A notice of job openings in the New York City Department of Health declaring that “we are particularly anxious to get qualified Black or Puerto Rican staff” has been withdrawn following a protest by the American Jewish Congress. City Human Rights Commission Chairman Eleanor Holmes Norton, in a letter today to the Congress, said the Department of Health had agreed “to take corrective action” and “clear up any misunderstanding” in its recruitment notice for supervisory positions in seven categories.
The notice was issued last Nov. 4 over the signature of Dr. Mary C. McLaughlin, Commissioner, and was published in the Queens County Medical Society Bulletin. On Dec. 28, Herman Brown, director of the Congress’ Metropolitan Council, wrote to Commissioners McLaughlin and Norton declaring that this statement indicated an intention by the Department of Health to prefer Black or Puerto Rican applicants “solely because of their ethnic identification over other candidates who are equally qualified or more qualified.” He called for “immediate steps to remedy the erroneous conclusion” that many potential applicants may make on the basis of the statement.
In her response, received today, Mrs. Norton wrote, “The Department of Health has agreed to withdraw the statement and to inform those who received it of its withdrawal, and equal opportunity will be accorded all. The Department did not mean to imply otherwise, but the language used may nevertheless mislead. We are pleased that the agency has voluntarily agreed to take corrective action to clear up any misunderstanding after consulting with this Commission.”
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