Hearings set for Fil-Am's landmark discrimination case in US

The Civil Service Commission of Glendale in California has set official hearing dates for the “landmark” discrimination case of a Filipino American official there who was demoted two steps down the post she has held for nearly two decades.   In its report, news site Asian Journal said Saturday that the Commission decided to push through with official hearings across February to April after it junked the request to dismiss the case of Edith Fuentes, a former zoning administrator of the City Planning Division.   According to a Los Angeles Times report last year, Fuentes—said to be “the longest-serving zoning administrator in Glendale”—was demoted to planner in September 2011, after holding “one of the most powerful decision-making positions in the city” for 18 years.    The step-down dragged her annual salary from $129,240 to $89,472, it added.   Her boss, Community Development Director Hassan Haghani, attributed the demotion to Fuentes’ “poor decision-making and unclear written decisions that led to unnecessary civil litigation against the city,” the report said. Demotion   Saying her demotion was “rooted in ethnic and gender discrimination,” Fuentes brought the matter to the Commission, adding that the step-down might be her superior’s retaliation after she won a lawsuit she filed in 2000, in which she said her boss harassed her based on her background.   The Los Angeles Times said Fuentes “received a public apology from city officials” and while she didn’t ask for financial damages, the city paid her attorney’s fees.   The Filipino American, however, claimed that after the successful lawsuit, she received “four instances of ‘below standards’ reviews”—different from the “outstanding” and “exceeds standards” grades she got the years before.   Contrary to Fuentes’ statement was Haghani’s review of her performance, where he said: “Despite the new, clear policy directions given by the City Council to prevent applicants from taking unfair advantage of the review process, a few of Edith’s decisions have allowed some to abuse the system and thereby damage the city’s credibility in the eyes of the public.”   The Los Angeles Times disclosed that Glendale government “hired a private investigator to audit Fuentes’ work” in 2010.   “The investigator found 10 cases that demonstrated Fuentes lacked a basic understanding of permit requirements and held inappropriate one-on-one meetings with applicants,” it said.   In her defense, Fuentes said “she met with applicants because her first boss said doing so was good customer service,” it added. Filipino support   The Los Angeles Times said the demotion “sparked a backlash from local Filipino and women’s groups.”   “This action by the city of Glendale is a slap on the face of the Filipino community,” Ruby De Vera, president of the Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale, told the newspaper.   In a separate interview with Asian Journal, a supporter named Angel Dayan, said: “There are probably more people like you, but have just kept things quiet.”   Last January 19, after a hearing, the “Friends of Edith” Committee “held a special wine-cheese fundraising event” in Pasadena, California, the Asian Journal said. 
Born and raised in Caloocan City, Fuentes earned her degree in architecture from the University of Santo Tomas.  She then moved on to get her master’s degree in Public Administration and Planning and Development Studies from the University of Florida and the University of Southern California, respectively.   Hearing schedules   The Asian Journal said the Commission, which “will ultimately rule on her appeal,” slated official hearings on the following dates and venues: 

• February 9, 3 to 9 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers
• February 13, 3 to 9 p.m., MSB Room 105
• February 15, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Council Chambers
• February 29, 3 to 9 p.m., Council Chambers
• March 1, 4 to 9 p.m., Council Chambers
• March 7, 3 to 9 p.m., Council Chambers
• March 12, 3 to 9 p.m., MSB Room 105
• March 14, 3 to 9 p.m., Council Chambers (tentative)
• April 11, 3 to 9 p.m., Council Chambers (tentative)
• April 12, 3 to 9 p.m., Council Chambers
• April 30, 3 to 9 p.m., Council Chambers