Oakland City Administrator Harold Duffey Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Resume Misrepresentations and $300,000+ Salary

Oakland City Administrator Harold Duffey is currently facing renewed public scrutiny, including allegations of resume fabrication and attempts to suppress critical reporting, as highlighted by local activist Seneca Scott. Scott, known for his "Gotham Oakland" series, recently stated on social media, > "P. Duffey tried to get my videos taken down, but YouTube said nah..." linking to a video titled "Oakland’s MOST Corrupt City Administrator?! How Harold Duffey Lied His W..."

The accusations against Duffey center on claims that he misrepresented his employment history, specifically his departure from the city of Compton, on his application for a position in Oakland. Public records and news reports indicate that Duffey was fired from his city manager role in Compton in 2014, contradicting his application's assertion that his contract merely ended. Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the apparent lack of hiring records for Duffey's initial appointment as Oakland's Director of Public Works in 2021, a role paying $250,000 annually.

Duffey's tenure in Oakland City Hall has also been linked to broader corruption investigations involving former Mayor Sheng Thao. As Interim City Administrator, Duffey reportedly resisted Thao's alleged attempts to promote Larry Gallegos to a high-level city position, a move federal prosecutors claim was part of a bribery scheme. Additionally, Duffey was involved in discussions surrounding the controversial extension of ABC Security's contract, a firm linked to alleged payments to political operative Mario Juarez, who is central to the federal bribery indictment against Thao and others.

Seneca Scott, through his "Gotham Oakland" platform, has been a vocal critic, alleging that Duffey's promotion to Assistant City Administrator with a salary exceeding $300,000 was a reward for his involvement in city corruption. Scott's videos and social media posts aim to expose what he describes as a "blueprint for political survival through deception" within Oakland's city administration. The ongoing public discourse and investigations continue to cast a shadow over city governance and the integrity of its officials.