Growing Racism at City Hall

Growing Racism at City Hall

                                                        

On May 17, 2016 a coalition of individuals and groups held a protest rally outside of City. The coalition was protesting the racist incident involving a City boss, Michael Traynor, the Chief Development Officer for the City of Worcester.

There was an investigation by the Chief Diversity Officer of the City, Dr. Malika Carter. It was reported that Mr. Traynor admitted to road rage in which he called a Black man a “fucking asshole”.  It was also reported that Mr. Traynor used a racial slur.

The City has refused to release the investigatory report to the public and has turned away all questions by the media.  The pretext given by the City is that it cannot release personnel data. This is nonsensical, as an investigatory report is not a personnel record and the City has already release personnel data of Black people working for Mosaic.

The racist double standard is that Black workers who never worked for the City have their personnel records made public, while the White City boss investigatory report is kept secret.

 

The coalition rallied outside in front of City Hall for 45 minutes and then spoke at the City Council meeting about the petition it had filed. The petition was to make it City Council policy to release to the public all investigatory reports regarding City employees accused of racist activities.

The petition as expected was filed (throw into a bureaucratic waste bin).  The City has refused to release other evidence of its racism such as records of complaints about racist incidents committed by the police.

One of the speakers for the coalition seemed surprised when the Mayor of the City gaveled him when he quoted the words admittedly used by Mr. Traynor, “fucking asshole”. This was surprising as the Mayor cautioned the speaker who was quoting Mr. Traynor, but he never criticized the City boss for using those words when speaking to a City resident.

City Councillor Michael T. Gaffney whom many people consider to be a racist for his insistence that a Black social agency be audited, while doing nothing when charges of illicit financial activity in the Police Summer Project are brought to his attention.

I believe that Mr. Traynor used a racial slur in a road rage incident while on City duty.  Even if he did not and only said “fucking asshole” that is unprofessional behavior which could merit termination.  However City Manager Augustus is protecting this accused racist City boss.

The City Manager is seen by some as a racist too because he maliciously prosecuted BlackLives Matter protestors for criminal disturbance of the peace. The police did not see any criminal activity at the time and the Judge ruled that the case was civil and not criminal

This racism at City Hall is getting worse. It is becoming more blatant. I would not be surprised when people start to say that they are afraid to walk into City Hall because of the racist and unprofessional behavior of the City bosses. Instead of heading off this racist growth, the City Manager by his own action and inactions is fueling it.