{"id":414328,"date":"2026-07-27T20:57:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T20:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/414328\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T20:57:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T20:57:29","slug":"oakland-official-remained-on-payroll-after-resigning-over-raunchy-texts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/414328\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland official remained on payroll after resigning over raunchy texts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oakland\u2019s top bureaucrat quit in disgrace over his private messages filled with\u00a0sexually suggestive comments<\/a>\u00a0about female colleagues, Mayor Barbara Lee announced <\/a>on May 17, who presented it as a quick parting of ways between him and the city. <\/p>\n

The truth?<\/p>\n

Former city administrator Jestin Johnson <\/a>remained on the city\u2019s payroll up until two weeks ago on July 15 \u2014 and got paid a handsome $160,272 after his supposed May departure, The California Post has learned.<\/p>\n

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

Johnson had abruptly resigned after text messages came to light\u00a0allegedly discussing female employees in crude terms<\/a>\u00a0multiple times. 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

Lee said she was furious when she found out about the pervy texts, saying in a statement back in May that \u201cunder my watch, I will not tolerate transgressions of this nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

She immediately appointed an acting city administrator as a signal to the public that Oakland was making a clean break with Johnson. Johnson reportedly offered his resignation and Lee accepted, after an investigation into the communications was opened.<\/p>\n

Mayor Barbara Lee Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n

However, The California Post obtained a copy of Johnson\u2019s May 16 resignation email, which states his resignation will be \u201ceffective\u201d on July 15. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis decision was not made lightly, and I am committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition during this period,\u201d Johnson said in the email. \u201cPlease let me know how I can best support the transition over the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The California Post then filed a records request to the city\u2019s payroll department, who confirmed to The Post his final day was indeed July 15.<\/p>\n

According to the records, the \u201cadditional\u201d nearly $160,000 he was paid after May 16 included $1,500 in an \u201cautomobile allowance,\u201d typically given to high-level officials for official local travel.<\/p>\n

More than $66,000 was attributed to \u201cadministrative leave.\u201d Much of the rest appeared related to vacation days, sick days, and holidays taken or paid out. Just $4,700 was paid for regular earnings after May 16.<\/p>\n

Oakland City Hall Getty Images<\/p>\n

Such money is not insignificant, considering Oakland has been stuck in a severe budget crisis.<\/a><\/p>\n

The California Post reached out to Oakland\u2019s public information officer, who did not respond. <\/p>\n

The mayor\u2019s office referred The Post to her past May statement and did not answer questions on why she presented Johnson\u2019s departure as a clean break. The Post also reached out multiple times to Johnson\u2019s number but did not hear back.<\/p>\n

The revelation comes amid discussions by one city councilmember to give Johnson even more money. <\/p>\n

Johnson could receive a $409,737 severance package under a\u00a0proposal floated<\/a>\u00a0by Oakland City Councilmember\u00a0Ken Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The proposal, which Houston has promised to bring forth later this year, would require Johnson to give up any future legal claims against the city in exchange for the payout. It has already sparked backlash by many on social media as a sign of the city\u2019s misplaced spending priorities.<\/p>\n

Houston 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

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