A high-ranking official in Oakland has resigned amid a scandal involving a personal letter that contained sexually suggestive remarks about a female colleague. Now, he might cost taxpayers around $400,000 in severance pay.
Jestyn Johnson, the former city manager, stepped down in May after these details surfaced. He is potentially looking at a severance package of $409,737, as outlined in a proposal from City Councilor Ken Houston.
Although Houston initially intended to present the resolution at this week’s meeting, he decided to pull it from the agenda. He mentioned that this matter might be addressed again later in the year.
Houston noted that he came up with the idea for the severance payment independently and had not consulted with Johnson about it. He expressed concern that the city could face a costly lawsuit since Johnson was “forced to resign.”
“As a businessman, I tend to be aggressive,” Houston stated. “If I were in his position, I’d likely pursue a lawsuit, which could cost the city significantly.” He pondered whether it would be wiser to pay $400,000 now rather than face a potential $3 million in expenses later.
The suggested agreement stipulates that Johnson would need to forgo any future legal claims against the city in exchange for the payout.
This proposal surfaced following the revelation of Johnson’s text messages, which contained vulgar comments about female employees. He reportedly expressed his difficulty in maintaining professionalism around them.
In one of the discussions, he advised his team to manage their behavior around high-ranking women, even going so far as to mention his own struggles to maintain focus during interactions.
His employment contract had a provision for six months’ severance if terminated without cause, but since Johnson resigned, he may not qualify for that provision.
The mayor’s office has not commented on the severance proposal, but residents have voiced their outrage online, questioning why local leaders would even consider a payout under such controversial circumstances.
“It’s time for Oakland taxpayers to raise their voices. Our tax dollars are being misused,” one resident remarked, pointing out issues like schools and public safety that need attention. Others have echoed similar sentiments, reflecting a broader discontent with city hall’s priorities.
