Published: July 30, 2008 11:27 pm      

FORUM: City residents ask Attorney General for help with discrimination concerns

One resident called for an investigation into the employment practices of a local labor union.

Another citizen wanted someone to look into the hiring of construction workers on a high-profile project on Main Street.

Several people asked why more isnt’ being done to increase the number of minorities on the city’s police and fire departments.

A stop in Niagara Falls by representatives from the state Attorney General’s Office generated plenty of discussion Wednesday about discrimination and the state of affairs when it comes to issues of race in the city.

“Where’s the justice for black employment?” asked William Carter, a local laborer who asked representatives from the Attorney General’s Buffalo Region office to investigate the treatment of minorities by Laborers Local 91.

Several members of the union were convicted following a federal investigation into intimidation and work-site violence. Carter said he personally dealt with discrimination from union leaders whom he said refuse to promote minorities and routinely give African American workers the worst jobs, if they give them any work at all. Carter said he attempted to take his concerns to the FBI, but they weren’t interested.

“It is so blatant,” Carter said. “But, it still continues — unchanged.”

Reached by telephone Wednesday night, Rob Connolly, business manager for Laborers Local 91, said he didn’t recognize Carter’s name as a union member and the union does not assign work based on color or race or gender and follows hall rules and state procedures whenever members are sent out on a job.

Bill Williamson, who once served on the city’s advisory committee for the new city courthouse project on Main Street, expressed concerns about minority hiring practices at the site. Williamson said it was his understanding that minorities would be given an opportunity to work on the project, but he has yet to see any in action on the Main Street work site.

“You can drive right by and see no people of color working on the building,” Williamson said.

Residents Gloria Dolson asked what, if anything, the Attorney General’s Office could do to address long-standing community concerns about the treatment of minorities at the hand of the city’s police force. Dolson said she’s tired of young people in her neighborhood being mistreated by police officers.

“They don’t have to talk to you. They don’t have to respond. They don’t have to be held accountable,” Dolson said.

Robert Howard, a Youngstown resident who spent 20 years living in the city, also voiced concerns about the conduct of some of the city’s officers. Howard, who has an artificial leg, said he has called to complain many times about individuals parking illegally in handicapped spaces only to be shrugged off by members of the force.

“I’m threatened with arrest when I try to report it,” he said.

Mary Richardson, the only minority jail matron on the police department’s staff, suggested people’s views about the department might change a bit if they had her job. Richardson said it is not uncommon for officers to be forced to deal with individuals who are abusive, disorderly and, in some instances, violent.

“These officers, they are scared themselves,” she said.

Reached by telephone Wednesday evening, Police Chief John Chella said he met with representatives from the local chapter NAACP on Thursday and intends to continue to work with the organization to address the situation.

The state Attorney General’s office is responsible for investigating discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability and criminal history as they relate to housing and employment. About 60 residents attended Wednesday’s discrimination forum, one of many being hosted by representatives from the Attorney General’s Office throughout the state.

Associates from the Attorney General’s Buffalo Region office addressed each resident concern individually on Wednesday. They admitted that each case would have to be examined more closely before their office could take any legal action, if necessary.

Alphonso David, deputy attorney general for civil rights, did speak directly to a few pressing issues, including charges of discrimination and brutality in the local police force.

“We are working on that issue — not only here, but in other parts of the state,” David said.

David said his office found it “surprising” that there are no African American firefighters in the city and just four minority police officers on a force that includes more than 156 officers.

“That’s something we will be very interested in exploring,” David said.

Individuals interested in obtaining additional information about the Attorney General’s Office and its services are encouraged to call the headquarters for the Buffalo Region at 716-853-8400.