A proposal to offer a former Oakland city official nearly $400,000 in severance pay after his resignation over inappropriate text messages was withdrawn from a city council meeting agenda, following significant public criticism. The potential payout for ex-City Administrator Jestin Johnson had been put forth by Councilmember Ken Houston as a measure to prevent a costly lawsuit against the city.
Houston stated that he conceived the idea independently and had not discussed it with Johnson. He argued that if Johnson were to sue the city, the legal costs could far exceed the proposed severance. "I'm a business person, I'm proactive," Houston told KQED. "If he sues, which I would do if I was in his position, it will cost the city." The proposed agreement would have required Johnson to relinquish any future legal claims against Oakland in exchange for the $409,737 payment.
The controversy arose after text messages surfaced, allegedly showing Johnson and a subordinate discussing female employees in crude terms. In one exchange from 2024, Johnson reportedly wrote about having to "force myself to only look in her eyes" when interacting with a senior female city official, adding, "She had me a little giddy yesterday when we had to take pics." In another message, he referred to a female staffer as his "kryptonite," commenting on her "helluva walk."
Johnson resigned in May after these messages came to light. His original employment contract included six months of severance if terminated without cause, but his resignation did not meet that criteria. The mayor's office declined to comment on the severance proposal. Residents expressed strong opposition online, questioning the use of taxpayer funds for an official who resigned under controversy, especially given ongoing issues in Oakland such as crime rates and the condition of basic city services.
Houston indicated that he might reintroduce the resolution at a later date. The proposal was pulled from the agenda before the meeting where it was scheduled for consideration.