’WPC· Š~ Ā†·k9¶`\Xf’`9æ`oĘQˆ'­eäæÖƒM†l‡äćŠajœßų,ŃeoĮ·Ē'IMĮĀSWfgõŅį³²ā•Hė2įĖ|üMā–ŽÖ· €4čżēõMŽÕĪ(k¦¬£/v’Č­sŠĖbųgōR ĀÜ’&~¶O7y¦ĄĮ{$‡$¦nJē—ō°Ēzżx†ŃbŽ1N©;¦_ąń*q6%"¬w­ą-«čV‰ōؓÉ\ŪÓFƒ.ŠBŠ0+ųGÕÄ%;¼Ņ=ÕS™Ę#Ž’ßł0æG į¤?DœĶk¤§,R uō+„H8Ų*‰µ³Ļ%D=Äžqˆ’¦G~ĶĒ^Ģß?b» æZ4OHµƒi—ÆÓjÄo:ō÷„šŃ}sb¶ŖŃ$¤™5PŌé'1j_łłŌK­¹÷Yžoė‡” T•«ūE»×Ļ“'";3m%WĆŪD›ÆźŃW0Ė«¤›Ģ³šu«`†øņ#]µéNƒ©Š ­Ż²óH{GÕsv‘ĮbŻĘ¦ČŽö>”|źE…‚TFLB¬œā™ŃŽˆC«õīj‰«BŪY1ėS0I•F9ģs¶QMÅå0»÷sĀN ‹finÜ·ŽČJŠŒ”ŅĶ; ƒs—üe#ĮÄUN… %Ó 0:ŁN^ w!4%9H mJJ 0Va˜HP LaserJet 4/4M PSČŲŲŚŚŲČŲ0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō“©5 Wu‚5ź:i¢×+003|x7’U‹’ĄĄĄ(.3½Ž$©©Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌĢHEAD:€€City€told€to€limit€racial€disparity€in€promotional€testsŠ œģ ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ tÄ Šą  ąĢĢ03/13/2004Š 8 ˆ ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€Three€experts€asked€to€review€two€contested€promotional€tests€said€it's€notŠ  ` Šunusual€that€white€firefighters€would€have€scored€higher€on€the€examinations€than€minorityŠ ü L  Šcounterparts.Š č 8  ŠĢThe€best€the€city€can€do€is€find€ways€to€minimize€any€disparate€impact.Š Ą  ŠĢ"Since€1896,€we've€always€found€a€disparity€between€black€and€white€and€Hispanics€and€whites,"Š ˜č  Šsaid€Dr.€Janet€E.€Helms,€a€professor€of€psychology€and€director€of€The€Institute€for€the€Study€andŠ „Ō  ŠPromotion€of€Race€and€Culture€at€Boston€College.€"We€can€almost€tell€you€what€your€disparityŠ pĄ Šwill€be€before"€a€test€is€administered.Š \¬ ŠĢDr.€Chris€Ō_ŌHornickŌ_Ō,€who€runs€a€test€consulting€business€in€Colorado,€agreed€that€"normally€whitesŠ 4„ Šout-perform€ethnic€minorities"€on€exams.Š  p ŠĢBut€he€also€noted€that€the€racial€disparity€in€the€two€recent€civil€service€tests€in€New€Haven€wasŠ ųH Šmore€significant€than€usual.Š ä4 ŠĢ"I'm€a€little€surprised€by€how€much€adverse€impact€we€have,"€he€said,€prefacing€that€his€firm€is€aŠ ¼  Šdirect€competitor€of€the€company€that€created€the€New€Haven€tests.€"It's€somewhat€worse€thanŠ Øų Šwhat€we've€typically€seen."Š ”ä ŠĢBut€if€the€city's€Civil€Service€Commission€was€hoping€the€experts€would€provide€a€clear€roadmapŠ l¼ Šon€how€to€proceed,€none€came.Š X Ø ŠĢVincent€Lewis,€a€retired€firefighter€and€current€employee€of€the€U.S.€Department€of€HomelandŠ 0"€  ŠSecurity,€provided€this€advice:€Look€at€the€facts,€decide€what's€best€for€the€city€and€then€do€it.Š #l! ŠĢ"I€think€that€was€helpful€for€us€just€to€listen€to€what€they€had€to€say,"€said€James€Ō_ŌSegaloffŌ_Ō,€theŠ ō$D # Šchairman€of€the€Civil€Service€Commission.€"I€was€really€impressed€with€a€lot€of€what€each€oneŠ ą%0!$ Šof€them€had€to€say€and€their€particular€views.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢThe€outside€experts€were€summoned€on€the€city's€dime€to€help€the€commission€decide€whether€toŠ ¤(ō#' Šcertify€or€throw€out€results€from€recent€promotional€tests€for€fire€captain€and€lieutenant.Š )ą$( ŠĢA€city€attorney€has€said€the€that€the€city€could€face€legal€problems€over€the€tests€because€14€ofŠ h+ø&* Šthe€top€15€scorers€were€white.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠIndeed,€separate€groups€of€white€and€black€firefighters€already€have€hired€attorneys€andŠ ° Šthreatened€to€sue.Š œģ ŠĢThe€experts€recommended€the€city€might€revamp€civil€service€regulations€or€use€different€testingŠ tÄ Špractices.Š `° ŠĢŌ_ŌHornickŌ_Ō€said€the€tests€he€reviewed€were€"reasonably€good"€but€added€that€he€believed€there€wereŠ 8 ˆ Š"much€better€alternatives"€to€the€tests'€formats.Š $ t ŠĢLewis,€who€retired€after€23€years€as€a€firefighter,€said€the€two€tests€were€similar€to€exams€he€hadŠ ü L  Štaken€during€his€career.Š č 8  ŠĢ"Do€you€feel€that€the€lieutenant€exam€and€the€captain€exam€were€fair€in€the€questions€that€theyŠ Ą  Šasked?"€asked€Ō_ŌCaplanŌ_Ō.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ"I€thought€the€questions€were€relevant€for€both€exams,€and€I€would€be€comfortable€taking€them,"Š „Ō  ŠLewis€said.Š pĄ ŠĢHelms,€who€wrote€a€number€of€books€including€"A€Race€Is€a€Nice€Thing€to€Have:€A€Guide€toŠ H˜ ŠBeing€A€White€Person€or€Understanding€the€White€Persons€in€Your€Life,"€acknowledged€thereŠ 4„ Šwas€no€easy€answer€on€why€minorities€didn't€score€as€well.Š  p ŠĢ"There's€very€little€information€why€people€of€color€perform€more€poorly€than€their€whiteŠ ųH Šcounterparts,"€she€said.Š ä4 ŠĢMaybe€for€some€English€is€a€second€language.€And€others,€knowing€historically€minorities€don'tŠ ¼  Šdo€as€well,€impose€crippling€pressure€on€themselves€to€succeed.Š Øų ŠĢPerhaps€minorities€are€excluded€from€the€"informal€Ō_ŌmentoringŌ_Ō"€that€goes€on€at€firehouses,€whichŠ €Š Šhurts€them€come€test€time.Š l¼ ŠĢ"Women€and€men€of€color€have€to€earn€their€way€into€the€brotherhood€of€white€firefighters,"€sheŠ D!” Šsaid.Š 0"€  ŠĢĢ-----------------------------------Š ō$D # ŠNAACP€livid€over€poem€found€at€city€firehouseŠ ą%0!$ ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ ø'#& ŠĢ03/09/2004Š )ą$( ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€A€satirical€poem€tacked€on€a€Fire€Department€bulletin€board€over€the€weekendŠ h+ø&* Šhas€the€local€NAACP€burned€up.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠThe€18-line€verse€took€aim€at€a€group€of€African-American€firefighters€who€want€results€thrownŠ ° Šout€for€two€civil€service€promotional€tests.Š œģ ŠĢ"We're€totally€outraged,"€said€Scot€X.€Ō_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō,€the€president€of€the€Greater€New€Haven€branch€ofŠ tÄ Šthe€National€Association€for€the€Advancement€of€Colored€People.€"There€needs€to€be€a€tone€andŠ `° Ša€climate€set€in€the€Fire€Department€where€there€is€a€zero€tolerance€for€this€type€of€behavior.€ThisŠ L œ Šthing€is€starting€to€take€a€very€nasty€turn."Š 8 ˆ ŠĢThe€poem€appeared€Saturday€at€the€Ō_ŌGoffeŌ_Ō€Street€firehouse€in€the€Ō_ŌDixwellŌ_Ō€neighborhood.€ByŠ  ` ŠMonday,€copies€were€at€the€mayor's€office,€the€office€of€the€Fire€Chief€and€the€NAACP.Š ü L  ŠĢThe€poem€sets€to€rhyme€a€sentiment€held€by€many€white€firefighters:€That€African-AmericanŠ Ō$  Šfirefighters€didn't€score€as€well€on€the€two€recent€promotional€exams€because€they€didn't€study€asŠ Ą  Šhard.Š ¬ü  ŠĢA€group€of€black€firefighters,€meanwhile,€have€said€that€some€white€firefighters€had€advanceŠ „Ō  Šknowledge€of€what€would€be€on€the€test.Š pĄ ŠĢ"When€others€studied€and€took€classes/€they€lay€back€upon€their€Ō_ŌassesŌ_Ō/€never€opening€the€book/Š H˜ Šjust€depending€on€their€`hooks,'€"€the€poem€read.Š 4„ ŠĢThe€term€"hooks"€is€a€reference€to€political€connections.Š  \ ŠĢ"I€just€think€it's€outrageous,"€said€Karen€Ō_ŌDuBoisŌ_Ō-Walton,€the€city's€chief€administrative€officer.€"IŠ ä4 Šhave€no€idea€who€wrote€it.€Discipline€would€certainly€follow€if€we€could€figure€out€who€wroteŠ Š  Šit."Š ¼  ŠĢŌ_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō€said€he€thought€the€person€or€persons€should€be€fired.Š ”ä ŠĢThe€verse€made€specific€reference€to€Lt.€Gary€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€and€Lt.€Herschel€Ō_ŌWadleyŌ_Ō,€both€black€fireŠ l¼ Šofficers.Š X Ø ŠĢ"Gary€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€failed€to€place/€In€the€latest€captain's€race/€So,€along€with€Herschel€and€the€rest/€HeŠ 0"€  Šproceeded€to€blame€the€test."Š #l! ŠĢŌ_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€wrote€a€memorandum€to€Fire€Chief€Michael€Grant€on€Saturday€after€the€poem€wasŠ ō$D # Špointed€out€to€him.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ"I€just€think€you€have€a€lot€of€people€on€this€department€that€need€some€diversity€training,"Š ø'#& ŠŌ_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said€Monday.€"It€not€only€offended€me,€but€it€offended€all€the€guys€on€my€shift."Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢThe€thorny€issue€surrounds€promotional€tests€for€fire€captain€and€lieutenant.€When€preliminaryŠ |*Ģ%) Šscores€were€released,€14€of€15€top€scorers€were€white€prompting€the€city€to€explore€theŠ h+ø&* Špossibility€of€scuttling€the€test.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠTo€a€degree,€opinions€on€whether€the€test€should€stand€fall€along€racial€lines.Š ° ŠĢFrank€Ō_ŌRicciŌ_Ō,€a€white€firefighter€who€wants€the€tests€to€stand,€said€the€poem€wasŠ ˆŲ Š"counterproductive€to€the€good€name€of€the€department."Š tÄ ŠĢBut€he€added€that€"as€immature€as€that€may€be,€that's€firehouse€banter."Š L œ ŠĢAfter€he€spoke€in€front€of€the€Civil€Service€Commission€last€month,€there€was€a€doctoredŠ $ t ŠChinese€restaurant€menu€poking€fun€at€him,€he€said.Š  ` ŠĢ"It's€immaturity,€but€it€goes€both€ways."Š č 8  ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š ¬ü  ŠCommission€to€call€in€experts€to€review€fire€testsŠ ˜č  ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ pĄ ŠĢ03/05/2004Š H˜ ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€The€city's€civil€service€commission€agreed€Thursday€on€three€outside€experts€toŠ  p Šreview€two€contested€promotional€exams€in€the€fire€department.Š  \ ŠĢCommissioners€also€said€they€hope€to€make€a€decision€before€the€end€of€the€month€aboutŠ ä4 Šwhether€to€accept€or€reject€the€test€results.Š Š  ŠĢAfter€a€brief€discussion,€the€commission€directed€the€city€to€contact€Dr.€Chris€W.€Ō_ŌHornickŌ_Ō,€aŠ Øų ŠColorado-based€expert€on€fire€service€testing,€selection,€and€promotion;€Dr.€Sara€Sparrow,€aŠ ”ä Šprofessor€of€psychology€at€Yale€University;€and€Dr.€Vincent€Lewis€of€Maryland€who€has€anŠ €Š Š"extensive€background€in€fire€fighting,"€according€to€one€commissioner.Š l¼ ŠĢThe€three€would€be€asked€sign€confidentiality€agreements€before€reviewing€the€two€tests.Š D!” ŠĢTina€Ō_ŌBurgettŌ_Ō,€the€city's€director€of€human€resources,€said€it€wasn't€clear€how€much€the€panel€ofŠ #l! Šexperts€would€cost.Š $X" ŠĢMeanwhile,€a€white€fire€lieutenant€denied€accusations€he€knew€how€people€scored€on€the€test.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢThe€city€has€not€released€scores.Š ø'#& ŠĢ"I€would€like€to€know€my€accusers,"€said€Lt.€John€Ō_ŌVendettoŌ_Ō.Š )ą$( ŠĢA€group€of€minority€firefighters€told€city€officials€that€Ō_ŌVendettoŌ_Ō€received€a€phone€call€at€theŠ h+ø&* Šfirehouse€after€which€Ō_ŌVendettoŌ_Ō€claimed€he€knew€the€top€scores€on€one€of€the€tests.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠAfter€some€discussion,€Chief€Administrative€Officer€Karen€Ō_ŌDuBoisŌ_Ō-Walton€identified€theŠ ° Šaccusers€as€Ō_ŌLtsŌ_Ō.€Herschel€Ō_ŌWadleyŌ_Ō,€Jeff€Ō_ŌBaskinŌ_Ō,€Gary€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō,€Kyle€Daniels€and€Firefighter€ReneŠ œģ ŠCordova.€All€are€minorities.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ"Out€of€all€the€names€she€mentioned,€I€work€with€none€of€them€on€my€shift€so€this€is€third-handŠ `° Šinformation,"€Ō_ŌVendettoŌ_Ō€said.€"They're€not€even€in€the€same€firehouse."Š L œ ŠĢThe€controversy€surrounds€how€minority€firefighters€scored€on€the€two€civil€service€tests.€WithŠ $ t Šthe€existing€scores,€14€of€15€people€in€line€for€promotion€to€captain€and€lieutenant€would€beŠ  ` Šwhite.Š ü L  ŠĢNo€African€American€firefighters€scored€well€enough€to€be€promoted€on€either€test.Š Ō$  ŠĢThe€result€has€been€catastrophic€as€far€as€race€relations€in€the€department.Š ¬ü  ŠĢWhite€firefighters€have€said€they€scored€better€because€they€studied€harder,€while€some€blackŠ „Ō  Šfirefighters€counter€that€some€white€colleagues€had€advanced€knowledge€of€the€contents€of€theŠ pĄ Štest.Š \¬ ŠĢThey€also€have€said€blacks€often€get€fewer€training€opportunities€on€the€department.Š 4„ ŠĢCity€officials,€meanwhile,€have€implored€anyone€with€specific€accusations€to€come€forward€and,Š  \ Što€date,€have€found€no€evidence€of€cheating.Š ųH ŠĢThe€Greater€New€Haven€NAACP€started€its€own€investigation€as€well.Š Š  ŠĢThe€tests€for€fire€lieutenant€and€captain€were€given€in€late€2003€and€the€city€received€theŠ Øų Špreliminary€scores€in€JanuaryŠ ”ä ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š X Ø ŠAccess€to€city€fire€tests€limitedŠ D!” ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ #l! ŠĢ03/04/2004Š ō$D # ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€Some€politicians€want€to€view€two€disputed€Fire€Department€promotional€testsŠ Ģ&"% Šthat€city€officials€fear€were€unfair€to€minorities.Š ø'#& ŠĢBut€the€aldermanic€Public€Safety€Committee€heard€a€common€refrain.Š )ą$( ŠĢ"It's€not€a€public€document,"€said€Corporation€Counsel€Thomas€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€Jr.,€later€noting€that€theŠ h+ø&* Španel€could€not€see€the€exams€"at€this€point."Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠIndeed,€the€exams€have€created€racial€tension€and€widespread€hard€feelings€both€inside€and€out€ofŠ ° Šthe€department,€but€precious€few€people€in€the€city€have€seen€them.Š œģ ŠĢAccess€to€the€tests€for€fire€captain€and€lieutenant€is€guarded.€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō,€the€city's€top€attorney,€said€heŠ tÄ Šhasn't€seen€it,€although€he€could€if€he€wanted€to.€Karen€Ō_ŌDuBoisŌ_Ō-Walton,€the€city's€chiefŠ `° Šadministrative€officer,€hasn't€either.Š L œ ŠĢAnd€to€date,€only€one€member€of€the€Civil€Service€Commission,€which€must€decide€whether€toŠ $ t Šcertify€or€scuttle€the€test€results,€has€viewed€the€documents,€and€only€after€signing€aŠ  ` Šconfidentiality€agreement.Š ü L  ŠĢ"Can€we€see€the€test€or€not?"€asked€Ō_ŌAlderwomanŌ_Ō€Shirley€Ellis-West,€exasperated.Š Ō$  ŠĢFor€hours€Wednesday€night,€the€Public€Safety€Committee€questioned€city€officials€about€whatŠ ¬ü  Šwent€wrong€with€the€tests€that€made€minorities€score€so€poorly.€Fourteen€of€the€15€people€in€lineŠ ˜č  Šfor€promotions€are€white.Š „Ō  ŠĢFewer€than€a€dozen€firefighters€attended€the€sparsely€attended€meeting€Wednesday.Š \¬ ŠĢThe€aldermanic€committee€scheduled€the€hearing€after€city€officials€raised€questions€aboutŠ 4„ Šthrowing€out€the€results€because€of€an€adverse€impact€on€minorities€on€the€job.€Since€then,€theŠ  p Šsituation€turned€from€tense€to€testy,€with€racial€tensions€reaching€uncomfortable€levels€and€barbsŠ  \ Šflying€in€both€directions.Š ųH ŠĢMany€white€firefighters€say€they€scored€better€on€the€tests€simply€because€they€studied€harder.Š Š  ŠLast€week,€a€group€of€black€firefighters€raised€the€prospect€of€cheating,€but€white€firefighters€sayŠ ¼  Šthat's€hogwash.Š Øų ŠĢŌ_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€implored€anyone€with€specific€accusations€about€cheating€to€contact€his€office€or€some€otherŠ €Š Šcity€officials€and€pledged€allegations€would€be€investigated.Š l¼ ŠĢWhile€the€aldermen€have€no€authority€over€the€Civil€Service€Commission,€the€panel€said€it€stillŠ D!” Šwanted€its€voice€heard.Š 0"€  ŠĢAt€the€meeting,€several€aldermen€said€their€"constituents"€brought€concerns€that€some€firefightersŠ $X" Šhad€advance€knowledge€about€what€would€be€on€the€exams.Š ō$D # ŠĢQuestions€about€the€tests€first€emerged€in€January€when€city€officials€received€the€raw€scores.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢŌ_ŌDuBoisŌ_Ō-Walton€said€the€results€for€the€tests€"raise€significant€concerns€about€discriminatoryŠ ¤(ō#' Špromotional€practices.€Minorities,€in€some€cases€failed€the€tests€at€roughly€nearly€twice€the€rateŠ )ą$( Šof€white€firefightersŠ |*Ģ%) ŠĢThe€Civil€Service€Commission€is€scheduled€to€meet€tonight€to€discuss€the€situation,€although€noŠ T,¤'+ Šdecision€is€immediately€expectedŠ @-(, Š‡Meanwhile,€both€sides€have€hired€attorneys,€so€the€city€likely€will€be€sued€whichever€decision€isŠ ° Šmade.Š œģ ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š `° ŠHEAD:€Whites€cheated€on€promotion€test,€black€firefighters'€civil€rights€lawyer€saysŠ L œ ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ $ t ŠĢ02/27/2004Š ü L  ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€A€group€of€black€city€firefighters€believe€that€some€white€co-workers€hadŠ Ō$  Šadvanced€knowledge€of€the€contents€of€two€recent€promotional€tests.Š Ą  ŠĢWhile€the€specter€of€cheating€has€been€whispered€around€firehouses€for€weeks,€a€civil€rightsŠ ˜č  Šlawyer€hired€by€the€group€put€it€on€the€table€Thursday.Š „Ō  ŠĢ"We€have€witnesses€who€can€confirm€that€some€people€were€given€advance€information€-€theseŠ \¬ Šare€going€to€be€the€texts,€these€are€going€to€be€the€issues,"€said€New€Haven€attorney€JohnŠ H˜ ŠWilliams.€"Apparently,€some€people€-€certain€people€-€decided€who€would€get€promoted."Š 4„ ŠĢWilliams€would€not€elaborate€or€say€who€those€people€were.Š  \ ŠĢA€top€city€official€said€she'd€heard€rumors€of€alleged€cheating€and€urged€anyone€with€informationŠ ä4 Što€tell€the€city.Š Š  ŠĢ"I€don't€know€that€to€be€true.€I€would€encourage€if€people€want€to€come€forward€with€that,€thatŠ Øų Šthey€come€forward,"€said€city€Chief€Administrative€Officer€Karen€Ō_ŌDuBoisŌ_Ō-Walton.€"At€this€point,Š ”ä Šthat's€not€been€brought€to€me€in€any€form.Š €Š ŠĢ"That€alone€would€be€a€reason€to€question€the€results"€of€the€examinations,€she€said.Š X Ø ŠĢThe€contested€civil€service€tests€were€for€fire€lieutenant€and€captain.€No€African-AmericansŠ 0"€  Šscored€well€enough€to€be€promoted,€prompting€the€city€to€consider€throwing€out€the€results€orŠ #l! Šsome€other€remedy.€If€promotions€were€made€on€the€existing€scores,€at€least€13€of€15€candidatesŠ $X" Šwould€be€white.Š ō$D # ŠĢA€group€of€mostly€white€firefighters€hired€attorney€Karen€Ō_ŌTorreŌ_Ō€earlier€this€month€and€have€saidŠ Ģ&"% Šthey€will€sue€if€the€tests€are€voided.Š ø'#& ŠĢThe€city€has€refused€to€release€individual€scores€so€no€one€in€the€department€knows€preciselyŠ )ą$( Šhow€they€did.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢAt€a€press€conference€Thursday€with€the€NAACP,€minority€firefighters€said€racial€tensions€in€theŠ T,¤'+ Šfirehouses€had€reached€epidemic€levels€since€the€controversy€broke.Š @-(, Š‡They€bristled€at€comments€reported€in€the€New€Haven€Register€articles€and€letters€to€the€editorŠ ° Šasserting€that€African-Americans€didn't€score€as€well€because€they€didn't€study€as€hard.Š œģ ŠĢ"Every€indication€has€been€made€that€we€didn't€apply€ourselves,"€said€Lt.€Ō_ŌHershelŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌWadleyŌ_Ō,€whoŠ tÄ Štook€the€captain€exam.€"I€studied€every€day€for€eight€hours€a€day.€We're€not€looking€for€specialŠ `° Štreatment€or€handouts."Š L œ ŠĢAnd€they€said€that€after€a€decade€of€progress€in€racial€equality€in€the€department,€there€seems€toŠ $ t Šbe€a€sudden€regression.Š  ` ŠĢŌ_ŌWadleyŌ_Ō€said€the€current€fire€administration€made€a€series€of€transfers€that€seemed€to€affectŠ č 8  Šmainly€minority€employees€out€of€the€fire€academy€and€the€fire€marshal's€office.€There€are€next€toŠ Ō$  Šno€blacks€on€the€department's€two€squads,€where€firefighters€get€specialized€training€in€skills€likeŠ Ą  Švehicle€extrication€and€confined€space€rescue.Š ¬ü  ŠĢAnd€the€fire€union€has€not€done€enough€to€address€the€needs€of€its€African-American€members,Š „Ō  Šthey€claimed.Š pĄ ŠĢ"The€union€fights€very€hard€to€ensure€that€the€contractual€rights€of€all€its€members€are€protected,"Š H˜ Šsaid€firefighter€Patrick€Egan,€president€of€the€fire€union."Š 4„ ŠĢŌ_ŌDuBoisŌ_Ō-Walton€said€that€Chief€Michael€Grant€made€the€transfers€to€stem€skyrocketing€overtimeŠ  \ Šcosts.Š ųH ŠĢ"He€inherited€a€department€that€was€a€fiscal€mess.€He€had€to€make€some€difficult€decisions.€It'sŠ Š  Šwholly€unfair€to€the€chief€to€cast€it€as€a€racially€motivated€kind€of€a€move."Š ¼  ŠĢA€message€was€left€for€Grant€Thursday.Š ”ä ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š X Ø ŠHEAD:€Designer€defends€promotion€testsŠ D!” ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ #l! ŠĢ02/17/2004Š ō$D # ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€A€consultant€defended€two€disputed€Fire€Department€promotional€exams,Š Ģ&"% Šsaying€his€firm€took€great€care€to€ensure€the€tests€were€unbiased.Š ø'#& ŠĢChad€C.€Ō_ŌLegelŌ_Ō,€the€vice€president€of€Illinois-based€I/O€Solutions,€assured€the€Civil€ServiceŠ )ą$( ŠCommission€that€every€question€was€checked€and€rechecked€for€even€the€most€subtle€racial€bend.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ"The€process€was€racially€neutral,"€Ō_ŌLegelŌ_Ō€told€the€commission€last€week€"I€will€stand€by€...€theŠ T,¤'+ Šexaminations."Š @-(, Š‡The€commission€must€decide€whether€to€throw€out€the€results€of€the€recent€tests€for€fireŠ ° Šlieutenant€and€captain.€The€city€has€said€the€results€had€a€disparate€impact€because€too€fewŠ œģ Šminorities€scored€well€enough€for€promotion.Š ˆŲ ŠĢAt€the€meeting,€Ō_ŌLegelŌ_Ō€offered€no€theory€for€minorities€not€scoring€as€well,€but€he€said€it€wasn'tŠ `° Šbecause€the€tests€had€any€hidden€bias.Š L œ ŠĢ"We€have€a€lot€of€experience€developing€those€things,"€he€explained.€On€the€written€portion,€allŠ $ t Šquestions€came€straight€from€reading€material€firefighters€were€told€to€purchase.Š  ` ŠĢ"Every€question,€you€can€go€directly€back€to€a€page,€a€paragraph,€a€sentence€to€verify€the€answerŠ č 8  Šis€correct,"€he€said.Š Ō$  ŠĢ"The€exam€can€only€be€biased€as€much€as€the€texts€are€biased,"€he€added.Š ¬ü  ŠĢRegarding€the€oral€section,€Ō_ŌLegelŌ_Ō€said€the€firm€made€sure€the€panels€that€graded€the€firefightersŠ „Ō  Šwere€racially€balanced.€All€but€one€of€the€panels€comprised€a€black,€a€Caucasian€and€a€Latino,€heŠ pĄ Šsaid.Š \¬ ŠĢIn€the€weeks€since€the€commission€was€informed€of€possible€problems€with€the€tests,€noŠ 4„ Šmembers€had€seen€the€actual€exams.€They€last€week€agreed€to€sign€a€confidentiality€agreement€inŠ  p Šorder€to€review€the€exams.Š  \ ŠĢMeanwhile,€the€members€received€a€list€of€outside€experts,€who€also€would€need€to€signŠ ä4 Šconfidentiality€agreements,€who€might€critique€the€tests.Š Š  ŠĢAfter€I/O€Solutions€was€hired,€representatives€visited€firehouses,€interviewing€officers€on€whatŠ Øų Šskills€and€qualities€they€viewed€as€important€for€the€New€Haven€department.€The€company€alsoŠ ”ä Šcreated€a€questionnaire€for€them.Š €Š ŠĢCandidates€seeking€promotion€received€a€syllabus€of€required€reading€and€some€members€of€theŠ X Ø Šdepartment€complained€that€the€text€didn't€relate€well€to€New€Haven.Š D!” ŠĢWhen€Civil€Service€Commission€Chairman€James€Ō_ŌSegaloffŌ_Ō€asked€Ō_ŌLegelŌ_Ō€why€some€of€the€examŠ #l! Šseemed€questionable,€the€consultant€explained€that€"the€test€development€process€is€by€no€meansŠ $X" Šperfect."Š ō$D # ŠĢBut€if€they€conclude€that€a€question€was€improper,€Ō_ŌLegelŌ_Ō€said,€they€would€throw€it€out€and€giveŠ Ģ&"% Ševeryone€credit.Š ø'#& ŠĢSo€far,€a€group€of€mainly€white€firefighters€has€hired€a€lawyer€and€is€threatening€to€sue€if€the€testŠ )ą$( Šis€thrown€out.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢSome€minority€firefighters€have€threatened€to€sue€if€it€is€not.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠThe€price€for€the€two€tests€was€just€shy€of€$100,000.Š ° ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š tÄ ŠHEAD:€Fire€Department€sure€to€be€sued€over€examsŠ `° ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ 8 ˆ ŠĢ02/06/2004Š  ` ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€A€prominent€black€minister€Thursday€warned€a€city€commission€against€beingŠ č 8  Šthe€"judge€and€jury"€of€whether€two€Fire€Department€promotional€tests€should€be€thrown€outŠ Ō$  Šbecause€too€few€minorities€scored€well.Š Ą  ŠĢDuring€a€public€hearing,€the€Rev.€Boise€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō,€who€also€serves€as€a€fire€commissioner,Š ˜č  Šcautioned€the€Civil€Service€Commission.Š „Ō  ŠĢ"I€look€at€this€panel,"€he€said.€"Three€whites.€One€Hispanic.€No€blacks.€I€would€hope€that€youŠ \¬ Šwould€not€put€yourself€in€this€position."Š H˜ ŠĢThe€latest€controversy€over€Fire€Department€promotions€drew€dozens€of€firefighters,€politiciansŠ  p Šand€civil€rights€advocates€to€the€public€meeting.Š  \ ŠĢ"You're€telling€me€because€we€have€four€white€faces€that€we€cannot€make€a€decision?"Š ä4 Šcommission€member€Francine€Ō_ŌCaplanŌ_Ō€asked,€incredulously.Š Š  ŠĢThe€Civil€Service€Commission€has€been€charged€with€deciding€whether€to€accept€results€fromŠ Øų Štests€for€fire€captain€and€lieutenant.€City€officials€are€concerned€because€no€black€and,€at€most,Š ”ä Štwo€Hispanic€firefighters€would€be€in€line€for€promotion.Š €Š ŠĢThe€local€branch€of€the€NAACP€has€already€pledged€to€investigate€the€situation€and€chapterŠ X Ø ŠPresident€Scot€X.€Ō_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō€said€he€had€"grave€concerns"€about€certifying€tests€that€would€result€inŠ D!” Šno€promotions€of€blacks.Š 0"€  ŠĢA€group€of€11€mostly€white€firefighters€have€already€hired€an€attorney€to€fight€any€efforts€toŠ $X" Šthrow€out€the€tests.Š ō$D # ŠĢ"If€you€discard€these€results,€you€will€be€sued,"€said€attorney€Karen€Lee€Ō_ŌTorreŌ_Ō.€"For€those€whoŠ Ģ&"% Šscored€high€.€you€are€about€to€consider€a€provocative€act€that€would€deny€them€their€due."Š ø'#& ŠĢBut€representatives€from€the€International€Association€of€Black€Professional€Fire€Fighters€saidŠ )ą$( Šthe€city€could€find€itself€in€the€same€position€if€it€doesn't€throw€out€the€tests.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢDonald€Day,€a€retired€Bridgeport€firefighter,€said€the€tests€were€"inherently€unfair."€He€pointed€toŠ T,¤'+ Šprevious€tests€in€the€city€in€which€blacks€scored€much€better.Š @-(, Š‡"Either€the€blacks€and€Latinos€on€the€New€Haven€Fire€Department€got€a€lot€dumber€or€the€whitesŠ ° Šgot€a€lot€smarter,"€Day€said.Š œģ ŠĢThe€fire€union€has€been€careful€not€to€take€a€position€on€the€controversy,€which€affects€membersŠ tÄ Šof€all€colors.Š `° ŠĢFirefighter€Patrick€Egan,€the€president€of€the€fire€union,€asked€that€the€city€hire€a€third€party€toŠ 8 ˆ Šconduct€a€validation€study€to€determine€whether€the€test€was€fair.Š $ t ŠĢCity€Corporation€Counsel€Thomas€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€dismissed€accusations€that€the€controversy€was€sparkedŠ ü L  Šby€political€pandering,€calling€the€city's€position€"principles€over€politics."Š č 8  ŠĢ"My€parents€raised€me,€and€my€life€experience€has€confirmed,€that€no€racial€or€ethnic€group,€norŠ Ą  Šeither€gender,€has€cornered€the€market€on€intelligence,€talent€and€ability,"€he€said.Š ¬ü  ŠĢŌ_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€has€said€it€would€be€"insane"€to€use€the€test.Š „Ō  ŠĢThe€Fire€Department€has€a€history€of€promotional€controversies.€In€the€early€1990s,€a€SuperiorŠ \¬ ŠCourt€Judge€ordered€a€group€of€white€firefighters€demoted€after€a€lawsuit€filed€by€a€group€ofŠ H˜ Šminority€firefighters.Š 4„ ŠĢFire€Lt.€John€Ryan€was€among€them.Š  \ ŠĢ"I€really€feel€we've€made€such€great€strides,"€said€Ryan,€a€25-year€veteran€who€wants€the€testsŠ ä4 Šapproved.€"I€have€never€seen€race€relations€better€on€this€job.€We€went€through€this€before€andŠ Š  Šit's€not€pleasant."Š ¼  ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š €Š ŠHEAD:€City€fire€tests€have€no€easy,€cheap€fixŠ l¼ ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€and€Angela€Carter€,€Register€StaffŠ D!” ŠĢ02/02/2004Š #l! ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€City€officials€have€argued€behind€closed€doors.€Firefighters€have€attended€unionŠ ō$D # Šmeetings.€Lawyers€have€been€contacted.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢBut€just€over€a€week€after€the€city€suggested€that€two€Fire€Department€promotional€tests€might€beŠ ø'#& Šthrown€out€because€too€few€minorities€scored€well,€the€controversy€has€created€a€racial€divide.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢCity€officials€have€scheduled€a€second€public€hearing€on€the€issue€for€Thursday€in€the€Hall€ofŠ |*Ģ%) ŠRecords.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ"The€rift€and€the€division€in€the€department€was€very€clear€at€the€first€hearing,"€said€KarenŠ @-(, ŠŌ_ŌDuBoisŌ_Ō-Walton,€the€city's€chief€administrative€officer.Š ° ŠĢ"The€one€thing€that€all€groups€can€probably€agree€on€is€we€don't€ever€want€to€be€in€this€situationŠ ˆŲ Šagain,"€she€said.Š tÄ ŠĢIn€November€and€December,€the€city€gave€civil€service€tests€for€fire€lieutenant€and€captainŠ L œ Špositions.€When€exam€results€came€back,€all€but€one€or€two€of€the€15€people€in€line€forŠ 8 ˆ Špromotion€were€white.Š $ t ŠĢLast€week,€some€Board€of€Aldermen€officers€were€briefed€on€the€situation.Š ü L  ŠĢ"I€would€not€want€to€certify€this€test.€We€will€not€be€able€to€promote€any€African-Americans€toŠ Ō$  Šcaptain€or€lieutenant.€I€don't€want€the€city€to€appear€discriminatory,"€said€Ō_ŌAlderwomanŌ_Ō€ShirleyŠ Ą  ŠEllis-West,€D-12.Š ¬ü  ŠĢAldermanic€President€Jorge€Perez,€D-5,€did€not€take€a€position€on€certifying€the€test,€but€said€theŠ „Ō  Šdebacle€has€caused€"a€disservice"€to€taxpayers,€firefighters€and€anyone€else€who€potentially€couldŠ pĄ Šbe€impacted.Š \¬ ŠĢ"I'm€more€interested€in€how€we€got€into€this€mess€in€the€first€place,"€he€said.€"Instead€of€a€joyousŠ 4„ Šoccasion€where€people€are€being€promoted,€we€have€a€department€that's€in€turmoil€and€split€alongŠ  p Šracial€lines."Š  \ ŠĢThe€two€exams,€administered€by€a€testing€consultant,€cost€nearly€$100,000.€The€city€most€likelyŠ ä4 Šwill€be€sued€no€matter€what€course€it€chooses.Š Š  ŠĢOne€civil€lawyer€in€New€Haven€believes€throwing€out€the€tests€would€be€"a€colossal€mistake."Š Øų ŠĢ"They're€taking€steps€that€are€going€to€cost€(New€Haven)€a€great€deal€of€money,"€said€NormanŠ €Š ŠŌ_ŌPattisŌ_Ō,€who€recently€won€a€multimillion€dollar€reverse€discrimination€lawsuit€filed€by€whiteŠ l¼ ŠHartford€firefighters.€"I€don't€know€if€the€mayor€has€his€eyes€on€Hartford€and€the€governor'sŠ X Ø Šoffice€and€forgot€that€he€had€to€uphold€the€law€here€in€New€Haven."Š D!” ŠĢLegal€scholars,€however,€said€any€discrimination€lawsuit€by€white€firefighters€against€the€city€isŠ #l! Šno€slam-dunk.Š $X" ŠĢIan€Ō_ŌAyresŌ_Ō,€a€professor€at€Yale€Law€School,€said€white€firefighters€could€argue€that€the€city€is€"inŠ ą%0!$ Ša€sense€showing€a€preference€of€minorities"€if€it€throws€out€the€test.€But€he€said€that€wouldn'tŠ Ģ&"% Šnecessarily€mean€a€victory€in€the€courtroom.Š ø'#& ŠĢ"If€they're€setting€these€aside€and€putting€forth€another€color-blind€test,€that€would€be€harder€toŠ )ą$( Šsue€on,"€he€said.€"It's€unlikely€that€you€get€a€winnable€suit€for€whites€on€the€basis€of€that."Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢŌ_ŌQuinnipiacŌ_Ō€University€law€professor€Robert€Farrell€said€the€city's€case€could€be€bolstered€by€aŠ T,¤'+ Šrecent€federal€ruling€in€the€Midwest.Š @-(, Š‡In€December,€a€federal€appeals€court€ruled€that€Chicago€was€justified€in€increasing€some€blackŠ ° Špolice€officers'€scores€on€a€sergeant's€test€in€the€1980s.Š œģ ŠĢ"The€standard€is€that€when€you€are€making€race-conscious€decisions,€then€you€have€to€show€thatŠ tÄ Šyour€decision€was€narrowly€tailored€to€achieve€a€compelling€interest,"€Farrell€said.€"I'mŠ `° Špresuming€they€have€a€compelling€interest€in€having€a€diverse€fire€department."Š L œ ŠĢŌ_ŌAyresŌ_Ō€said€the€city€has€several€options,€short€of€throwing€out€the€tests.Š $ t ŠĢSince€firefighters€balked€about€certain€questions,€the€city€could€conduct€a€validation€study€onŠ ü L  Šboth€tests.Š č 8  ŠĢIf€some€questions€were€deemed€invalid,€they€could€be€thrown€out€without€scuttling€entire€exams.Š Ą  ŠĢIt€is€not€certain€adjusted€scores€would€change€the€racial€makeup€in€the€top€ranks.Š ˜č  ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š \¬ ŠHEAD:€Fire€exams€pose€problems,€city€lawyer€saysŠ H˜ ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō€,€Register€StaffŠ  p ŠĢ01/23/2004Š ųH ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€The€three€police€officers€stationed€at€the€meeting€were€a€strong€indication€thatŠ Š  Šcity€officials€expected€some€tension.Š ¼  ŠĢAnd€tension€there€was.Š ”ä ŠĢIt€was€palpable,€as€scores€of€firefighters€listened€to€a€city€attorney€explain€there€were€bigŠ l¼ Šproblems€with€tests€recently€administered€for€department€promotions.Š X Ø ŠĢ"We€have€zero€African-Americans€who€can€be€considered€for€promotion€to€captain,"€said€CityŠ 0"€  ŠCorporation€Counsel€Thomas€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€Jr.€As€for€fire€lieutenant,€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€said,€"They€will€all€be€white.Š #l! ŠThey€will€all€be€male.Š $X" ŠĢ"There€is€a€very€disparate€impact,"€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€said.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢAfter€weeks€of€silence,€City€Hall€explained€to€the€Civil€Service€Commission€and€the€public€whatŠ ø'#& Šthe€holdup€was€on€making€two€sets€of€promotions€in€the€Fire€Department.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢEarlier€this€month,€when€the€city€first€received€raw€scores€from€promotional€tests€for€fire€captainŠ |*Ģ%) Šand€lieutenant,€it€became€clear€that€few€minorities€scored€well€enough€to€get€promoted.Š h+ø&* ŠĢThe€commission€must€certify€the€promotional€list€before€it€is€official€and€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€and€other€topŠ @-(, Šadministrators€briefed€the€board€Thursday€night€on€the€situation.Š ° ŠĢ"It€would€be€insane€to€say€that€you€have€to€certify€a€list€and€wait€to€get€sued,"€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€told€the€board.Š ˆŲ ŠHe€later€added€that€he€"would€anticipate€a€lawsuit,"€if€the€lists€were€approved.Š tÄ ŠĢBut€from€the€tenor€of€the€meeting,€it€appeared€likely€that€the€city€would€face€a€lawsuit€either€way,Š L œ Šwith€the€tests€threatening€to€create€a€deeper€rift€in€the€department.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ"I€would€hope€that€we€do€not€divide€this€department€any€more€than€we€are€now€based€on€racialŠ  ` Šlines,"€said€the€Rev.€Boise€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō,€a€fire€commissioner.€But€he€also€went€on€to€note€that€thereŠ ü L  Šare€too€few€minorities€in€supervisory€positions.Š č 8  ŠĢNothing€was€decided€Thursday€and€the€Civil€Service€Commission€planned€to€hold€a€publicŠ Ą  Šhearing.Š ¬ü  ŠĢŌ_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€and€Tina€Ō_ŌBurgettŌ_Ō,€the€city's€director€of€human€resources,€stressed€the€potential€exposure€to€aŠ „Ō  Šlawsuit.Š pĄ ŠĢAnd€while€their€preference€to€kill€the€tests€appeared€clear,€neither€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€nor€Ō_ŌBurgettŌ_Ō€made€anŠ H˜ Šofficial€recommendation.Š 4„ ŠĢ"At€present,€we€do€not€have€a€position.€We€are€not€making€a€recommendation,"€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€said.Š  \ ŠĢHe€said€the€board€had€some€options:€throw€both€lists€out€and€conduct€new€tests,€certify€theŠ ä4 Šcurrent€lists€or€find€some€other€remedy.Š Š  ŠĢ"I€don't€want€to€get€into€what€the€remedies€might€be,"€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€said.Š Øų ŠĢWith€the€current€scores,€if€promotions€were€made€tomorrow,€five€and€possibly€six€of€the€newŠ €Š Šcaptains€would€be€white€and€one€or€two€would€be€Hispanic.Š l¼ ŠĢAs€for€promotions€to€lieutenant,€all€eight€would€be€white€firefighters.Š D!” ŠĢA€number€of€firefighters€of€all€races€already€have€said€the€tests€contained€some€irrelevant€andŠ #l! Šmisleading€questions.Š $X" ŠĢ"I€think€the€test€was€unfair,"€said€firefighter€James€Watkins,€an€African-American€who€echoedŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€sentiments€of€many€others€in€the€department.€He€said€some€of€the€questions€were€misleadingŠ Ģ&"% Šand€outdated€and€related€to€tactics€in€New€York,€not€here.Š ø'#& ŠĢ"I€fight€fires€here€in€New€Haven,€Connecticut."Š )ą$( ŠĢFirefighter€Frank€Ō_ŌRicciŌ_Ō,€who€is€white,€said€everyone€received€the€same€books€and€the€same€timeŠ h+ø&* Što€study.€He€said€he€often€spent€eight€to€13€hours€a€day€studying€and€said€he€expected€that€effort,Š T,¤'+ Šnot€his€race,€would€determine€how€well€he€did.Š @-(, Š‡Promotional€tests€in€the€Fire€Department€usually€occur€only€twice€a€decade€so€the€stakes€are€high.Š ° ŠFirefighters€spent€upward€of€$500€on€books€and€many€spent€hundreds€of€hours€studying.Š œģ ŠĢThose€who€believed€they€scored€well€were€vehemently€opposed€to€the€tests€being€stricken.Š tÄ ŠĢAnd€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€acknowledged€that€no€matter€what€the€Civil€Service€Commission€decides,€some€peopleŠ L œ Šwill€be€unhappy.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢŌ_ŌRicciŌ_Ō€said€he€planned€to€attend€the€upcoming€public€meeting€and€asked€if€his€attorney€couldŠ  ` Šspeak€on€his€behalf.Š ü L  ŠĢ€Ģ-----------------------------------Š Ą  ŠHEAD:€City€eyes€voiding€2€fire€examsŠ ¬ü  ŠĢBy:€William€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_ŌŠ „Ō  ŠĢ01/22/2004Š \¬ ŠĢEditor's€note:€Because€of€a€production€error,€the€following€story€was€incomplete€in€some€editionsŠ 4„ ŠWednesday.€Here€is€the€story€in€its€entirety.Š  p ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€City€Hall€is€considering€scuttling€two€promotional€examinations€in€the€FireŠ ųH ŠDepartment,€leaving€promotion-seeking€firefighters€in€limbo.Š ä4 ŠĢThe€city€received€results€for€fire€captain€and€lieutenant€tests€weeks€ago€and€City€Hall€sourcesŠ ¼  Šconfirm€that€the€test€scores€are€not€to€the€administration's€liking.Š Øų ŠĢA€special€meeting€for€the€Civil€Service€Commission€has€been€scheduled€for€today€to€discuss€theŠ €Š Šsituation€and€many€in€the€department€expect€that€the€tests€will€be€voided.Š l¼ ŠĢ"I'm€in€no€position€to€make€a€comment€one€way€or€another,"€said€Tina€Ō_ŌBurgettŌ_Ō,€the€city's€directorŠ D!” Šof€human€resources.€"We've€invited€the€commission€and€we€have€a€quorum."Š 0"€  ŠĢCorporation€Counsel€Thomas€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€declined€comment.Š $X" ŠĢSome€firefighters€said€they€were€told€that€not€enough€people€passed€the€tests;€others€said€notŠ ą%0!$ Šenough€minority€firefighters€did€well,€while€more€complained€that€the€test€was€peppered€withŠ Ģ&"% Širrelevant€and€outdated€questions.Š ø'#& ŠĢThe€city€has€not€released€the€preliminary€scores,€so€no€one€knows€how€well€they€did,€but€theŠ )ą$( Šstakes€are€high.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢPromotional€examinations€come€approximately€twice€a€decade.€The€last€lieutenant's€test€was€inŠ T,¤'+ Š1999;€the€last€test€for€captain€was€in€1998.Š @-(, Š‡Firefighters€shelled€out€hundreds€of€dollars€for€reading€material€and€some€spent€even€more€toŠ ° Šprepare.€Many€took€vacation€or€personal€time€in€the€weeks€before€the€exams.Š œģ ŠĢAcross€the€board,€people€who€took€the€tests€noted€some€questions€on€the€exams€were€notŠ tÄ Špertinent€or€outdated.Š `° ŠĢIn€some€cases,€the€topic€seemed€to€relate€more€to€New€York€City€than€New€Haven€withŠ 8 ˆ Šreferences€to€uptown€and€downtown€operations,€firefighters€said.Š $ t ŠĢIn€another€instance,€a€correct€answer€included€an€outdated€position€that€the€department€hasŠ ü L  Šeliminated.Š č 8  ŠĢWhether€the€test€would€be€voided€has€been€the€talk€at€firehouses€for€weeks.Š Ą  ŠĢ"Do€I€feel€the€test€should€be€thrown€out?€That's€not€for€me€to€decide,"€said€Lt.€Abraham€Colon,Š ˜č  Šthe€department's€EMS€supervisor€who€took€the€captain's€test.€"Was€the€test€relevant€to€our€job?Š „Ō  ŠNo,€it€was€not."Š pĄ ŠĢLt.€James€Ō_ŌKottageŌ_Ō,€a€union€official€who€also€took€the€examination,€said€he€could€only€speak€fromŠ H˜ Ša€personal€perspective€and€not€as€a€union€representative.€"I€can't€speculate€what€Civil€Service€isŠ 4„ Šgoing€to€do,€but€if€they€don't€have€two€certified€promotional€lists,€it€shows€me€that€the€process€isŠ  p Šbroken€and€needs€to€be€fixed."Š  \ ŠĢIf€the€tests€are€scuttled,€some€questions€remain.Š ä4 ŠĢWill€the€city€be€out€the€money€a€private€company€charged€to€administer€the€exams,€whichŠ ¼  Šsources€put€at€just€shy€of€$100,000?Š Øų ŠĢAnd€are€the€firefighters€out€the€$500€or€more€they€paid€for€books€and€study€guides?€-30-Š €Š ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢFORUMŠ D!” ŠRace€politics€again€threaten€to€harm€cityŠ 0"€  ŠĢKaren€Lee€Ō_ŌTorreŌ_ŌŠ $X" Šą  ąĢ02/05/2004Š ą%0!$ ŠĢNew€Haven€is€poised€again€to€stumble€into€a€quagmire€of€race€politics€as€it€considers€scrappingŠ ø'#& Šthe€results€of€promotional€examinations€administered€to€fill€vacancies€in€its€Fire€Department.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢCompliance€with€the€city€charter€mandates€the€filling€of€each€vacancy€from€among€the€top€threeŠ |*Ģ%) Šscorers.€That€will€result€in€few€blacks€being€promoted€in€the€first€round€to€the€ranks€of€captainŠ h+ø&* Šand€lieutenant.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠThe€problem€for€New€Haven€lies€in€attempting€to€square€a€desire€for€"diversity"€with€fidelity€toŠ ° Šits€charter,€which€not€only€requires€that€promotions€be€based€on€merit€as€determined€byŠ œģ Šcompetitive€examination€but€which€expressly€prohibits€favoring€any€candidate€because€of€race.Š ˆŲ ŠĢThe€"rule€of€three"€provision€has€been€violated€consistently€by€the€city,€which€has€come€upŠ `° Šwanting€in€court€time€and€again,€with€judges€dismissing€the€city's€excuses€as€"absurd."Š L œ ŠĢRebuffed€by€the€courts,€the€city€proposed€a€charter€revision€that€would€have€gutted€the€rule€ofŠ $ t Šthree,€but€voters€rejected€the€measure.Š  ` ŠĢCity€Hall,€however,€is€stubborn,€and€these€losses€have€not€weakened€its€resolve€to€hire€andŠ č 8  Špromote€based€on€what€is€perceived€as€politically€correct€or,€for€the€mayor,€politically€profitable.Š Ō$  ŠĢThe€city€now€pitches€the€suggestion€of€"disparate€impact,"€a€legal€term,€as€a€potential€cover€toŠ ¬ü  Šdiscard€the€scoring€results.€But€the€concept€is€freighted€with€faulty€logic€and€gives€rise€toŠ ˜č  Šinferences€that€are€racist€but€sidestepped€by€liberals€and€academics€in€their€result-orientedŠ „Ō  Šapproach,€which€in€the€end€does€nothing€to€advance€the€interests€of€blacks€without€whitesŠ pĄ Šdictating€the€time,€place€and€manner.Š \¬ ŠĢInstead€of€launching€an€attack€on€the€test,€which€cannot€fairly€be€deemed€racially€biased,€publicŠ 4„ Šofficials€should€consider€the€social€harms€of€a€"diversity€at€any€cost"€policy€they€clumsily€try€toŠ  p Šinject€into€a€strictly€competitive€merit€system.Š  \ ŠĢThe€rule€of€three€is€a€prophylactic€against€the€ills€that€plagued€and€will€always€threaten€the€civilŠ ä4 Šservice€system€-€Ō_ŌcronyismŌ_Ō,€nepotism,€horse-trading€and€outright€graft.Š Š  ŠĢThe€merit€system€is€not€perfect€but€is€the€best€system€available.€Diversity€is€a€desirable€aim,€butŠ Øų Šachieving€it€by€artifice€only€infects€the€system€with€ills€that€are€especially€pernicious€inŠ ”ä Šquasi-military€organizations€such€as€police€and€fire€services€where€morale€and€respect€forŠ €Š Šsuperiors€is€critical.Š l¼ ŠĢIn€the€Police€Department,€the€city's€persistent€disregard€of€the€charter€has€led€to€fractiousŠ D!” Šrelations,€cynicism€and€contempt€for€authority€as€officers€who€studied€hard€and€built€excellentŠ 0"€  Šrecords€saw€promotions€doled€out€along€racial€lines,€often€to€low-scoring€candidates€withŠ #l! Šhorrible€work€records.Š $X" ŠĢUntil€enjoined€by€court€order,€former€Police€Chief€Melvin€Wearing€was€bent€on€illegallyŠ ą%0!$ Špromoting€a€black€officer€whose€behavioral€problems€generated€controversy.€Passing€over€aŠ Ģ&"% Šwhite€recipient€of€the€department's€highest€medal,€Wearing€promoted€another€black€to€lieutenantŠ ø'#& Šwhose€horrific€work€record€culminated€in€her€arrest€on€drug€charges.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢWearing,€given€a€green€light€by€City€Hall,€made€a€mockery€of€the€merit€system.€The€hiring€ofŠ |*Ģ%) ŠWearing's€son€as€a€police€officer€despite€his€spotty€history€shows€the€spoils€system€is€not€theŠ h+ø&* Šprovince€of€whites.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠIn€reality,€the€divisions€that€impede€the€functioning€of€these€departments€have€nothing€to€do€withŠ ° Šrace.€In€military€and€quasi-military€outfits,€no€one€respects€a€commanding€officer€who€isŠ œģ Šperceived€to€have€risen€without€merit.Š ˆŲ ŠĢI€have€never€known€a€white€officer€who€did€not€display€high€regard€for€a€black€superior€whoŠ `° Šgained€promotion€by€good€work€and€a€competitive€score.€I€have€known€white€officers€who€haveŠ L œ Šlow€regard€for€a€white€superior€promoted€because€of€political€connections.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢThis€is€because€commanding€others€in€dangerous€work€requires€knowledge,€experience€andŠ  ` Šcharacter,€and€race€is€of€no€matter.Š ü L  ŠĢIn€allowing€its€charter€to€be€violated€for€years,€the€city€has€sent€a€clear€message€that€performanceŠ Ō$  Šdoesn't€matter€and€race€does.€The€effect€of€this€on€those€preparing€for€exams€cannot€beŠ Ą  Šdiscounted€but€will€no€doubt€be€ignored€by€diversity€proponents.Š ¬ü  ŠĢIn€the€promotional€lists€at€issue,€there€are€many€white€firefighters€whose€scores€placed€them€inŠ „Ō  Šthe€middle€and€at€the€bottom€of€the€list,€below€blacks.€None€of€them€should€be€promoted€inŠ pĄ Šviolation€of€the€rule€of€three€nor€should€any€black€who€scored€well€be€sacrificed€by€City€Hall'sŠ \¬ Šcraven€pandering€to€group€interests.Š H˜ ŠĢAll€would€be€better€served€by€a€commitment€to€offer€whatever€aid€and€tutoring€is€necessary€to€allŠ  p Šthose€who€need€it€and€wish€to€compete€and€succeed€on€merit.Š  \ ŠĢIf€New€Haven€manipulates€the€rules€and€lowers€the€bar€for€the€sake€of€diversity€it€will€trade€oneŠ ä4 Šharm€for€many€others,€exacerbate€racial€tension,€breed€discontent,€invite€corruption€and€embraceŠ Š  Šmediocrity€as€its€highest€aspiration.€The€public€deserves€a€more€responsible€solution.€-30-Š ¼  ŠĢKaren€Lee€Ō_ŌTorreŌ_Ō€is€a€New€Haven€civil€rights€lawyer€who€has€successfully€represented€policeŠ ”ä Šofficers€and€firefighters€in€suits€against€New€Haven€over€promotions.€Readers€may€write€her€inŠ €Š Šcare€of€the€Register,€40€Sargent€Drive,€New€Haven€06511.Š l¼ ŠĢ-----------------------------------Š D!” ŠĢLETTERŠ #l! ŠThose€who€`got€beat'€cause€racial€tensionŠ $X" ŠĢLetter€to€the€EditorŠ ą%0!$ ŠĢ03/07/2004Š ø'#& ŠĢArticles€regarding€the€New€Haven€Fire€Department€promotional€exams€have€been€throwing€outŠ )ą$( Šaccusations€and€pathetic€excuses€as€to€why€certain€groups€didn't€do€well€enough,€from€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šreading€material€was€not€relevant€or€too€difficult,€to€the€content€of€the€test,€to€ridiculousŠ h+ø&* Šstatements€of€people€having€the€reading€list€early.€Now€it€is€whites€cheated.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠWith€the€help€of€civil€rights€lawyer€John€Williams,€a€group€of€African-American€firefighters€isŠ ° Šsetting€out€to€stop€the€promotions€of€the€firefighters€who€earned€them.€This€group€likes€to€paint€aŠ œģ Špicture€of€a€biased€and€racist€Fire€Department€and€wants€to€blame€everybody€from€the€chief€toŠ ˆŲ Šfellow€firefighters€for€their€short€comings.Š tÄ ŠĢThis€group€condemns€Fire€Chief€Michael€Grant€for€putting€forth€an€unconventional€reading€listŠ L œ Šconsisting€of€nationally€recognized€books.€I€applaud€Grant.€While€making€for€a€very€difficultŠ 8 ˆ Šexam,€these€were€extremely€informative€books.Š $ t ŠĢThis€group€continues€to€insult€our€chief€and€department€by€saying€a€recent€series€of€transfersŠ ü L  Šwere€racially€motivated.€These€positions€were€cut€by€the€Board€of€Aldermen.€The€chiefŠ č 8  Šeliminated€the€positions€to€have€the€least€impact€on€public€safety€and€the€transfers€were€madeŠ Ō$  Šbased€on€seniority.Š Ą  ŠĢThe€biggest€argument€they€can€come€up€with€is€people€had€the€books.€Did€these€people€know€theŠ ˜č  Šchapters€or€even€if€that€specific€book€would€be€on€the€exam?€No.€Certain€people€own€a€lot€ofŠ „Ō  Šfire-service€related€books.€They€take€a€lot€of€courses€on€their€own€time€at€their€own€expense€toŠ pĄ Šbetter€serve€this€city€and€this€is€the€thanks€they€get.Š \¬ ŠĢI€have€now€been€called€a€cheater€and€a€Klansman€by€an€African-American€lieutenant.€I€take€greatŠ 4„ Šoffense.Š  p ŠĢThe€bottom€line€is€racial€tension€has€been€brought€on€by€this€small,€radical€group€of€minoritiesŠ ųH Šwho€cannot€deal€with€the€fact€that€they€got€beat€on€a€legitimate€exam€and€are€trying€to€blameŠ ä4 Ševerybody€else€but€themselves.€-30-Š Š  ŠĢ-----------------------------------xxxŠ Øų ŠMichael€R.€Ō_ŌBlatchleyŌ_ŌŠ ”ä ŠĢNorth€HavenŠ l¼ ŠĢEditor's€note:€Michael€R.€Ō_ŌBlatchleyŌ_Ō€is€a€New€Haven€firefighter.Š D!” ŠĢLETTERŠ #l! ŠCity€thumbs€nose€at€courts€on€fire€promotions€issueŠ $X" ŠĢLetter€to€the€EditorŠ ą%0!$ ŠĢ02/23/2004Š ø'#& ŠĢCongratulations€to€Karen€Lee€Ō_ŌTorreŌ_Ō€on€her€Forum€article€blasting€race€politics€in€New€Haven.Š )ą$( ŠThe€"rule€of€three"€is€absolutely€ridiculous€and€has€been€recognized€as€such€by€several€judges.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢThe€city€has€chosen€to€thumb€its€nose€at€the€courts€since€there€is€no€monetary,€punitive€action.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠThe€rule€of€three€has€been€used€to€pass€over€many€qualified€people€to€get€to€people€who€areŠ ° Špolitically€correct€or€have€political€connections.€As€a€former€New€Haven€officer€it€greatlyŠ œģ Šsaddened€me€when€I€saw€potentially€good€supervisors€passed€over€for€people€less€competent.Š ˆŲ ŠSome€of€the€promotions€were€very€bad€and€many€officers€knew€this.Š tÄ ŠĢThe€real€losers€are€the€taxpayers,€who€do€not€get€the€quality€of€service€they€deserve.€PromoteŠ L œ Špeople€based€on€their€numerical€score€and€their€work€record.€A€person€who€doesn't€come€to€workŠ 8 ˆ Šregularly€and€performs€sloppy€investigations€certainly€is€not€going€to€do€any€better€because€theyŠ $ t Šwear€sergeant€stripes€or€lieutenant€bars.Š  ` ŠĢAnthony€Ō_ŌGriegoŌ_ŌŠ č 8  ŠĢHamdenŠ Ą  ŠĢŌ_Ō„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„Ō_ŌĢLETTERŠ „Ō  ŠInsult€by€city's€lawyer€adds€nothing€to€debateŠ pĄ ŠĢLetter€to€the€EditorŠ H˜ Šą  ąĢ02/13/2004Š  p ŠĢIn€regard€to€the€debate€over€whether€New€Haven€should€throw€out€promotional€test€resultsŠ ųH Šbecause€few€black€firefighters€scored€high,€city€Corporation€Counsel€Thomas€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€said€"only€aŠ ä4 Šbigot"€would€be€opposed€to€his€position.Š Š  ŠĢŌ_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€has€urged€the€Civil€Service€Board€to€refuse€to€certify€the€results€or€keep€the€promotions€inŠ Øų Šlimbo€until€another€expert€reviews€the€fairness€of€the€test.Š ”ä ŠĢThe€city€has€already€paid€fire€exam€experts€$100,000€to€devise€the€test,€which€everyone€thoughtŠ l¼ Šwas€fair€until€the€results€came€out.€Some€rightfully€suspect€any€expert€hired€by€the€city€will€beŠ X Ø Šprone€to€deliver€the€opinion€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€openly€wants.Š D!” ŠĢPeople€have€good€faith€disagreements€on€this€issue.€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō's€comment€was€unprofessional€andŠ #l! Širresponsible.€The€Civil€Service€Board€has€yet€to€vote€on€the€issue€and€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō€has€made€itŠ $X" Šimpossible€for€it€to€certify€the€results€without€the€city's€chief€legal€representative€declaring€themŠ ō$D # Šbigots€for€doing€so.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢInsult€is€a€poor€man's€argument€and€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_Ō's€small-minded€comment€adds€nothing€to€the€debate.Š ø'#& ŠĢFrank€Ō_ŌRicciŌ_ŌŠ )ą$( ŠŌ_ŌWallingfordŌ_ŌŠ |*Ģ%) ŠKevin€Ō_ŌRoxbeeŌ_ŌŠ h+ø&* ŠŌ_ŌGuilfordŌ_ŌŠ T,¤'+ ŠGreg€Ō_ŌBoivinŌ_ŌŠ @-(, ŠŌ_ŌSheltonŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢEditor's€note:€Frank€Ō_ŌRicciŌ_Ō,€Kevin€Ō_ŌRoxbeeŌ_Ō€and€Greg€Ō_ŌBoivinŌ_Ō€are€New€Haven€firefighters.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢFORUMŠ L œ ŠPromotions€put€brothers€in€conflictŠ 8 ˆ ŠĢFrank€Harris€IIIŠ  ` ŠĢ02/09/2004Š č 8  ŠĢIt€came€on€a€cold€mid-January€afternoon.€It€was€a€compelling€scene:€smoke,€fire,€a€burningŠ Ą  Šbuilding€with€New€Haven€firefighters€scrambling,€rolling,€falling€out€windows€and€onto€the€roof,Š ¬ü  Šgasping.€Then€one€stands€up,€rushes€to€a€window,€kicks€it€in€and€pulls€his€brother€firefighter€toŠ ˜č  Šsafety.Š „Ō  ŠĢCompelling.€It€made€the€front€page€of€this€newspaper.€It€became€the€lead€story€on€Ō_ŌWTNHŌ_Ō.€ItŠ \¬ Šwent€national€on€"Good€Morning€America.''Š H˜ ŠĢFires€are€compelling.€It's€hard€not€to€stop€and€watch.€Dramatic€rescues€are€compelling.€There€isŠ  p Šsomething€about€the€efforts€people€make€to€save€other€people.€And€when€the€rescued€and€theŠ  \ Šrescuer€are€of€different€races,€it€becomes€even€more€compelling.Š ųH ŠĢThe€rescuer€was€black;€the€rescued€was€white,€but€I€doubt€that€it€mattered€to€anyone€at€the€time.Š Š  ŠĢIn€the€smoke€and€flames€and€heat,€normally€noticeable€things€such€as€color€take€a€hike.Š Øų ŠĢAs€it€was,€firefighter€Ō_ŌDawudŌ_Ō€Amin€pulled€a€burnt€but€breathing€Capt.€Howard€McCann€out€of€theŠ €Š Šfire.€He€saved€his€life.€He€was€a€hero.€That€is€what€brothers€do.€They€become€heroes€for€eachŠ l¼ Šother.Š X Ø ŠĢAnd€if€the€situation€were€reversed,€there€is€little€doubt€McCann€would€have€done€the€same€forŠ 0"€  ŠAmin.€He€would€have€been€his€hero.Š #l! ŠĢIt's€one€of€those€beautiful,€uplifting,€heroic€things€about€life€and€the€human€spirit:€ThoseŠ ō$D # Šmoments€when€whatever€differences€that€might€distinguish€or€divide€humans€just€up€and€flyŠ ą%0!$ Šaway.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢIt's€when€the€danger€fades€that€Americans,€and€perhaps€all€people,€have€trouble€dealing€with€eachŠ ¤(ō#' Šother.Š )ą$( ŠĢThis€thought€comes€to€mind€when€reading€about€the€turmoil€igniting€around€the€civil€serviceŠ h+ø&* Šexam€that€determines€which€city€firefighters€get€promoted.€The€exam€calls€for€promotions€basedŠ T,¤'+ Šon€the€highest€score.€The€majority€of€those€with€the€highest€scores€were€white€-€which€meansŠ @-(, Šdifferent€things€to€people.Š ° ŠĢFor€those€scoring€high,€it€means€they€believe€they€should€be€promoted.€For€the€city,€which€wantsŠ ˆŲ Ša€diverse€Fire€Department€on€all€levels,€and€for€blacks€and€Hispanics€who€want€to€be€promoted,Š tÄ Šit€means€the€status€quo€goes€unchanged.Š `° ŠĢThe€challenge€becomes€how€to€be€fair€without€being€sued.€If€the€exams€are€disregarded€to€ensureŠ 8 ˆ Šblack€representation,€whites€will€sue;€if€only€whites€are€promoted,€blacks€will€sue.Š $ t ŠĢOn€the€one€hand,€the€sentiment€of€firefighters€who€score€well€is€understandable.€If€one€worksŠ ü L  Šhard,€scores€well€and€the€rules€say€those€who€score€the€highest€get€promoted,€then€certainly€theŠ č 8  Šanger€at€a€change€is€understandable.€To€have€someone€with€a€lesser€score€promoted€would€seemŠ Ō$  Šunfair.Š Ą  ŠĢFrom€the€other€perspective,€to€see€one€race€overwhelmingly€represented€in€promotions€based€onŠ ˜č  Ša€test€leads€to€questions€about€the€test.€Those€with€the€best€scores€on€any€form€of€test€for€anyŠ „Ō  Šcoveted€position€are€not€necessarily€the€best€persons€for€the€job.€There€are€people€who€may€beŠ pĄ Šgreat€test€takers,€great€classroom€performers,€and€know€all€the€ins€and€outs€but€may€not€be€theŠ \¬ Šbest€leaders,€have€the€best€demeanor,€or€command€the€best€tools€to€relate€to€people€and€performŠ H˜ Šwhen€it€counts.Š 4„ ŠĢThere€are€always€intangibles.€A€music€student,€for€example,€who€scores€well€on€a€written€exam€isŠ  \ Šnot€necessarily€the€best€when€the€curtains€rise.€There€is€no€guarantee€that€such€a€person€willŠ ųH Šcreate€music€to€touch€the€soul€better€than€the€one€who€scored€lower€on€the€exam.€Yet€it€would€beŠ ä4 Šin€that€low€scorer's€best€interest€to€score€higher€on€the€exam€to€remove€doubt.Š Š  ŠĢThere€should€be€more€than€one€measure€of€one's€worth€for€promotion.€But€at€the€same€time,€thatŠ Øų Šdoes€not€erase€the€obvious€question:€Why€aren't€blacks€scoring€higher€on€these€tests?Š ”ä ŠĢIf€the€rules€call€for€the€highest€scores,€then€it's€important€that€those€who€seek€promotions€work€toŠ l¼ Šraise€their€scores.Š X Ø ŠĢThe€time€spent€waging€a€lawsuit€to€gain€promotion€might€be€better€spent€working€to€score€higherŠ 0"€  Šon€the€test€to€remove€doubt€as€to€who€is€deserving.€As€well,€the€time€spent€waging€a€lawsuit€toŠ #l! Šensure€exam€results€stand€in€an€exam€that€makes€it€all€but€certain€that€promotions€go€to€thoseŠ $X" Šwho€are€white€might€be€better€spent€reviewing€whether€such€exams€are€the€sole€measure€of€one'sŠ ō$D # Šqualifications.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢThe€arguments€are€compelling€for€both€sides.€Compelling,€if€not€Ō_ŌantiheroicŌ_Ō,€for€it€pits€brotherŠ ø'#& Šagainst€brother€as€the€life-affirming€mid-January€scene€becomes€a€memory€that€fades€like€smokeŠ ¤(ō#' Šblowing€in€the€wind.Š )ą$( ŠĢThat€fire€is€out.€A€new,€yet€old€fire€smolders.Š h+ø&* ŠĢSometimes€the€hardest€fires€to€put€out€are€those€between€brothers.Š @-(, Š‡Frank€Harris€III€of€Hamden€is€chairman€of€the€journalism€department€at€Southern€ConnecticutŠ ° ŠState€University.€Readers€may€write€him€at€P.O.€Box€185061,€Hamden€06518,€or€e-mail€him€atŠ œģ Šfh3ownword@rcn.com.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢLETTERŠ L œ ŠConsider€costs€to€firefighters€of€taking€examŠ 8 ˆ ŠĢLetter€to€the€EditorŠ  ` ŠĢ01/29/2004Š č 8  ŠĢI€am€totally€outraged€at€the€outcome€of€the€testing€for€firefighters.€It€is€totally€unfair€and€unethicalŠ Ą  Šthat€the€persons€with€the€highest€test€scores€are€being€ignored€for€their€just€promotions€because€ofŠ ¬ü  Šthe€color€of€their€skin.€It€is€my€belief€that€one€should€be€promoted€on€the€knowledge€andŠ ˜č  Šdevotion€to€learning€their€job,€not€on€whether€or€not€they€are€minority.Š „Ō  ŠĢWhy€do€we€even€bother€to€spend€the€money€and€time€to€test?€Not€to€mention€the€money€and€timeŠ \¬ Šthat€the€firefighters€put€into€the€test.€The€cost€of€the€books,€exam,€and€the€time€away€from€theirŠ H˜ Šfamilies€to€study€should€be€a€consideration€as€well€as€their€scores€before€we€throw€out€the€resultsŠ 4„ Šbecause€some€individuals€did€not€take€the€exam€as€seriously€as€others€did.Š  p ŠĢPromote€the€firefighters€who€passed€the€test,€do€not€lower€the€bar€for€those€who€cannot.Š ųH ŠĢLaurie€A.€Ō_ŌAnastasioŌ_ŌŠ Š  ŠĢNew€HavenŠ Øų ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢLETTERŠ l¼ ŠIf€unqualified€cause€harm,€damage€suits€can€be€expectedŠ X Ø ŠĢ€Letter€to€the€EditorŠ 0"€  ŠĢ02/13/2004Š $X" ŠĢI€am€extremely€upset€and€outraged€about€New€Haven€attempting€to€throw€out€the€results€of€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠFire€Department€promotional€exams€for€captain€and€lieutenant.€I€have€lived€in€New€Haven€all€myŠ Ģ&"% Šlife,€and€at€this€time€live€close€to€a€Fair€Haven€firehouse.Š ø'#& ŠĢThomas€Ude,€the€city€corporation€counsel,€is€concerned€that€the€city€will€be€sued€by€theŠ )ą$( Šminorities€who€did€not€place€well€on€the€test€if€it€certifies€this€list.€If€I€should€ever€be€in€need€ofŠ |*Ģ%) Šthe€Fire€Department€and€something€happens€to€myself,€my€husband€or€my€two€children€becauseŠ h+ø&* Šthe€city€did€not€promote€the€most€qualified€candidates,€doesn't€he€think€he€would€see€a€lawsuitŠ T,¤'+ Šthen?Š @-(, Š‡Everyone€took€the€same€test€and€everyone€studied€the€same€subject€matter;€so€why€did€someŠ ° Špeople€not€score€as€well€as€others?€Because€some€people€are€more€qualified€and€better€suited€forŠ œģ Ša€supervisory€position€than€others.Š ˆŲ ŠĢCertify€the€results€and€promote€officers€in€the€order€that€they€placed€on€the€list.€To€do€otherwiseŠ `° Šis€scandalous€and€wrong.Š L œ ŠĢPhyllis€DabbraccioŠ $ t ŠĢNew€HavenŠ ü L  ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢLETTERŠ Ą  ŠDon't€sacrifice€those€who€ae€successfulŠ ¬ü  ŠĢLetter€to€the€EditorŠ „Ō  ŠĢ02/13/2004Š \¬ ŠĢAs€the€neighbor€of€one€of€the€firefighters€who€took€the€test€New€Haven€may€not€approve€becauseŠ 4„ Šof€the€lack€of€minorities,€my€reaction€is€dismay€and€disgust.Š  p ŠĢI'm€dismayed€because€the€guidelines€regarding€the€exams€were€clearly€defined€and€clearlyŠ ųH Šcommunicated€in€advance.€All€test€takers€were€given€the€same€course€material,€had€the€same€timeŠ ä4 Što€study,€and€took€the€same€test,€which€the€city€ensured€contained€appropriate€content€and€noŠ Š  Šracial€bias.€Everyone€was€given€a€fair€and€equal€opportunity.€Now€that€the€results€do€not€meet€theŠ ¼  Šdesired€end,€the€city€wants€to€unjustly€penalize€those€who€achieved€success.Š Øų ŠĢCity€residents€deserve€the€best-qualified€officers,€not€captains€and€lieutenants€selected€because€ofŠ €Š Štheir€ethnicity,€color€or€sex.€The€city€is€exhibiting€discrimination€by€denying€a€promotion€basedŠ l¼ Špurely€on€race.Š X Ø ŠĢClearly€it€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€city€to€have€a€fully€diverse€Fire€Department.€Options€suchŠ 0"€  Šas€mentoring€programs€and€other€initiatives€should€be€researched€and€implemented€as€quickly€asŠ #l! Špossible€to€achieve€that€goal.€But€the€best-qualified€individuals€should€not€be€sacrificed€in€theŠ $X" Šinterest€of€diversity.Š ō$D # ŠĢDenis€DalyŠ Ģ&"% ŠĢBranfordŠ ¤(ō#' ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢLETTERŠ h+ø&* ŠFire€promotion€test€fulfilled€purpose€exactlyŠ T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠLetter€to€the€EditorŠ ° ŠĢ01/29/2004Š ˆŲ ŠĢI€think€the€citizens€of€New€Haven€should€be€appalled€that€the€city€is€considering€scrapping€theŠ `° ŠFire€Department€promotional€exams€for€captain€and€lieutenant,€which€cost€the€taxpayers€aŠ L œ Šminimum€of€$100,000€to€administer.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢAnd€the€reason€they€want€to€scrap€it?€Not€enough€minorities€scored€well€and€they€are€not€happyŠ  ` Šwith€the€results.Š ü L  ŠĢExcuse€me,€but€the€results€are€the€results.€They€show€exactly€what€they€were€intended€to€show:Š Ō$  Šwhich€candidates€are€the€most€qualified€for€the€promotions.Š Ą  ŠĢWhat€is€the€city€going€to€do,€spend€another€$100,000€on€another€test?€And€then€what€happens€ifŠ ˜č  Šminorities€don't€do€well€again?€Scrap€it€and€do€it€again?€Why€bother€to€give€a€test€at€all?Š „Ō  ŠĢElaine€RaucciŠ \¬ ŠĢBranfordŠ 4„ ŠĢ€Š   \ ŠĢĢWhites€cheated€on€promotion€test,€black€firefighters'€civil€rights€lawyer€saysŠ ˆŲ ŠĢWilliam€Kaempffer€,€Register€StaffŠ `° ŠĢ02/27/2004Š 8 ˆ ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€A€group€of€black€city€firefighters€believe€that€some€white€co-workers€hadŠ  ` Šadvanced€knowledge€of€the€contents€of€two€recent€promotional€tests.Š ü L  ŠĢWhile€the€specter€of€cheating€has€been€whispered€around€firehouses€for€weeks,€a€civil€rightsŠ Ō$  Šlawyer€hired€by€the€group€put€it€on€the€table€Thursday.Š Ą  ŠĢ"We€have€witnesses€who€can€confirm€that€some€people€were€given€advance€information€-€theseŠ ˜č  Šare€going€to€be€the€texts,€these€are€going€to€be€the€issues,"€said€New€Haven€attorney€JohnŠ „Ō  ŠWilliams.€"Apparently,€some€people€-€certain€people€-€decided€who€would€get€promoted."Š pĄ ŠĢWilliams€would€not€elaborate€or€say€who€those€people€were.Š H˜ ŠĢA€top€city€official€said€she'd€heard€rumors€of€alleged€cheating€and€urged€anyone€with€informationŠ  p Što€tell€the€city.Š  \ ŠĢ"I€don't€know€that€to€be€true.€I€would€encourage€if€people€want€to€come€forward€with€that,€thatŠ ä4 Šthey€come€forward,"€said€city€Chief€Administrative€Officer€Karen€DuBois-Walton.€"At€this€point,Š Š  Šthat's€not€been€brought€to€me€in€any€form.Š ¼  ŠĢ"That€alone€would€be€a€reason€to€question€the€results"€of€the€examinations,€she€said.Š ”ä ŠĢThe€contested€civil€service€tests€were€for€fire€lieutenant€and€captain.€No€African-AmericansŠ l¼ Šscored€well€enough€to€be€promoted,€prompting€the€city€to€consider€throwing€out€the€results€orŠ X Ø Šsome€other€remedy.€If€promotions€were€made€on€the€existing€scores,€at€least€13€of€15€candidatesŠ D!” Šwould€be€white.Š 0"€  ŠĢA€group€of€mostly€white€firefighters€hired€attorney€Karen€Torre€earlier€this€month€and€have€saidŠ $X" Šthey€will€sue€if€the€tests€are€voided.Š ō$D # ŠĢThe€city€has€refused€to€release€individual€scores€so€no€one€in€the€department€knows€preciselyŠ Ģ&"% Šhow€they€did.Š ø'#& ŠĢAt€a€press€conference€Thursday€with€the€NAACP,€minority€firefighters€said€racial€tensions€in€theŠ )ą$( Šfirehouses€had€reached€epidemic€levels€since€the€controversy€broke.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢThey€bristled€at€comments€reported€in€the€New€Haven€Register€articles€and€letters€to€the€editorŠ T,¤'+ Šasserting€that€African-Americans€didn't€score€as€well€because€they€didn't€study€as€hard.Š @-(, Š‡"Every€indication€has€been€made€that€we€didn't€apply€ourselves,"€said€Lt.€Hershel€Wadley,€whoŠ ° Štook€the€captain€exam.€"I€studied€every€day€for€eight€hours€a€day.€We're€not€looking€for€specialŠ œģ Štreatment€or€handouts."Š ˆŲ ŠĢAnd€they€said€that€after€a€decade€of€progress€in€racial€equality€in€the€department,€there€seems€toŠ `° Šbe€a€sudden€regression.Š L œ ŠĢWadley€said€the€current€fire€administration€made€a€series€of€transfers€that€seemed€to€affectŠ $ t Šmainly€minority€employees€out€of€the€fire€academy€and€the€fire€marshal's€office.€There€are€next€toŠ  ` Šno€blacks€on€the€department's€two€squads,€where€firefighters€get€specialized€training€in€skills€likeŠ ü L  Švehicle€extrication€and€confined€space€rescue.Š č 8  ŠĢAnd€the€fire€union€has€not€done€enough€to€address€the€needs€of€its€African-American€members,Š Ą  Šthey€claimed.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ"The€union€fights€very€hard€to€ensure€that€the€contractual€rights€of€all€its€members€are€protected,"Š „Ō  Šsaid€firefighter€Patrick€Egan,€president€of€the€fire€union."Š pĄ ŠĢDuBois-Walton€said€that€Chief€Michael€Grant€made€the€transfers€to€stem€skyrocketing€overtimeŠ H˜ Šcosts.Š 4„ ŠĢ"He€inherited€a€department€that€was€a€fiscal€mess.€He€had€to€make€some€difficult€decisions.€It'sŠ  \ Šwholly€unfair€to€the€chief€to€cast€it€as€a€racially€motivated€kind€of€a€move."Š ųH ŠĢA€message€was€left€for€Grant€Thursday.Š Š  ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢĢTie€vote€sinks€city€Fire€Dept.test€resultsŠ €Š ŠĢWilliam€Kaempffer€,€Register€StaffŠ X Ø ŠĢ03/19/2004Š 0"€  ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€Two€contested€promotional€exams€in€the€Fire€Department€were€thrown€outŠ $X" ŠThursday,€in€a€vote€that€confused€and€confounded€many€firefighters€who€had€come€to€learn€theirŠ ō$D # Šfate.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢFor€months,€emotions€were€rubbed€raw€in€anticipation€of€a€dramatic€vote€by€the€Civil€ServiceŠ ø'#& ŠCommission€on€whether€to€approve€or€scuttle€the€results€from€the€two€tests€that€divided€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šdepartment€along€racial€lines.Š )ą$( ŠĢThe€vote€finally€came€Thursday€night.€The€tally€was€a€2-2€tie.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ"That's€it?€They€don't€break€a€tie?"€one€firefighter€asked€another.Š @-(, Š‡"What€happens€now?"Š ° ŠĢCivil€Service€rules€dictate€a€majority€is€needed€to€certify€a€test,€so€the€exams€were€dead.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ"This€has€been€a€divisive€issue,"€Karen€DuBois-Walton,€the€city's€chief€administrative€officer,Š `° Šsaid€in€a€statement€afterward.€"But€given€the€remarkable€dedication€of€the€men€and€women€of€theŠ L œ ŠNew€Haven€Fire€Department,€we€are€confident€that€everyone€will€be€able€to€work€together€toŠ 8 ˆ Šstrengthen€our€fire€services."Š $ t ŠĢCity€officials€said€they€hoped€to€start€healing€the€wounds€at€the€department.€But€if€the€aftermathŠ ü L  Šof€the€meeting€is€a€barometer,€that€healing€process€will€be€slow.Š č 8  ŠĢ"It's€clear€that€the€mayor€of€the€city€got€what€the€mayor€of€the€city€wanted,"€said€an€angry€PatrickŠ Ą  ŠEgan,€fire€union€president.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ"The€only€thing€that€was€sure€here€was€that€politics€won€out€over€public€safety€and€that's€a€directŠ „Ō  Šreflection€of€what€Mayor€John€DeStefano€feels€about€this€city,"€said€Firefighter€Frank€Ricci,Š pĄ Šwho,€along€with€15€other€firefighters,€retained€a€lawyer€and€pledged€to€sue€if€the€tests€wereŠ \¬ Šthrown€out.Š H˜ ŠĢAsked€if€they€still€planned€to€file€suit,€Ricci€said€"guaranteed."Š  p ŠĢWhen€the€meeting€began,€a€string€of€city€officials€strongly€urged€the€commission€not€to€certifyŠ ųH Šthe€tests,€which€cost€the€city€about€$100,000.€Last€year,€a€consultant€administered€twoŠ ä4 Šexaminations€for€fire€lieutenant€and€fire€captain.Š Š  ŠĢWhen€the€results€came€back,€14€of€the€top€15€people€in€line€for€promotion€were€white.€CityŠ Øų ŠCorporation€Counsel€Thomas€Ude€Jr.€said€that€adverse€impact€on€minorities€would€open€the€cityŠ ”ä Što€litigation.Š €Š ŠĢAddressing€the€commission,€Ude€and€Human€Resources€Director€Tina€Burgett€questionedŠ X Ø Šwhether€the€current€format€of€testing€revealed€the€best€qualified€candidates.Š D!” ŠĢFire€Department€promotions€have€written€and€verbal€components,€weighed€60-40€respectively.Š #l! ŠĢ"This€is€a€process€that€has€been€embraced€by€the€city€for€over€20€years,"€said€Egan.€"I€think€theirŠ ō$D # Šactions€were€disgusting."Š ą%0!$ ŠĢCity€officials€maintain€the€results€violated€federal€civil€rights€laws€by€creating€discriminatoryŠ ø'#& Šwork€practices.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢPromotions€in€the€Fire€Department€are€coveted,€in€part€because€the€exams€occur€only€two€orŠ |*Ģ%) Šthree€times€a€decade.Š h+ø&* ŠĢFirefighters€often€spend€hundreds€of€dollars€on€books€and€study€for€months.Š @-(, Š‡Before€the€vote,€Civil€Service€Commission€members€pressed€the€city€to€undertake€civil€serviceŠ ° Šreform€before€the€same€thing€happens€again.Š œģ ŠĢ"If€the€results€are€the€same,€are€we€going€to€throw€out€every€exam?"€asked€CommissionerŠ tÄ ŠFrancine€Caplan,€who€voted€to€certify€the€tests.€"Civil€service€laws€have€become€an€obstacleŠ `° Šrather€than€a€solution."Š L œ ŠĢFor€Fire€Lt.€Matthew€Marcarelli,€blame€for€the€mess€was€easy€to€place.Š $ t ŠĢ"We€are€trying€to€fix€a€problem€that€was€flawed€from€the€beginning,"€he€told€city€officials.€"YouŠ ü L  Šfix€the€cart€before€you€utilize€it,€not€after€you€spill€all€your€fruit.Š č 8  ŠĢ"It's€your€fault.€Hello!"Š Ą  ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢFirefighters€seek€payment€for€test€suppliesŠ „Ō  ŠĢWilliam€Kaempffer,€Register€StaffŠ \¬ ŠĢMarch€26,€2004Š 4„ ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€The€fire€union€wants€the€city€to€reimburse€firefighters€for€money€they€spentŠ  \ Špreparing€for€two€scuttled€promotional€tests.Š ųH ŠĢUnion€officials€said€members€spent€hundreds€of€dollars€each€to€prepare€for€the€examinations,Š Š  Šonly€to€have€the€results€later€thrown€out.Š ¼  ŠĢ"We€would€be€looking€to€recoup€the€expenses€that€the€members€of€this€union€incurred,"€saidŠ ”ä ŠFirefighter€Patrick€Egan,€the€president€of€fire€Local€825.€"Look€at€the€price€of€the€books€alone.Š €Š ŠWhy€should€our€firefighters€be€on€the€hook€for€that?"Š l¼ ŠĢThis€week,€the€union€began€telling€members€to€calculate€how€much€they€spent€on€books,€studyŠ D!” Šguides€and€testing€seminars,€and€provide€receipts€and€a€total.€Firefighters€estimated€the€booksŠ 0"€  Šalone€cost€upward€of€$500.Š #l! ŠĢIn€the€meantime,€Egan€said,€the€union€was€researching€the€best€way€to€get€the€city€to€pay€up.Š ō$D # ŠĢContacted€this€week,€city€officials€said€they€couldn't€discuss€any€potential€claim€against€the€cityŠ Ģ&"% Šbecause€the€union€hadn't€even€broached€the€subject€with€them€yet.Š ø'#& ŠĢ"I'm€not€about€to€respond,€nor€would€I€recommend€anyone€else€in€the€city€to€respond,€to€a€claimŠ )ą$( Šthat€has€not€even€been€submitted,"€said€Thomas€Ude€Jr.,€the€city's€corporation€counsel.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ"I€did€not€know€that€the€union€has€even€approached€the€city€on€this,"€said€Director€of€PersonnelŠ T,¤'+ ŠTina€Burgett,€who€oversaw€the€examination€process.Š @-(, Š‡Last€November€and€December,€more€than€100€firefighters€took€promotional€examinations€forŠ ° Šlieutenant€and€captain.€Last€week,€the€city's€Civil€Service€Commission€effectively€threw€out€theŠ œģ Šexams€when€it€didn't€certify€the€results.€The€tests€were€thrust€under€the€microscope€amidŠ ˆŲ Šconcerns€that€too€few€minorities€scored€well€enough€for€promotion.Š tÄ ŠĢCity€officials€had€voiced€concerns€that€the€test€results€could€violate€federal€civil€rights€laws€andŠ L œ Šurged€the€commission€to€throw€out€the€results.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢIf€promotions€had€gone€forward,€14€of€the€15€people€in€line€for€promotion€to€lieutenant€andŠ  ` Šcaptain€would€have€been€white.Š ü L  ŠĢUde€said€he€didn't€believe€it€was€accurate€to€blame€the€city€for€the€testing€problems.Š Ō$  ŠĢ"I€would€not€agree€that€it€was€the€city's€fault,'€certainly€not€exclusively,"€Ude€said.Š ¬ü  ŠĢEgan€placed€blame€squarely€on€Burgett.Š „Ō  ŠĢ"Tina€Burgett€is€in€charge€of€testing.€Tina€Burgett€approved€the€books.€Tina€Burgett€approved€theŠ \¬ Štesting€company.€Tina€Burgett€is€in€charge€of€overseeing€the€testing€process,"€Egan€said.Š H˜ ŠĢEgan€maintains€it€is€only€fair€that€the€city€reimburse€the€firefighters€for€their€expenses,€sinceŠ  p ŠBurgett,€Ude€and€other€officials€pressed€the€commission€to€throw€out€the€tests.Š  \ ŠĢBurgett€said€she€didn't€want€to€get€into€a€public€exchange€with€the€union.€Rather,€she€said,€it'sŠ ä4 Šimportant€to€move€forward€to€ensure€this€never€happens€again.Š Š  ŠĢ"I€think€it's€very€unfortunate.€I€think€the€real€task€in€front€us€is€to€ensure€the€city€never€goesŠ Øų Šthrough€this€type€of€process€again,"€she€said.€"I€think€it's€crucially€important€that€the€city€rebuildŠ ”ä Šbridges.Š €Š ŠĢEveryone€I€know€is€committed€to€moving€forward€in€a€positive€way€and€do€everything€we€can€toŠ X Ø Šmake€sure€this€doesn't€happen€again."Š D!” ŠĢThere€are€no€immediate€plans€to€administer€new€examinations€in€the€Fire€Department.Š #l! ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢEDITORIALŠ ą%0!$ ŠLow€scores€upend€city's€diversity€goalŠ Ģ&"% ŠĢA€New€Haven€Register€EditorialŠ ¤(ō#' ŠĢMarch€26,€2004Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢCity€Hall€wants€to€promote€well-qualified€candidates€who€reflect€the€fire€department's€diversity.Š T,¤'+ ŠFor€$100,000,€it€hired€a€consultant€who€designed€a€test€and€scoring€method€intended€to€beŠ @-(, Šracially€neutral.Š ° ŠĢBut,€based€on€the€tests'€scores,€14€of€the€15€people€to€be€promoted€to€lieutenant€or€captain€wouldŠ ˆŲ Šbe€white.€Outside€experts€who€reviewed€the€test€found€no€glaring€fault.€The€racial€disparity€wasŠ tÄ Šconsistent€with€other€test€scores€for€decades.Š `° ŠĢWith€its€goal€of€diversity€unmet,€City€Hall€opposed€certification€of€the€test.€The€test€has€nowŠ 8 ˆ Šbeen€thrown€out€based€on€the€Civil€Service€Commission's€tie€vote€last€week.Š $ t ŠĢThe€city€now€can€try€to€devise€a€test€that€emphasizes€the€physical€demonstration€of€proceduresŠ ü L  Šrather€than€writing.€It€should€make€sure€there€are€ample€training€opportunities€for€everyone.Š č 8  ŠĢAnd,€it€can€wait.€The€exams€were€given€although€there€were€not€enough€vacancies€to€allow,€as€inŠ Ą  Šthe€past,€for€the€city€to€reach€far€enough€down€among€those€passing€to€ensure€a€diversified€groupŠ ¬ü  Šof€promotions.Š ˜č  ŠĢAlthough€most€firefighters€have€acted€with€restraint,€a€new€test€intended€to€deny€promotion€toŠ pĄ Šsome€who€passed€this€test€is€certain€to€increase€department€tensions.€At€least€one€firefightersŠ \¬ Šgroup€has€said€it€will€sue.€Given€the€city's€past€record€in€court,€the€firefighters€may€prevail.€TheŠ H˜ Šcity€has€no€sure€prospect€that€a€new€test€will€yield€a€different€result.Š 4„ ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢLETTERŠ ųH ŠCivil€service€ruling€on€fire€promotions€betrays€pledgeŠ ä4 ŠĢLetter€to€the€EditorŠ ¼  ŠĢ04/01/2004Š ”ä ŠĢI€protest€the€New€Haven€Civil€Service€Commission's€decision€to€invalidate€the€firefightersŠ l¼ Špromotional€exam.€The€city€charter€is€clear€in€its€intent€to€use€civil€service€exams€as€the€means€toŠ X Ø Špromote€personnel€in€the€Fire€and€Police€departments.€The€latest€test€complied€with€the€charter.Š D!” ŠĢClick€Here!Š #l! ŠĢIn€its€sensitivity€to€affirmative€action,€the€city,€to€its€credit,€spent€over€$100,000€to€have€anŠ ō$D # Šoutside€agency€administer€a€racially€unbiased€test.€Everything€possible€was€done€to€make€sure€theŠ ą%0!$ Štest€was€not€skewed.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢNew€Haven€professes€it€is€an€equal€opportunity€employer€that€does€not€discriminate€based€onŠ ¤(ō#' Šrace,€religion,€or€ethnicity.€However,€the€perfidious€decision€by€the€Civil€Service€Commission€toŠ )ą$( Šabort€the€test€belies€that€noble€pledge.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢMary€BronsonŠ T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠCheshireŠ ° ŠĢŌ_Ō„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„Ō_ŌĢLETTERŠ tÄ ŠSafety€should€be€first€priorityŠ `° ŠĢLetter€to€the€EditorŠ 8 ˆ ŠĢ04/09/2004Š  ` ŠĢThe€lives€of€every€firefighter€and€the€public€are€at€risk€because€of€the€blatant€abuse€of€politicalŠ č 8  Špower€blocking€the€promotions€of€qualified€firefighters€in€New€Haven.Š Ō$  ŠĢClick€Here!Š ¬ü  ŠĢAs€parents€of€three€firefighters,€we€know€the€dangers€of€firefighting.€Safety€should€be€the€mayor'sŠ „Ō  Štop€priority.Š pĄ ŠĢHow€many€lawsuits€have€to€occur€before€our€officials€hire€the€qualified€people€to€take€aŠ H˜ Šcommand€role€in€fighting€a€blaze€or€controlling€some€other€disaster?Š 4„ ŠĢOur€firefighters€and€the€public€have€the€right€to€be€protected.Š  \ ŠĢNancy€RicciŠ ä4 ŠJim€RicciŠ Š  ŠĢŌ_ŌWallingfordŌ_ŌŠ Øų ŠĢŌ_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_Ō„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„Ō_ŌĢTop€StoriesŠ l¼ Šą  ąą ` ąĢFire€training€module€blastedŠ D!” ŠĢAngela€Carter€and€William€Kaempffer€,€Register€StaffŠ #l! ŠĢ04/14/2004Š ō$D # Š€ĢNEW€HAVEN€-€Controversy€over€a€training€course€built€inside€a€city€fire€station€has€reopenedŠ Ģ&"% Šdivisive€wounds€in€the€Fire€Department.Š ø'#& ŠĢFirefighters€at€Engine€8€on€Whitney€Avenue€are€dismantling€a€wooden€structure€designed€to€trainŠ )ą$( Šfirefighters€in€anything€from€confined-space€operations€to€basket€rescues.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢClick€Here!Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠThe€project€was€brought€to€the€attention€of€City€Hall€officials€and€members€of€the€Board€ofŠ ° ŠAldermen€over€the€last€couple€of€months,€while€the€city€wrestled€with€whether€to€certifyŠ œģ Špromotional€exams€that€would€have€resulted€in€14€whites€advancing,€compared€to€one€HispanicŠ ˆŲ Šand€no€blacks.Š tÄ ŠĢUltimately,€the€Civil€Service€Commission's€vote€was€tied€and€the€test€was€not€certified.Š L œ ŠĢEngine€8€firefighters€-€who€built€the€training€course€inside€the€East€Rock€fire€station€rather€thanŠ $ t Šat€the€training€academy€-€are€taking€heat€for€their€choice€of€location.€The€firefighters€also€wereŠ  ` Šchided€for€exceeding€a€spending€cap€when€ordering€construction€materials€and€subsequentlyŠ ü L  Šasking€the€vendor€to€split€invoices.Š č 8  ŠĢDuring€a€recent€budget€workshop€held€by€the€Board€of€Aldermen's€Finance€Committee,€boardŠ Ą  ŠPresident€Jorge€Perez,€D-5,€of€the€Hill,€grilled€Fire€Chief€Michael€Grant€about€the€cost€and€whyŠ ¬ü  Šfirefighters€started€building€the€course€without€first€securing€a€building€permit,€or€an€inspectionŠ ˜č  Šby€the€fire€marshal.Š „Ō  ŠĢDuring€the€workshop,€Grant€testified€that€the€module€was€meant€"to€help€everyone€in€theŠ \¬ Šdepartment"€and€was€structurally€sound€but€he€would€have€it€inspected.Š H˜ ŠĢ"Of€all€places,€the€fire€department€didn't€go€to€the€fire€marshal?"€Perez€said.€"You've€got€aŠ  p Šdepartment€here€that€appears€to€be€out€of€control."Š  \ ŠĢController€Mark€Pietrosimone€on€Jan.€27€issued€a€memo€implementing€an€immediate€$1,500Š ä4 Šspending€cap€on€purchases€needed€for€daily€operations€for€the€city's€six€major€departments,Š Š  Šincluding€fire.€The€directive€restricted€spending€on€mechanical,€carpentry,€electrical€andŠ ¼  Šplumbing€items.Š Øų ŠĢSubsequent€to€receipt€of€the€memo,€firefighters€at€Engine€8€ordered€approximately€$2,600€worthŠ €Š Šof€wood€from€West€Haven€Lumber.Š l¼ ŠĢPietrosimone€said€that€the€figure€is€spread€across€five€invoices€and€does€violate€procurementŠ D!” Špolicies.Š 0"€  ŠĢHowever,€Pietrosimone€said€he€has€met€with€Grant,€who€now€"has€a€game€plan€to€make€sure€hisŠ $X" Špeople€know€the€procedures."Š ō$D # ŠĢCritics€on€the€Board€of€Aldermen€and€inside€the€fire€department€renewed€accusations€that€a€selectŠ Ģ&"% Šgroup€of€favorite€sons€in€the€department€get€wide€latitude€to€do€whatever€they€want.€They€alsoŠ ø'#& Šquestioned€whether€the€money€was€spent€wisely.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢChief€Administrative€Officer€Karen€Dubois-Walton€said€firefighters€contacted€her€after€testŠ |*Ģ%) Šresults€were€known,€expressing€concerns€that€the€training€course€was€yet€another€example€ofŠ h+ø&* Špreferential€treatment€for€Squad€One,€a€predominantly€white€specialty€unit€based€at€Engine€8.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠDubois-Walton€said€she€requested€that€the€structure€be€reassembled€at€the€training€academy.Š ° ŠĢ"To€have€this€built€there€was€like€pouring€salt€in€the€wounds€of€people€who€felt€others€wereŠ ˆŲ Šgetting€special€privileges,"€she€said.Š tÄ ŠĢGrant€did€not€return€telephone€calls€seeking€comment.Š L œ ŠĢOther€members€of€the€department,€however,€argue€the€debate€was€fueled€by€politics€and€theŠ $ t Šconstruction€was€not€about€favoritism.Š  ` ŠĢCapt.€William€Gould,€one€of€the€architects€of€the€training€course,€said€some€battalion€chiefsŠ č 8  Šalready€were€discussing€rotating€in€engine€crews€so€firefighters€from€other€houses€could€use€it.Š Ō$  ŠĢ"Politicians€don't€ever€enter€burning€buildings.€They€don't€have€to€worry€about€being€blind€andŠ ¬ü  Šdisoriented€in€a€structure€fire,"€Gould€said.€"It€was€money€well€spent.€That€small€sum€of€money€isŠ ˜č  Šwell€worth€getting€one€guy€out€of€a€hairy€situation."Š „Ō  ŠĢĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢRacial€tension€flaring€up€at€NHFDŠ 4„ ŠPromotional€tests€are€tinder€for€lawsuitsŠ  p ŠĢWilliam€Kaempffer€,€Register€StaffŠ ųH ŠĢ06/20/2004Š Š  ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€In€his€31-year€career,€Fire€Chief€Mike€Grant€became€an€expert€at€stamping€outŠ Øų Šblazes,€but€the€one€that's€burning€inside€his€department€right€now€might€prove€his€mostŠ ”ä Šchallenging.Š €Š ŠĢRacial€tensions€in€the€department€again€have€flared€up.Š X Ø ŠĢDifferent€factions,€largely€divided€along€racial€lines,€are€threatening€lawsuits€against€each€otherŠ 0"€  Šand€the€city.€Claims€of€racism€are€being€lobbed€from€both€sides.Š #l! ŠĢAnd€after€two€aborted€promotional€exams€sparked€this€whole€firestorm,€it€seems€unlikely€that€theŠ ō$D # Šdepartment€will€be€holding€widespread€promotions€anytime€soon.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢWith€all€the€biting€animosity,€questions€are€raised:€Where€does€the€department€go€from€here?Š ø'#& ŠCan€the€public€trust€the€department€to€do€its€job?Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢIn€the€last€few€months,€the€department€and€city€have€taken€some€small€steps€that€they€hope€willŠ |*Ģ%) Špay€long-term€dividends.€Grant€is€creating€a€diversity€committee€to€be€comprised€of€firefightersŠ h+ø&* Šof€all€ranks€and€races.€The€city€already€has€agreed€to€hire€an€outside€diversity€consultant€once€theŠ T,¤'+ Šcommittee€has€outlined€goals,€but€some€wonder€when€the€committee€will€be€set.Š @-(, Š‡"One€of€the€things€the€city€definitely€needs€to€do€is€set€up€sensitivity€training€and€racial€dialogueŠ ° Šin€the€department.€The€chief€said€that€would€happen.Š œģ ŠĢWhere€has€that€gone?"€said€Board€of€Aldermen€President€Jorge€Perez,€D-5.Š tÄ ŠĢ"We€cannot€emotionally€take€another€situation€like€this.€It's€not€fair€to€the€firefighters.€At€someŠ L œ Špoint,€we€have€to€fill€those€ranks,"€Perez€said.€"We€have€to€do€whatever€we€can€to€avoid€findingŠ 8 ˆ Šourselves€in€this€position€in€the€future."Š $ t ŠĢGrant€did€not€return€repeated€telephone€calls€for€comment.Š ü L  ŠĢConcerning€open€positions,€the€department€will€fill€the€drillmaster€vacancy€at€the€fire€academy€toŠ Ō$  Šhelp€increase€ongoing€training;€line€officers€will€be€asked€to€place€an€increased€emphasis€onŠ Ą  Šin-house€training.Š ¬ü  ŠĢAnd€city€officials€are€pushing€a€book€club€of€sorts,€an€informal€initiative€to€promote€professionalŠ „Ō  Šdevelopment€among€all€firefighters.Š pĄ ŠĢ"We're€trying€to€get€away€from€this€idea€that€just€a€select€few€have€access"€to€training€andŠ H˜ Špromotional€opportunities,€said€Karen€DuBois-Walton,€the€city's€chief€administrative€officer.Š 4„ ŠĢBut€she€acknowledged€that€there€is€no€panacea€to€heal€the€divisiveness€or€any€end€to€the€rancor€inŠ  \ Šthe€immediate€future.Š ųH ŠĢ"I€don't€see€the€light€at€the€end€of€the€tunnel€yet,"€she€said.€"What€keeps€me€going€is€that€we€haveŠ Š  Ša€path€charted."Š ¼  ŠĢWhether€the€city's€path€will€be€embraced€or€rejected€by€the€firefighters€remains€to€be€seen.Š ”ä ŠĢProblems€with€race€relations€are€nothing€new€to€the€city's€fire€service.€Issues€in€the€department€-Š l¼ Šand€in€a€number€of€departments€nationwide€-€are€rooted€in€history,€dating€back€decades€whenŠ X Ø Šcities€first€moved€to€diversify€a€profession€that€had€always€been€dominated€by€whites.Š D!” ŠĢFor€decades,€minority€firefighters€complained€that€fire€departments€weren't€hiring€andŠ #l! Šsubsequently€promoting€enough€minorities.Š $X" ŠĢAnd€in€New€Haven€and€beyond,€minorities€claimed€that€the€departments€continued€to€be€run€by€aŠ ą%0!$ Š"good€old€boy"€network€of€white€firefighters€who€took€care€of€their€own.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢWhen€minorities€were€promoted,€many€black€firefighters€complained€that€their€whiteŠ ¤(ō#' Šcounterparts€assumed€they€advanced€because€of€their€color€and€not€competency.Š )ą$( ŠĢAnd€as€cities€tried€to€hire€and€promote€more€minorities,€many€white€firefighters€felt€they€wereŠ h+ø&* Šbecoming€victims€of€reverse€discrimination.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠIn€New€Haven,€white€firefighters€have€believed€for€years€that€the€oral€component€of€promotionalŠ ° Štests€were€rigged€to€inflate€the€scores€of€minorities,€who€historically€have€scored€lower€on€writtenŠ œģ Šcivil€service€exams€than€their€white€counterparts.Š ˆŲ ŠĢIn€1988,€the€New€Haven€Firebird€Society,€an€organization€of€minority€firefighters,€sued€the€cityŠ `° Šover€its€promotional€practices€and€won.€Five€years€later,€after€years€of€legal€wrangling,€eightŠ L œ Šwhite€firefighters€who€advanced€under€the€illegal€practice€were€demoted.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢIn€1998,€the€Firebird€Society€filed€another€lawsuit€and€again€won.Š  ` ŠĢThe€state€Supreme€Court€currently€is€deciding€whether€to€nullify€more€promotions.Š č 8  ŠĢBut€for€the€most€part,€racial€tensions€have€been€subdued€in€recent€years.Š Ą  ŠĢThat€ended€in€January,€when€the€results€came€back€from€two€promotional€exams€administeredŠ ˜č  Šlast€year.€Fourteen€of€the€top€15€candidates€were€white€(the€15th€was€Hispanic)€and€the€cityŠ „Ō  Šscuttled€the€tests€after€the€Civil€Service€Commission€tied€in€a€2-2€vote.Š pĄ ŠĢThere€are€currently€a€combined€15€captain€and€lieutenant€vacancies€in€the€ranks.Š H˜ ŠĢWhites€wanted€the€tests€for€fire€captain€and€lieutenant€certified.€City€Hall€and€some€minorities€inŠ  p Šthe€department€wanted€the€tests€-€half-written,€half€oral€and€all€with€questions€specific€to€fireŠ  \ Šscience€-€thrown€out.Š ųH ŠĢFirefighter€Frank€Ricci,€one€of€the€white€firefighters€who€plans€to€sue€the€city,€said€the€only€wayŠ Š  Šfor€the€department€to€move€forward€is€to€certify€those€tests.Š ¼  ŠĢ"You€want€your€leaders€to€be€the€most€qualified,"€Ricci€said.€"When€your€life€is€on€the€line,Š ”ä Šlowering€the€bar€might€not€be€good€enough."Š €Š ŠĢ"The€city€gave€the€fuel€to€this€whole€fire,"€he€said.Š X Ø ŠĢDuring€the€contentious€fight,€bickering€between€the€two€sides€has€gone€unchecked,€mainlyŠ 0"€  Šbecause€there's€no€one€in€the€city€-€either€in€City€Hall€or€the€fire€department€-€that€can€act€as€aŠ #l! Šmediator.Š $X" ŠĢLt.€Gary€Tinney,€who€has€held€press€conferences€and€trumpeted€the€views€of€African-AmericanŠ ą%0!$ Šfirefighters,€has€said€test€materials€were€changed€in€the€last€round€and€there€are€disparities€overŠ Ģ&"% Šwho€is€selected€for€specialized€training€and€professional€development€events.Š ø'#& ŠĢ"We're€not€going€to€conferences,"€Tinney€said,€referring€to€a€recent€one€in€San€Francisco.Š )ą$( ŠĢ"Five€or€six€(firefighters)€went,€but€they€were€all€white."Š h+ø&* ŠĢThe€white€firefighters€blame€Mayor€John€DeStefano€Jr.€and€his€administration€for€manipulatingŠ @-(, Šthe€system€to€ensure€the€tests€would€be€thrown€out.€The€black€firefighters,€somewhat,€view€GrantŠ ° Šand€his€command€staff€as€part€of€the€problem,€not€part€of€the€solution.Š œģ ŠĢUnion€President€Patrick€Egan€claimed€the€city€intentionally€inflamed€the€discontent€to€deflectŠ tÄ Šattention€from€its€own€bungling€of€the€tests.Š `° ŠĢ"I'm€sure€the€mayor€likes€to€see€the€media€diverting€focus€from€him€-€the€fact€that€all€of€this€is€theŠ 8 ˆ Šproduct€of€the€decisions€of€the€mayor€and€his€city€administration,"€Egan€said.Š $ t ŠĢDeStefano,€through€a€spokesman,€declined€comment.Š ü L  ŠĢThe€fire€union,€with€its€mainly€white€leadership,€is€embroiled€in€the€middle€of€it,€too.€Local€825Š Ō$  Šhas€said€it€plans€to€sue€the€city€over€the€tests€and€black€firefighters€have€threatened€to€sue€theŠ Ą  Šunion€if€it€does.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ"Whenever€they€vote,€it€goes€along€racial€lines,"€Tinney€said€of€the€union€executive€board€thatŠ „Ō  Šbrought€the€idea€of€a€lawsuit€to€the€full€membership.Š pĄ ŠĢ"We€don't€want€to€have€to€sue€our€own€union,"€Tinney€said€moments€before€a€joint€meetingŠ H˜ Šbetween€black€firefighters,€the€local€NAACP,€clergymen€and€state€AFL-CIO€President€JohnŠ 4„ ŠOlsen.Š  p ŠĢ"You're€never€going€to€have€everybody€agreeing€on€everything€anytime.€Never€mind€all€theŠ ųH Štime,"€Olsen€said.Š ä4 ŠĢBeyond€that,€some€city€officials€and€minority€firefighters€have€questioned€whether€the€unionŠ ¼  Šfavors€white€members€over€blacks.Š Øų ŠĢDuring€contract€negotiations€several€years€ago,€the€union€proposed€throwing€out€the€oral€sectionŠ €Š Šof€promotional€exams.€City€officials€maintained€that€would€only€exacerbate€the€racial€inequitiesŠ l¼ Šof€testing.Š X Ø ŠĢUnion€officials€said€the€proposal€was€made€because€questions€had€emerged€about€whether€testingŠ 0"€  Šsecurity€had€been€breached€on€the€oral€section.€It€was€pulled€off€the€table.Š #l! ŠĢTina€Burgett,€the€city's€director€of€human€resources,€said€one€thing€that€has€been€overshadowedŠ ō$D # Šby€all€the€rhetoric€is€the€vast€majority€of€firefighters€who€come€into€work€every€day,€performŠ ą%0!$ Štheir€jobs€admirably€and€try€to€keep€their€heads€below€the€fray.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢAnd€Fire€Lt.€James€Kottage,€the€secretary€of€the€fire€union,€said€as€a€whole,€racial€tensions€in€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šfirehouses€have€been€exaggerated.Š )ą$( ŠĢPeople€-€white,€black€and€Hispanic€-€still€come€to€the€firehouse€and€work€together,€live€togetherŠ h+ø&* Šand€eat€together€without€any€stress,€he€said.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š"I'm€sure€there's€a€few€pockets€where€people€are€very€uncomfortable€and€I'm€sure€that's€withŠ ° Šwhite€guys€and€with€black€guys,"€Kottage€said.€At€the€same€time,€he€added,€"we're€not€fightingŠ œģ Šamongst€ourselves€in€the€firehouses.Š ˆŲ ŠĢIt's€all€happening€through€the€media,€through€meetings€and€through€attorneys."Š `° ŠĢTo€be€certain,€lawyers€have€emerged€as€a€prominent,€and€vocal,€supporting€cast.€Attorney€JohnŠ 8 ˆ ŠWilliams,€who€was€hired€by€a€group€of€predominantly€black€firefighters,€lashed€out€at€opponentsŠ $ t Šas€"scum"€and€racists€after€suggestions€that€one€of€his€clients€was€behind€the€assault€of€anotherŠ  ` Šfirefighter.Š ü L  ŠĢKaren€Torre,€who€represents€20€mainly€white€firefighters,€upbraided€the€mayor's€administrationŠ Ō$  Šfor€"blatant€lawlessness€and€political€cowardice"€for€its€position.Š Ą  ŠĢWhile€the€city€is€moving€forward€with€the€drillmaster€exam,€any€new€tests€for€fire€lieutenant€andŠ ˜č  Šcaptain€still€could€be€years€away.€And€DuBois-Walton€acknowledged€that€they€will€beŠ „Ō  Šaccompanied€by€a€fight.Š pĄ ŠĢ"The€next€time€we€try€to€do€lieutenant€and€captain,€regardless€of€what€we€put€out€there,€there'sŠ H˜ Šgoing€to€be€controversy,"€she€said.Š 4„ ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢSome€black€New€Haven€firefighters€consider€seceding€from€unionŠ ųH ŠĢAssociated€Press€,€Register€StaffŠ Š  ŠĢ06/20/2004Š Øų ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€Some€African-American€members€of€the€New€Haven€Firebird€Society,€aŠ €Š Šfraternity€of€minority€firefighters,€want€to€secede€from€Local€825,€an€AFL-CIO€affiliate,€in€theŠ l¼ Šwake€of€two€promotional€exams€that€left€a€rift€among€black,€white€and€Hispanic€colleagues.Š X Ø ŠĢScoring€results€indicated€that€about€15€whites,€two€Hispanics€and€no€African€Americans€wouldŠ 0"€  Šhave€advanced€to€captain€or€lieutenant.€The€Civil€Service€Commission€did€not€certify€the€test€andŠ #l! Ša€group€of€about€18€white€firefighters€plan€to€sue€the€city.Š $X" ŠĢOnly€a€third€of€the€union€members€voted€to€sue€the€city€and€black€firefighters€have€vowed€to€sueŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€union,€saying€it€should€remain€neutral€and€should€not€use€resources€contributed€by€membersŠ Ģ&"% Šwho€oppose€such€a€lawsuit.Š ø'#& ŠĢA€Hispanic€firefighter€in€the€group€that€wants€to€sue€the€city€claims€he€was€the€victim€of€aŠ )ą$( Šracially€motivated€attack€recently€in€a€restaurant,€a€black€firefighter€says€dirty€gloves€were€left€inŠ |*Ģ%) Šhis€boots€and€a€racially€offensive€memo€was€posted€at€fire€stations.Š h+ø&* ŠĢScot€X.€Ō_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō,€president€of€the€NAACP€New€Haven€branch,€plans€to€invite€labor€and€civilŠ @-(, Šrights€leaders€to€help€mediate€the€strife€before€black€firefighters€leave€the€bargaining€unit.Š ° ŠĢ"We're€hoping€it€doesn't€get€to€that€point,"€said€Ō_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō,€who€wants€to€bring€in€national€AFL-CIOŠ ˆŲ ŠPresident€John€Sweeney€and€Ō_ŌAFSCMEŌ_Ō€International€Secretary€William€"Bill"€Lucy,€who€workedŠ tÄ Šwith€Dr.€Martin€Luther€King€Jr.€during€the€Memphis€sanitation€workers€strike€before€King'sŠ `° Šassassination.Š L œ ŠĢFirebird€Society€President€Wayne€Ricks€said€if€blacks€withdraw€from€Local€825€it€would€not€beŠ $ t Što€form€a€new€union.Š  ` ŠĢA€spokeswoman€for€the€state€Department€of€Labor€said€municipal€police€and€fire€departments€inŠ č 8  ŠConnecticut€may€have€only€one€bargaining€unit.Š Ō$  ŠĢTwo€black€firefighters€who€did€not€want€to€publicize€their€names€said€pulling€out€of€the€unionŠ ¬ü  Šwould€lessen,€even€if€by€a€small€amount,€dues€revenue€that€could€be€used€for€litigation€theyŠ ˜č  Šoppose.Š „Ō  ŠĢ"You€have€people€taking€money€from€these€African-American€firefighters€to€sue€the€city€againstŠ \¬ Štheir€will,"€Ō_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō€said.Š H˜ ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢĢThis€was€printed€last€Sunday€€10/10/04€€(HARTFORD€COURANT)...Š ųH ŠĢLETTERS€TO€THE€EDITORŠ Š  ŠĢSound€Off:€Second-generation€Advantage?Š Øų ŠOctober€10,€2004Š ”ä ŠĢI€am€responding€to€Frank€Harris€III's€recent€feature€on€race€and€the€New€Haven€Fire€DepartmentŠ l¼ Š["The€Color€of€Fire,"€Sept.€12].Š X Ø ŠĢI€am€a€New€Haven€firefighter.€One€of€the€first€statements€by€firefighter€Amin€to€strike€home€forŠ 0"€  Šme€was€the€one€concerning€the€advantages€of€second-generation€firefighters€on€promotionalŠ #l! Šexams.Š $X" ŠĢMy€father€was€a€West€Haven€fire€lieutenant€who€died€in€the€line€of€duty€after€fighting€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠArmstrong€Rubber€Co.€fire€in€November€1974.€I€was€17,€my€sister€9,€my€brother€7.€Was€that€theŠ Ģ&"% Šday€my€"advantage"€kicked€in?€The€years€you€struggle€without€the€guidance€of€your€father€inŠ ø'#& Šyour€life€cannot€be€measured€in€points€on€examinations,€nor€can€they€be€replaced€with€so€calledŠ ¤(ō#' Š"patronage"€promotions.€I€have€never€asked€for,€nor€received,€either.Š )ą$( ŠĢI€have€taken€two€examinations€on€this€job.€The€first€exam€was€tossed€because€it€was€deemedŠ h+ø&* Š"inaccurate"€for€the€job€it€was€testing€for.€I€finished€third.€In€the€end,€a€veteran€black€lieutenantŠ T,¤'+ Šwas€appointed€to€the€job€by€a€black€chief€of€the€department,€who€was€appointed€by€a€blackŠ @-(, Šmayor.€All€of€these€appointments€were€considered€"historic"€at€the€time.€Rather€than€focus€on€theŠ ° Šracial€aspects,€I€vowed€to€study€harder€next€time.Š œģ ŠĢOn€my€only€test€for€lieutenant,€I€finished€62€on€a€list€where€fractions€of€points€separated€theŠ tÄ Šentire€list.€This€list€was€closed€out€with€seven€openings€unfilled€because€the€next€two€firefightersŠ `° Šon€the€list€were€deemed€unworthy€by€the€chief€of€the€department€at€that€time.€For€the€record,€theŠ L œ Šchief,€the€next€two€candidates€and€myself€were€all€white,€Irish-American€Catholics.€I€received€aŠ 8 ˆ Š72€on€my€written€exam€score,€with€the€last€promoted€candidate€scoring€84.Š $ t ŠĢMy€bone€of€contention€was€not€with€my€unacceptable€written€score,€but€with€the€scoring€on€theŠ ü L  Šoral€examinations.€Higher€oral€scores€were€given€to€lower-scoring€minority€candidates€to€moveŠ č 8  Šthem€in€front€of€higher-scoring€white€candidates.€My€feeling€is€not€only€was€I€unfit€for€promotionŠ Ō$  Šdue€to€what€I€felt€was€lack€of€"correct"€preparation€for€that€exam,€but€so€were€many€of€theŠ Ą  Šfast-tracked€minority€candidates.€The€city€disrespected€the€efforts€of€upper€level€minorityŠ ¬ü  Šcandidates€by€flooding€the€list€with€lesser-prepared€minorities€and€time€has€shown€thoseŠ ˜č  Šsecond-level€officers€lag€behind€the€stronger€officers€on€all€exams€thereafter.€The€better€prepared,Š „Ō  Šupper€level€minority€candidates€have€continued€to€excel€and€rise€through€the€ranks.€At€someŠ pĄ Špoint,€there€is€no€replacement€for€knowledge,€skill,€experience€and€leadership.Š \¬ ŠĢThe€fact€that€I€was€a€second-generation€firefighter€did€nothing€to€help€me€prepare€for€that€exam.Š 4„ ŠIf€I€had€been€promoted€with€a€written€score€of€72,€my€lack€of€knowledge€and€leadership€skillsŠ  p Šwould€have€exposed€me€in€a€very€short€time.€I€was€not€prepared€to€lead€firefighters€into€aŠ  \ Šlife-and-death€situation€and€be€able€to€say€the€work€I€did€with€them€would€keep€them€safe.€YouŠ ųH Šcannot€lower€the€bar€when€it€comes€to€the€safety€of€those€who€are€supposed€to€be€protecting€theŠ ä4 Špublic.€People€will€die€on€both€sides€of€the€equation.Š Š  ŠĢThe€other€factor€you€lose€in€this€scenario€is€confidence€and€respect€in€your€officer.€No€firefighterŠ Øų Šcan€blindly€follow€the€orders€of€an€officer€without€the€confidence€that€they€have€experience€inŠ ”ä Štough€fires,€tough€spots€and€tough€decisions.€One€of€the€first€things€I€was€told€by€a€veteranŠ €Š Šfirefighter€when€I€was€young€on€the€job€was€about€dark€heat€being€the€great€equalizer€on€this€job.Š l¼ ŠPaper€lieutenants€and€captains€may€pass€all€the€tests,€but€great€officers€will€get€you€through€thoseŠ X Ø Štough€basement,€bedroom€and€attic€fires€where€all€you€felt€was€dark€heat€and€your€first€reactionŠ D!” Šwas€to€bail€out,€rather€than€focus€on€the€job€at€hand.€That€job€is€to€put€out€that€fire,€check€forŠ 0"€  Špossible€trapped€victims,€and€save€these€homes.€The€ability€to€lead€firefighters€through€thisŠ #l! Šsituation€is€learned€through€experience,€not€taught€in€books,€and€certainly€not€gained€throughŠ $X" Šfast-track€promotions.Š ō$D # ŠĢI€have€worked€for€great€and€not-so-great€officers€of€all€colors€in€my€career,€and€I€certainly€do€notŠ Ģ&"% Šwant€to€see€the€lives€of€younger,€inexperienced€firefighters€in€the€hands€of€someone€who€gainedŠ ø'#& Šall€his€skills€as€an€officer€working€the€polls€for€high-ranking€politicians.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢI€also€find€it€interesting€that€firefighters€Ricks€and€Amin,€and€Lt.€Gary€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€and€Lt.€RobertŠ |*Ģ%) ŠOrtiz€all€found€fault€with€the€test€after€the€results€came€out,€not€the€day€after€they€sat€down€forŠ h+ø&* Šthese€tests.€Firefighter€Ricks€also€pointed€out€that€he€saw€white€firefighters€studying€materialsŠ T,¤'+ Šbefore€they€were€designated€as€"study€guides"€for€the€exam.€All€these€materials€are€used€inŠ @-(, Šday-to-day€education€for€any€firefighter€looking€to€gain€an€edge€on€the€opposition.€Not€otherŠ ° Šfirefighters,€but€fire€itself.€The€science€and€chemistry€of€firefighting€is€changing€year€to€year,€withŠ œģ Šmaterials€being€updated€as€experience€and€training€is€conducted€on€these€theories.Š ˆŲ ŠĢAny€firefighter€who€wishes€to€gain€the€edge€on€the€Ō_ŌfiregroundŌ_Ō€and€on€exams€is€seeking€out€theseŠ `° Špublications,€attending€these€seminars,€and€in€many€cases,€trying€to€earn€these€degrees.Š L œ ŠĢThis€is€the€real,€post€9-11€Internet€world,€where€the€dangers€are€real€and€information€is€learnedŠ $ t Šand€passed€more€openly€than€in€any€time€before.€Lead,€follow,€or€get€out€of€the€way.€SomeŠ  ` Šchoose€to€lead.€These€are€the€ones€you€want€in€ranks€where€the€decision€to€go€into€any€buildingŠ ü L  Šon€any€alarm€hinges€on€knowing€all€inherent€dangers€involved.€I€am€not€going€to€look€at€the€colorŠ č 8  Šof€their€skin€before€I€follow€them,€but€I€will€look€them€dead€in€the€eye.€That€is€where€I€will€seeŠ Ō$  Štheir€conviction,€their€certainty,€their€confidence.€That€is€where€I€will€know€that€this€is€the€officerŠ Ą  Što€follow€into€"battle."Š ¬ü  ŠĢFirefighter€John€F.€Ō_ŌHinesŌ_ŌŠ „Ō  ŠNew€Haven€Fire€Dept.Š pĄ ŠĢĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢPanel€tosses€firefighters'€discrimination€claimŠ  p ŠĢWilliam€Ō_ŌKaempfferŌ_Ō,€Register€StaffŠ ųH ŠĢ11/06/2004Š Š  ŠĢNEW€HAVEN€-€The€state's€anti-discrimination€commission€has€thrown€out€complaints€made€byŠ Øų Šabout€21€city€firefighters€who€contend€they€weren't€promoted€because€they€are€white.Š ”ä ŠĢThe€Commission€on€Human€Rights€and€Opportunities€recently€ruled€in€favor€of€the€city€andŠ l¼ Šdismissed€the€complaints,€filed€in€June€after€the€city€threw€out€two€promotional€tests€because€tooŠ X Ø Šfew€minorities€scored€well.Š D!” ŠĢ"It€validates€the€decision€that€was€made€last€spring,"€said€city€Corporation€Counsel€Thomas€Ō_ŌUdeŌ_ŌŠ #l! ŠJr.Š $X" ŠĢ"The€city€was€justified€in€not€using€those€exams."Š ą%0!$ ŠĢWhile€the€city€welcomed€the€decision€as€good€news,€a€federal€civil€rights€lawsuit€filed€by€theŠ ø'#& Šsame€group€is€still€pending.€The€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō€decision€is€separate€from€the€federal€case.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢAttorney€Karen€Ō_ŌTorreŌ_Ō,€who€represents€the€firefighters,€said€she€was€not€surprised€by€the€decision.Š |*Ģ%) ŠShe€filed€with€the€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō€primarily€because€the€government€requires€it€before€filing€a€civil€rightsŠ h+ø&* Šaction.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠShe€said€she's€filed€a€number€of€complaints€with€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō€and€lost€every€one,€including€one€for€twoŠ ° Šwhite€New€Haven€police€officers€who€were€not€promoted;€they€went€on€to€win€more€thanŠ œģ Š$800,000€from€a€federal€jury.Š ˆŲ ŠĢŌ_ŌTorreŌ_Ō€said€her€experience€has€been€that€the€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō,€the€state€agency€that€hears€discriminationŠ `° Šcases,€is€comprised€mainly€of€affirmative€action€advocates.Š L œ ŠĢ"The€agency€is€politically€hostile€to€discrimination€cases€when€the€plaintiffs€are€white.€TheŠ $ t Šagency€was€set€up€long€ago€to€primarily€grant€relief€to€minorities€and€they€don't€have€the€politicalŠ  ` Šstomach€to€enforce€the€law,"€she€said.Š ü L  ŠĢOfficials€for€the€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō€could€not€be€reached€Friday€night.Š Ō$  ŠĢThe€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō€concluded€there€was€disparate€impact€against€minority€firefighters€in€two€civilŠ ¬ü  Šservice€exams€for€fire€captain€and€lieutenant€last€year,€and€that€a€testing€expert€concluded€thereŠ ˜č  Šwere€other€testing€options€available€that€would€have€had€less€adverse€impact.Š „Ō  ŠĢThose€are€a€legal€litmus€test€in€civil€rights€cases€-€that€there€was€a€negative€impact€and€that€thereŠ \¬ Šwere€other€options€available€that€would€have€led€to€a€better€outcome.Š H˜ ŠĢŌ_ŌTorreŌ_Ō€said€the€real€fight€will€be€in€federal€court.Š  p ŠĢ"I€was€expecting€the€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō€to€dump€the€case,"€she€said,€calling€the€Ō_ŌCHROŌ_Ō€a€"wasteful€step."Š ųH ŠĢBetween€January€and€March,€the€city€held€a€series€of€heated€public€meeting€after€discovering€thatŠ Š  Š14€of€the€top€15€scores€on€the€two€tests€were€held€by€white€firefighters.Š ¼  ŠĢThe€tests€were€thrown€out€in€March€after€the€Civil€Service€Commission€deadlocked€on€a€voteŠ ”ä Šwhether€to€certify€the€two€tests.Š €Š ŠĢ€Ģ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ĢPublished€Friday,€February€27,€2004Š 0"€  ŠFire€dept.€faces€charge€of€biasŠ #l! ŠMinority€firefighters€contest€changes€in€captain's€and€lieutenant's€examinationsŠ $X" ŠĢBY€WILL€SULLIVANŠ ą%0!$ ŠStaff€ReporterŠ Ģ&"% ŠĢWard€12€Ō_ŌAlderwomanŌ_Ō€Shirley€Ellis-West€discusses€allegations€of€racism€within€the€New€HavenŠ ¤(ō#' ŠFire€Department€Thursday.€Ellis-West€said€the€Board€of€Aldermen's€Public€Safety€CommitteeŠ )ą$( Šwill€hear€charges€the€Ō_ŌNHFDŌ_Ō€gave€white€firefighters€advanced€information€about€exams.€(WILLŠ |*Ģ%) ŠSULLIVAN/STAFF€PHOTOGRAPHER)Š h+ø&* ŠĢNew€Haven€firefighters,€aldermen€and€community€leaders€alleged€at€a€press€conference€ThursdayŠ @-(, Šthat€the€New€Haven€Fire€Department€has€deliberately€prevented€minority€firefighters€fromŠ ° Šreceiving€promotions.Š œģ ŠĢThe€firefighters€claim€the€department€has€eliminated€a€number€of€management€positions€thatŠ tÄ Šminorities€once€held€and€have€changed€the€captain's€and€lieutenant's€exams€to€stop€minorityŠ `° Špromotion.€The€press€conference€was€held€at€the€headquarters€for€the€greater€New€Haven€chapterŠ L œ Šof€the€NAACP€at€192€Ō_ŌDixwellŌ_Ō€Ave.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ"We've€been€having€problems€with€this€department€for€many€years,"€Lt.€Gary€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō,€anŠ  ` Šorganizer€of€the€press€conference,€said.€"We've€made€progress€in€the€last€10€years.€We're€nowŠ ü L  Šmoving€backwards."Š č 8  ŠĢŌ_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€blamed€New€Haven€Fire€Chief€Michael€Grant,€who€was€appointed€chief€of€theŠ Ą  Šdepartment€last€year,€for€the€souring€of€race€relations.€Grant€did€not€return€several€phone€calls€toŠ ¬ü  Šhis€office€Thursday.Š ˜č  ŠĢThe€firefighters'€major€complaint€concerns€changes€in€the€captain's€and€lieutenant's€exams.€InŠ pĄ Š1999,€when€the€tests€were€last€administered,€a€number€of€black€firefighters€did€well€and€wereŠ \¬ Špromoted,€New€Haven€firefighter€Ō_ŌOctaviusŌ_Ō€Dawson€said.€But€for€2003,€the€department€changedŠ H˜ Šthe€tests€and€the€books€required€to€study€for€them.Š 4„ ŠĢAll€of€the€top€12€scorers€on€the€2003€lieutenant's€exam€were€white,€Dawson€said.€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said€noŠ  \ Šblack€firefighter€scored€in€the€top€15€on€the€captain's€exam,€and€Hispanic€firefighters€scored€noŠ ųH Šhigher€than€7th.Š ä4 ŠĢ"None€of€them€will€be€promoted,"€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said.Š ¼  ŠĢThe€group€that€took€the€2003€lieutenant's€exam€included€47€white,€20€black,€and€9€HispanicŠ ”ä Šfirefighters,€Dawson€said.Š €Š ŠĢŌ_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said€the€new€tests€included€questions€that€were€not€relevant€to€New€Haven€and€wereŠ X Ø Šgeared€to€New€York€City€firefighters.€He€said€some€questions€included€terms€such€as€"uptown"Š D!” Šand€"midtown"€which€are€not€typically€used€to€identify€areas€of€New€Haven.Š 0"€  ŠĢScot€X.€Ō_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō,€the€president€of€the€local€NAACP€chapter,€claimed€white€firefighters€were€toldŠ $X" Šin€advance€which€information€to€study€in€order€to€do€well€on€the€test.Š ō$D # ŠĢ"They€had€a€head€start€of€the€test,"€Ō_ŌEsdaileŌ_Ō€said.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢThe€NAACP€has€started€an€investigation€into€the€testing,€he€said.€Minority€firefighters€areŠ ¤(ō#' Šplanning€on€suing€the€department€for€the€names€of€those€who€created,€administered,€and€choseŠ )ą$( Šthe€new€test,€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢA€number€of€New€Haven€aldermen€attended€the€rally,€including€Rev.€Drew€King€of€Ward€22,Š T,¤'+ ŠCharles€Ō_ŌBlangoŌ_Ō€of€Ward€20,€and€Ward€12€Ō_ŌAlderwomanŌ_Ō€Shirley€Ellis-West.€Ellis-West€said€theŠ @-(, Šaldermanic€board's€public€safety€committee€will€hold€a€hearing€about€the€controversy€March€3.Š ° ŠĢ"At€this€point€there€doesn't€appear€to€be€an€equal€playing€field€around€the€test,"€she€said.€"I€thinkŠ ˆŲ Šthis€is€an€issue€that€could€seriously€divide€our€community€and€our€fire€services."Š tÄ ŠĢŌ_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said€the€department€has€eliminated€five€minority-held€management€positions€in€the€pastŠ L œ Šyear.€Those€firefighters€have€now€returned€to€work€at€local€firehouses€for€lower€pay,€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢThe€fire€department€currently€employs€103€black€and€208€white€personnel,€Ō_ŌTinneyŌ_Ō€said.Š  ` ŠĢ„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„€Š č 8  ŠHit€&€RunŠ Ō$  ŠŌ_ŌKimmmmŌ_Ō--Ō_ŌBERRRRRRŌ_Ō!:€Why€the€mayor€needs€to€ax€the€Rev.Š Ą  ŠĢby€Paul€Bass€-€June€13,€2002Š ˜č  ŠĢWanted:€A€black€person.Š pĄ ŠĢJob:€Do€the€mayor's€dirty€work€in€the€fire€department.Š H˜ ŠĢQualifications:€Must€live€in€New€Haven.€Vote-gathering€ability€a€plus.€Non-felon€preferred.Š  p ŠĢWhen€New€Haven's€mayor,€John€Ō_ŌDeStefanoŌ_Ō,€needed€a€black€guy€to€try€to€straighten€out€the€fireŠ ųH Šdepartment,€he€found€someone€who€fit€most€of€the€above€job€description.€He€found€the€Rev.Š ä4 ŠBoise€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō,€a€longtime€political€backer.€He€named€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€earlier€this€year€to€chair€the€city'sŠ Š  Šfire€commission,€which€oversees€the€troubled€department€of€hooks€and€ladders.€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō'sŠ ¼  Šmission:€Shake€up€the€department€...€without€causing€any€new€racial€bloodbaths€by€pitting€theŠ Øų Šwhite€mayor€against€a€black€chief.Š ”ä ŠĢŌ_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€has€shaken€things€up--and€stirred€clouds€of€racial€dust.Š l¼ ŠĢŌ_ŌKimberŌ_Ō's€latest€controversy--he€joked€that€some€new€recruits€have€"too€many€vowels"€in€theirŠ D!” Šnames--left€people€wondering:€Why€does€the€mayor,€after€clearing€outdated€styles€from€hisŠ 0"€  Špatronage€closet,€hold€on€to€this€political€tie,€which€invariably€chokes€him?Š #l! ŠĢFirefighters€have€rallied€for€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō's€resignation.€"There's€no€room€in€public€service€for€officialsŠ ō$D # Šacting€in€official€capacity€making€bigoted€statements,"€says€battalion€chief€Vincent€Ō_ŌLandisioŌ_Ō,€ofŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€department's€Italian-American€Society.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢSome€black€leaders€support€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō.€They€don't€want€the€mayor€to€sacrifice€a€prominent€blackŠ ¤(ō#' Šfigure€in€a€historically€racist€department.Š )ą$( ŠĢŌ_ŌDeStefanoŌ_Ō€has€waited€to€see€how€the€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€controversy€plays€out€before€reacting.€HisŠ h+ø&* Šadministration€is€conducting€an€investigation.€He€has€met€at€his€home€with€angry€firefighters.€HeŠ T,¤'+ Šenlisted€respected€white€and€black€civic€figures€to€head€a€group€seeking€understanding€inŠ @-(, Šmeetings€with€different€factions.Š ° ŠĢContrast€Ō_ŌDeStefanoŌ_Ō's€waiting€game€with€Gov.€John€Rowland's€response€last€week€to€a€remark€byŠ ˆŲ Šan€aide,€New€Haven's€Nancy€Ō_ŌAhernŌ_Ō.€Ō_ŌAhernŌ_Ō€was€quoted€blaming€the€AIDS€crisis€on€predatoryŠ tÄ Š"minority"€males€and€gays€who€deliberately€spread€the€disease.€Ō_ŌAhernŌ_Ō€became€Rowland'sŠ `° Š"former"€aide€before€the€news€cycle's€first€deadline.Š L œ ŠĢŌ_ŌDeStefanoŌ_Ō€says€the€controversy€is€about€more€than€just€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō's€"intolerant€statement."€He€saysŠ $ t Šit's€about€how€we€react€to€it.€"How€does€a€community€make€a€thoughtful€judgment?"Š  ` ŠĢSimply€pushing€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€to€leave€his€post€would€produce€"winners"€and€"losers"€in€a€game€thatŠ č 8  Špits€ethnic€groups€against€each€other,€he€argues.€That€won't€dampen€ethnic€tensions€in€the€fireŠ Ō$  Šdepartment€or€in€New€Haven.€It€feeds€the€flames.Š Ą  ŠĢBetter€to€engage€everybody€in€a€broader€discussion,€take€some€time€to€reflect,€and€"not€have€it€goŠ ˜č  Što€places€where€past€angers€and€hurts€get€exercised,"€Ō_ŌDeStefanoŌ_Ō€says.Š „Ō  ŠĢPlus,€everyone€deserves€a€second€chance.€Most€of€us€have€made€remarks€like€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō's.€Unlike,Š \¬ Šsay,€West€Haven's€embattled€former€police€chief,€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€had€the€sense€to€apologize€promptly.Š H˜ ŠĢBut€third€chances?€Fourth€chances?€Tenth€chances?Š  p ŠAt€this€point,€if€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€doesn't€resign€to€save€his€mayoral€patron,€Ō_ŌDeStefanoŌ_Ō€should€force€theŠ  \ Šissue.Š ųH ŠĢHe€shouldn't€have€appointed€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€in€the€first€place.€Too€much€baggage.€Department€membersŠ Š  Šwho€dislike€commissioners'€Ō_ŌdisclipinaryŌ_Ō€actions€can€point€out€that€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€is€a€convicted€felon:Š ¼  ŠHe€stole€an€elderly€woman's€burial€money€while€helping€a€jailed€friend€run€a€funeral€home.Š Øų ŠAgain,€one€mistake€shouldn't€brand€him--but€Ō_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€has€been€involved€in€at€least€three€otherŠ ”ä Šfinancial€scandals,€two€of€them€involving€government€money,€in€his€career€as€white€DemocraticŠ €Š Šmayors'€black€plantation€sub-boss.€(See€the€"City€for€Sale"€archive€in€the€news€section€of€ourŠ l¼ ŠWeb€site,€www.newhavenadvocate.com.)Š X Ø ŠĢNor€was€his€"too€many€vowels"€comment€out€of€character.€He's€known€around€city€firehouses€forŠ 0"€  Šmaking€disparaging€comments.€In€the€style€of€his€mentor,€the€Rev.€Al€Ō_ŌSharptonŌ_Ō,€he€plays€the€raceŠ #l! Šcard€in€public--while€privately€sucking€up€to€powerful€whites€who€can€give€him€money€orŠ $X" Šinfluence€(City€Hall,€the€Register,€Yale-New€Haven€Hospital).€In€front€of€TV€cameras,€heŠ ō$D # Šthreatened€a€race€riot€during€the€murder€trial€of€the€black€man€arrested€for€killing€white€Ō_ŌYalieŌ_ŌŠ ą%0!$ ŠChristian€Prince.€He€continues€to€call€whites€racist€if€they€question€his€actions.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢŌ_ŌKimberŌ_Ō€bullies€those€under€him.€Newly€appointed€commissioner,€he€woke€up€firefighters€in€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šmiddle€of€the€night,€pulling€an€alarm,€to€sh