Discrimination lawsuit

Clearing up a few mischaracterizations

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue has been found guilty of sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation “by a preponderance of the evidence,” according to the judge’s ruling. We, the public, no longer need to use the word “alleged,” as The Beachcomber did in its article last week; we need to use the words “guilty of all charges.”

Believing that the entirety of the judgment could be thrown out if the fire district appeals is misleading. VIFR has to win the appeal on all three accounts for the judgment to go away, and this is a gamble. If any one of the accounts is upheld, there would still be a financial judgment. If the department chooses to appeal and loses, the taxpayers have to pay an additional 12 percent interest plus more attorney fees. Sometimes the judgment of an appeal is increased.

I met with Fire Chief Hank Lipe and asked about our zero tolerance policy on harassment and discrimination. After a complaint and investigation, the person is written up. For the second offense the person is sent to diversity training and the third time Lipe was not sure. That is not zero tolerance!

I asked Lipe if personnel named in the lawsuit went to the diversity training that VIFR now has in place. He said he didn’t know.

The lawsuit talked about sexually explicit screensavers and television programs being watched in the crew quarters. I asked if he put a stop to them. He said he never even thought about looking.

I don’t think we should appeal. I believe Lipe when he said he told the firefighters, “The party is over.” For this to be really true, for diversity training to take hold, we cannot say we are innocent of all charges. Only when behaviors and actions are acknowledged can change occur.

— Hilary Emmer

Let’s accept judgment and get back to work

I have lived on the Island for 15 years and have a great deal of respect and admiration for many individuals involved with Vashon Island Fire & Rescue as well as the essential role that the organization has in our community. I am also a personal friend of Lanora Hackett.

As I have watched the whole Hackett vs. VIFR saga unfold, I have been saddened, surprised and confused by what the solution to this complex issue might be, especially now — in light of a possible appeal.

This week I read the “Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law” for the case as signed and stamped by King County Superior Court Judge Cheryl Carey. My read on it was that a well-respected judge in a legitimate court of law delivered very decisive and specific judgments based on facts and findings collected over almost 18 months and presented in a legal and professional manner.

I also saw that we are paying 12 percent interest on the outstanding judgment and the biggest monetary prizes were going to the attorneys on the case. What I cannot reconcile in my mind is how spending more of our community dollars on appealing legitimate facts and findings would somehow reduce our bill.

I don’t see how the existing attorney costs, additional attorney costs and interest already earned would go away with an appeal.

I think it is time to stop the run on our dollars and start the healing.

The fire department needs to get back to their important work and the challenging task of matching their culture with their principles — and the rest of the community could benefit from doing the same — so that we are never in this onerous position again.

— Stephanie VanDevanter

Wolftown

The nonprofit needs help from Islanders

Most people on the Island know about Wolftown and what the nonprofit does. What most don’t know is how much Pete (T’s husband) does for the project. Pete works full-time off-Island and then comes home to do daily chores and work on the Wolftown newsletter. Weekends are spent working on fencing, buildings and many other projects. Pete also has been supporting Wolftown financially as required over the years.

We have just found out that Pete now needs expensive heart surgery and will be off work for a few months. Your thoughts and prayers for Pete are appreciated during this time.

This is a huge blow to Wolftown both financially and, of course, with the amount of work left to be done by T. We are asking our neighbors and loyal supporters for their help.

We will desperately be needing to compensate for the workload and would love some volunteers to come help, but most of all we need funding.

Every dollar makes a huge difference to a nonprofit organization, and we get no help from other sources. No matter how big or small, we need to ask for your help in keeping your project going with whatever donation you can manage. We appreciate your past, present and future support. Thank you.

— Louise Bostock

Wolftown volunteer

Education

It’s important to contribute to education worldwide

I read the column by Lesley Reed in last week’s Beachcomber. I agree with her about the financial situation facing our Island’s schools. It is truly dire, and I am going to contribute to Vashon Island School District’s Save Our Teachers fund.

Education for all children is of utmost importance thought the world. If every child on Earth had access to at least an elementary school education, I think we would not be in the situation where terrorism has taken so many lives, military and civilian, and so much of our country’s assets.

Think of the children who are kidnapped to become boy soldiers, barely able to carry their weapons. Think of the girls sold into prostitution because of the desperation of their parents who could see no other way to survive. 

Less dramatic but equally poignant, think of the many children who watch the other children going to school each morning, an experience they cannot have because there are school fees and uniforms requirements that their parents cannot afford.

While we naturally focus on our Island’s school district in this time of financial disaster, let’s not forget our commitment to the Earth’s children. You can help by encouraging the effort to initiate the multi-lateral Global Fund for Education that President Obama promised in his campaign. He wants us to contribute $2 billion dollars.

This may seem a large sum but compare it to the $23 billion Americans spend on ice cream and other frozen desserts each year. Most of the funds for our contribution to the Global Fund for Education could be shifted from other aid programs that are in need of more efficiency and accountability.

You can help by urging our members of Congress to help President Obama lead the world in his efforts to see that the world is made safer and more humane by seeing that all children to go to school.

— Jennie Hodgson

International politics

Write legislators to encourage support of human rights bills

May 14 marked the one-year anniversary of the arrest of six Baha’is in Iran, falsely accused of “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.” Recently a new accusation was lodged against them by the government, that of “spreading corruption on earth.” This charge carries the threat of death under the penal code of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In Iran, repression of the Baha’i community is official government policy. This policy is outlined in a previously secret memorandum that was uncovered and published by the U.N. Human Rights Commission in 1993. Written by the Iranian Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council in 1991 and signed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, this document provides a blueprint for the suppression of the Iranian Baha’i community. It contains specific guidelines for dealing with the Baha’is so that “their progress and development are blocked.”

Some 300,000 Baha’is live throughout Iran, making the Baha’i faith the country’s largest minority religion. Baha’is have been targets of discrimination and violence in Iran since the religion began there in the mid-19th century. The Baha’i faith has no clergy, and community affairs are coordinated by democratically elected governing councils called “Spiritual Assemblies.” The six Baha’is imprisoned were part of this Spiritual Assembly.

We, a small group of Vashon Baha’is, are asking for the support of all our friends and neighbors. The House of Representative is currently considering legislation — HR 175 — condemning the Iranian government for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. Rep. Jim McDermott has not signed on to the resolution. The companion Senate bill, SR 71, has not been signed by either Sens. Patty Murray or Maria Cantwell.

Please join us by writing McDermott, Murray and Cantwell, urging them to support these resolutions.

— Deborah Salas