Settlement may be close in discrimination case

Reverse racism is a way of life now

JUSTICE!

The Firefighters should not trust the City Attorney or the City. If a settlement is reached, the firefighters need to make sure every "I" is dotted and every "T" is crossed. Bridgeport has a reputation for interpreting the settlement the way that most benefits the "city"--just look at the poor school nurses and realize that the City is totally untrustworthy, sleezy and underhanded. Good luck to the firefighters. This was an atrocity that should never have happened. However, with Finch as Mayor, the Civil Service System is doomed anyway. Read the article recently published in this newspaper by Lennie Grimaldi regarding the Mayor and what he wants to do with the Civil Service System that was put in place to eliminate political patronage and you will see that this incompetent Mayor wants to change the way the system currently works so that he can hire his political cronies.

Mr. Mayko, I have some issues with your reporting of this article. In one sentence, you stated two things that appear to be facts, that after further investigation are false. First, you stated that the LT exam was given in 2006 when it was held in April 2007. Secondly, you stated that the reasons the test was rescored was because no blacks passed. Well, I happen to be a black LT who was promoted off of that exam with the original scoring (#7) and with the re-scoring, which dropped me two positions on the promotion list. The rescoring did not benefit me. The Federal laws that concern disparate impact do not leave room to weave; if a governing body thinks there is disparate impact they have a duty to seek remedies to achieve less disparate impact. This is why the city rescored; IT IS THE LAW. In New Haven exams were thrown out, and in Bridgeport the scoring was re-weighted. This was ACCEPTABLE under current law. For all those who feel that the blacks benefited so much from this, you are wrong; I am still the only black LT off this LT exam. I do not begrudge those who have sued, because in the end you have to do what is best for you and your family. When I scored #7 out of approximately 4000 on my entrance exam, and after the test was scored the city added a whole new section, and after that was rescored I didn't hardly get on the job - wasn't I harmed? People sued and currently have more seniority than I do, which is their right, and I didn't. I have missed income, seniority, and possible further promotion that may be missed (not enough time in grade) because of that. So, it is not only the white FF's (and should not be reported as such) on the BFD who have gotten bad hands dealt to them, we all have. Maybe if the law, called the Charter, was followed more, the BFD would have tests when we are supposed to, timely scoring and promotion, and it would not be so much anarchy when the infrequent promotional exam in announced. Signed LT Darrien Penix (E-7-B) Proud BFD member, Proud Local 834 member, and Proud Firebird Society E-Board member.

Jack Meahoff wrote:

Reverse racism is a way of life now

Who actually benefited from this "blatant" case of reverse racism?

Hey Everyone !!!
Equal Benefitss for EQUAL Effort !!
If you want to Pass the Test then STUDY !!!!
I am really glad that the American GIVE AWAY is coming to a STOP.
It's benn 45 years SINCE the Equal rights amendment---Thats two generations---Thats a Heck of a lot more time that any other group got---Work and Study !!!! Then take an equal test !!!
Money Flew in this country and Politicians knew and allowed it !!
Get with the Program You are asll equal--Test for it(Buut work for it!!)

Darrien Penix wrote:

<quoted text>
Who actually benefited from this "blatant" case of reverse racism?

The shyster lawyers.

Let everyone go on welfare and then we will truly have equal rights.

wun hung low wrote:

Let everyone go on welfare and then we will truly have equal rights.

Welfare is what ruined this country --people taking advantage and being lazy.

its time for city attorney mark ananstasia to go, he has covered up over and over, he is a political appointee, get rid of him now, he is looking for truth, he is a liar.

LT Penix,

You should read the Supreme Court ruling on the New Haven 20 case. You should concentrate on the area where Jutice Alito specifically stated that an exam can not be re-weighted or re-scored after and exam has been given. It is illegal.

You have every right to be proud brother, you EARNED your promotion. These other members who went to court just want what they rightfully earned.

The city has been messing around with things for way too long, not just testing. The Civil Service Director needs to go! Mr. Jacobs: I hope your days are numbered here in the park city!

Don't any of these firemen live in the city, help to benefit the economy of the city of Bpt and volunteer in the city.

The Supreme Court DID NOT do away with Title VII and the "UNIFORM GUIDELINES ON EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCEDURES." New Haven NEVER perform what the law requires, which is listed below. As for Bridgeport, no one knows what the issues are YET.

Section 3: Discrimination defined: Relationship between use of selection procedures and discrimination. 6

Section 5: General standards for validity studies. 8

A. Acceptable types of validity studies. 8

B. Criterion-related, content, and construct validity. 8

C. Guidelines are consistent with professional standards. 9

D. Need for documentation of validity. 9

E. Accuracy and standardization. 9

harry wrote:

Don't any of these firemen live in the city, help to benefit the economy of the city of Bpt and volunteer in the city.

Why would you want to live and rise a family in Bridgeport? City employees have a life too!! They are employed for a needed service, not a slave to the community. Bridgeport is a dump, I am glad I moved my family out of this sewer.

None of the firefighters even live in Bridgeport. Get rid of all of them.

Darrien Penix wrote:

Mr. Mayko, I have some issues with your reporting of this article. In one sentence, you stated two things that appear to be facts, that after further investigation are false. First, you stated that the LT exam was given in 2006 when it was held in April 2007. Secondly, you stated that the reasons the test was rescored was because no blacks passed. Well, I happen to be a black LT who was promoted off of that exam with the original scoring (#7) and with the re-scoring, which dropped me two positions on the promotion list. The rescoring did not benefit me. The Federal laws that concern disparate impact do not leave room to weave; if a governing body thinks there is disparate impact they have a duty to seek remedies to achieve less disparate impact. This is why the city rescored; IT IS THE LAW. In New Haven exams were thrown out, and in Bridgeport the scoring was re-weighted. This was ACCEPTABLE under current law. For all those who feel that the blacks benefited so much from this, you are wrong; I am still the only black LT off this LT exam. I do not begrudge those who have sued, because in the end you have to do what is best for you and your family. When I scored #7 out of approximately 4000 on my entrance exam, and after the test was scored the city added a whole new section, and after that was rescored I didn't hardly get on the job - wasn't I harmed? People sued and currently have more seniority than I do, which is their right, and I didn't. I have missed income, seniority, and possible further promotion that may be missed (not enough time in grade) because of that. So, it is not only the white FF's (and should not be reported as such) on the BFD who have gotten bad hands dealt to them, we all have. Maybe if the law, called the Charter, was followed more, the BFD would have tests when we are supposed to, timely scoring and promotion, and it would not be so much anarchy when the infrequent promotional exam in announced. Signed LT Darrien Penix (E-7-B) Proud BFD member, Proud Local 834 member, and Proud Firebird Society E-Board member.

Interesting post.
So, tell me Lieutenant, now that you have a high position on the chain of command what are you going to do to ensure that ALL your firefighters get a fair shake in their daily work? Are only Black fire fighters going to get "noticed" for good work on the job?

That has certainly been the case in the PDs and FDs where I am from. I am retired now but in my 20 years on the job I worked for white male supervisors, white female supervisors, black male supervisors, black female supervisors, hispanic male superviosrs and hispanic female supervisors.

The only time I was held back and discriminated against were when the supervisor was black.

Overtime, training, recognition, equipment, selection for special positions...... all of it went only to blacks when blacks were in charge. It was not that way under any other race of supervisor.

What does THAT mean?

Wendy Thayer wrote:

<quoted text>
Interesting post.
So, tell me Lieutenant, now that you have a high position on the chain of command what are you going to do to ensure that ALL your firefighters get a fair shake in their daily work? Are only Black fire fighters going to get "noticed" for good work on the job?
That has certainly been the case in the PDs and FDs where I am from. I am retired now but in my 20 years on the job I worked for white male supervisors, white female supervisors, black male supervisors, black female supervisors, hispanic male superviosrs and hispanic female supervisors.
The only time I was held back and discriminated against were when the supervisor was black.
Overtime, training, recognition, equipment, selection for special positions...... all of it went only to blacks when blacks were in charge. It was not that way under any other race of supervisor.
What does THAT mean?

Sounds like you go to Klan meetings that is what. Maybe it is because you are a racist that you didn't get promoted

GO Bridgeport 12! You deserve your promotions. You EARNED them.

Mr. Mackey: Title VII is for EVERYONE!

And MR. Mackey, what we do know is that they can not throw out the test as you wished. That is the LAW!

As a people and a nation we are neither prefect in our morality or in our memory. If we were keeping score (and I am not suggesting we should) you will find -- on balance -- that the American experience of non-Whites is different from that of Whites. Historical adverse experiences -- in terms of racial strife, economic headwinds, and social non-acceptance -- were more frequent and severe on greater generations of non-Whites as compared to Whites. We all do well to look back and remember the past reality if we are to add moral weight to our opinions on present rulings involving discrimination.
Notwithstanding, it is my selfish opinion that the United States of America continues to be singularly the best country on the planet; that the American experience set the best examples of moral reform and evolutional gowth in racial, social, and economic equality for all humanity; and that despite of the difficulties and frustrations of past times and present moments, the notion of the American dream persists as vividly as first imagined in the hearts and minds of our forbearers of a nation as it could be and should be.