Despite racist slurs, review panel says city worker will keep job

Despite using a racial slur and dressing up as a Ku Klux Klansman, a supervisor in this city's Department of Transportation will not lose his job, a review panel has decided.

Joseph Annunzio, the nephew of the late Rep. Frank Annunzio (D-Ill.), made "racist, derogatory and disparaging remarks," the Human Resources Board decided last week. However, the board overruled the city inspector general and a hearing officer who called for his firing.

The board said Annunzio shouldn't be fired because the most "egregious" allegations weren't backed up by testimony from the target of the slurs.

Although an Annunzio co-worker didn't testify about the man allegedly calling him a "Mambo Gorilla" or about Annunzio allegedly putting a tablecloth on his head and acting like a Klansman, 11 other co-workers said Annunzio used profanity and racist slurs.

Board member Enrico Mirabelli said "all testimony was considered, evaluated and a decision was made based upon the totality of the evidence, or a lack thereof."

City Inspector General David Hoffman told the Chicago Sun-Times the board's decision signals the city can't fire someone for racist and sexist remarks and conduct, even when multiple witnesses confirm them under oath.

"The city is entitled to insist that its workplace be free of racism and hate," Hoffman said, calling on the city to appeal.

Annunzio's lawyer, Tom Needham, said clout was not a factor. He said his client admitted swearing, but denied racial or ethnic slurs were used.

But one transportation department worker is questioning the decision to keep Annunzio on the job.

"If the inspector general and everyone found him guilty enough to fire, why would you want to bring him back?" co-worker Miguel Vargas said. "If it ain't clout, what is it?"

Annunzio claimed the allegations were invented because he was cracking down on his co-workers' performance.