CB3 Chair Gigi Li Cleared of Alleged ‘Racial Insensitivity’ in Appointing Leadership

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Chad Marlow vs. Gigi Li, June 2014

Around this time last year, a faction of Community Board 3 members led by Ayo Harrington accused Chair Gigi Li of “racial insensitivity” in her appointment of both the Executive Board and committee chairpersons. The finger-pointing manifested in a letter circulated that noted Li “consistently and regularly failed to appoint any Black or Latino members of our community board as the chair of a committee, subcommittee, or task force.” The claim bascially asserted that these two major racial groups were being freezed from the higher levels of participation.

Despite the allegations and, frankly, her apparent ineptitude in some matters, she was victorious in maintaining her position on the advisory board. She defeated Chad Marlow in elections for the seat last summer.

However, The Villager reports this week that a “confidential investigation” by Manhattan BP Gale Brewer pretty much exonerates the controversial figurehead of any wrongdoing.

The investigators concluded that the accusation was “unsubstantiated” — though, according to sources, may have recommended that Li take basic Equal Employment Opportunity training. In fact, Brewer is now promoting Li, having named her as a panelist on her “State of the Borough 2015” event on Sun., Feb. 8, at Columbia’s Lerner Hall, starting at 2 p.m.

We can read between the lines here, though. Forcing EEO training is the slap on the wrist telling her that she done fucked up. The Villager, meanwhile, also suspects it possible that Gigi Li might try for a seat in the State Assembly once the disgraced Sheldon Silver departs.