Local

South Suburban Branch of NAACP Announces Investigation Into Hiring Practices in Village of Flossmoor


Homewood, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The South Suburban branch of the NAACP, the oldest civil rights organization in the United States, announces an investigation into the hiring practices in the Village of Flossmoor.

Mr. David Lowery, President of the South Suburban Branch of the NAACP, sent the following letter to Bridget Wachtel, Village Manager of Flossmoor, IL:

The South Suburban Branch of the NAACP, on behalf of the African American employees and citizens of the Village of Flossmoor; has opened an investigation into the hiring practices, promotional advancement disparity, discipline disparity, and training practices of the various departments of the Village of Flossmoor. This Freedom of Information Act request also seeks to access departmental data within the following departments:

  • Administration Dept.
  • Finance Dept.
  • Planning and Zoning Dept.
  • Inspectional Services Dept.
  • Police Dept.
  • Fire Dept.
  • Public Works Dept.

The following pages will specify what information the NAACP request based on the guidelines of the Freedom of Information Act. None of the information requested will circumvent any laws or regulations within the Village of Flossmoor. The NAACP is aware of the demographics of the Village of Flossmoor; with African Americans representing 47.8% of the population of Flossmoor, Caucasians representing 43.9%, and Asians 2.5% (U.S Census 2010). The NAACP looks to compare and contrast the data collected.

Eleven pages of questions follow, inquiring regarding the number of African Americans employed in the following departments: administration, finance, planning and zoning, inspectional services, police, and public works.

The letter concludes:

The South Suburban Branch of the NAACP respects the fact that Illinois courts have long recognized that “good policy requires liberality in the right to examine public records (Weinstein V. Rosenbloom 59 Ill. 2d 475, 482-1974). The NAACP is not requesting names or files which are exempt and protected based on previous case law (Copley Press inc. V. City of Springfield, 266 Ill. App. 3d. 391, 4th Dist, 1996). None of the information requested from the police department is covered by the Freedom of Information Act exempted items. The NAACP acknowledges that the first fifty (50) pages of black and white, letter or legal sized copies are free, and the NAACP has enclosed a money order to offset any other fees associated with the replication of documents requested. The fee for black and white, legal letter sized copies shall not exceed .15 cents per page (5 ILCS 140/6). If the amount tendered to offset the reproduction of the documents requested is not sufficient, timely contact the NAACP South Suburban Branch so that the amount needed to complete the request can be provided. We may be reached at (708) 335-9860 or by email at [email protected].

The Mission of the NAACP

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.


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