IDOT secy: Alleged behavior “not acceptable”

Posted on August 28, 2020
IDOT Secretary Omer Osman (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A Senate hearing Thursday about transparency and equity at the Illinois Department of Transportation gave IDOT Secretary Omer Osman a chance to answer serious allegations. 

State Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is the one who went there, saying, “We’ve been hearing about those kinds of problems for a long time. To have a former employee or to have someone to actually outright accuse you of it – we are getting a bit serious now, Mr. Secretary. So, what’s going on?”

“Racism, sexual harassment. (and) unlawful discrimination (are) not acceptable at IDOT,” Osman said. “I personally take this complaint of discrimination very seriously.”

Osman and IDOT’s chief counsel, Phil Kaufmann, outlined steps complainants can take both within and outside the agency. A lawsuit alleges years of systemic racism by IDOT, particularly in southern Illinois.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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