Oakland Chief of Staff Fired Over Controversial Note on Black Representation

Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins dismisses Leigh Hanson, citing public backlash over a note from 2024 referring to Black people as 'tokens.'

Leigh Hanson, Oakland's Chief of Staff, was dismissed by Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins following criticism of a 2024 note referencing Black people as 'tokens.'
The note, written during an anti-recall planning meeting under former Mayor Sheng Thao, resurfaced as part of documents released during an FBI investigation into Thao's administration.
Hanson claimed the note was taken out of context, stating it reflected group discussions about the recall campaign's alleged tokenization of Black individuals.
Deputy Mayor Burt Jones has been appointed as acting Chief of Staff, raising concerns about disruptions to key city projects Hanson was overseeing, including the Coliseum sale and budget planning.
The NAACP has announced plans to address the note and its implications as the controversy continues to spark discussions on racial sensitivity and governance in Oakland.