Retired Oakland judge slams crime-plagued city's progressive Mayor Sheng Thao as recall that could see her booted by November gathers steam

A retired judge has hit out at the Mayor of Oakland Shen Thao claiming she has 'ruined the city', as the effort to oust the leader gathers steam. 

The beleaguered city is dealing with large scale criminal activity and Thao recently missed a deadline to secure $15 million in state funding to help battle retail crime.

On top of this, there has also been a large number of businesses deciding to shut up shop and a continuing failure to appoint a permanent police chief. 

During a rally on Saturday afternoon in the California city calling for Thao to stand down, retired Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte slammed the mayor. 

Speaking to KVTU, Harbin-Forte said: 'People who say give her more time. More time to do what? She has ruined our city.' 

During a rally on Saturday afternoon in the California city calling for Thao to stand down, retired Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte, seen here, slammed the mayor

The former judge added: 'She didn't inherit all these problems. She caused a number of problems.'

Harbin-Forte is heading the petition to have Thao recalled as mayor, with those looking to have her dumped needing to obtain 25,000 signatures by July. 

With months left before the threshold amount is needed to ensure Thao is forced to stand down, it looks like organizers are well on track to beat that number.

One organizer Seneca Scott told KVTU that the group already had 12,500 signatures, half the amount necessary. 

Victory Baptist Church Pastor Marty Jenkins also told the outlet:  'Look at the potholes. Look at homelessness. Look at the jobs. Look at the businesses that are leaving Oakland.'

Edward Escobar of Citizens Unite added: 'We are not getting the services we deserve throughout, and the crime is spreading.' 

In a statement to KTVU about the gathering, Thao said, 'My focus is fighting for a safer, more affordable and more prosperous Oakland. 

'I ask Oaklanders to help me achieve that vision with hope and collaboration and push aside fear and division. Let's bring our community together to fight for the city we love.' 

The beleaguered city is dealing with large scale criminal activity and Thao, seen here, recently missed a deadline to secure $15 million in state funding to help battle retail crime

In September, the Newsom administration approved over $267 million to be given to local police departments and the offices of district attorneys - which Thao didn't make use

Oakland saw a 21 percent increase in violent crime, a 38 percent increase in robberies and a 45 percent increase in vehicle thefts between 2021 and 2023, per police data. 

The city has also been rocked by a citywide crimewave for over two years, with homicides up 80 percent in July 2023 compared to 2019 rates, while assaults and robberies were up 40 and 20 percent, respectively. 

Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed 120 California Highway Patrol in Oakland and the Alameda County to assist with a surge in theft. 

The rise has caused several businesses in the area to shut down, including a Denny's that had been open for 54 years.

Newsom was also reportedly not happy about Thao failing to take up state funding to battle retail crime. 

Robert Harris of the Oakland NAACP told Local News Matters: 'The governor brought that up one, two, three times. 

'He talked about the missed deadline, and then about 10 minutes later he said the same thing over, "We’ve made that available to you, and you didn’t file".'

An exclusive report for DailyMail.com revealed that Oakland has potentially the most dangerous square mile for crime in all of America.

Three gas stations and fast-food joints that surround Oakland Airport have become notorious for vehicle thefts.

Within a single square mile, cops claim criminals strike a dozen times or more per day, every day, mainly targeting victims who are headed to and from the airport.

The city's only In N Out Burger due to soaring crime - the only restaurant the chain has ever shuttered in its history 

Also shuttered was the city's only In N Out Burger due to soaring crime - the only restaurant the chain has ever shuttered in its history.

In August, shocking video circulated showing a woman being confronted by two men who tried to snatch her purse before pistol-whipping her.

She fell to the ground before both men rifled through her pockets.

One month earlier, the Oakland Police Department issued a public safety advisory citing an uptick in home invasion robberies.'

OPD urged residents to trim hedges and shrubs to 'eliminate potential hiding spots,' install home security systems and use outdoor lighting with motion sensors.

Thao said her office had implemented new neighborhood strategies since then and were already seeing success.