A recent probe conducted by city Inspector General Deborah Witzburg uncovered several instances of misconduct among Chicago city employees, with a particular emphasis on the behavior of former Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, Ken Meyer. The investigation revealed Meyer's alleged discriminatory and hostile treatment towards subordinate employees.
According to a Chicago Business report, Meyer, who commenced service in 1994 under former Mayor Richard M. Daley, retired amidst the investigation. The report states he "frequently yelled at, disrespected, and belittled subordinate employees," including using "discriminatory language in the presence of and directed at employees, often commenting on employees’ actual or perceived ethnicities."
Additional details from the Sun-Times indicate the scope of Meyer's alleged misconduct. “In at least one instance, the official told an employee that they would not be considered for a promotion due to their actual or perceived ethnicity not being what the official wanted for the position,” stated Witzburg. Meyer's hostile behavior reportedly prompted numerous department members to seek employment elsewhere, painting a picture of an oppressive work environment within one of the city's key departments.
The investigation also highlighted Meyer's response to the OIG investigation, alleging he provided multiple false and inaccurate statements to investigators. The occurrences reported by the Chicago Business describe a troubling environment led by Meyer, where staff were subjected to outbursts and language to the point where they took bets on the frequency of vulgar words used in meetings. According to the Chicago Business, his retirement was seemingly prompted by the unfolding investigation, during which he expressed desires to leave on his own terms, familiar sources reported.
The investigative report by Witzburg captures a much broader array of ethical breaches across various city departments, including a library clerk accused of sexual harassment and a contractor exploiting access to city files for financial gain. These findings together sketch a troubling landscape of administrative misconduct within Chicago's city agencies.
