Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has yet to say one way or another where he stands on a recent U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that the city discriminated against 6,000 black applicants who took the Chicago firefighter exam in 1995.
However, Emanuel did manage to hold a June 16 news conference at City Hall to boast about what he preceived as his accomplishments during his first 30 days in office. He outlined a long list of achievents from hiring a new police superintendent and chief executive officer for Chicago Public Schools to cracking down on credit card abuse by city employees and getting the governor to sign legislation that would extend the schol day for some 400,000 plus students attending the city's public schools.
Black applicants were discriminated against, according to the appeals court, because the city used a cutoff score of 89 to determine who passed rather than a simple pass or fail, which is what is used today.
It seems as though the mayor is side stepping some key issues that needs his immediate attention, such as where will the city get an estimated $100 million to settle with the thousands of black applicants who were unfairly passed over for a chance to be a firefighter. The city is already millions in debt and now it must find a way to settle with applicants, which the federal court ordered the city to do. In addition, the court ordered the city to hire 111 black applicants who passed the 1995 exam (with a score of at least 65), which will cost the city an estimated $30 million, according to Jennifer Hoyle, a spokeswoman for the city’s Law Department.
The firefighter department is not a reflection of the city's population, according Larry Langford, director of media affairs for the CFD. In 2010, the CFD employed 5,120 and 68.5 percent were white, 17.5 percent Black and 12.3 percent Hispanic, city records showed.
Prior to his May 16 retirement from politics former Mayor Richard M. Daley said he favored settling the suit as quick as possible, and acknowledged that the previous firefighters exam was indeed flawed.
But still Emanuel chooses to take his time on whether to endorse a settlement or order th city attorneys to appeal the court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. By dragging his feet on this issue, he is leaving many qualified blacks out in the cold waiting to see what course of action they must take next to get justice from a city known for racial divide.
Mayor Emanuel, while I know you are busy trying to reduce crime, create more jobs, encourage more economic development, expand O'Hare International Airport, improve public schools, and eliminate the city's food desserts, you may want to take a few minutes to address a lingering problem that has gone on too long and needs your immediate attention.
After all, you are paid by the taxpayers and those 6,000 black applicants are also Chicago taxpayers, so you work for them as well.
Get cracking, Mr. Mayor!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Mayor Emanuel overlooking an ethnic issue - Chicago CIty Hall
via examiner.com
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