Deputy Director of Housing and Commercial Code Enforcement Rich Paoletto, who’s also a city councilor representing the Upper East Side, has been suspended with pay from his job, the second sexual harassment complaint against him in four years.
City Communications Director Brett Broesder responded, “We do not comment on personnel matters.”
It’s standard procedure for the city to suspend with pay pending a thorough review of allegations by the Labor Relations Department. Paoletto was suspended from his position in 2010 following a sex harassment complaint.
Rich Paoletto, feel free to shed any insight if you’d like to comment.
“He’s innocent,” said Dwayne Harrison, president of the National Association of Government Employees, Paoletto’s union, in a comment to the CT Post. “They haven’t shown any evidence.”
Paoletto is up for reelection next year.
CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart has more here.
“It’s standard procedure for the city to suspend with pay pending a thorough review of allegations by the Labor Relations Department.”
I was suspended for four weeks without pay in what should have been a one-week suspension with pay. I filed a grievance and was paid for three weeks out of the four. I actually ended up getting a three-week paid vacation without losing any of my vacation days. Apparently, Labor Relations took too long to give the order to call me back to work. Wish that had happened now, I could use the time to campaign.
Joel, Richard Paoletto has an attractive wife, a pretty daughter and two handsome sons. If this alleged sexual harassment allegation is true, she should leave him. She can certainly do better than him.
Is it possible history repeats itself?
When it’s not in the 138th, you always have a lot to say!
Jim, what do you want me to say?
Lennie, talking about vacating of job positions.
At Bassick High School, a math teacher named Ms. Christopherson resigned about three weeks ago. As I understand it, she decided to resign and become a full-time hair stylist and had stated to staff and students she will be making more money in a less stressful environment. In addition, about two weeks ago a science teacher by the name of Ms. Fassler resigned from her teaching position. These two teachers taught 9th grade.
Paging Maria Pereira and Carmen Lopez.
Joel, did you read what the topic is?
Joel–we know it’s always about YOU, but for once can we just discuss the topic at hand without diverting to what YOU want to discuss?
Joel, you are correct, two ninth-grade teachers resigned in the last few weeks. Both were from Teach for America. These are young college recruits who do not go through the normal certification programs in CT. Most are from affluent suburbs who take teaching jobs as a resume builder and have no intention of making teaching their profession. They are rushed through a five-week teaching preparation program and then are thrown into urban school districts to teach children the vast majority of them cannot relate to.
On a national level, 50% of TFA teachers turn over by year two and 80% of them turn over by year three. In addition, the BBOE pays TFA over $6,000 in placement fees for every TFA recruit who commits to a two-year teaching job in Bridgeport.
The vast majority of teachers you find in charter schools are TFA recruits. Studies have repeatedly shown teachers become most effective after two years of teaching, therefore just when a new teacher is really grasping their profession these teachers are out the door to pursue their true chosen profession. Constant turnover of teachers in no way benefits the children who rely on them for their education.
Vallas signed a contract with Nate Snow that doubled the TFA contract without the BBOE approval. Nate Snow is the CT Director of TFA and President of Excel Bridgeport. It was a three-year contract for over $600,000.
Maria Pereira, thanks for the details. Nate Snow has really turned into an interesting character. I met Nate Snow back when I joined the Republican Town Committee in 2008. At the time RTC Chairman Mark Delmonico was willing to walk through fire for Nate Snow and made sure he was endorsed for BOE at the same time Baraka was thrown under the RTC bus. Look at Sauda now–sitting on the throne–while Nate Snow awaits another $600,000 contract.
Just another tidbit. Stephen Mandel who was heavily involved in the illegal takeover of the BBOE, is the primary funder of Ex$ell Bridgeport, financially supported Ex$ell Bridgeport when they spent over $100,000 to take parents and voters’ right to vote away also serves on the national Teach for America Board of Directors and holds the position of treasurer.
ConnCAN, Ex$ell Bridgeport, Northeast Charter Schools, Families for Ex$ellent Shysters, Teach for America, etc. are all intertwined and connected. I would describe their relationship as incestuous.
At tonight’s BBOE meeting there were two ConnCAN employees, three Ex$ell Bridgeport employees, and two Teach for America employees all seated near each other. One of Finch’s low-level staff members came in and briefly sat right next to ConnCAN staff and then quickly vanished.
Another fine representative of the double-dipping borderline criminal Bridgeport Democratic party. I hope they expose one every single day. Maybe then good people will pay attention.
Liberal Democrats = nasty.
Do you know why Richie is Deputy Director???
Because if he were director he’d be out of classified service and would have to choose between Council or job. And, if he is still being partially paid with Federal Block Grant funds, the Hatch Act might prevent him from serving on the council. Or at least that is what I was told were accommodations made for him some years back.
How’s that for bending (or breaking) the rules!
What we will tolerate is beyond reason. And trust me, Rich isn’t smart enough to have figured that out himself. Or maybe he is–maybe it is the DNA of a certain subset of the City Council. Look at all the other City Council members who are compromised and unconcerned they are and so far mostly unexposed. The depth of conspiracy and inter-relational stuff that goes on in the city is debilitating and ultimately the defeat of this city. Finch and Wood are the most perfect purveyors of this fraud. Hope they are proud. They make me want to puke.
Six months ahead of the first primary elections of the 2014 election cycle, government employees across the country should take notice of how, for the first time since 1993, Congress has expanded some public employees’ ability to participate in the democratic process, under the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012.
An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, the official name of the Hatch Act, as enacted in 1939, has long prohibited federal employees (with very limited exceptions) and many state and local government employees from engaging in partisan political activity, threatening career-ending penalties for violations of any degree.
How come all the GQ-looking guys always get nailed for sex harassment? Just saying.
Let it suffice to say there’s an exception to the rule in this case.
Bob,
Hatch Act applies to federal government employees only.
Tom,
What is a federal employee?
I know some time ago the federal government had said if an employee is paid with federal funds then he is a federal employee subjected to the Hatch Act.
Bob,
Many city positions are funded with federal funds. The funding source does not make them federal employees.
I like Rich Paoletto. I respect the professionalism of the City’s community relations director treating this as a personnel issue, at the same time pretty disgusted at the equally unprofessional comment by Dwayne Hickerson, he is innocent before an investigation. If this is the second time in four years then it is certainly worth looking into. Sexual Harassment is a pretty serious allegation. Not to mention the humiliation for the family. I always find it amazing whether it is true or not, these allegations do harm Mr. Paoletto. Why not share the person who is bringing these charges? I find these allegations extremely disturbing. I hope they can step up the investigation. Is there a financial lawsuit?
Once again, Steve Amazing with his comment. You want the name of the a user made public to humiliate and embarrass them also???
You want Richie suing the a user before there is even a hearing?
Obviously you feel it’s important to discourage ANYONE from filing sexual harassment allegations against city employees as well as against City Council members.
I want to know if Richie will appear before fellow council members AND labor relations officer AND council president Tom McCarthy as part of this investigation.
Bob Walsh, I resent your ignorant misinterpretation of my post. I thought I was clear and specific. If I wasn’t I will be clear again. I respect the city communications director for his professional comment of not discussing. I was disturbed with the union leader’s comment as it was not necessary and totally biased. I did not suggest Richie sue. I did ask if there was a lawsuit and yes, if Richie Paoletto and family is to be humiliated in public why not also acknowledge the individual bringing forward the allegations? Bob Walsh, I am not sure what you were reading or were you just trying to instigate because you do not like Richie Paoletto? I like him and hope these allegations are false. If not, fire him! I have terminated many for sexual harassment at Home Depot and that was after a very detailed investigation.
Steve, you have chosen to define my interpretation of your post to be an ignorant misinterpretation. And then proceeded to reiterate what I had said.
Furthermore, in case you didn’t understand what Lennie had written, Rich Paoletto has already been suspended from work. He may currently be getting paid but that was the exact same thing that happened the last time when the city found him guilty of sexual harassment.
And we have a City Council member who is a city employee being investigated by a department that is headed by the City Council President who is also a city employee. And you think you deserve to know who filed a complaint? Give it a break.
Steve, I would not brag about the fact I have fired many employees who have been found guilty of sexual harassment. If true, where I work you would have been fired for allowing a hostile workplace to exist. So quit making this stuff up.
Bob, I never brag when a person loses their means of employment, especially when it is through means of sexual harassment. I have a zero tolerence for that as well as many others. Not sure what you meant, you’d be fired for allowing a hostile work environment to exist. Never under my watch! If he was guilty of harassment, then why is he still employed by the city? Oh that’s right, guys like you who have been in office allowed it??? Hmmm. I did not work for the administration or part of any investigation that found Richard Paoletto guilty of harassment. Bob, you can shove your opinion of me up your ass. I am not part of this sad situation. I was not an elected official when this happened, were you? Hope not. Anyway, sad there was not an outcry from women on the council.
Steve, four years ago Richard was suspended without pay for sexually harassing a fellow employee. Labor Relations put him back in his deputy director position where he continued the harassment. The victim was ignored by Labor Relations and eventually left because she couldn’t endure the pain and humiliation. Sexual harassment is a serious issue and should be treated as such. Releasing the name of the victim so she/he can be further harassed is not the answer.
city hall smoker, I do not believe for one second this woman left her position without a lawsuit. I do not believe it and neither does anyone else. The city just would not put itself in a such a sad position and I am certain there are enough women’s rights activists and attorneys who would have loved to take on the city. Honestly, who the hell are you kidding?
Steven Auerbach, women leave their job because of sexual harassment all the time and will not sue because they are scared, plus they don’t get support.
Sorry Ron Mackey, not buying it! Too many woman of influence in the city and the City of Bridgeport leadership are just not that stupid. That being said, perhaps the new case will call upon the previous accuser to make a solid case. If Paoletto is guilty he should be terminated immediately.
Steve, they would not ask the woman involved in the first case to testify again. Labor relations has the paperwork when RP was found guilty of sexual harassment. In regards to this latest case, you want the 21-year-old women’s name released? Why? Just so you know, this girl was an intern from an area college.
To be honest everyone, I am shocked Richie Paoletto was found guilty. I cannot believe it was not a huge ordeal. Was I out of the country? Was this not in the paper? Sorry, if he was guilty I am shocked he is still employed. Seriously, shocked and I think he is a nice guy, but … omg!!!
Steven Auerbach, you said, “Too many women of influence in the city and the City of Bridgeport leadership are just not that stupid.” For real, who are these women and who have they helped? There has been a story in the Post about a female firefighter here in Bridgeport who hired former Mayor Tom Bucci in her lawsuit against the fire department, well none of these women ever came forward to help this female, so Steve, where are these women you are talking about?
Carmen Lopez and Maria Pereira to name just two.
Steven Auerbach, the City is that stupid, there have been five last lawsuits by females on the fire department the City had to pay out. Yes, Carmen and Maria are good women but you make it seem like female City workers have some type of group of women behind them to challenge the City and that’s totally wrong. Most these women have families and they will not put them out there so the media can write stories and take pictures of them on order to sell a paper. They will leave that job unless there is an organization behind them with their families supporting them.
Maria, the 50% turnover rate is really high but it’s not too surprising. Between 40-50% of new teachers leave the profession within five years, with higher rates being in urban districts. See link at the bottom, although not the original source. So the 50% turnover rate among TFA seems to be part of a broader pattern of teacher turnover and the fac TFA teachers tend to be in urban districts contributes toward this trend. I was not aware of how high the turnover stats were until recently and it is very concerning. So the issue becomes how do we make our schools and the teaching profession attractive to people where teachers will want to stay. This is a very serious issue.
all4ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PathToEquity.pdf
Great feedback, Andmar. I wonder if salary/pay is a contributing factor here. If so, how much of a factor? I was kind of surprised when I was told one of the teachers left to become a hairdresser. Nothing wrong with that especially if she is going into her own business.
Joel, I am guessing it may play a factor but it often linked to other issues in the decision. But more so are issues regarding school climate such as morale, disciplinary issues, violence and misbehavior directed toward teachers (at least in urban schools)–and then feel as though there is not sufficient administrative support (e.g., principal). So when these conditions combine with teacher feeling as though administration does not have their backs, teachers tend to feel isolated and morale diminishes–and many leave. However there are also many other issues such as relocating, or other personal/life issues. And there is some research out there that suggests teacher turnover is not always bad, in some cases it can help remove less-effective teachers. So it depends. Anyways these are just a few thoughts based on some of my work.
Andmar, Teach for America has a turnover rate of 80% by year three. That is significantly higher than 40-50% by year five. There were two non-TFA teachers who resigned within 30 days on the BBOE agenda as well. This turnover is problematic whether they are a non-TFA or TFA recruit, however the BBOE is not paying true certified teachers a $6,000 sign-on bonus, however they are paying TFA over $6,000 for every TFA recruit who makes a two-year commitment. I would utilize the money as a $5,000 sign-on bonus for true certified teachers who have chosen teaching as their profession, not TFA recruits, or as I like to call them, Teach for a Little While recruits who are constantly circling in a revolving door.
Google is now offering applicants guaranteed employment as long as college graduates sign up for a two-year stint with TFA first. Doesn’t this serve to prove they are not interested in teaching as their career or profession?
Not many of the “Machine” respect their marriage vows, thought that was a law for being a cog.
It does seem higher, but it seems to be part of a broader pattern when viewed in the context of teacher turnover more broadly. TFA also only has about a two-year commitment if I’m not mistaken. So turnover from TFA within a two- or three-year timeframe means something different than just general turnover because this turnover is tied to the TFA commitment.
History will always repeat itself until the lesson is learned. In this case by ALL parties who need to learn it (Paoletto and his employer). People do not change when they are getting what they want with bad behavior. At the risk of sounding cliche, I will reiterate: if it quacks like a duck …
I realize I may be hallucinating with 103 degree fever, pneumonia, heavily medicated etc, but what the hell is the conversation going on between Maria P. and Joel. G.? I am totally confused.
Actually Steve, I believe three of us were involved in the exchange. Joel posted a comment on teacher resignations and both I and Andmar posted responses. I don’t understand what is so confusing about our exchange.
🙂 Nothing Maria, usually I am the one who hijacks the blog!!! I am just under the weather and I am shocked about Richie Paoletto. Again.
You must be asymptomatic for Ebola. Take two tabs and call me in the morning. Be well!
Antibiotics, benzonatate and an air pump. I am ready to beat this after 11 days of coughing incessantly. I was questioned if I was in western Africa. I said no but I see 3000 students, one of whom may have relative who casually came across the strain. Oy.
Vey!
Isn’t McCarthy a labor relations atty? No wonder Paoletto isn’t worried about losing his job, he is so far up Finch/McCarthy’s ass, they will make this go away, and he knows it.
No, this one will not go away. The payoff should be very very very interesting to dissect.
I tend to doubt this will just go away. This is the proverbial elephant in the room, and I don’t mean a Republican. However, details are seemingly scarce at this time, so we must presume innocent until proven guilty.
Not this time, the Finch Cartel needs to cover their ass.
“Hasta la vista, baby!”
As much as it pains me, I have to agree with Jim Fox. I know they would like to bury in a low-key dept, but there are potential candidates who already have a list of Finch associates caught up in illegal activities that have been “buried” in other departments. Some of those people are not even his supporters. Richie may have to just take the bullet and resign.
Steve, I can’t believe you had no knowledge of the sexual harassment complaint filed against Richie Paoletto. He was suspended without pay but was allowed to use his personal paid time during the unpaid suspension. And yes, the entire debacle was publicized on OIB and the CT Post.
Steve, here is the link to one of the CT Post stories on Richard Paoletto’s sexual harassment suspension from 2010.
www .ctpost.com/local/article/Councilman-suspended-from-job-after-sex-589523.php
Maria, thank you very much, I was also unaware of Dennis Buckley. The question I have is why????????? Any company would terminate employment for sexual harassment. WHY does the City tolerate and forgive these charges? This is totally ridiculous.
Too much focus on the soap opera that is Bridgeport politics. On a positive note, perhaps Bridgeport is truly representative government in that you get what you pay for. Is the quality of government truly reflective of the mental acumen of its people? Are these the best and brightest, or a reflection of the general state of the city’s people? Someone above mentioned puking, maybe it was God.