New York City DOT Sued for Racial Discrimination
The New York City Department of Transportation is accused of racial discrimination against minority employees within its Fleet Services unit, according to a lawsuit filed this month by Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Examples of Discrimination include:
- Demotion of an African-American assistant supervisor to the mechanic role, calling the African-American deputy commissioners who had given him the role “monkeys,” and forcing the assistant supervisor out of the position after his direct supervisor refused to remove him from the post.
- Routinely using racial epithets to refer to African-American employees.
- Routinely and systematically excluding minorities from preferred assignments and special projects, handpicking white candidates for assignments that provided the best opportunity for further advancement.
- Physically threatening a blacksmith who critiqued discriminatory treatment and hiring practices.
Currently, about 200 people are employed Fleet Services Subdivision.
