Racist Email Scandal At Chicago Water Expands
By Sara Jerome,
@sarmje
The fallout from the racist email scandal at the Chicago water department continues to expand.
The backdrop is that City Inspector General Joe Ferguson uncovered scandalous emails “circulating in the Department of Water Management while investigating allegations that the son of a former alderman had used his city email account to sell guns,” the Chicago Sun-Times reported in May.
The latest development in the scandal: The state is now involved.
“State officials are investigating a longtime employee whose personal email address is a source of racist, sexist and anti-gay emails at the center of the Chicago water department's burgeoning scandal, including a fake ‘Chicago Safari’ tour making light of the shootings of children in black and Hispanic neighborhoods,” the Chicago Tribune reported.
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission is investigating the email messages, according to the commission's spokesman, per the Tribune.
In addition, the administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel took action last week to bar a contractor from city projects because he was allegedly involved with the emails.
“The city confirmed the employee is William Doyle, a construction manager working with contractor CTR, A Joint Venture. New water Commissioner Randy Conner notified the company Friday that he wanted Doyle immediately removed, and it complied,” the Chicago Tribune reported, citing department spokesman Gary Litherland.
Litherland commented on the developments in a statement, per the Tribune: "The Department of Water Management does not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobic or any other discriminatory comments or behavior, and Commissioner Conner has been clear that all appropriate measures will be taken to fully enforce this policy.”
Doyle declined to comment, and his employer said it is reviewing the matter.
The email scandal has resulted in a major employee shakeup at the Chicago water department.
“The email scandal has toppled five high-ranking water department employees, including Commissioner Barrett Murphy; his deputy, William Bresnahan; and Paul Hansen, a district superintendent,” the report said.