‘Good Faith’

The City of Los Angeles Board of Civil Service Commissioners wholeheartedly agrees with the opinions expressed in your editorial (May 1), “Good Faith Is Not Shared”.

The U.S. Justice Department’s recent attempts to void the affirmative action provisions of court-approved consent decrees runs contrary to the goals and interests of the City of Los Angeles. Affirmative action programs in the Police Department and Fire Department have resulted in the appointment of significant numbers of women and minorities and have brought this city closer to its goal of employing a workforce that is reflective of the diverse citizenry it serves.

As members of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners, which is responsible for the city’s employee recruitment and selection programs, we recently adopted a motion recommending to the City Council “that the city not accede to the Justice Department’s request to modify the Police and Fire consent decrees.” It is the position of this commission that the city cannot abandon affirmative action just when the results and benefits are becoming evident.

We in the City of Los Angeles can achieve a workforce that fairly represents the ethnic and sex diversity that exists in our community and continue to provide the best possible service and protection to the citizens of Los Angeles.

ANTHONY de los REYES

GERALDINE D. GREEN

RAYMOND C. FISHER

ALAN V. FRIEDMAN

CASIMIRO U. TOLENTINO

Los Angeles