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SPOKANE, Wash .– In an email to Spokane city administrator Cupid Alexander, who on Tuesday resigned as director of the city’s ward, housing and social services, said he had been mistreated because of his race. Alexander sent the email early Wednesday morning to Johnnie Perkins, who took over as city administrator when Wes Crago resigned. In his email to Perkins, Alexander says he “doesn’t know why I’m being treated like this – I guess it’s race – but I ask for fairness to be done.”
Alexander’s email goes on to describe several examples of Perkins acting inappropriately towards him. “Commenting on my appearance (you said your ‘son’ said I looked athletic and asked me if I played sports – which had nothing to do with our conversation; and stereotyped me in every way imaginable), berating me in front of others with “I always say no” in order to intimidate me by simply explaining what I knew to be true – regarding the accommodation. As I mentioned previously, your words and actions seem focused – and I would like to get to the bottom of that. “
Alexander also lists six issues he encountered in a meeting he and Perkins attended, including feeling pressured to leave before his resignation date and feeling his news about finding a new jobs were poorly expressed by city staff. When KHQ spoke to Alexander on Tuesday evening, he told us that although city officials had announced that he had accepted a new job, he had not. In his email to Perkins on Wednesday, Alexander wrote: “My departure was misstated (I never gave you employment status – you all tried to save face or have a ripple effect, it wasn’t your information to share anyway), and I can only imagine intentionally hurting the one staff member and black leader as a director. ”
Alexander ends his email by saying, “For a city that focuses on its processes, its methodology, a focus on potential equitable outcomes, centered on equity and justice, I can say without a shadow of a doubt. doubt this was intentionally unethical, unfair, worst practice and direct mistreatment that I can attribute to YOUR treatment of me Johnnie, to my race. “
KHQ also contacted Spokane City Councilor Karen Stratton who was copied from the email Cupid Alexander sent to Johnnie Perkins. “I am very disappointed with some of the information I see,” Stratton told us. She says it seems like “something has gone very, very wrong, and I can’t wait to get to the bottom of it.”
As for Alexander’s racial bias allegations, Stratton says, “If there’s anything with race that I can point and look at, I’m going to be.” [upset]. I can’t believe we made it back. “
The city of Spokane issued a statement in response to Cupid’s claims saying:
“Mr. Alexander remains employed by the City on paid status with full benefits until July 30, when he requested his last day. Human resources contacted him for more details.
The allegations Mr. Alexander made in the email are very serious. Racism has no place in the organization, the community or the country. Questions were asked during his time with the City to better understand and understand the labor and resource needs associated with the divisional responsibilities for neighborhoods, customer service, housing and homelessness. Race was not the subject of these conversations.
The link and comparison with the recent departures of two other employees within the Community, Housing and Human Services division, a department of the Neighborhoods, Housing and Human Services division, is not compatible. Situations are unique to individuals and it is unfair to draw parallels between them.
A transition plan to continue to advance all work of the NHHS, including the next steps announced in the homelessness plan, will be finalized after meetings with staff are completed to get their perspective on the issues. needs of divisions to move forward. Recruitment has already started to find a CHHS department manager and finalists have been identified for the CHHS senior manager position. “
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