Suit, New Accusations for EOC
By Monte R. Young and Andrew Smith.
STAFF WRITERS


As new allegations surfaced against the embattled Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau and its leader, John Kearse, two fired employees yesterday filed a $100 million lawsuit against the antipoverty organization and called for the director's resignation. The new accusations came from several Head Start and day-care teachers working in EOC-administered programs, who said that they were pressured to give back part of their pay to the organization to help fund its activities. One group of six teachers said Kearse had withheld their annual county enhancement funds - $6,500 for full-time teachers and $3,500 for assistants - unless they agreed to give a portion back to EOC for youth programs. The county provides the money to offset some of the difference between what public school teachers and the EOC teachers earn. County officials say the EOC must show in an audit that the teachers got the money. "That's not fair. We need the money," said one of the teachers, all of whom asked not to be identified, saying it might jeopardize their jobs. Some teachers said they would give some of their pay back to the EOC because they feared they would be fired otherwise and others were not sure what they would do. At least four other EOC employees have said in interviews that they were pressured to forgo a day's pay periodically to improve the organization's financial situation and to take vacation days to work on political campaigns. They also spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisals. Law enforcement officials confirmed that new several employees have come to them with allegations about donating vacation days and pay. Kearse did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Two other EOC officials declined to comment. But the allegations about the enhancement funds were corroborated by another source who is familiar with the Head Start program and how it is run. The source, who requested anonymity, said teachers were told last year that the funds would be withheld and that it came "from the office of John Kearse." The source said the reason given was that the funds were needed for youth programs and that employees are expected to give back to the EOC. The new allegations come on top of revelations that at least four EOC employees were fired last month at least partly because they refused demands to contribute to a minority scholarship fund. Those allegations have triggered investigations by the Nassau district attorney and the state attorney general. One of the fired employees, Angela Bryant, said she was seeking damages for sexual harassment by the Rev. R. William Cooper, the former director of the EOC's Roosevelt Community Action Program, and Billy McCall, the EOC deputy director. In the suit, which seeks $100 million for wrongful termination, violations of civil rights and the alleged harassment, Bryant said Cooper "insisted that he be allowed to kiss and bite" her. She also said McCall had forced "himself on her physically." Both Cooper and McCall denied the charges. "I treated her with respect. I know her family very well. I have never had that kind of encounter with Angela," said McCall. "I feel sorry for her. I don't know why she is doing this. It's not true." EOC officials said Cooper resigned Jan. 26, the day the employees were fired. They would not say why he left. Cooper, who has denied the allegation, could not be reached yesterday. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Uniondale by Bryant and Timothy Green. Their attorneys, John Gianfortune and Steven Gildin, said Kearse should resign because he has not responded to written demands to reinstate the former employees.

Copyright 1996, Newsday Inc.
Monte R. Young, Andrew Smith, Suit, New Accusations for EOC., 02-13-1996, pp A04.