Judge greenlights NYCHA’s racism lawsuit

Manhattan federal judge refused to dismiss lawsuit that alleged an official sought to replace a worker with a Spanish speaker

Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mill Brook Houses at 160 Saint Anns Avenue in the Bronx (Credit: Getty Images and Apartments)
Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mill Brook Houses at 160 Saint Anns Avenue in the Bronx (Credit: Getty Images and Apartments)

A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a New York City Housing Authority employee who alleges she faced a turbulent work environment after an official sought to replace her with a Spanish speaker.

Allison Williams, who was the manager of Mill Brook Houses in the Bronx, and is black, alleges that the then-City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito sought to remove her after learning that translators were being used to speak with the building’s Spanish-speaking residents, according to the New York Post.

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The Manhattan federal judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit, after hearing that there was a years-long efforts by NYCHA employees “to create a pretext to replace [Williams] with a Latino,” according to the lawsuit.

Spokespersons for NYCHA and Mark-Viverito told the Post that a review is being conducted into the decision. [NYP] — David Jeans