Q&A
Discussion of Parks Department discrimination lawsuit
2:12:29
·
5 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers questions Randy Mastro about a discrimination lawsuit against the Parks Department during the Giuliani administration, challenging his ability to lead a diverse agency.
- Brooks-Powers details findings of discrimination in the Parks Department under Giuliani
- She cites a U.S. Department of Justice complaint and subsequent settlement
- Mastro maintains he was not responsible for overseeing the Parks Department
- The council member expresses concern about Mastro's ability to lead a diverse agency given this history
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:12:29
It I'm gonna just move over now to affirmative action rollback as it pertains to employment in the parks department litigation, which I'm sure you're familiar with.
2:12:39
So it's
Randy Mastro
2:12:40
been actually, I didn't oversee the parts department either.
2:12:42
We'll we'll get from we'll
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:12:44
we'll get to that.
2:12:44
Okay.
2:12:45
It has been reported that during his 1st month in office in January 1994, mayor Giuliani guarded the affirmative action plan in relation to the city to city employment that had been city policy under mayor Jenkins, along with Giuliani's actions and dismantle in the program for minority and women owned businesses Among other things, in the very beginning of his term, such actions to dismantle the affirmative action initiatives sent a message to his commissioners and administrators, according to award winning journalist Jack Newfield, that quote, unquote, no one would be looking over their shoulder on the issue of minority hiring.
2:13:26
And that quote, unquote, they could what do whatever they wanted in that regard.
2:13:32
Furthermore, it was reported in March 1996 that since the time Rudy Giuliani became mayor in January 1994, 4630 2 fewer blacks worked in agencies under MEO Control.
2:13:50
In contrast, white male employment has edged up by 387 The mayor has appointed 600 additional white officials and administrators.
2:14:02
At the same time, the number of senior black officials had decreased by 258.
2:14:08
In the mayor's office, 20 employees earned more than a 100 $1000.
2:14:13
1 is African American.
2:14:16
Fast forward to 2001, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's found in response to complaints filed by 20 Black or Hispanic workers in the New York City Parks department that there was, quote, unquote, reasonable cause to believe that the Parks department under the Giuliani administration had engaged an unlawful discrimination on the basis of racial and national origin in assigning and promoting employees.
2:14:46
They're after the US Department of Justice represented by then assistant US attorney, Lisa Zornberg, who now is the mayor's lawyer, who filed its own complaint in 202 against the parks department having determined that the EEOC complaint had merit.
2:15:03
The Department of Justice complaint stated among other things that the parks department engages in a pattern of practice of discrimination against his black and Hispanic employees on the basis of their race and or national origin in making promotion decisions.
2:15:19
In making this assertion, the United States Department of Justice complaint, including references to various incidents that was specifically alleged to have occurred between 1995 1998 during the time in which you were the chief of staff, and at another point, the deputy mayor for operations in which all commissioners reported up to that role.
2:15:43
The city eventually settled the federal case with the US Department of Justice with certain changes to employment related practices and with the parts department workers for more than $21,000,000.
2:15:55
Mister Mastro, as the supposed conscious of the administration and the in light of the extensive history of egregious issues with creating a safe work environment for minority employees how could the council possibly rely on you to lead the city entity with hundreds of employees from diverse backgrounds?
Randy Mastro
2:16:20
Well, I I have to say it's not accurate.
2:16:25
To say that the parks department reported to me.
2:16:28
It did not.
2:16:29
It reported to a different deputy mayor.
2:16:31
So I was not personally involved in the day to day operations of the the parks department.
2:16:37
And I'm not and I'm not familiar with that lawsuit which occurred, which occurred.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:16:42
You referred to yourself as the conscious though.
2:16:44
I did administration.
Randy Mastro
2:16:45
I didn't actually Deborah Wright, one of the most distinguished people who's ever served in city government, She served in the Jenkins administration.
2:16:52
She served in the Julian administration.
2:16:54
And then for a decade, she headed Carver Bank in Harlem.
2:16:58
She's the person who called me the conscious of the Julian administration.
2:17:01
I was not responsible for the parts department, and I had a diverse staff My my staff was diverse.
2:17:07
My chief of staff was a woman.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:17:10
So Mister Mashro.
Randy Mastro
2:17:11
So please I
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:17:11
just wonder if Let's put it in the next box.
Randy Mastro
2:17:13
Facts.
2:17:14
And the fact that
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:17:14
you are in mashro?
Randy Mastro
2:17:16
I have a long history.
Diana Ayala
2:17:17
Mister Mashro.
2:17:18
I'm precisely
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:17:19
my time, we're gonna go to the next question.
Rita Joseph
2:17:21
In light
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:17:24
of this extensive history of an administration for which you were so deeply involved, which seemed to be comfortable with allowing systemic racism to fester and city government employment how can the council consider you to be credible when you say that you wanna use this office of corporation council to further civil rights and employee rights?