Council News Release

Councilmember Nick Licata

CITY’S OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS TO BRIEF COUNCIL COMMITTEE

SEATTLE – The Seattle Council’s, Civil Rights, Health and Personnel Committee will review how civil rights issues affected the work environment and effectiveness of the Street Maintenance Division of the Seattle Department of Transportation. The Street Maintenance Division is responsible for road maintenance and street cleaning, including snow removal.

City Councilmember Nick Licata has asked Seattle Office of Civil Rights Director Julie Nelson to brief the Culture, Civil Rights, Health and Personnel Committee on her findings following an investigation of SDOT’s Street Maintenance Division. In the meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, May 13 at 2:00 p.m., Councilmember Licata will lead a discussion on civil rights issues in the department and how a “divisive” work environment is being addressed.

SDOT Director Grace Crunican will attend; the Mayor’s Office has been invited as well.

Councilmember Licata requested a copy of the 12-page draft summary of the half-million dollar investigation by the MFR Law Group, which explored findings of civil rights complaints in SDOT. It was completed in June of last year but released to the Seattle Times last week. Councilmember Licata received a copy yesterday.

A memo by the City’s Office of Civil Rights raised serious concerns last year about the number of discrimination complaints from within SDOT, with over half from the Department’s Division of Street Maintenance.

There will be an opportunity for the public to speak at 2:00 p.m. at the beginning of the committee meeting.

Council meetings are cablecast live on Seattle Channel 21 and Webcast live on the City Councils website at www.seattle.gov/council. Copies of legislation, archives of previous meetings, and news releases are available on www.seattle.gov/council. Questions about Council news releases can be directed to Kimberly Reason, Council Communications, at 206-684-8159, or by e-mail at kimberly.reason@seattle.gov.

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City Council