Oakland’s top bureaucrat quit in disgrace over his private messages filled with sexually suggestive comments about female colleagues, Mayor Barbara Lee announced on May 17, who presented it as a quick parting of ways between him and the city.
The truth?
Former city administrator Jestin Johnson remained on the city’s payroll up until two weeks ago on July 15 — and got paid a handsome $160,272 after his supposed May departure, The California Post has learned.
Johnson had abruptly resigned after text messages came to light allegedly discussing female employees in crude terms multiple times. In one 2024 exchange, Johnson told a subordinate he had to control himself around a high-ranking female city official.
“I’m telling you, you have to sit next to her,” he wrote. “I have to force myself to only look in her eyes. She had me a little giddy yesterday when we had to take pics.”
In another message, Johnson referred to a female staffer as his “kryptonite.”
“My goodness, [she] has a helluva walk,” he wrote.
Lee said she was furious when she found out about the pervy texts, saying in a statement back in May that “under my watch, I will not tolerate transgressions of this nature.”
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.
However, The California Post obtained a copy of Johnson’s May 16 resignation email, which states his resignation will be “effective” on July 15.
“This decision was not made lightly, and I am committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition during this period,” Johnson said in the email. “Please let me know how I can best support the transition over the coming weeks.”
The California Post then filed a records request to the city’s payroll department, who confirmed to The Post his final day was indeed July 15.
According to the records, the “additional” nearly $160,000 he was paid after May 16 included $1,500 in an “automobile allowance,” typically given to high-level officials for official local travel.
More than $66,000 was attributed to “administrative leave.” 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.
Such money is not insignificant, considering Oakland has been stuck in a severe budget crisis.
The California Post reached out to Oakland’s public information officer, who did not respond.
The mayor’s office referred The Post to her past May statement and did not answer questions on why she presented Johnson’s departure as a clean break. The Post also reached out multiple times to Johnson’s number but did not hear back.
The revelation comes amid discussions by one city councilmember to give Johnson even more money.
Johnson could receive a $409,737 severance package under a proposal floated by Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston.
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’s misplaced spending priorities.
Houston argued that because Johnson was “forced to resign,” the city could be vulnerable to a costly lawsuit.
“I’m a business person, I’m proactive,” Houston said. “If he sues, which I would do if I was in his position, it will cost the city.”
