The Oakland City Council has approved a multi-million dollar contract with ABC Security Service to continue patrolling city-owned buildings, despite ongoing concerns related to the company's CEO and ties to an FBI corruption investigation.
Oakland mayor Sheng Thao enters the room during a press conference at Oakland City Hall in Oakland , Calif., on Monday, June 24, 2024. This was the mayor’s first public appearance since her home was raided by the FBI two days ago.
The city, meanwhile, will immediately begin seeking proposals for a contractor to take over security services on a longer term. A new contract expected to be presented for city approval in the early months of 2025 could lead Oakland to pay less than the maximum $6 million to ABC Security Service.
The company’s owner is Ana Chretien, an East Bay businesswoman who has had extensive business dealings with Mario Juarez, a two-time City Council candidate and Talk of the investigation did not explicitly surface at Tuesday’s meeting, though Councilmember Treva Reid did ask about potential legal issues stemming from “public concerns” about the contractor. A deputy city attorney told her there aren’t any known liabilities.
Chretian was not present at Tuesday’s meeting, and nor was Thao. Oakland’s mayors have rarely attended council meetings — with one notable exception being when they step in to break a tie vote.
Oakland Security Contract FBI Investigation Corruption City Council
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