acacio Flores, who represents Malinaltepec, was found dead after the killing of Salvador Villalba Flores, another mayor from Guerrero state elected in June 2 polls. Prosecutors in Guerrero said Lores’ death had been ruled a homicide, and agents of the Ministerial Police were investigating. Flores was found with a bullet wound to the back of the head in the back of a van, a human rights campaigner told AFP. The rights activist said the politician was...

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- A home owned by Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was raided by the FBI Thursday morning, a source tells ABC7 News. A neighbor confirmed to ABC7 News that the FBI was in the Lincoln Highlands neighborhood in the Oakland Hills. Security footage from another neighbor shows the FBI on the property. The FBI provided this statement Thursday morning: "The FBI is conducting court authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane. We are unable to provide additional information at this time."

At least 21 people were shot, two of them fatally, Friday into Saturday night in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) Chicago. ABC 7 / Chicago Sun-Times reported the first fatal shooting occurred just prior to 8:30 p.m. Friday night. The shooting happened in “the 1300 block of South Independence Boulevard” and a 13-year-old who was on the sidewalk was killed.

Hartford, Connecticut’s, Mayor Arunan Arulampalam (D) is denouncing residents of a predominately black community for arming themselves to fight violent crime. The New York Post reported the residents, approximately 40 in all, are calling themselves the “Self-Defense Brigade.” The armed residents patrol the streets of their neighborhood at night and keep an eye on homes and businesses via drones. The brigade was founded by Cornell Lewis, who told FOX News, “The Democrat machine in Hartford is either unwilling or unable, incapable, of doing it, and people are paying their tax dollars, and they’re not really getting any kind of service....

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has expressed a stance on criminal prosecution, advocating for a soft-on-crime agenda. She supports a policy that would decline prosecution for certain offenses. Here are the details: Shoplifting Larceny Disorderly conduct Receiving stolen property Driving with a suspended license Breaking and entering with property damage Wanton and malicious destruction of property Threats Minor in possession of alcohol Marijuana possession Possession with intent to distribute Non-marijuana drug possession

FIRST ON FOX – Boston Mayor Michelle Wu advocated a soft-on-crime agenda by pushing to abolish the gang registry and arguing that criminal behavior – such as theft – should not be prosecuted. Prior to being elected mayor, Wu filled out the "2021 Boston Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire" from Progressive Massachusetts, a 501c4 nonprofit organization that tracks and ranks how progressive elected officials are. According to its website, the group "intends to transform Massachusetts into a bold laboratory for progressive state initiatives." In the document, Wu outlined her most progressive commitments, including her support for noncitizens voting in Boston's local elections.

A recall effort aimed at “progressive” Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, organizers say — though they are still collecting signatures to ensure that they survive a challenge. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday: The campaign, Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao, known as OUST, has until July 22 to submit its signatures. Election officials then must make sure enough signatures are valid to trigger a recall, a process that could take up to two months. OUST has obtained nearly 35,000 signatures since it began its effort in February, Brenda Harbin-Forte, a...

Mayor Eric Adams is “not concerned” about disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo possibly eyeing his job. Asked if he thought Cuomo would make a run against him in 2025, Hizzoner told reporters he wasn’t sweating it. “[I’m] not concerned with that, I’m concerned with governing this amazing city,” Adams told said at an unrelated press briefing “You don’t spend 35 years climbing to the top of the mountain and worry about the view. You enjoy the view.”

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) is heading to Las Vegas for an “economic mission” after enjoying the Masters golf tournament in Georgia on the taxpayer’s dime. The mayor’s website announced Friday that Bowser would attend the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) in an effort to bring retailers to the nation’s capital. “This economic mission is coordinated by the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), which has organized the District’s presence at ICSC since 1999,” the announcement continued:

HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 7, declaring the City and County of Honolulu a “Purple Heart City” to honor recipients of the Purple Heart. The bill was passed on April 17 and was signed on Friday. According to the City and County of Honolulu, those who were injured, wounded, or died in the line of duty receive the Purple Heart for their bravery and sacrifice. “I’m just really grateful to all of you, not only for your service and what you represent but for having the opportunity to become a Purple Heart City and all that...

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was caught on camera bolting from local reporters who wanted to ask him about the recent arrest of an alleged cop killer. Johnson was at a National Day of Prayer service Thursday in the Windy City, with his chauffeured car waiting in an alley, according to reports. Local reporters darted after the mayor, hollering for him to wait and to comment about the arrest of Xavier Tate Jr., who allegedly killed Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca in a carjacking last month, according to video.

Sadiq Khan’s reign in London will continue for at least another four years, as the Labour Party mayor has secured a record third term in office following Thursday’s mayoral election in the British capital. UPDATE 1620: London Mayor Sadiq Khan has defeated his Tory challenger, London Assembly Member Susan Hall, by a margin of 44 per cent to 33 per cent, with a majority of 276,428, The Telegraph reports. Having won 1,088,225 votes to 811,518, Khan significantly improved upon his performance in his 2021 re-election bid when he only beat out Conservative Shuan Bailey by 4.7 points.

"This is Lilian Seenoi-Barr. She is the African woman serving as the mayor of Derry, Northern Ireland. She was APPOINTED, not ELECTED. She says that native people protesting mass immigration to Ireland are domestic terrorists." Way of the World Twitter video

"San Jose Mayor Was Filming a Promo for His City When a Man Walked Up and Fought His Security Guy."

Calexico has voted to oust the first transgender mayor in California in a long awaited recall vote as the politician blames transphobia for the decision. Mayor Raul Ureña, 26, identifies as a transgender woman and prefers she/they pronouns. Ureña was elected into office in 2020 at the age of 23 and came out as gender-fluid and transgender in 2022 - after her re-election. She eventually started wearing dresses and makeup in official appearances, which riled up voters who felt duped because they believed they were voting for a gay cisgender man and not a transgender woman. However, on April 16...

Los Angeles voters were asked to back a “mansion tax” to raise money for homeless housing after passing a $1.2 billion bond measure to build the same. Now Mayor Karen Bass wants rich residents and businesses to pitch in more money. During her State of the City address, the mayor called on business leaders, charities and wealthy residents to donate money to get homeless Angelenos off the streets, the Los Angeles Times reported. Bass urged those with the means to help buy or lease buildings that can be converted into housing for L.A.’s 46,000 homeless residents. “We have brought the...

A socialist mayor in Brussels ordered police to shut down the National Conservatism Conference being held in the city while Brexit leader Nigel Farage was speaking on Tuesday. In comments recorded in footage of Mrs Braverman speaking to journalists as seen by Breitbart News, the former Home Secretary said: “I’m here with likeminded democrats, democratically elected politicians, leaders and experts in their fields and we are here talking about talking about the issues that matter to the British people… securing our borders, making our communities safer, how to protect our countries. “And it’s a real shame the thought police instructed...

A California mayor who came out as transgender after being elected to office is facing a recall vote — blaming it on transphobic “bullies” despite outrage over rampant homelessness and crime. Raúl Ureña, 26, was elected mayor of the border town of Calexico with 70% of the vote in 2020 — before coming out as transgender and gender fluid following her re-election victory in 2022, the Los Angeles Times reports. The mayor — who accepts “all the pronouns,” with a preference for “she” — went from office attire of suit and pants for a penchant for low-cut dresses showing off...

During a portion of an interview with CNBC that was recorded in February and aired on Thursday’s “Cities of Success,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston responded to a question on if the city was too open to migrants and too generous by stating that “it’s a balance. We want to be a welcoming city” but doing that without federal help “requires shared sacrifice, it requires compromise. So, we are both making cuts to city budgets to meet this financial need, and we are making cuts to the amount of services we can provide to the migrants that arrive and to the...