From The Local Paper Letters To The Editor:
I warned city not to fight Crystal Eschert
In response to “Jury awards fired city worker $1.5 million” (May 12) and related articles:
The writer is an at-large member of the Charlotte City Council.
When I saw the validity of Crystal Eschert’s complaints, I told City Attorney Bob Hagemann that she was a whistleblower. The “old boy network” went into full mode protecting its own. In subsequent discussions, the city attorney told me the city had a solid case and would prevail. This entire journey has been a travesty with poor judgment by the city attorney and the City Council. The council turned its face away from a powerless person in cowardice. I demand that Fire Department Chief Jon Hannan be terminated. He is a embarrassment to the fire department and this city.
Cedar's Take: I have a lot of respect for Claire Fallon she's a rare gem in a room of potted plants that make up Charlotte City Council.
You don't have to look far to judge her character she's forthright and honest, Jon Hannan is the direct opposite and you need to look far to she his character either. Like the on camera ambush a few years ago where a female reporter presented him with a long list of expenses and over time wages authorized personally by him to care for the unofficial antique fire apparatus collection. Hannan doesn't respect women that much is clear. Apparently he doesn't have a lot of respect for the guys on the truck either judging by his lack of commitment to higher wages and benefits. Of course he did find funding for that glass stairway on fire at CFD Headquarters. And that street goes both ways.
Let's face it, Charlotte City Counicl's ongoing dealings with the chief has about as much integrity as a Filipino dice game.
86 comments:
How many lawsuits, settlements, terminations, Deputy Chief resignations, Deputy Chief's on tape, grievances, and employees leaving will it take for someone to listen and take action? The way Jon Hannan treated Alison Latos on camera is how he treats anyone and everyone who questions his authority, especially women. He never met a Manager he couldn't manage (City Manager that is). Let's hope Marcus Jones can change that.
Hannan isn't going anywhere. City Council is not going to allow a New City Manager to do their job. It's why East Blvd is two lanes now, the train crosses South Blvd twice at Clanton and Airport traffic is a disaster 18 hours of the day, it doesn't effect them personally and he and his little helpers, talk nice to their faces when they are around. If you have ever met the man he will talk trash on anyone given the chance everyone is stupid one on one. Just come to Rotary if you want to see!!!!
Maybe that's why Hannan's wife left to find a real man that gives her respect. Unless he was lacking on the end of his fire hoses. He is a real gem and we are all fed up with him. We want new leadership blood for all of us and I speak for many.
FIRE HIM ALREADY! and the entire deputy Chief level. We can't fire the guy that retired and left for Matthews. FIRE WILKINSON he just takes up space and surly was apart of the retaliation like the rest.
Fire Fire Fire, thats all I hear. Sounds like a 4 alarm is near. Give us water but we want blood to make us cheer cheer cheer.
The sad thing in all this is many good people work for the Charlotte Fire Dept. The city of charlotte is ruining the reputation of a good dept. The way they are doing this is by allowing the crap to continue. They have known about the Fire Chief for a very long time. They have also known about all the problems that linger with him and his command staff. Charlotte when will you step up and be brace enough to do the right thing. I give that girl damn credit for standing up to the tyrant Chief. He nor anyone else expected a women to fight back. Because he bullies and walks all over them. Ron Carlee tried to flex his muscle only to cower like all of city council. Well except for Claire Fallon who stood strong and went head to head. She cares about public safety in Charlotte and has for a long time. Will Marcus Jones have the toughness to now stand up and do what Carlee couldn't. Will City Council finally do what's right. It's an election year and so far my vote will be to re-elect Claire Fallon and anyone against the ones left.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Chicken shit way out they just let the old fart retire.
yeah she speaks up sometimes but she was also a big rodney monroe booster and a huge kerr putney fan. so while she's one of the only ones to say anything (thanks) on a few occasions, I'd be more positive about her if her accuracy and fairness were much, much higher.
she was correct on Crystal Eschert, so good. What about the other things she knows about and stays silent?
So now big bad city of charlotte, let's try and overturn the verdict because you can't except losing. Let's give the poor girl more stress while she is pregnant. Guess you won't be happy until you win and cause the poor girl a miscarriage. You all should be embarrassed cause let me tell you I'm mortified just thinking about it. City of Charlotte you are sick and I'm sick of my tax dollars being wasted. Leave that girl alone and let her get on wtth her life. You lost except it!
Agreed anonymous 11:50. The Judge is not going to overturn the Guilty Verdict for Retaliation against the City. They are just trying to get the amount of money lowered. In a time when the city is willing to accept Guilty of 5 of 6 counts and let's get the money lowered and then we will appeal it to a higher court what a joke. The city attorney is telling Council it was a bad attorney that lost the case. Guess it had nothing to do with the testimony of the former city employees that felt compelled to tell the truth on key issues. The city attorney has to be appointed by city council after each election and works at their pleasure, if the average client got the advice Council has received, Non-Discrimination Ordinance, Eschert, Scott, Kerrick and others that citizen would hire another attorney. The citizen only has one choice a new council if council doesn't make a change.
the city will use our tax money as long and hard as they can to abuse whomever they can abuse because they have a sick sense of entitlement and likely can't get hired anywhere else. they'll keep doing this probably until they are fired. since it's rare for anyone in a government job to get fired, they'll probably continue operating with vindictive pursuit of anyone who exposes the cesspool of incompetence, corruption and retaliation in the city of charlotte, as eschert did. they have a pattern and practice of burying the truth and burying criminal conduct by the city, but the "good old boy (and girl) network" fallon said exists covers for each other. unfortunately, she is often part of that, too. she needs to open all of her books, not just the eschert book.
I thought bullying was illegal? The city sure is acting like a big kid wanting its way.
As the World Turns episode the city manager is awfully quiet or is he hunting the rascally rabbit Hannan. Can not believe a week later and not a peep out of the Little Rascals. But yet the news say the city is fighting the case still. Good grief how much more flipping money are we spending on this. Heck people do the math, between investigations, management report and attorney fees. This case has probably cost $1.5 million without paying Eschert. She deserves not only that amount but more because of the retaliation she suffered.
@152 If the city attorney is saying it was a bad attorney that lost the case. Didn't he hire the Attorney and didn't he claim this case wouldn't make a court room. Next when it did didn't he claim they would win. Well seems like the city is paying a bad attorney for advice that being Bob himself. Maybe council need a change at fire department and in city attorney office. Great job to Ms Eschert for standing up and not backing down from proving the truth.
Wait maybe charlotte can blame the Russians
Or maybe Trump, but if you ever dealt with Hannan, Trump is a piece of cake!! Trump said Comey was a nut job after he fired him. How many people in the CMGC have heard Hannan say that exact thing about countless people that left the fire dept. instead of calling him on it they laughed and went along so he wouldn't talk about them, news flash he was talking trash on you too. Watch Trump, it's the same exact thing, except Marcus Jones can't fire Trump.
Charlotte does that to anyone they screw over.
It's easier than decency, honesty, integrity, ethics, or legal behavior.
They attack. It's slimy.
Hail Hannan
I agree. Nixon needed him.
Between Hannan,Granger,Key,Gordon we have the four horsemen running wild. But get ready for Fallon (AKA Dusty Rhodes) to take them on in a Barbwire Match. Stay tuned it's gonna be good!
I am so discussed with this City. They have wasted so much money that's my tax paying dollars to defend this issue. The issue never should have happened and she never should have been fired. Then to continue fighting it after losing in court why? You screwed up once and could have some what fixed it But you decided not to do so and got screwed in court. Yet again let's fight some more. Quit harassing the poor girl, lick your wounds and move on. Fire the real people that caused this and we can vote the others out that didn't care prior and sure don't care now. Where is the non existent city manager Marcus Jones in all of this? Congratulations to Eschert and her attorney job well done.
And is Fallon working on this or not?
Well Fallon was in the news and looks like our glorious Chief Hannan is in hot water again. Screwing over women and minorities as usual. Well this fear and intimidation came out 3 years ago and here we are one more time with the same problem.
One good thing about Hannan, like a good Soap Opera if you miss a year or two the story line and plot never changes so nothing changes but who he is messing with and blaming. Because everyone knows nothing is ever his fault.
Must be a bunch of Union members on here....
From a non Union Member I will say this, I was listening to a rant from a Chief supporter today about how great our promotional process was and how it selects the best candidates, I said what about Chief Summers, Crickets!! It ain't just Union Members, I hate Unions but right is right and wrong is wrong.
Amen above, union member or not we all deserve fair and equal treatment. The Chief supporters are like a damn cult and drink the Kool Aid. They would suck and blow the Chief. Which by the way he may already permit during the process. The process is rigged to help benefit who he wants. Why would test book be open prior? So the future leaders get the advantage. Where are the tests and answers to see the facts. He hates women and hates minorities. He further hates anyone that's not up his ass and bowing to his non leadership. When will Deputy Chief's learn they are his bitch on a leash. The winds of change I suspect are coming because lots of rumors are flying.
The Chief's process is hugely flawed and isn't based on resume or qualification. It is simply a reward system for those who kiss the most ass, sell their souls, jump through the most hoops, and do as much as they can for the CFD at the cost of their families and children. The current Division Chiefs rank is a joke and a filled with a bunch of ass kissing 'yes' men/woman. They were not promoted based on the most qualified. If they promoted based on resume and knowledge, Chief Summers, Chief Wilson, and others SHOULD And deserved to have been promoted. On the other hand, there are several Captains who suck and couldn't find their way out of a paper bag with a flashlight and a map think they are qualified to be a battalion chief. They should have NEVER been promoted to Captain let alone BC. The CFD is losing very quality people because they are tired of the circus. Now people are retiring just as soon as they are eligible.
CFD is nothing but ass heavy at the top. They work in that big $18 million dollar Trump Plaza hotel looking place. I like to get my handprints on those brass rails when I stop by. Yet we have fire stations in need of so much. So let's worry about what the Chief wants so his dick can try and grow slightly bigger. While he pisses on all of us that are working for the city. Since the damn headquarters was to cost something like $9 million. Let's double the cost and one can only wonder who was screwed in the ass to cover the other $9 million in over costs. You got it, us firefighters. Then the investigations building that looks like something out of orphan Annie. Well we all know what Chief thinks of them anyway. I'm fed up with the dept and fed up with the city leadership. They let this Chief run them and run the city. When will Marcus Jones grow a pair and do something. Was the $1.5 million dollar lawsuit not enough let alone all the other Chief issues before this. Here we are a few weeks from that court case and now Chief is in the news again HELLO????
All is quiet, business as usual
In other news a Support The Chief Rally, the Sequel, this week on Wednesday.
What's happening Wednesday?
Well as a Charlotte Firefighter I do not support my Chief.
Guess this won't be apart of his rally since it is because of Chiefs failed leadership.
CFD to discuss minority hiring, promotional practices, sources say http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/cfd-to-talk-about-minority-hiriging-promotional-practics-sources-say/528120852
Nothin but an ass clown
Maybe Hannan will #confefe today
Well I see how much us minorities and women mean to Chief Hannan. He doesn't even attend to discuss, dumps it on his clean up bleach guy Granger. When will our city council step up and do something. Was one lawsuit not enough and now we promise more to come.
Shocker 90 percent are white! Well I've taken the testing and I can tell you 90 percent sitting in the room aren't white. So seems like it's a racist organization if you got 90 percent whites working. Damn even the police dept isn't that racially divided! Pretty obvious it all starts at the top with the hooded leader himself!
What a disaster and then the Chief try's to sneak in an exclusive with Steve Crump after he hides all day. WSOC busted him on that too. The ratio of African American Fire Captains is 7.7 percent. Down from 10 percent in 2015. You can't spin that at all. And what was the EMergency Management Director doing a conference on minority issues for ? He ain't fooling nobody he is opie Taylor as they come.
Arrogance of the fire command staff makes the whole city look like idiots and the Hannan statement about two letters isn't the opinion of the majority. No kidding the majority are white, like you!!!
damn shame
Hannan is a good man and has always treated me with nothing but respect. I find it hard to believe all the allegations against him now. I have no seen no hard evidence to convince me of either sides arguments. Until something is produced other than numbers which can mean whatever one wants them to, I will go with how the man has treated and supported me. The hell with the rest... If we all judge people by the issues others have with them or what the fake news reports we would all hate everyone.
Hannan you can get off Cedar Post now. Maybe above missed the news with the facts.
New records highlight lack of diversity at Charlotte Fire Department http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/new-records-highlight-lack-of-diversity-at-charlotte-fire-department/528787748
So with these issues coming out why is Hannan in hiding? He can't even face the questions or doesn't want to have to continue is lying. So it's easier to let The Grang do his lip service bullshit work. But I have to say Ol Granger isn't looking too healthy these days.
I am not Hannan you ftard. And Ill bet if you take those same numbers and compare them to other departments in the City or companies in Charlotte you will find that those ratios are pretty much the same everywhere. Is everyone a racist because of it? I think not.. Check... obviously you havent and probably wont like most of the other media trolls that just go with the flow. As I stated above, I dont know if its true or not. I spoke of how he has treated me as black man. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Not agreeing or disagreeing but riding the fence. The numbers in the CFD are significantly lower than they were in the late 1980's. Both in ratio and physical numbers. Promotions are significantly lower in both as well. The way someone treats you personally really has very little if anything to do with how they lead an orginization. It would seem that is the problem in the CFD today too much personal and not enough professional relationships. Someone who leads with integrity, honesty, openness and understanding will always put the Department ahead of self and that means knowing when it's time to go. That in no way means that he or she hasn't been good to people or nice but insuring an outside Chief and what looks to be outside Deputy Chiefs now is not putting Department ahead of self. I spent over 30 years there and in my time Fire Chiefs came and went but firefighters were always on the job, nameless even, they are the important ones. Jon get out of there and join the rest of us!!!!!
looks like linda havery joined the comment section
That was a good one
:)
When are the people in the Government Center going to quit listening to the Haggeman and Hannan show?!?! Judge upholds Jury Verdict of 1.5 Million.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article154126809.html
Yet they continue to spend my tax dollars fighting a losing battle that they already lost. Clean it up, pay her up and clean out CFD. Now that's good use of my tax dollars! That girl deserves more for what the CFD Lynch Mob did and they should write the check out of CFD budget.
I agree with the above. I have only lived in Charlotte for 8 years but what a joke. I would say sale those Antique Firetrucks and pay the bill but I have never seen them. My neighbor tells me that the Chief keeps them locked up and he and only a couple people have keys to the building and not even the fire station next door has a key. His own personal tonka toys. Pay the lady out of the FD budget and anyone that supports someone that manages like that, I don't want them in my house or cutting clothes off my kids, as I have heard said. Clean house bring in some good management from outside the dept. the firefighters I know tell me there are only a couple left that will tell the truth that have the knowledge and experience to run the place but they have been beat up so bad they are counting down days to retirement. They have even said an outside group would be best.
Yes above, clean house and bring in leadership from outside to clean up the embedded culture of fear, intimidation, against women and against minorities.
Where is our city council and city manager? We know Claire Fallon is on the watch and working for city employees. But the rest are silent and this is an election year. We the people won't forget on who is working for us. To continue this matter on Eschert is further failed leadership. The city lost and must except the facts it retaliated against this poor woman. When first learning of this a few years ago it was obvious it was retaliation. Why did the city waste about $300,000.00 at that time trying to say it wasn't. This matter never should have made it to court. Because the city of Charlotte was wrong. But instead like a brat it kept on and on. This spent I'd say at this point a $1,000,000.00 or more now. Now go add to that a jury award! Please stop bleeding my taxpayer dollars. Pay the girl what's less then she truly deserves, suck up that you acted this way. Clean up CFD by removing the Chief and his command staff. Put them back on fire trucks if they are even qualified for that.
Agree above clean it up! We the members in public safety deserve better leadership and better pay!
Hannan is a THUG
But Claire has no influence with her fellow City Council members or City Staff. Maybe she should leave the Council and become a WBT Reporter !
Council has no backbone except for Claire Fallon. Only person needing a job with WBTV is Hannan since he leaks info to Crump. Crump has become as unethical as Hannan already was.
For someone with no influence she got more done than other Council person.including facing down staff when they lied in public
Liars. This is far from the only case. Federal court will see this is standard practice. Legally, pattern and practice to retaliate for honest whistleblowing and attack people and be too stupid to know when to stop. It's disgusting and we are paying for it
lying leadership and here we are still beating a dead horse. When will the city do what is morally and ethically correct. Admit you were wrong with that woman, public apology and do it before a council meeting. She should be invited and addressed by the council, mayor and city manager. Show that employees matter to this city and whistleblowers will never be retaliated against for doing the right thing as she did. Now as for the fire agency they need changes in leadership.
I'm black, I passed the written test for CFD and I passed my JPAT and I got a letter they wouldn't hire me because others are more qualified. Guess that's cause they were white. I'm not a racial person in anyway. But if a fire dept is going to go on tv and talk about them trying to recruit minorities. I'm calling BS on them because they could have hired one but didn't. I got a job with another fire dept and glad I didn't get hired by CFD. They have issues I'd rather be far from.
CPAT test
Mecklenburg County Health Director resigns! Maybe the fire chief could take a chapter from his book. When you fail at your job and your leadership is questioned. Well it's time to go!!!!!!!
Test
City of Charlotte Attorney Robert Hagemann and your tools, I mean staff, please follow suit or be forced.
Lying and retaliation are bad.
Go. Now. Stop what you have done. Leave.
They are part of the problem! You have a city staff but have to hire outside sources to defend you? Guess Robert isn't that great of an attorney since he can't handle cases himself. Guess that Chapel Hill degree is "worthless" and a "waste" if you don't use it. City attorney office are the real "thugs" in all of this. Whoops I think I just used those words Robert, Ron and The little Dick Hannon dimed out. See all three are white and it's was very fitting for them.
Hannah has to have pictures of at least "I hope he can count to 6" City Council members with goats. That is the only reason I can fathom he still has a job.
probably his goat that he shares out on his sisters farm in union co. Goats Gone Wild
maybe a bunch of people have invested in "Hers" and there are original documents??
No, I think they are just this stupid and want to keep like people surrounding them so by comparison they don't think they look worse...
No, maybe-- I don't care. Please just leave.
Where is Linda Havery's husband, Robert Havery when you need a yahoo email to send.
Even after everything that has happened it still amazes me to hear people that never worked for the CFD, never worked a day with Linda Lockhart, or they themselves have a career if not for favoritism would have been less than stellar talk trash on Linda. Linda Lockhart worked for 25 years in an environment that one might say was less than accommodating. She made it to retirement and at the absolute bare minimum met every requirement in those 25 years. Knowing Linda for a greater part of that time she did more than the minimum. Now if you want to compare what she did to what some of other people have done. She never got a special assignment out of Recruit School, she never got a free pass, she never called Chief Fincher at home to complain about something or somebody. So in the end her career was a good one. The way she is being treated now is nothing more than she speaks against the fourth Reich. Being right has little to do with it. When you have former county employees as your cheering section throwing rocks at ghosts in the dark as possible sympathizers what a joke. The facts of Linda's situation are easy. No matter people say in public the overwhelming majority of the CFD loves Linda and that is just a fact. Everyone on the fence fell off and they ain't no recovering from that.
I agree with above^ Every group has bad apples and the ones in CFD just love to attack like the Chief. Its more like his goon squad that walk blind only doing what he wants of them. Linda is a good person and did a brave thing to stand up. She isn't looking for anything but fixing the problem. I was pretty pissed to see comments myself online about her. The public doesn't get it and maybe reading about it would help. She was a firefighter, she walked the walk and did the job. But she also did it in a time that women weren't looked at the same and being black. She never let that stop her from achieving here dream. I even saw another CFD spouse talking smack about Linda online. The brotherhood/sisterhood is embarrassing in our dept. Everyone forgets, we are a family and not red headed step children. Change is coming and its only because of brave women that stood up, not us men! Yes I'm saying it, it took brave women to bring change we all need and they deserve a huge thank you.
What about non-employees speaking up? What does the brotherhood/sisterhood think about that?
We the white people of the Charlotte Fire Department, in Order to form a more perfect brotherhood, abolish Justice, insure domestic Chaos, deprive the common defence, hurt the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this good ole white boy club for the City of Charlotte.
Non employees, haven't heard one yet?
There's also a good ole' boy blue club and City club. I'm not an employee. I've provided indisputable evidence but crimes continue because of the spoken lies of people with badges covering for other people with badges.
Andrew Murray has taken an oath of office but seems not to care about upholding that oath. He expects criminals to bring him evidence of their own crimes and ask to be prosecuted, according to him. Even with their sworn statements of crimes in the official record, that's not good enough.
It's sickening and criminal.
Fixing Charlotte Crime is getting rid of Andrew Murray. All these cases are getting dropped and crime is climbing. Just like the thug in south Charlotte that robbed a man on the greenway. 15 arrest in 2 years???? Wonder how many were dropped since he was still roaming the woods.
agreed. He's not the only problem but he's a huge part of the problem.
The Attorney General has information (so did last AG/current Governor) that Andrew Murray has information of crimes but will not investigate crimes by police/City unless the City/police bring him evidence personally and ask him to investigate them (!?!???) for their own criminal activity. How can we trust Murray to take other criminals off the street when he claims criminals have to ask to be prosecuted and bring him evidence against themselves?
How can an Attorney General support this? How can a Governor/former AG?
Where is the accountability?
yes. truth and jail.
I feel the force, the force is strong and the regime will not be for long.
What does that mean? Please include concrete information because some of us have lives being ruined by this crap and need to know. Not in a funny way, but feel free to include a joke or two if you want to. Names and a time frame would be really helpful, you know?
So Murray will go from screwing up charlotte to screwing up the whole state?
He said Scott shooting was justified but a group of nobodies said it wasn't. Maybe Murray is pulling a Rodney and bailing before the outcome. Wonder how the CMPD officer feels, he was clear 3 times but professionals that were trained to investigate the incident. Get ready for riots as a courtesy of your civil service board. Pack up your families and kids and head for a safe zone now. Charlotte is a waste zone of murders and stupidity.
The Eagle has landed or shall I say was shot down.
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