{"id":403960,"date":"2026-07-19T00:20:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T00:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/403960\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T00:20:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T00:20:09","slug":"oakland-official-accused-of-crude-texts-could-get-400k-payout-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/403960\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland official accused of crude texts could get $400K payout"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oakland\u2019s top bureaucrat quit in disgrace over private messages filled with sexually suggestive comments<\/a> about female colleagues \u2014 but now taxpayers may be the ones footing the bill with a $400,000 goodbye check.<\/p>\n

Former City Administrator Jestin Johnson<\/a>, who resigned in May after the texts came to light, could receive a $409,737 severance package under a proposal floated<\/a> by Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The resolution would have directed the city to approve the payout, but Houston pulled it from this week\u2019s meeting agenda. He said he could bring the matter back later this year.<\/p>\n

Jestin Johnson City of Oakland<\/p>\n

Ken Houston City of Oakland<\/p>\n

Houston told KQED<\/a> he came up with the idea himself and had not spoken with Johnson about it. He argued that because Johnson was \u201cforced to resign,\u201d the city could be vulnerable to a costly lawsuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a business person, I\u2019m proactive,\u201d Houston said. \u201cIf he sues, which I would do if I was in his position, it will cost the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it better to give up $400,000 than $3 million with all the expenses?\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The proposed deal would require Johnson to give up any future legal claims against the city in exchange for the payout.<\/p>\n

The eyebrow-raising proposal comes after text messages exposed Johnson and his lieutenant allegedly discussing female employees in crude terms<\/a> multiple times.<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n

California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

In one 2024 exchange, Johnson told a subordinate he had to control himself around a high-ranking female city official.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m telling you, you have to sit next to her,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI have to force myself to only look in her eyes. She had me a little giddy yesterday when we had to take pics.\u201d<\/p>\n

In another message, Johnson referred to a female staffer as his \u201ckryptonite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy goodness, [she] has a helluva walk,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s original employment agreement included six months of severance if he was terminated without cause \u2014 but his resignation did not qualify him for that payout.<\/p>\n

Oakland has been plagued by high crime rates. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Oakland mayor\u2019s office declined to comment on the proposal, but residents quickly blasted the idea online, questioning why city leaders would consider rewarding an official who left under a cloud of controversy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOakland taxpayers \u2013 it\u2019s time to get LOUD. These are our tax dollars going to waste,\u201d one user commented<\/a>. \u201cLook at how bad our basics are in Oakland like schools, roads, crime. We need to vote these city council members out and put in place people who give a damn about the basic Oaklander.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others pointed to a broader frustration with City Hall. Others pointed to a broader frustration with City Hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cOakland residents get dysfunction. City Hall insiders get paid,\u201d wrote Sam Singer, who leads a public relations firm.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t