NAACP and city employees urge independent review after multiple discrimination complaints at Annapolis City departments
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Summary
At the Jan. 12 council meeting, NAACP leadership and several city employees read anonymous letters alleging favoritism, discriminatory hiring and retaliation across departments, and urged a stay of recent personnel actions and appointment of an external EEO investigator.
Dozens of public commenters at the Annapolis City Council meeting on Jan. 12 urged immediate action after what some described as a pattern of discriminatory hiring and retaliation within city government. The Anne Arundel County NAACP and several current and former city employees called for an independent external equal‑employment‑opportunity (EEO) investigation and for a temporary stay of recent personnel actions affecting Black employees.
Steven Whitey, president of the Anne Arundel County NAACP, said the organization has received numerous complaints alleging harassment and retaliation and recommended structural reforms. “To remedy this breach, Mayor Littman must rebuild trust through structural change, genuine oversight, and transparent accountability,” Whitey said, calling for a full stay of personnel actions in the last six months, selection of an external EEO investigator with community participation, and a comprehensive review of department‑head conduct.
Multiple speakers read anonymous letters describing specific alleged incidents: William Pratt, a city employee, read a statement alleging that a qualified Black HVAC technician was denied a promotion and that the public works director falsely represented the technician’s license as invalid; Renetra Anderson read two anonymous letters detailing revoked benefits, reassigned duties, denied promised remote work and a pattern of favoritism involving personal acquaintances of leadership.
Speakers called out perceived failures in human resources, lack of transparent investigations, and a culture that discourages reporting because of fear of retaliation. They emphasized that these are systemic issues — not isolated anecdotes — and urged immediate steps, including independent investigation, suspension of recent personnel changes pending review, and creation of safe, neutral reporting channels.
Council members did not announce any immediate administrative actions on Jan. 12; several callers and civic leaders asked the mayor and council to prioritize transparency and community input in selecting any external investigator. The matter was placed on the public record through testimony and will likely be the focus of follow‑up requests to administration and possible committee review.
