Oakland Interim Mayor Fires Chief of Staff Over Note Referring to Black People as 'Tokens'
Leigh Hanson’s dismissal follows the release of FBI-related documents and a broader City Hall restructuring ahead of the April 15 special mayoral election.
- Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins terminated Chief of Staff Leigh Hanson on April 7, citing a controversial note from 2024 that referred to Black people as 'tokens.'
- The handwritten note, linked to an anti-recall meeting under former Mayor Sheng Thao, surfaced in FBI-related documents released last week.
- Hanson defended the note as shorthand for group discussions, claiming it referred to a paid operative involved in the recall campaign and was taken out of context.
- Jenkins also announced the firing of additional Thao-era staff as part of a transition plan, allowing the next mayor to appoint their own team after the April 15 election.
- The Oakland NAACP and community leaders have criticized the note, with the NAACP holding a press conference to address concerns over racial representation and accountability.
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