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Merit Appeals Board July 18, 2025 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Addendum to Agenda (Item 2) <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: There’s no addendum to the agenda, from what I understand from our <br />Secretary. <br /> <br />Statements from the Public (Item 3) <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: “Statements from the Public”—I understand, Mr. Hong, you have a <br />statement to make? <br /> <br />(At this time, Mr. Ted H. S. Hong, Esquire, Attorney at Law, came forward.) <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: And this is regarding the annual performance evaluation of the Director of <br />the Department of Human Resources, is that correct? <br /> <br />MR. HONG: That’s correct. <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: You may proceed. <br /> <br />MR. HONG: Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chair, and members of the Merit Appeals <br />Board. My name is Ted Hong, I’m speaking as a regular citizen today or for now. <br /> <br />In terms of Item number 7 on the Board’s agenda, my concern as a member of the public is that <br />the Director of the Department of Human Resources needs to be independent. Free from <br />influence by the Mayor, the department heads, and even the unions—and I bring up two <br />examples. <br /> <br />The Turner Lyndon case and the Jonah Kaye case. The Director used a (inaudible) interpretation <br />of civil service rules and regulations to support department heads and the mayor. I would—I’m <br />speaking this morning because when you get to Item number 7, my hope is that the Board <br />ensures that whoever’s director can actually say “no” to a mayor, can actually say “no” to a <br />department or union and not enable poor, illegal choices that prejudice employees. <br /> <br />And the prejudice to the employees is when we moved for attorney’s fees and costs used in the <br />Turner Lyndon case and the Jonah Kaye case, you saw how much it costs for employees, out of <br />their own pocket, to present their case before the Board. Shouldn’t have to be that way. And <br />even though that probably undercuts my business, they shouldn’t have to do that, and they <br />shouldn’t have to suffer to make that out (inaudible), in terms of personal expenses. <br /> <br />And that’s why I’m here to say, in terms of, whoever is the department director, make sure that <br />they’re—I hope the Board makes sure they’re independent and can say “no” to the mayor. I’ve <br />been in the room with Michael Ben—Mayor Yamashiro, when I was at Corporation Counsel— <br />oh, he was very insistent. He was very independent. He told the mayor “no.” <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br /> <br />