NEW YORK CITY — A YEAR AFTER a city Department of Investigation probe substantiated allegations of sexual and ethnically biased harassment by Board of Elections Executive Director Michael Ryan, the agency has yet to implement most of DOI’s recommended reforms and Ryan remains in his $274,000-a-year post, THE CITY reports.
On March 17, attorney Annie Seifullah filed a civil rights lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court on behalf of Stephanie Jaquez, the former BOE associate general counsel who resigned after alleging Ryan made repeated gender- and ethnicity-based remarks in her presence.
The suit names the board, its 10 commissioners and Ryan, alleging the agency “failed to establish an independent and functional reporting structure for its employees” and instead routed complaints to the executive responsible for the misconduct.
DOI had recommended Ryan’s termination and that harassment complaints be referred to an outside agency; the board rejected both, opting instead for a three-week unpaid suspension and sensitivity training.
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