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CHICAGO 10/17/2017, 06:03pm Fran Spielman
Inspector General Joe Ferguson on Tuesday shed more light on the email scandal in Chicago's Department of Water Management in a way that raises questions about just how much has changed since the appointment of an African-American commissioner.
In his quarterly report, Ferguson talked about the investigation that determined that a "supervisory employee" he refused to identify "received numerous racist and offensive emails on his city email account over the course of several years and failed to report those emails" to his superiors.
In at least one instance, the supervisory employee provided an "affirming and acquiescing email response," the inspector general wrote.
"For example, the employee received several emails in which the senders reference or mockingly imitated Ebonics; received multiple racist jokes via email and received several emails disparaging or belittling an African-American employee," the inspector general wrote.
Ferguson recommended that the supervisor be fired and placed on the Do-Not-Hire list.
Instead, Water Management Commissioner Randy Conner reduced the punishment to a 14-day suspension, the inspector general said.
"DWM acknowledged that the employee failed to report receiving numerous racist and offensive emails, but noted that the majority of emails in question were also sent to three top-level managers, including the commissioner at the time," Ferguson wrote.
"DWM stated that, when 'one's entire chain of command is on emails and/or engaged in a certain type of behavior, confronting the situation may seem untenable for a less senior employee....DWM further noted that the employee was the recipient of one of more 'harassing and/or sexually explicit communications,' which created a hostile or offensive work environment." Sponsored by Dr. Jart+
In June, a housecleaning triggered by racist, sexist and homophobic emails swept out Water Management Commissioner Barrett Murphy, managing deputy William Bresnahan and district superintendent Paul Hansen.
Four current and two former Water Management employees--all African-Americans-have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the department at the center of the Hired Truck and city hiring scandals of "a hostile and abusive work environment" based on race that includes violence, intimidation and retaliation that "weave a tapestry of hostility that dominates every aspect" of their job.
That includes less-desirable shifts and work assignments and being denied promotions, transfers, overtime and training opportunities. Black women were routinely referred to as "bitches and whores," the suit contends. Those who dared complain were also punished with "unfair, arbitrary and capricious" discipline, plaintiffs claim.
Last week, South Side Ald. David Moore (17th) demanded City Council hearings into the racist culture that, he claims, continues to permeate Chicago's Department of Water Management--even after an email scandal triggered the appointment of Conner.
To underscore the point, Moore displayed a photo taken in April of a Water Management truck with a noose hanging above the steering wheel.
According to Moore, the unidentified perpetrator of the offense apologized to co-workers who might have been offended by it and got off with a reprimand.
Conner responded by saying that the noose photo was taken two months before he took over and the incident was "dealt with the same day." According to insider, David M. McKinney a Motor Truck Driver for the Department of Water Management had something to do with the Noose. Now that dude has some serious clout. According to sources, he went in front of Dwayne Hightower and got off easy.
• A continuing OIG investigation established that a Department of Water Management (DWM) supervisory employee received numerous racist and offensive emails on the employee's City email account over the course of several years and failed to report those emails and, in at least one instance, provided an affirming and acquiescing email response. OIG recommended that DWM discharge and refer the employee for placement on the ineligible for rehire list maintained by the Department of Human Resources (DHR). In response, DWM suspended the employee for 14 days. DWM acknowledged that the employee failed to report receiving numerous racist and offensive emails, but noted that the majority of the emails in question were also sent to three top-level DWM managers, including the commissioner at the time.
• A continuing OIG investigation established that a Department of Water Management (DWM) supervisory employee sent or received at least five racist and hateful emails and received at least one sexually explicit photo, using the employee's City email account and computer. OIG would have recommended that DWM discharge the employee, but the employee retired after being interviewed. OIG therefore recommended that DWM issue a formal determination, designate the employee as having resigned under inquiry, and place OIG's report in the employee's personnel file. In response, DWM agreed with OIG's findings and recommendations, and the employee was designated as retired under inquiry.
Illinois Workers Compensation Commission revealed a new website, according to my friends at the OIEG and the DoIT Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology. After checking the website by Chicago Clout IT hackers, many of the website weaknesses have been exposed. Please make sure you completely check all the information to be correct before you go online. CAPCHA is not working correctly on the site and much of the information on the cases are incorrect. IWCC needs to make sure this data is updated and correct. Trial dates are wrong, current lawyers are wrong, time of court dates are wrong. What a mess.
Several new arbitrators have been names and have been appointed by governor Rauner. If you are an unconnected person and a democrat, you are screwed. Point blank. Most of the appointments are anti-labor lawyers. The main problem is the lack of experience in some instances. Let's get the politics out of the workers Compensation system. Many injured workers are taking lousy settlements because they are so frustrated by the system.
The WCLA associated attorneys are really doing them a disservice. Many cases are going to be dragged on for years because lawyers do not want to present their cases to Rauner appointed arbitrators. The entire workers' compensation is every bit as messed up as their website.
Welcome to the new corrupt IWCC in Cook County, Charles Watts, Steffen Ketki, Robert Luedke, Tiffany Nicole-Kay, Robert Harris, Thomas Cieko. Arbitrators are only 6 % black. I hope the Governor appoints more Hispanic, blacks to the Board. I know there is an abundance of Italians. Let's pass the wealth around.
The City of Chicago Department of Water Management sent more employees down to an interview by the Department of Human Resources special EEO Investigator Unit. The City of Chicago Human Resources EEO unit is really used to receive information in case of a pending lawsuit against the city. Chicago is in the middle of several major lawsuits due to the mistreatment of blacks and other minorities.
Much of the testimony given to the EEO unit is given to the Office of the Inspector General. The Chicago Law Department is than given the information to defend itself in court. Rahm Emanuel is furious because he listens to Alderman Tunney and promoted Paul Hansen to Superintendent of the North District Water Department. Paul Hansen sent hundreds of emails to coworkers depicting blacks as fools and idiots. Paul Hansen would also discipline blacks prior to promotions and chances of advancement.
Paul Hansen also sat in interviews with William "Meathead" Bresnahan and determined the promotions.
Some of the folks interviewed today conspired to testify that they "saw nothing" and to let an employee subject to racial discrimination and retaliation look like a liar. This is part of the North District "no snitch policy" that is still in place. One witness was told, "If he fucking says anything, the ditch will fall in on him". MANO ALIVE.
Well I do not know of a single accomplishment the EEO has made since this unit was started. We will soon let you know more. Most City of Chicago employees that end up in front of these goons get no protection at all. Or as one Union Representative said, "Just shut the fuck up". "say you didn't hear nuttin".