Catherwood LibraryILR School

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York filed a discrimination lawsuit against the New York City Parks and Recreation Department yesterday, accusing the department of systematically discriminating against black and Hispanic workers in promotions. The suit parallels a class-action suit initiated early last year by current and former Parks Department employees, and alleges that for the past seven years the department has failed to provide an open and unbiased promotion system---instead seeking out white employees without giving fair consideration to minorities. According to the suit, the department?s practice of hiring high-performing college graduates directly into upper management positions contributed to the advancement of younger white workers over more experienced black and Latino workers who have worked their way up though the department?s ranks.