Stung by yet another claim that it racially discriminates
against black patrons, the Cordish Companies - hoping to build a $500 million
casino and hotel in South Philly - on Tuesday sent its highest-ranking black
official to the city, and over the weekend hired a respected black-owned public
relations firm.
Zed Smith, the company's chief operating officer, told
the Daily News the charges contained in a report released Tuesday by the
Philadelphia chapter of the National Action Network are "false and
malicious" and are similar to allegations tied to a labor union with an
axe to grind.
"These allegations are very similar to those brought
forth by Unite Here. We question the validity, obviously. We're not racist, we
don't discriminate," he said outside City Hall, after NAN officials held a
news conference there.
Titled "Indicted," the report contends that
Cordish systematically seeks to limit the number of blacks who enter its venues
in Louisville, Ky., and Kansas City, Mo., through selective enforcement of the
dress code and by hiring whites dubbed "rabbits" to instigate fights
with blacks as a ruse to kick the blacks out.
The report also criticizes a July report by the Black
Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Inc., which cleared Cordish of the racial
discrimination claims. The NAN report states that the Black Clergy failed to
talk to anyone who has accused the company of racism, and based its findings on
input from Cordish officials and civil rights groups that had received
compensation from the company.
Black Clergy President Rev. Terrence Griffith on Tuesday
issued a statement defending its report and calling the NAN report a
"smear campaign" backed by Unite Here to gain an edge in representing
workers at the planned casino.
But Paula Peebles, chairwoman of NAN's Philadelphia
chapter, disputed the claims.
"We have no role with any union," she said.
"We don't know Unite Here.
"People need to understand that this is a serious
matter, and unfortunately the poor black people who are complaining about this
are being looked upon as the bad guys when they are really the victims."
Peebles called on City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, whose
district the casino and hotel would be built in, to hold off on introducing
zoning legislation for the project until Council has hearings to investigate
the discrimination allegations.
Johnson, in a statement, said he takes the concerns of
the National Action Network seriously and will ensure that Council fully
examines them.
"This casino presents Philadelphia with a great
economic development opportunity, but we must first ensure that the operation
will be fair and equitable," Johnson said.
Smith stated that Cordish has over 6,000 employees, and
said while he couldn't speak about every experience, "I can say as a
company we do not discriminate, period."
He acknowledged that there are two or three open racial
discrimination lawsuits against the company, but said Cordish has never lost
such a suit in its 100-year history.
Helping Cordish with its image is Millennium 3
Management, the local public relations firm hired on Sunday, said A. Bruce
Crawley, the firm's president and CEO.
Crawley, also founder and former chairman of the city's
African-American Chamber of Commerce, said his firm was not hired simply
because it is black-owned and Cordish is fighting racial discrimination
allegations.
"I think that all of the communication issues that
companies have, we come to the table prepared to address," he said.
"We're still finding out what the challenges and opportunities are for
them."
Source: Philly.com
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