Heather Johnston, Newly Appointed City Operations Officer, Accused of Fostering a “Toxic, Racist, and Unsafe Workplace” in Former Position

Written by SJ / 11/9/2022

On Tuesday, just in time to be overlooked in favor of election coverage, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey signed an executive order appointing city coordinator Heather Johnston as the interim city operations officer. 

The new position is part of Minneapolis’ recent government restructuring and will oversee the Office of Public Service. Johnston will be in one of four roles that directly report to Mayor Frey–the others being the city attorney, the chief of staff, and the community safety commissioner. 

"Heather Johnston's extensive experience in leading complex, large-scale change is renowned throughout the Twin Cities region, and Minneapolis is lucky to have her as the interim City Operations Officer," Frey insisted. "She has consistently put service before self - when you need something done, and done well, you call Heather. I'm grateful Heather is continuing to provide essential leadership to the thousands of team members serving in the Office of Public Service and across our local government."

However, not everyone is as optimistic as Mayor Frey about his appointment of Johnston. This past May, the former Director of Race & Equity for the City of Minneapolis, Joy Marsh, voiced her concerns in an open letter to Mayor Frey, Council President Jenkins and City Council, and Minneapolis Community Members. The letter, which was posted on MinnPost outlined the “toxic” and “racist” work environment fostered by Johnston and those who formerly held her position.

Marsh, who spent six years working in the Minneapolis City Coordinator’s Office wrote of her time there, “My lived experience in the Coordinator’s Office for six years is illustrative of the most insidious and toxic work environment I have experienced in nearly three decades of  professional work.”

Marsh went on to explain, “There were no signs in the interview process to warn me of the amount of gaslighting, marginalization and tokenism I would experience or the toll it would all take on my mental and emotional health.” 

Marsh wasn’t the only employee of the City Coordinator’s Office to suggest Johnston was ill-suited for the position. Another letter to Mayor Frey and the City Council, this one signed by over a dozen concerned employees, specifically named Johnston, “CCO staff do not believe that Interim City Coordinator Johnston should be retained in any leadership role with the City of Minneapolis, including a permanent appointment as City Coordinator.” 

As for Johnston, she says of her appointment, “I look forward to cultivating and shaping the work of the new Office of Public Service."

In a city with an administration that has continually failed its BIPOC employees and communities, Johnston does not seem like the most likely candidate to create meaningful change.