Lawndale Housing Official Quits, Calls City Manager a Poor Leader

Lawndale Housing Coordinator Rufus Washington has resigned, charging that City Manager Jim Arnold has poor leadership and management skills and lacks racial sensitivity.

Washington, 34, who has worked for the city for 2 1/2 years, said he will join a private business that sells office equipment to government agencies.

In an interview Friday, Arnold dismissed Washington’s accusations, saying “most of what he said is complete fabrication.” Arnold said he is not a racist and described Washington as a “mediocre” employee who is “playing to the media.”

In a letter read to the City Council Thursday night, Washington--who is black--said he resigned because of “the city manager’s leadership and management inefficiencies,” and he also accused Arnold of racial insensitivity.

Members of the City Council did not comment on Washington’s complaint at the meeting.

Mayor Sarann Kruse said Friday she was “very surprised and disturbed” by the resignation letter. However, she said it is no secret she is unhappy with Arnold’s performance as city manager.

Councilwoman Carol Norman declined to discuss the matter Friday, and Councilmen Larry Rudolph, Dan McKenzie and Harold Hofmann could not be reached for comment. Washington told the council he had submitted a letter of resignation to Arnold Dec. 12, indicating he would work until Jan. 3 to provide a smooth transition for his replacement.

However, Washington said Arnold notified him the next day that he was no longer needed at City Hall, though he would be paid through Jan. 3.

“I believe the action Mr. Arnold took after receiving my letter provides the best example of the management problems I’ve spoken about here,” he told the council.

Arnold said he notified Washington that he should not return to work because he was offended by Washington’s “accusatory” resignation letter.

James Belmore, data processing coordinator and president of the city’s Mid-Management (employees) Assn., said Friday an “unusually high number of individuals” have resigned in recent months because of low morale in City Hall.

He said he believes Arnold is partly to blame because he is unwilling to take criticism and does not consider the opinions of his staff.

“Employees have been leaving because they feel they have not been considered,” he said.

Arnold denied morale at City Hall is low and said the staff is generally happy. “I’m going to conduct city business as I see fit, and if the City Council doesn’t like it, they can replace me,” he said.

Washington said he does not intend to sue the city and that he spoke before the council because “I simply want to clear my name and reputation.”

He said Arnold has failed to provide clear direction to his staff. As an example, Washington said the manager often gave him assignments relating to the disbursement of housing grants but failed to provide enough background information so he could complete the work.

Washington also said Arnold typically would threaten to fire employees to get them to do what he wanted. “Having all the gears operating under that type of atmosphere (is) very difficult,” he said.

Washington also charged Arnold with making several racially insensitive comments. For example, he said that in October Arnold used a derogatory term when referring to blacks in a conversation about Detroit.

Arnold said Washington’s charges are lies. He said he has never discriminated against anyone, adding that he is part Cherokee Indian. He said he did use the derogatory term, but he said he was quoting someone else and the comment was taken out of context.

Belmore, who also is black, said he was told about the racial remark and wrote to Arnold about it. Belmore said Arnold promised to apologize but never did.

He said Arnold also has never been willing to meet with the association to discuss members’ complaints about how City Hall is managed.

In response, Arnold said he is not obligated to take directions from Belmore or his organization.

“I’m not going to dance to somebody else’s puppet strings,” he said.