Oakland's Edgerly denies job as top city executive threatened

Oakland City Hall watchers are in full "wait and see" mode this morning wondering whether embattled City Administrator Deborah Edgerly will continue to have her job at the end of the day.

Following a June 7 incident where she allegedly interfered with Oakland Police during a gang sweep that involved her nephew, Mayor Ron Dellums supposedly gave Edgerly the options of resigning, retiring or being fired by today.

Further punctuating the situation, Dellums ordered all city department heads to report directly to him until further notice. Normally, the city executives report to Edgerly who in turn reports to the mayor and the city council.

Edgerly herself largely kept mum on the issue until late last week when she issued this statement to reporters:

"The rumors and press stories this week are shocking. Shocking because they are untrue and unfounded. Shocking because the safety of West Oakland, my lifetime home, and the safety of all Oakland residents, is what I devote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in my service as city administrator to protect. Shocking because I am being tried in the court of public opinion by rumor, innuendo and presumption of guilt....

What I can say is this: I have not been fired or asked to resign. I have had many gracious and warm conversations with Mayor Dellums over the past three days, as recently as this afternoon. No ultimatums were issued and no decisions have been made. The mayor has given me several days to assess the situation and we will regroup next week...."