The city will pay a total of $2.1 million to three white Department of Education executives who were demoted under former Superintendent Richard Carranza and replaced by less qualified people of color.
Royce Herrera, Jay Murray, and Laura Feijou (who will each receive $700,000), the judge ruled, “provided evidence of race-based discrimination at Carranza’s DOE.” A settlement was reached three months later, paving the way for a trial in June.
“This landmark case is a strong statement that any form of discrimination should not be tolerated in educational institutions, regardless of the race of those affected,” said attorney Davida. Perry told the Post.
The lawsuit, filed five years ago, alleges Carranza campaigned against “toxic white people” in the city’s Department of Education.
Herrera, who holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, was working successfully as CEO of the Department of Security and Youth Development until one of Carranza’s vice-chancellors suddenly stripped her of her title and called her ” He was replaced by Mark Lampersant, a less qualified black man. The lawsuit alleges that he has a GED.
Mr. Herrera retired in January 2023.
Mr. Murray, then the executive director of the Counseling Assistance Program, was told to report to Mr. Rampersant, the first of a series of demotions.
She will remain on the DOE payroll, but her duties will be significantly reduced.
Mr. Fayjo, then the senior supervisor who oversaw 46 DOE supervisors, was replaced by his subordinate Cheryl Watson Harris, who was black and did not have the required New York license at the time. .
Mr. Feijoo left the DOE in November 2019 for another job, and Mr. Watson-Harris resigned in June 2020 in an ill-fated bid for the Georgia top spot.
Mr. de Blasio, who appointed Carranza as chancellor in 2018, is “obsessed with diversity,” according to an internal DOE email written by then-DOE Chief Operating Officer Ursulina Ramirez.
Mr. de Blasio and Mr. Carranza insisted in sworn testimony that they wanted to hire not only the most qualified candidates, but also leaders “like New York City.”
The lawsuit charges that those chosen to replace the three women were awarded the jobs with a “tat on the shoulder” without advertising the positions or interviewing other candidates. .
Mr. Carranza resigned from his position as head of the Department of Energy in February 2021, and Mr. de Blasio retired on December 31, 2021.
Now, the three women “feel vindicated and vindicated by the resolution of this important legal battle,” Perry said.
“They hope that the light shined on Department of Energy policy will help other agencies understand that all individuals deserve to be treated with dignity and fairness.”
In the settlement, the city admitted no wrongdoing.
“The DOE and the City are committed to fair and inclusive employment practices and maintain that these allegations are without merit,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said. “Nonetheless, the resolution of this long-running litigation was in the best interest of all parties.”
