- Allentown City Council approved a motion for an independent investigation into recent Allentown City Government allegations of racism
- The motion was carried unanimously
- 40 people were in attendance, with a dozen citizens speaking on the issue
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Allentown City Government will be investigated for racism and discrimination.
City Council on Wednesday unanimously voted in favor of putting aside funds for an investigation into “procedures related to hiring, terminations and discipline of employees” in City Hall following recent allegations of racism.
Mayor Matt Tuerk said before the vote that he "invited" the investigation, saying "We have nothing to hide."
Tensions were high in the room before the vote, with about a dozen people making passionate pleas for the council to pass the resolution. About 40 people attended the meeting.
Councilman Ed Zucal introduced the legislation. He said the allegations of racism from a letter from the Allentown NAACP and the city’s ousted human resources director are only some examples of what he has heard from city hall employees.
“I think most people were looking at this, that this is just a low-level situation," Zucal said. "This is not… Once this investigation starts, there's going to be a lot more uncovered than just an NAACP letter.”
The legislation was co-sponsored by Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach. She said she was not trying to “go after” the administration by co-sponsoring the resolution.
“The thing is, an investigation does not mean that one is guilty or not guilty. It's just an investigation to find out what is going on.”Ce-Ce Gerlach, Allentown City Councilmember
“The thing is, an investigation does not mean that one is guilty or not guilty," Gerlach said. "It's just an investigation to find out what is going on.
“What we do know is that the city of Allentown is an institution, it is a structure. And we also know that institutional racism is real.”
Council President Daryl Hendricks at first opposed the resolution, saying he did not want to use taxpayer money and there should be an internal investigation instead. But he ultimately voted in favor, along with the rest of the council.
Zucal and many meeting attendees specifically called for an independent third party from outside the Lehigh Valley to conduct the investigation. After the initial vote, the council nominated Zucal, Gerlach and Hendricks to figure out how the investigation will be conducted.
A community member will also join the council, but it has not been determined who will join.
Zucal said in an interview that he thinks the committee will select a third-party investigator from outside the region. He said he wants to select one that has subpoena powers.
The allegations
In July, the NAACP chapter sent a five-page letter to Tuerk citing numerous complaints of unequal treatment of minority employees compared to their white colleagues.
The letter alleged that white police officers were allowed to cheat on an exam that could give them a leg up on promotions; that employees of color were not receiving the same on-the-job training as their white co-workers; and that an employee who complained about racism in the workplace was fired, among other complaints.
In response to the letter, Tuerk emailed city employees that his administration does not tolerate racism and encouraged employees to speak with his office, the law department or HR if they had complaints.
But he did not at the time address the specific allegations.
The chapter Vice President Dan Bosket said the letter was not authorized by himself or former President Walt Felton.
Lisa Conover has taken over as the new president of the Allentown NAACP. She did not comment on the authenticity of the letter, but she did speak in support of an investigation.
“I took this all the way to national with the NAACP and I said we have problems, but we’re here crying out for solutions," Conover said. "And we can’t do it by ourselves."
In August, city Human Relations Director Nadeem Shahzad said he was forced to resign two months after being hired. He has threatened to bring litigation against the city, saying he was forced out due to his race, religion, skin color and immigrant status.
‘All my complaints were ignored.
Several current and former city employees spoke about experiences with racism within City Hall.
Human Resources Director Karen Ocasio said that when she first started in the department, people would say “where the managers sit is the United States and where the administrators, back where I was, is Mexico.”
Ocasio said that after a medical leave, she was moved out of her office without warning and was taunted for her new working location.
“All my complaints were ignored,” Ocasio said. “I went to the solicitor, I went to everybody. No one listened to me.”
Community Action Lehigh Valley Executive Director Dawn Godshall also spoke at the meeting, saying she thinks an investigation is needed.
“If it's to clear the mayor's name or the administration's name, that's important," Godshall said. "If it's so that these allegations can come to light and there needs to be more training within the city, that's important.
“But it has to happen, and it has to be done on a level that is from the outside looking in, so that there are no biased opinions.”
“Does it always have to be racial?”Councilwoman Candida Affa
Before the vote, Councilwoman Candida Affa said that while she supported the resolution, she did not think the problem of city workers leaving was related to race, since many of those leaving were white.
“Does it always have to be racial?” Affa said.
“It is!” shouted some people from the crowd.
During public comment, one meeting attendee accused the mayor of corruption during public comment and shouted at the council.
Hendricks gave him a final warning, saying if he broke the rules again he would be removed.
Pastor Daniel Blount then invited him to come sit next to him, later saying he was trying to de-escalate the situation. A police officer saw the man get up and move toward the front of the room, and the officer ran to grab him, shouting “Don’t approach the dais!”
The man then started shouting again while people around him tried to explain the situation. He then was removed.
Resident Phoebe Harris later told the council that the incident reminded her of racism she had faced in the past.
"I just saw my 9-year-old self, and I saw the Ku Klux Klan in front of my face again," Harris said. "And now I'm being traumatized again because an officer jumped for no good reason. I saw hatred."
Police Chief Charles Roca said the officer did not realize the man was not approaching the council.
