April 6th 2025.
A handwritten note from Oakland City Staffer Leigh Hanson recently surfaced, causing a stir on social media. In the note, she referred to Black people as "tokens." Hanson, who is the chief of staff for interim Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins, wrote the note last year. It was revealed as part of an FBI investigation that led to the indictment of former mayor Sheng Thao, who is facing federal bribery charges. Interestingly, Hanson also served under Thao's administration and is considered an ally by Thao's supporters.
As part of the investigation, Hanson handed over binders of notes and written communication to the FBI. These documents were later released to the public after a records request was filed by the San Francisco Chronicle. According to the publication, Hanson wrote the note while strategizing with Thao on how to combat the recall vote amidst the allegations. One line in the note stated, "CM Fife can reach out to NAACP - use BP as tokens." Hanson confirmed that "BP" was used as a shorthand for Black people, and "CM Fife" referred to Oakland Council Member Carroll Fife.
The news of Hanson's offensive statement quickly spread on social media, with many calling out the apparent racism. One user shared, "The audacity Leigh Hanson has, and this is how she sees Black people." However, Hanson claims that the note was taken out of context. She recalls writing it during a planning meeting in March 2024 with Thao and their team to strategize against the recall effort. According to Hanson, the line was referring to their perception of the recall campaign's efforts to gain support from Black people.
Hanson also disclosed that she was writing down comments made by Thao herself during the meeting. Thao wanted to inform the people of Oakland that the recall was instigated by a wealthy white billionaire, Philip Dreyfuss. Furthermore, she wanted to convince Black voters that they were being manipulated into running an "astroturf campaign" to remove her from her elected position.
Despite the controversy, Hanson continued to serve in the interim mayor's administration to help tackle Oakland's city budget. Interim Mayor Jenkins is expected to present his budget proposal to address the city's structural deficit by May 1. Regardless of the backlash, Hanson remains a part of the city staff. The NAACP has called for a meeting on April 6 to discuss the note and its contents.
In other news, a former Oakland nonprofit executive has been accused of embezzling cash, including a $50,000 donation from NBA star Stephen Curry. The scandal has caused outrage among the community, and investigations are ongoing.
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