Nov 21, 2007 6:05 pm US/Central
City Supervisor To Keep Job Despite Racial Slurs
Joseph Annunzio Allegedly Used Racist Language, Dressed As Ku Klux Klansman
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Joseph Annunzio
Chicago Sun-Times
A city ruling allows transportation department supervisor Joseph Annunzio to keep his $77,000-a-year job, despite a documented history of racial slurs directed toward minorities and women.
"It says if you're connected and you have clout that you can say anything and do anything to anybody and get away with it," said transportation department employee Patty Young. "His good morning to us was, 'good morning b------' or 'good morning n------' or 'I hate the f-----' foreigners.' That was his demeanor."
Young says 26 inspectors working under Annunzio signed a petition calling for his firing.
At his office on West Ogden, Annunzio even once used a tablecloth to dress up like a Ku Klux Klansman. Two people saw it, but because the target of that racist act never did, the city's human resources board let Annunzio keep his job.
"No one should use racist or derogatory remarks toward anyone," Mayor Richard M. Daley said.
But Daley on Wednesday added, everyone's entitled to a hearing.
As union steward, Young filed several complaints against Annunzio, who is the nephew of former U.S. Rep. Frank Annunzio. She says clout won out.
"His father is the chief of staff for Ald. Allen. Ald. Allen's committe is transportation," Young said. "You do the math."
Daley's inspector general, David Hoffman, wanted Young fired, too. So did the former transportation commissioner. But in the end, that didn't matter.
"It's like fighting city hall now," Young said. "He's winning. He's able to get away with this and get his job back."
Annunzio has been suspended without pay since May, pending a decision by the Human Resources Board. The board ruled that Annunzio indeed made racist and disparaging remarks, but in their eyes, that apparently didn't amount to a firing offense. They also said the most "egregious" allegations weren't backed up by testimony from the target of the slurs.
Board member Enrico Mirabelli said "all testimony was considered, evaluated and a decision was made based upon the totality of the evidence, or a lack thereof."
City Inspector General David Hoffman told the Chicago Sun-Times the board's decision signals the city can't fire someone for racist and sexist remarks and conduct, even when multiple witnesses confirm them under oath.
"The city is entitled to insist that its workplace be free of racism and hate," Hoffman said, calling on the city to appeal.
Annunzio's lawyer, Tom Needham, said clout was not a factor. He said his client admitted swearing, but denied racial or ethnic slurs were used.
But one transportation department worker is questioning the decision to keep Annunzio on the job.
"If the inspector general and everyone found him guilty enough to fire, why would you want to bring him back?" co-worker Miguel Vargas said. "If it ain't clout, what is it?"
Annunzio claimed the allegations were invented because he was cracking down on his co-workers' performance.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley and the Associated Press contributed to this report. cbs2chicago.com's Most Popular Pages 
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