The city of Spokane will investigate allegations of racism against its city manager after a departing division director accused the city’s top employee of mistreating him because he is Black.
According to The Spokesman-Review, Cupid Alexander, the leader of the city’s homeless and neighborhood services department and the only Black leader at City Hall, announced he was resigning on Monday. On Wednesday, local media obtained emails from Alexander to city manager Johnnie Perkins alleging a pattern of mistreatment, and that Perkins was forcing him out early.
Perkins was previously the deputy chief operating officer for the city of San Diego, was hired by Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward in March. Alexander was appointed in November.
In a news release Thursday, Mayor Nadine Woodward said she had instructed the city’s Human Resources and Legal Departments to work with an outside firm to investigate the allegations.
