On Tue, Feb 9, 2021 at 9:33 AM Nivilla Campbell wrote:
Hello,
My name is Nivilla Campbell. I am writing today to ask for your support by speaking to the City of Shelby City Council and the Mayor about my situation.
I worked for the City of Shelby Natural Gas department for a little over 3 years. I was the only African American in the department. While working there I experienced a lot of harsh things. I had my hair pulled and told they were trying to clean their hands with my hair (I reported it), I also was called the B word (that was actually handled), and lastly a fellow supervisor stated some racial slurs to me while in the crew room in front of his employees and one of mine.
I reported it, there was an investigation and it came out that it was true. After hearing from people, the supervisor was bragging that nothing was done to him, I reported it to the EEOC. Throughout the whole investigation HR never reached out to me. She let my supervisor handle it. So, I’m not sure if the investigation was done correctly or not.
I was told by my supervisor that I eventually have to get over this, we all have a job to do. I was also told that I can’t close my office door and miss meetings to avoid seeing that supervisor. It was a lot on me mentally and emotionally to have to continue working after the racial slurs and being told that by my supervisor.
Also, throughout my time there I asked numerous of times about work-related training to help me do my job better. I was told by my supervisor, that the City Manager doesn’t like to send people to trainings out of state. I then witnessed them send someone in my department to a training overnight to another state.
To me none of this is right. I’m asking for your support today. If you can reach out to the City Council and the Mayor. There needs to be some changes in the way the City handles discrimination. There should be no tolerance for those type of behaviors.
Thank you so much for taking time to read my email.
Sincerely,
Nivilla Campbell
On Sunday, February 7, 2021, Willie Green wrote:
To: Boomerang Design Principal Owners,
According to Mr. L.E. Henson, there are people in the Shelby City Government who are leaking information about the ongoing corruption taking place under Mayor Anthony’s leadership (see email below).
There will be national attention, drawing a spotlight on what is taking place within the City of Shelby Government in the coming months. The question Boomerang Design’s Partners must ask themselves; do we want our company associated with a corrupt Mayor who discriminates against people of color and possibly lose out on public contracts with government agencies in NC & SC?
Remember President Biden’s promise to the minority community on eliminating systemic racism? “I mean it, especially in those moments and especially for those moments when this campaign was at its lowest ebb, the African American community stood up again for me. You’ve always had my back, and I’ll have yours.”
Stan Anthony has abused his power as Mayor of Shelby and betrayed the public trust by leading a campaign to deny blacks – who do not hire your company (Boomerang Design) – to do business in Shelby. Then he uses the Shelby Star newspaper to publicly humiliate, embarrass and retaliate against any person of color who dare contest him and his supporters. And if intimidation does not work, Mayor Anthony calls on his friends in the judicial system to deny people of color the right to challenge the Mayor and the City in the court of law, by not following the rules of civil procedure.
Mayor Anthony has also allowed black employees to be harassed and discriminated against by their supervisors. One example is in the case of a black employee, Campbell v. City of Shelby, NC Case No. 3:20-cv-00629 North Carolina Western District Court. Ms. Campbell stated in her lawsuit that “Gas Supervisor (Scott Huffsteller) made numerous racial slurs and workplace hostility. I reported it to my supervisor, and she opened an investigation. To my understanding there was nothing done. Then, I was told to ‘get over it. We all have a job to do.’”
If Mayor Anthony really cared about the future of the City of Shelby and the survival of your company, he would resign as Mayor ASAP and sever all business ties with your company.
“Not having effective leadership in place to encourage and “capture” growth opportunities… Lack of Diversity.” City of Shelby 2017 Economic Development Strategic Plan on the “THREATS” in Shelby. Not my words, the City’s own economic impact study findings.
Willie A. Green, Sr.
