Multiple speakers urge independent review of alleged workplace discrimination in city and county offices
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Summary
Several community leaders and university faculty told the council they had documented allegations of discriminatory treatment, retaliation and procedural gaps and asked for fair, independent investigations and enforcement of due‑process protections for employees.
Multiple public speakers at the May 7 Common Council meeting called on the city and county to investigate alleged discriminatory treatment and procedural failures affecting city employees. Speakers included academics, community advocates and Human Rights Commission members who said they had reviewed complaints alleging hostile work environments, retaliation and failures of due process.
Pei Swayanka Rawale, an Ithaca College professor, told council she represented a network of people of color who are “gravely concerned about a continued crisis of workplace harassment and mistreatment of highly qualified and competent individuals in our community.” Rawale described specific allegations — including threats, retaliatory actions and procedural gaps — and urged a “fair, independent and transparent review” consistent with city protocols.
Other speakers echoed the call for thorough review and urged the council to ensure employees receive written notice of proposed actions, opportunities to respond, and full remedies where rights were violated. A representative of a local watchdog group said Tompkins County’s personnel rules prohibit discrimination and require due‑process protections, and asked the council to reaffirm that those standards apply to all municipal employees.
Councilmembers acknowledged the comments, said they take the allegations seriously and noted that personnel and legal processes limit what can be discussed publicly. Several council members said they would expect independent, impartial reviews where warranted and asked staff and the city attorney to report back on procedures for ensuring due process and transparency while respecting confidentiality and collective bargaining constraints.
No council action or vote was taken on specific investigations during the meeting; speakers asked the council to initiate or oversee independent reviews and to ensure procedural fairness in any personnel actions.