Judge Cites Discrimination in N.Y. Fire Dept. [Discriminatory Testing Procedure]

NYTimes ^ | January 13th 2010 | Al Baker

[Steelfish]

Judge Cites Discrimination in N.Y. Fire Dept.

By AL BAKER January 13, 2010

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that New York City intentionally discriminated against black applicants to the Fire Department by continuing to use an exam that it had been told put them at a disadvantage. It was not a “one-time mistake or the product of benign neglect,” wrote the judge, Nicholas G. Garaufis of Federal District Court in Brooklyn. “It was a part of a pattern, practice and policy of intentional discrimination against black applicants that has deep historical antecedents and uniquely disabling effects.” A remedy will be decided on later.

In his decision, the judge highlighted how “black and other minority firefighters have been severely underrepresented,” characterizing that as a “persistent stain on the Fire Department’s record.” City officials said that they intended to appeal the decision, but could not do so until the judge had determined what damages the city might face.

Legal experts, as well as lawyers for the plaintiffs and city officials, said the decision was the first in recent memory in which a court had found that the city had intentionally discriminated against a large group of people — racial minorities or women, for instance — in the workplace.

“I can’t recall there ever being a finding of intentional racial discrimination in a pattern-and-practice case against the city,” said Elise C. Boddie, a professor of constitutional law at New York Law School who formerly litigated employment discrimination cases. “I would say this is pretty big.” In July, Judge Garaufis — acting on a claim being pushed by the United States Justice Department — ruled that the Fire Department used a test in 1999 and 2002 that had a discriminatory effect on black applicants.

[boop]

Study harder! Period.

[BobL]

“I don’t get it. Just what kind of test could that be? Where are those details? Give me a break.”

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe they have questions about polo or slave ownership (such as how many slaves it takes to clear 5 acres of land in a week). Those would be questions that only Whites would be able to answer, and thus the test would be biased. But I doubt those were the questions that bothered him.

[Molon Labbie]

Thank you for telling the truth, this nonsense goes on ALL over the US.

[sergeantdave]

The test required applicants to read the questions.

Reading is discriminatory.

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Above is a picture of a man with his hair on fire. As a firefighter, your reaction should be:

1) :-)
2) :-(
3) :-?
4) :-0
5) ;-/

[dearolddad]

I don’t get it. Just what kind of test could that be? Where are those details? Give me a break.

Agreed, Wonder why they never print the questions that have been judged to be racist?

[SharpRightTurn]

“had a discriminatory effect on black applicants”

The money quote.

An unbiased test is irrelevant to these scam artists.

Outcome is everything.