We, the undersigned, are committed to bringing human rights home to Tompkins County and to ensuring that every citizen has the freedom to exercise their rights and be free from discrimination and retaliation. Therefore, we, the undersigned, make the following demands of our County Government:
First, (1) to adopt, publish, and implement a fair and transparent complaint process for County employees who allege unlawful discrimination in the workplace;
Second, (2) to take special measures to ensure that County employees belonging to under-represented groups are treated with respect and afforded the same opportunities, privileges, and conditions of employment as other County employees;
Third, (3) to take special measures to protect whistleblowers and employees from retaliation when they complain about discrimination and non-compliance issues in the workplace;
Fourth, (4) to reinstate and make whole the Director of Human Rights — a women of color who was retaliated against and relieved from her duties after complaining about misogyny, racism, and retaliation in the workplace; and
Fifth, (5) to propose and promulgate strong and meaningful local enforcement measures that will protect the human rights of all Tompkins County residents.
“Laws without enforcement is just good advice.” –Abraham Lincoln
Updates
October 29, 2017
The stories coming to light through these comments reveal a pattern that goes much deeper than any single administrative failure. We are currently gathering these accounts to ensure that when we present our case to the County Government, the reality of the workplace culture is impossible to ignore.
October 29, 2017
The momentum behind this effort has moved beyond a simple collection of names into a collective call for lasting accountability. It is heartening to see this community grapple with the reality that our local institutions require a more rigorous commitment to justice than they currently provide.
Reached 100 supporters
October 29, 2017
29 Comments
It is a conflict of interest for J. Wood to be acting director. The county cannot investigate itself let alone run the office. This was determined in a case in the late nineties with an office/department in Tompkins County being charged with discrimination. There has been a pattern of discrimination and systemic racism by the county board against women of color who have been the directors of the human rights office for over 20 years. The lack of a MOU with tbe State is just one indicator of this. If the county was committed to upholding human rights the MOU would have been signed YEAR'S ago and it has not been. The human rights office is supervised and reports to the county. There has been a historic misuse of that supervision and control of how the human rights office investigates.
Personnel issues can not be an excuse for the lack of transparency. Karen has been a dedicated, strong, and inspirational leader of the Office of Human Rights. Karen and all Tompkins County employees deserve fairness and respect.
There has to be a way for personnel privacy rules to be reconciled with the public’s right to transparency about decision-making processes in public agencies— some kind of independent, qualified board or commission to hear all sides under appropriately private conditions and to deliberate and issue a report assuring the public that decisions are not arbitrary, capricious, or in violation of relevant regulations. These are hypersensitive issues in turbulent times, and in the small context of local justice, we can do better.
I do not support either Dir. Baer being fired or Mr Wood of all people being in charge of OHR..the county refused to give her the power she asked for to pursue all complaints against any county employee.the entire leg.refused and exempted police from being investigated.they are the main employees the community fears and has valid complaint s about and it falls on deaf legislature ears.this is the typical scapegoating of a woman of color who tells white men they are offensive.re instate Baer.
I am outraged at the abrupt, disrespectful removal of Ms. Baer. I am very concerned about the lack of representation of people of color, especially women of color, in county offices and government. How can you act affirmatively to correct this example of systemic white dominance?
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We, the undersigned, are committed to bringing human rights home to Tompkins County and to ensuring that every citizen has the freedom to exercise their rights and be free from discrimination and retaliation. Therefore, we, the undersigned, make the following demands of our County Government:
First, (1) to adopt, publish, and implement a fair and transparent complaint process for County employees who allege unlawful discrimination in the workplace;
Second, (2) to take special measures to ensure that County employees belonging to under-represented groups are treated with respect and afforded the same opportunities, privileges, and conditions of employment as other County employees;
Third, (3) to take special measures to protect whistleblowers and employees from retaliation when they complain about discrimination and non-compliance issues in the workplace;
Fourth, (4) to reinstate and make whole the Director of Human Rights — a women of color who was retaliated against and relieved from her duties after complaining about misogyny, racism, and retaliation in the workplace; and
Fifth, (5) to propose and promulgate strong and meaningful local enforcement measures that will protect the human rights of all Tompkins County residents.
“Laws without enforcement is just good advice.” –Abraham Lincoln
Updates
October 29, 2017
The stories coming to light through these comments reveal a pattern that goes much deeper than any single administrative failure. We are currently gathering these accounts to ensure that when we present our case to the County Government, the reality of the workplace culture is impossible to ignore.
October 29, 2017
The momentum behind this effort has moved beyond a simple collection of names into a collective call for lasting accountability. It is heartening to see this community grapple with the reality that our local institutions require a more rigorous commitment to justice than they currently provide.
Reached 100 supporters
October 29, 2017
29 Comments
Retaliation against those doing their jobs of actually protecting basic rights is unacceptable.
It is a conflict of interest for J. Wood to be acting director. The county cannot investigate itself let alone run the office. This was determined in a case in the late nineties with an office/department in Tompkins County being charged with discrimination. There has been a pattern of discrimination and systemic racism by the county board against women of color who have been the directors of the human rights office for over 20 years. The lack of a MOU with tbe State is just one indicator of this. If the county was committed to upholding human rights the MOU would have been signed YEAR'S ago and it has not been. The human rights office is supervised and reports to the county. There has been a historic misuse of that supervision and control of how the human rights office investigates.
Personnel issues can not be an excuse for the lack of transparency. Karen has been a dedicated, strong, and inspirational leader of the Office of Human Rights. Karen and all Tompkins County employees deserve fairness and respect.
There has to be a way for personnel privacy rules to be reconciled with the public’s right to transparency about decision-making processes in public agencies— some kind of independent, qualified board or commission to hear all sides under appropriately private conditions and to deliberate and issue a report assuring the public that decisions are not arbitrary, capricious, or in violation of relevant regulations. These are hypersensitive issues in turbulent times, and in the small context of local justice, we can do better.
I do not support either Dir. Baer being fired or Mr Wood of all people being in charge of OHR..the county refused to give her the power she asked for to pursue all complaints against any county employee.the entire leg.refused and exempted police from being investigated.they are the main employees the community fears and has valid complaint s about and it falls on deaf legislature ears.this is the typical scapegoating of a woman of color who tells white men they are offensive.re instate Baer.
I am outraged at the abrupt, disrespectful removal of Ms. Baer. I am very concerned about the lack of representation of people of color, especially women of color, in county offices and government. How can you act affirmatively to correct this example of systemic white dominance?
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Retaliation against those doing their jobs of actually protecting basic rights is unacceptable.