FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Former FDNY Candidate Andre J. Laurant in conjunction with New York City Council Member Andy King, other elected officials, civil rights organizations, and community advocates will be holding a brief press conference regarding the ‘subjective’ application and review process
NEW YORK, NY – Laurant alleges that he was a candidate for the position of Firefighter, Fire Department City of New York, Examination No.: 2000, List No.: 0262. According to the lawsuit, Examination No.: 2000, was administered under the supervision of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, pursuant to the litigation of the United States and Vulcan Society, et al. v. City of New York, 07 cv 2067, where it was alleged that the City of New York through its Candidate Investigation Division (CID) and Personnel Review Board (PRB) intentionally discriminated against African-American applicants during the application and review process for the position of Firefighter, Fire Department City of New York.
As Laurant proceeded through the application and review process, on or about March 18, 2013, former FDNY Emergency Medical Technician Joseph Cassano (Caucasian Male) the son of former FDNY Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano resigned after evidence surfaced that he has an extensive history of posting racist, anti-Semitic comments on Twitter, according to the lawsuit. During the controversy, former FDNY Fire Commissioner Cassano claimed, he was extremely disappointed in the comments posted online by his son Joseph, which did not reflect the values including a respect for all people that are held by he, his family and the FDNY. According to the lawsuit, former FDNY Fire Commissioner Cassano further claimed, he has worked many years, as have so many people in the agency, to make the FDNY more diverse and inclusive. There is no place and he have no tolerance for statements that would harm the good reputation of the agency.
Laurant claims, after several attempts, the City of New York declined to appoint him to the position of Firefighter, Fire Department City of New York.
Yet, approximately four years later on or about December 18, 2017, the City of New York appointed former FDNY Emergency Medical Technician Joseph Cassano to the position of Firefighter, Fire Department City of New York despite evidence of his extensive history of racist, anti-Semitic postings on Twitter, according to the lawsuit. Laurant alleges, Mayor Bill de Blasio defended the City of New York appointing Joseph Cassano to the position of Firefighter, Fire Department City of New York claiming “he believes in redemption.” Moreover, claiming “he’d hire someone with Cassano’s history, nobody’s perfect and if the ground rule was one mistake and you can no longer participate in public life, there would be essentially no one left in public life.”
Laurant claims, despite his ‘mistakes’ more than twenty years ago, unlike Joseph Cassano’s ‘mistakes’ only four years ago, the City of New York have failed, neglected and refused to mark him ‘Qualified’ and appoint him to the position of Firefighter, Fire Department City of New York to which he is entitled due to his race.
“Unfortunately, Mayor Bill de Blasio indicated with the appointment of Joseph Cassano, there are no perfect candidates but despite the rulings in the United States and Vulcan Society, et al. v. City of New York, 07 cv 2067, the City of New York with the support of the Mayor continue to intentionally treat candidates differently due to their race,” says Eric Sanders.
Eric Sanders, Esq., of The Sanders Firm, P.C., filed the amended federal complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, et al., 17 cv 5740, on February 8, 2018.
Joining Sanders, Laurant and King are Council Members Antonio Reynoso, Fernando Cabrera, Chaim Deutsch, Laurie Cumbo, Adrienne E. Adams, Rafael Salamanca Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and New York Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte.
Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Time 12:00 PM EST
Place: City Hall
Location: In front of City Hall New York, N.Y. 10007
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The Sanders Firm, P.C. offers those in the New York City area legal services related and connected to civil rights, civil service rights, criminal law and discrimination. We firmly believe in everyone’s individual rights that are described and guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. We understand that our freedoms and liberties are sacrosanct and that they have been won in many and various hard-fought battles. We are committed in every way to protecting your civil rights. We are your voice for justice!
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