Gov. Josh Shapiro has named Philadelphia City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. interim chair of Pennsylvania’s civil rights enforcement agency, as it undergoes an investigation over how it spent tax dollars and navigates a series of resignations that affect its ability to operate.
Jones, who was appointed last month and has been a member of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission since 2017, said in a statement he wants to “strengthen civil rights protections across the Commonwealth and to ensure every Pennsylvanian has the right to live, work, play, and learn free from discrimination.”
Jones, a lifelong Philadelphian who has been on City Council since 2008, has long touted his efforts to bring municipal contract opportunities to businesses owned by minorities, women, and entrepreneurs with disabilities.
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Outgoing executive director Chad Dion Lassiter said in a statement that Jones’ “commitment to civil rights will help guide the PHRC forward.”
Still, the appointment comes amid a major reconfiguration of the agency.
Lassiter submitted his formal resignation early last month, after Shapiro asked him in February to step down. The commission’s chief of counsel and executive procurement officer announced their departures around the same time.
Then Joel Bolstein, for whom Jones is now stepping in, announced his resignation after being on the commission since 1999 and having spent a decade serving as chairman. Vice-chair of the commission Raquel Yiengst announced her departure less than a week later.
No public reasons were given for Bolstein and Yiengst’s departures and Lassiter previously told The Inquirer the timing of the resignations were unrelated.
The commission investigates and hears cases of discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations, but it needs to have a majority of members to have a quorum and issue guidance. The agency currently has six vacancies on the 11 person body.
A spokesperson for the commission did not respond to questions about the agency’s ability to operate even with an interim chair. Curtis’ office did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.
Beyond the quorum issues, a Shapiro spokesperson told The Inquirer last month that some commission spending has been suspended amid an Office of Administration review of recent purchases.
Lassiter, who was awarded the President’s Award by the Philadelphia NAACP in February, told The Inquirer he was asked to resign over concerns the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission was going to spend $20,000 on two tables for the awards ceremony. Lassiter said the payments were never made, calling the pressure to leave a “hit job.”