Committee on Human Relations
Chicago Water Department Resolution for Hearings on Racism and Discrimination Within the Department
WHEREAS, the Chicago Department of Water Management is responsible for delivering nearly 1 billion gallons of fresh water to the residents of Chicago and 125 suburban communities; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Department of Water Management is responsible for removing the waste water and storm runoff from the streets of Chicago through the sewer system, and delivering effluent for treatment to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the Inspector General launched an eight-month investigation into the culture within the Water Department after allegations of racism were made; and
WHEREAS, several Water Department managers resigned after the Inspector General investigation; and
WHEREAS, a federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of seven current and former employees of the department seeking class-action status; and
WHEREAS, the employees in the federal lawsuit allege that because of their race, they were denied promotions and transfer, given less-desirable work assignments, harassed and wrongly fired in some cases; and
WHEREAS, plaintiffs claim that non-black managers and employees subject black employees to racial slurs and racially charged phrases and in some cases, were subject to undue disciplinary hearings in retaliation for speaking out; and
WHEREAS, the lawsuit alleges that the Water Department did nothing to remedy the hostile work environment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago and Water Department spokesperson contend that they have no tolerance for discrimination of employees in any form,
BE IT SO RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council as responsible for ensuring our departments operate with the highest level of integrity and root out racist, discriminatory and otherwise hostile practices in our department, request a full hearing to determine the scope of the alleged claims against the Water Department as well as information on efforts to remedy said claims.
Committee on Human Relations
Aid. Joe Moreno (1st Ward)
Aid. Toni Foulkes (16th Ward)
Aid. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward)
Aid. Derrick Curtis (18th Ward)
Aid. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward)
Aid. Matt O'Shea (19th Ward)
Aid. Sophia King (4th Ward)
Aid. Willie Cochran (20th Ward)
Aid. Leslie Hairston (5"1 Ward)
Aid. Howard BrookinsJr. (21st Ward)
Aid. Roderick Sawyer (6th Ward)
Aid. Ricardo Munoz (22nd Ward)
Aid. Matt Zalewski (23rd Ward)
Aid. Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward)
Aid. Michelle Harris (8th Ward)
Aid. Michael Scott Jr. (24th Ward)
Aid. Danny Solis (25th Ward)
Aid. Anthony Beale (9th Ward)
Aid. Roberto Maldonado (26th Ward)
Aid. Susan Sadlowski-Garza (10th Ward)
Aid. Walter Burnett (27th Ward)
Aid. Patrick Daley Thompson (11th Ward)
Aid. Jason Ervin (28th Ward)
Aid. George Cardenas (12th Ward)
Aid. Marty Quinn (13th Ward)
Aid. Chris Taliaferro (29th Ward)
Aid. Edward Burke (14th Ward)
Aid. Ariel Reboyras (30th Ward)
Aid. Milly Santiago (31st Ward)
Aid. Raymond Lopez (15th Ward)
Committee on Human Relations
Aid. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) Aid. Harry Osterman (48th Ward)
Aid. Deborah Mell (33rd Ward) Aid. Joseph Moore (49th Ward)
Aid. Carrie Austin (34th Ward) Aid. Debra Silverstein (50th Ward)
Aid. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward)
Aid. Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward)
Aid. Emma Mitts (37th Ward)
Aid. Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward)
Aid. Margaret Laurino (39 Ward
Aid. Patrick O'Connor (40th Ward)
Aid. Anthony Napolitano (41st Ward)
Aid. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward)
Aid. Michele Smith (43rd Ward)
Aid. Thomas Tunney (44th Ward)
Aid. John Arena (45th Ward)
Aid. James Cappleman (46th Ward)
Aid. Ameya Pawar (47th Ward)