http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-nywork123278951may12,0,385289.story?coll=ny%2Dnews%2Dprint Race Enters Layoff Debate By Glenn Thrush STAFF WRITER May 12, 2003 An organization of black public employees suggested Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision to lay off city workers was racist, prompting a furious mayoral aide to label the group as "disgusting and irresponsible race-baiters." The brouhaha began when Lt. Eric Adams, president of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, said seniority rules created a "hidden undertone of racism" in 4,500 city layoffs. "If the mayor continues ... blindly stating that the last hired will be the first fired, then they are doing it with a clear understanding that this would have a damaging impact on the communities of color," Adams said at City Hall yesterday. Bloomberg spokesman Jerry Russo accused Adams of mimicking the United Federation of Teachers, which sued Bloomberg last week after he laid off 1,800 teacher's aides. "Somebody should tell these disgusting and irresponsible race-baiters, who have been sadly following the lead of UFT, that the layoff lists are generated according to civil service law and collective bargaining rules agreed to by each union," Russo said. Norman Siegel, a lawyer and the former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called on Bloomberg to issue a "racial impact statement" analyzing the impact of layoffs on minority groups. "You're dealing with a very radioactive issue that can fester and blow up in our faces," Siegel said yesterday. "We don't want to get into race wars in this town. We are facing potentially ... serious and substantial increased tensions not just pitting one New Yorker against another New Yorker but potentially across racial lines." Adams said Bloomberg's layoffs have targeted low-paid, predominantly black and Hispanic workers while sparing "those in management positions, which have been historically white." Brandon Ward, president of the New York Chapter of Blacks in Government, said he asked to meet with Bloomberg since March and is considering taking the city to court. "This is the best time to sue the city, because no one over there wants to open up the purse," said Ward, a transportation department employee. "Maybe it will motivate them to pay attention to this issue." Marc Harville, a corrections officer at Rikers Island, said about 85 percent of 200 guards who will be laid off May 17 are black and Hispanic. About 40 percent of supervisors, who didn't get pink slips, are white, he said. Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/ny-nywork123278951may12,0,385289.story?coll=ny%2Dnews%2Dprint Race Enters Layoff Debate By Glenn Thrush STAFF WRITER May 12, 2003 An organization of black public employees suggested Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision to lay off city workers was racist, prompting a furious mayoral aide to label the group as "disgusting and irresponsible race-baiters." The brouhaha began when Lt. Eric Adams, president of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, said seniority rules created a "hidden undertone of racism" in 4,500 city layoffs. "If the mayor continues ... blindly stating that the last hired will be the first fired, then they are doing it with a clear understanding that this would have a damaging impact on the communities of color," Adams said at City Hall yesterday. Bloomberg spokesman Jerry Russo accused Adams of mimicking the United Federation of Teachers, which sued Bloomberg last week after he laid off 1,800 teacher's aides. "Somebody should tell these disgusting and irresponsible race-baiters, who have been sadly following the lead of UFT, that the layoff lists are generated according to civil service law and collective bargaining rules agreed to by each union," Russo said. Norman Siegel, a lawyer and the former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called on Bloomberg to issue a "racial impact statement" analyzing the impact of layoffs on minority groups. "You're dealing with a very radioactive issue that can fester and blow up in our faces," Siegel said yesterday. "We don't want to get into race wars in this town. We are facing potentially ... serious and substantial increased tensions not just pitting one New Yorker against another New Yorker but potentially across racial lines." Adams said Bloomberg's layoffs have targeted low-paid, predominantly black and Hispanic workers while sparing "those in management positions, which have been historically white." Brandon Ward, president of the New York Chapter of Blacks in Government, said he asked to meet with Bloomberg since March and is considering taking the city to court. "This is the best time to sue the city, because no one over there wants to open up the purse," said Ward, a transportation department employee. "Maybe it will motivate them to pay attention to this issue." Marc Harville, a corrections officer at Rikers Island, said about 85 percent of 200 guards who will be laid off May 17 are black and Hispanic. About 40 percent of supervisors, who didn't get pink slips, are white, he said. Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.