I find myself shocked. Shocked, that crude racism still exists, especially here in New York. But I’m not particularly shocked that this last incident [allegedly] occurred within our Parks Department.
A couple of decades ago, I became aware of a big employment discrimination lawsuit against Parks, when it was run as what seemed like a private fiefdom by Henry Stern. What bothered me deeply then was that a City department that governed such a glorious aspect of my city discriminated. The Parks Department?
And it bothers me once again, especially because Parks — given severe budget constrictions in our anti-tax public economy — has been doing such remarkable, beautiful work in our public green spaces. I don’t know how they do it.
Yet, yet … behind the gorgeous greenery is this ugly, dark lawsuit.