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Houston LULAC Accuses Houston of Discrimination
HOUSTON (AP) April 22, 2005

A National Hispanic organization has filed a class-action complaint with the Justice Department on behalf of Latino city of Houston employees.

The complaint by the League of United Latin American Citizens details numerous incidents of alleged mistreatment of Latino city employees.

The complaint includes allegations of ethnic and sexual harassment and discriminatory hiring, firing and promotions. The complaint also alleges that Latinos have been kept from participating in the city's Safe Clear program. That program awarded 29 contracts to eleven companies to handle towing on area freeways.

A spokesman for Houston Mayor Bill White says LULAC leaders wouldn't release a copy of the complaint to the city legal department. But the spokesman says the mayor has stated emphatically that the city takes care not to violate anti-discrimination laws and policies.