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BLACK LA FIRE CHIEF APPOINTMENT WON'T END CULTURE OF DISCRIMINATION: Statement from Earl Ofari Hutchinson, President Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable
"Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's appointment of Douglas L. Barry alone won't end the culture of discrimination, harassment and hazing in the L.A. City Fire Department.
If the mayor, city council, and the fire commission don't provide the firm leadership, support and management tools that Barry needs to revamp the department, his appointment will be an empty PR gesture done solely to appease the black community.
The pattern and practice and long history of racial discrimination and racially motivated hazing within the L.A. City Fire Department has been well-documented.
The appointment of Barry doesn't send the strong message that city officials are prepared to vigorously attack the culture of racial and gender misconduct within the fire department."
The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable (LAUPR) is a multi-ethnic South Los Angeles based non-profit public issues advocacy and education organization. The LAURP's mission is to engage the community and elected officials on issues of affordable health care, discrimination, quality education, and black-Latino relations, and gang violence.
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source:
Earl Hutchinson
Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable
hutchinsonreport@aol.com
www.laurbanroundtable.org
