four former employees of the mayor’s team were fired then put on the list for reasons that two aldermen say fall well short of what the list was intended for. Political Reporter Chris Tye reports. YouTube Tips ⓘ
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to Alderman has been accused of mayoral office abuses related the City of Chicago’s Do Not Hire List intended to prohibit the hiring of employees with a criminal history, not to intimidate employees who are not in political alignment with the mayor.
Chris Tye, CBS Chicago, reports that when you’re placed on Chicago’s Do Not Hire List you’re barred from city employment. However, under Mayor Johnson’s operations, outside employers who call the city to check your background are also negatively affected.
Four former employees of the Mayor’s team were fired, then put on the list for reasons that two Chicago alderman say the Do Not Hire List is not being used as intended.
I wanted to grow, and I wanted to be able to improve in my career and get farther, and this absolutely stopped me in my tracks. “
— Ashley Rodriguez
“Why did it have to go this direction?”
— (name not disclosed)
Two former employees of Mayor Johnson’s fifth floor team at City Hall — both put on the Do Not Hire List until they were removed from the list with the help of two Chicago alderman, who suspect something‘s going on behind the Mayor’s office doors.
“The biggest issue that we are addressing here is the abuse of the Do Not Hire List, and the atmosphere that was created in an office to create intimidation, hostility, toxicity,” said Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward.
The employees worked for and around Mayor Johnson’s close friend and Communications Director Ronnie Reese, who was fired last month over allegations of sexual harassment and misogyny.
“What we saw under Ronnie Reese and in this administration was just an abuse of an ordinance that was put in place to deal with infamous crimes, not to be used as political retribution or payback.”
— Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward
Even with sexual harassment allegations, Ronnie Reese, was not placed on the Do Not Hire List.
When you look at the sexual harassment policy that not only applies to the City of Chicago Chicago employees, but to the entire city, he should be on that list.
Mayor Johnson, on Monday, December 2, 2024, claimed not to know about the Reese allegations until a media outlet filed a FOIA — a Freedom of Information Act request about Reese.
“The FOIA request was the first that we … we’re hearing of those allegations.”
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (looking nervous)
“When you look at the documentation, it’s pretty clear to me that the mayor knew about it and or should’ve known about it, and should’ve done something immediately.”
— Chicago Alderman Scott Waguespack
Rodriguez and Waguespack are working to change the city’s HR policy to prevent Do Not Hire List abuse in the future.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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