Paterson denies firing photographer in 2003 because he was white
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3761
Just as he’s about to become the state’s first http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3753, David Paterson faces allegations he fostered reverse discrimination as state Senate Democratic leader.
Paterson is battling a federal suit by a white staff photographer who says he was fired in 2003 so his job could be given to a black man.
The soon-to-be governor, who is legally blind, insisted the replacement of a white employee with a black employee was race neutral because he literally couldn’t see the difference.
“Given my visual impairment, I did not know for certain the race of either,” Paterson said.
The suit was filed after the federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission ruled that “there is reason to believe that [civil rights violations have occurred” in the case.The agency found a possible pattern of discrimination, noting that the Democrats in the Republican-controlled state Senate also fired a white graphic artist and replaced her with a Hispanic after Paterson took the leadership post.
Paterson served as Senate minority party leader from 2002 until 2006, when he became lieutenant governor under Gov. Spitzer.