Lawsuit alleges race discrimination at Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority

The former chief human resources officer at Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority filed a federal race discrimination lawsuit against the agency and its former executive director on Tuesday.

Columbus Brooks, who is Black, is suing the URA and Gregory Flisram, who left the organization late last year to return to private consulting work. The complaint also includes claims for retaliation and a hostile work environment.

A URA spokeswoman noted that Flisram URA, and said the authority was “unable to speak to any personnel matters or litigation.”

Flisram did not return a phone call and email seeking comment.

Susheela Nemani-Stanger, URA executive director, released a statement regarding the lawsuit.

It reads in part, “We believe in our values that guide our work at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.

Collaborative Engagement is at the core of our strategy, where we foster partnerships and teamwork to achieve shared objectives. Economic Justice is a fundamental commitment to ensuring fairness and equity in economic opportunities for all stakeholders.

“We prioritize Empowering our Staff, recognizing that providing necessary support and resources is essential for our team’s success. Inclusive Community is a cornerstone of our approach, creating an environment that embraces diversity and welcomes all individuals.”

The lawsuit said Brooks began working for URA in May 2016 as the chief human resources officer.

For six years, the lawsuit said, Brooks did well, including receiving positive scores on his evaluations and receiving several awards, including the People Engagement Award in 2021, the Power of Teamwork Award in 2022, and the Buchanan Ingersoll Excellence in Diversity Award.

Then, in the summer of 2022, Brooks claims he was improperly investigated and had his role reduced. He added that URA failed to post the opening for Flisram’s executive director job and Brooks was passed over for a promotion for a less-qualified candidate.

The lawsuit alleges that Flisram discriminated against Brooks, including ignoring his recommendations during meetings in front of his peers and instead taking the advice of his white counterparts.

“When Mr. Brooks asserted himself in meetings, Mr. Flisram would say that he had a bad attitude or was not smiling enough, but when white employees spoke more aggressively, he would attribute it to them merely being frustrated,” the lawsuit said.

At least three times, Brooks claims, Flisram referred to him and two other Black, male employees as “big” and “intimidating.”

“Another time, Mr. Flisram commented that there are ‘different types of Black people working here that are in a lower class and are jealous of other Blacks.’”

Although the lawsuit does not name current Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Wilhelm as a defendant, Brooks does say she also discriminated against him.

In an instance where URA chose a less-qualified white candidate over a more-qualified Black candidate, Wilhelm told Brooks “to stop making everything about race,” the lawsuit said.

Wilhelm did not return a call for comment.

Brooks alleges there was a general culture at URA that is hostile to Black senior staff employees.

“Many employees and directors refused to use the tools, policies and procedures that were implemented by Mr. Brooks in his department and would ignore his attempts to make URA a safer place for minority employees,” the lawsuit said.

Brooks said he endured the hostile conduct for years before complaining to Flisram and other leadership in February 2022.

For months after, the lawsuit said, Flisram was still subjecting Brooks to the same conduct.

At one point, the complaint said, “Mr. Flisram told Mr. Brooks to ‘stop being a victim and complaining.’”

The lawsuit said URA ignored his multiple complaints and never investigated.

When another employee complained, the lawsuit said, URA did investigate, finding that the human resources department functioned at a high level regarding the processes Brooks implemented.

Still, the URA board refused to heed the those findings and improperly investigated three Black senior staff, including Brooks, the suit claims.

“This investigation set in motion a false narrative about Mr. Brooks being untrustworthy,” the complaint said. “The short duration of time between when Mr. Brooks made his complaints of race discrimination to URA and when he was investigated suggest a retaliatory motive behind the investigation.”