Getting your
Trinity Audioplayer ready...BRENTWOOD —Just weeks after City Manager G. Harold Duffey was implicated in a texting scandal in Oakland, several Brentwood employee associations have urged city leaders to launch an independent review of gender-based discrimination complaints during his time in Brentwood.
In a letter to the Brentwood City Council, employees from four organizations said they had “serious concern” about Duffey and incidents at their workplace.
The letter – submitted by employees from the Brentwood Employee’s Association Miscellaneous Office Division, the Employee’s Association Public Works Division, the Supervisors and Professionals Employee’s Association, and the Managers and Confidential Employee’s Association – said the matter has been reported to the city’s human resources department.
“Members of the Brentwood Employee Associations have expressed discomfort and concern regarding interactions with City Manager Duffey, and its impact on the City organization,” read the letter. “Given the seriousness of the matter, we respectfully urge the City Council to consider this information while conducting City Manager Duffey’s performance evaluation, as well as immediately initiate an independent third-party review.”
The associations said the request was not intended “to prejudge any outcome or findings,” but to reflect the importance of transparency, accountability, and to maintain employee trust and confidence in the city’s leadership.
The claims came to light following the resignation of Oakland’s top official, Jestin Johnson, on May 15, after reports of text messages showed him making suggestive comments about women who worked at City Hall.
Johnson stepped down after his communications with Duffey, who was then an assistant city administrator in Oakland, were released.
The text messages in 2024 between Johnson and Duffey revealed that the two men used suggestive language while discussing women colleagues.
During one exchange, Duffey told Johnson that a woman official “got the old player mesmerized,” referring to himself. Johnson responds that “you have to sit next to her … I have to force myself to look into her eyes.”
“She had me a little giddy yesterday,” Johnson writes.
In June 2024, the duo described different women staff members as “kryptonite,” apparently in reference to their appeal.
During a special City Council meeting on Tuesday, Brentwood Supervisors and Professionals Employees’ Association President Debra Galey said she has worked with various councilmembers, city managers, and other executive leadership during her 30 years of employment with the city.
“I have yet to witness the level of disrespect, discomfort, and anxiety that I currently see in my colleagues. After reading and hearing accounts from multiple sources, I ask you, how would you feel if you were in a workplace environment that has been described, and what would you expect to be done about it?” said Galey.
An anonymous male employee who submitted a separate letter as public comment urged the council to place Duffey on administrative leave pending a third-party investigation into the allegations raised by several city employees.
The man claimed he had witnessed multiple incidents involving the treatment of female staff at City Hall and had shared details with the human resources department, the mayor, and the vice mayor.
“Whenever the City Manager needed my attention, he would walk over to my desk and respectfully ask, ‘Do you have a minute?’ or ‘Can we talk about the projects you are working on?’ He treated me professionally and respectfully. But when it came to female staff members, I witnessed behavior that honestly broke my heart,” said the man. “I witnessed women being summoned over through finger waving and hand gestures that felt degrading and dehumanizing.”
Brentwood leaders have not publicly commented on the claims. Duffey did not respond to requests for comment regarding allegations by Brentwood employees.
Prior to his departure from Oakland, Duffey had provided key evidence to federal agents that led to criminal indictments against ex-Mayor Sheng Thao.
Duffey was appointed as the Brentwood city manager in October 2025 following the departure of Tim Ogden in April the same year. He had previously served various leadership roles in cities such as Grand Terrace, Compton, and Oroville.