Ricci Finally Gets His Promotion!

Yesterday U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton, who threw out the case brought by New Haven firefighter Frank Ricci et. al., “entered a judgment finding that the city violated the civil rights of a group of white firefighters when it threw out two promotional exams in 2004, and ordered the city to promote 14 of them.”

Yet to be resolved is the motion to intervene filed earlier this month. The seven black firefighters claim their rights would be violated if the lists are certified, and attempted to pre-empt any final action by Arterton until they could be heard….

What remains unclear from the city and from Arterton’s order is the status of other firefighters in line from promotion when the lists are approved. If the lists are retroactively certified to 2004, there would have been 24 vacancies in the two ranks over the two-year life of the list. Fourteen promotions are being compelled by the court and the city, in a filing last week, indicated it “would have the discretion to promote (the 10) non-plaintiffs.”

Asked Tuesday if the city would promote those 10, the city gave no definitive answer….

After their victory in the Supreme Court it should be no surprise that Ricci et. al. have, finally, received their promotions. What I do find surprising, however, and encouraging, is the near unanimity of support for Ricci in the the comments to the New Haven Register article linked and quoted above. And “cheryl,” apparently a frequent commenter on the many Ricci articles that have appeared, is interesting enough to deserve quoting at length what she posted this morning. [The “tinney” she refers to is Gary Tinney, the president of the Firebirds, the association of black firefighters in New Haven.]

cheryl-oh happy day wrote on Nov 25, 2009 7:01 AM:

Last night I was a little down after watching dancing with stars and Mya didnt win. but when I heard the news that Mr Ricci and them got there jobs, which they should of been had. I jumped for joy. everyone on my job was asking me why I was so happy. everyone on this blog know I been following this case from day 1, and everyone know I said I was a black female, and I believe in right is right in wrong is wrong. and everyone knows how I feel about no brainer dumb so call firefighter Tinney. I always said I cant go in stop & shop and get a discount because I’m black. Mr Ricci and them should of never had to go through this. then all these other jim jones followers of No brainer Tinney want to file all these other bogus complaints to keep it going. well what part of SUPREME COURT you dont understand Tinney & Crew, my mother always told me supreme court was the highest. all these other filings just made you black firefighters look stupid. like you want something for nothing. it dont go that way. my brother has a doctorate, he went to hillhouse in the 60’s, work full time after school at seamless rubber yrs ago. he went to post comm clg, the southern, then A&T, then he got his doctorate from Columbia, he did not ask to get a degree because he’s black. he study. anyway Mr Ricci and the other firefighters, may God Bless you and your atty. I was wondering why they was taking so long, after supreme court may there decision. mr dumb brain tinney, you need to let some of the other firefighters pass out the coats, and you should be reading and studying, I will be so happy if they print your test scores, isnt that our right to see your score. I guess if I barely pass on skin of my teeth I wouldnt want mind release neither. oops thats right I forgot. you pass because you was black.

A Black Sister that is not trying to take the easy way out. what will martin luther king say about you Tinney. and probably will tell you to go back and STUDY and lay that bottle down for awhile. I’m so happy for Ricci and the crew nice thanksgiving day present. now will when they give them all there back pay.

The above was posted at 7:01 AM this morning. Five minutes later Cheryl posted a follow-up:

oh mr tinney I made some mistakes in my comment above. but see I never said I was and A+ student. but I correct myself and ask for help. I dont say because I’m black. why do you want to make yourself looks stupid like that. your wife or girlfriend should give you a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. the one close to your fire dept is right on broadway okay. you dont have to go to milford. right there on broadway.

If admissions officers were serious about their preferential treatment of black applicants being justified by the “diversity” those applicants allegedly provide, wouldn’t they ensure that each year’s crop included one or two black admits who share Cheryl’s views?

Oh well, maybe not. That would require recognition that blacks are not fungible and that a diversity of views about “diversity” is legitimate.

Say What?