CC ignores allegations of racism by Gov. Paterson

NEW NY Governor a Racist??

It appears that new NY Gov. Paterson, an African American, in the past may have fired a European American worker and replaced him with an African American---and in another case as well. H'mmmm.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/14/2008-03-14_paterson_denies_firing_photographer_in_2-1.htm l

Paterson denies firing photographer in 2003 because he was white
BY BRIAN KATES
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, March 14th 2008, 1:38 AM
Just as he's about to become the state's first black governor, David Paterson faces allegations he fostered reverse discrimination as state Senate Democratic leader.

Paterson is battling a federal suit by a (European American) white staff photographer who says he was fired in 2003 so his job could be given to a black man.

The soon-to-be governor, who is legally blind, insisted the replacement of a white employee with a black employee was race neutral because he literally couldn't see the difference.

"Given my visual impairment, I did not know for certain the race of either," Paterson said.

The suit was filed after the federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission ruled that "there is reason to believe that [civil rights] violations have occurred" in the case.

The agency found a possible pattern of discrimination, noting that the Democrats in the Republican-controlled state Senate also fired a white graphic artist and replaced her with a Hispanic after Paterson took the leadership post.

Paterson served as Senate minority party leader from 2002 until 2006, when he became lieutenant governor under Gov. Spitzer.

The EEOC completed its report in 2004.

"Race never entered my calculus in determining who should be on my staff for the position of photographer or any other position," Paterson said in court papers.

The suit was filed by Joseph Maioriello, 57, who served as the Senate minority photographer from 1989 to 2003.

Last month, upstate Federal Judge Norman Mordue rejected an attempt by Senate Democrats to have the case tossed.

There is evidence "from which a jury could find that [Maioriello] was terminated so that Sen. Paterson could hire an African-American photographer," Mordue concluded.

In March 2003, Maioriello was summoned to a meeting by Paterson's chief deputy, Jack McPadden, and told he was being terminated because "minority senators had requested hiring an individual of a racial minority," according to the suit. The complaint did not identify the senators. McPadden denied making the statement.

Maioriello was replaced by El-Wise Noisette, who had been former state Controller Carl McCall's photographer. Noisette was recommended by state Sen. Ada Smith, according to Maioriello's supervisor. McCall and Smith are African-American.

Maioriello was paid $34,206 a year; Noisette was hired at $48,000, court papers reveal.

Paterson testified that he "cast a wary eye toward" Maioriello because because he "had been on the staff of my rival," referring to state Sen. Martin Connor.

Paterson wrested the party leadership post from Connor, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The EEOC found that "there is no evidence to substantiate" the claim that Maioriello was fired for poor performance, and state Senate lawyers could not produce evidence that he ever received a negative evaluation.

bkates@nydailynews.com bkates@nydailynews.com