Oakland city auditor: ‘Disjointed’ work led to blown deadline, loss of potential $15.6 million grant to combat organized retail theft

The Oakland city auditor blasted Mayor Sheng Thao’s administration and Oakland Police Department leaders this week for their collective failure to apply for a grant that could have netted the city $15.6 million to combat organized retail thefts.

Calling their work “disjointed” and a “missed opportunity,” the auditor spread blame throughout the city’s government for the blown deadline that kept the city from receiving a share of the $267 million offered by the state. As a result, the auditor...