The city of Jacksonville is close to settling a 2013 discrimination lawsuit alleging the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department discriminates against African-Americans in hiring and creates a hostile work environment.
The city will settle with a $250,000 payment and change its hiring practices, as long as City Council agrees.
The NAACP and Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters filed the civil rights suit.
Under the settlement, a more diverse group of firefighters will be hired over the next five years. The goal is to better reflect Jacksonville’s demographics.
JFRD will also take note of economic hurdles applicants are facing and cover firefighter certification costs for some of them.
A bill approving the settlement will be introduced into Council Tuesday.
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