"Reese walked into my office, closed the door, sat down, and, without any context, said, 'Jews...'" (Updated)

* October...

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s communications director is leaving City Hall, sources told the Tribune Wednesday.

Ronnie Reese, who led Johnson’s press office since the transition in May 2023, will exit the role after a tumultuous year-and-a-half that’s seen the administration struggle at times with media strategy. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for the mayor said Johnson press secretary Erin Connelly has been appointed acting communications director and will run the mayor’s press office moving forward. The departure was not a voluntary decision by Reese, sources with direct knowledge of the situation told the Tribune.

Reese leaving marks a key shake-up in the mayor’s inner circle. Long a close friend of the mayor’s, Reese previously worked as a deputy press secretary for the Chicago Teachers Union before serving as press secretary for Johnson’s winning 2023 mayoral campaign.

 

* Fast forward...

 

OK, remember these are only allegations.  But Reese wasn't exactly revered as a nice guy while he was on staff.

* From one of the files...

I'd like to begin by stating that | was extremely reluctant to bring forward this complaint due to the hostile and retaliatory environment created by Ronnie Reese, a senior staff member of the Mayor’s Office. Reese has already fired seven former members of the Mayor’s Press Office, has threatened current staff with termination, and has blacklisted three former employees on the City’s Do Not Hire list. He is also named in other complaints and his mistreatment has been documented by the press. | hesitate to come forward out of fear of retaliation and termination. 

Under Reese's management, the Mayor’s Press Office has become a hostile workplace where anyone can be deemed what Reese calls an "opp" (operative or opposition) and face severe exclusion and retaliation. This label is often given simply for talking to certain staffers or colleagues. Those labeled as “opps” are systematically left out of crucial emails and meetings, treated coldly, and have their role reduced by Reese. Attempts by staffers to address these concerns would only make things worse, as Reese takes suggestions as criticism and concerns as challenges to his authority. 

| have personally experienced mistreatment by Reese in the form of sexual harassment, misogyny, exclusion, and unfair treatment. The increasing hostility in this environment has left me in constant fear for my job and well-being. 

Below | outline incidents that | have experienced along with documentation:

Keep reading.

* More...

In a disturbing incident, Reese walked into my office, closed the door, sat down, and, without any context, said, “Jews...” His inappropriate and antisemitic remarks left me feeling deeply uncomfortable. [...]

Referred to [Redacted] as the "Jew." [...]

He has shown a pattern of misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, and anti-latine behavior. He has made comments to and around his staff, including asking a [Redacted] "so, the Jews?" 

He routinely treats women on staff differently, making comments that they're stupid and incompetent. He degrades his staff, people he works with outside the Mayor's Office, and talks disparagingly about other staff to his junior staff. Not only does he harass verbally, but he also bullies people via email and text messages on City devices, with some of his direct reports keeping the screenshots. His reports have not gone to DHR or EEO in fear of retribution and firing, and some are already being retributed against by icing out and more harassment. This has been consistent since the Mayor has taken office in May 2023. 

* Another...

Date Created: 2024-07-18 21:52:15
Description of Incident: | was a part of a conversation with several members of the Mayor's Office Comms/Press team where several members of the team expressed grave concerns with their manager Ronnie Reese. Concerns included intimidation, hostile work environment, and nappropriate comments around race. Several of the team members indicated that Mr. Reese either blatantly indicated that he was "untouchable" and couldn't be fired or eluded to that.

* This is quite something...

THE MAYOR’S PRESS OFFICE MEETING WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF

-  Reese did not attend the meeting as he was on PTO.
-  The beginning of this meeting was incredibly off-putting as it began with blaming the previous administration for parking meters, for a lack of infrastructure, and no updated personnel handbooks. While this may be true, it felt unrelated to the issue at hand and felt like a way to shift accountability.
-  The Chief of Staff (CoS) also stated at the beginning of the meeting that “all firing and hiring goes through me” and told us we don’t have to worry about retaliation. However, this was visibly unconvincing to the group as the questions that followed her statement challenged this in the context of the seven firings that had already occurred.
-  The CoS repeatedly advocated for Reese’s inclusion in meetings about this matter and referenced “peace circles” but the team was unanimously against his inclusion due to the shared fear of retaliation.

-  As team members spoke up, others used terms like “misogynist,” “hostile,” “narcissistic,” and “petty.”
- The CoS brought up restorative justice but one member of the team pointed out that in order for restorative justice to work, there has to be an ability and willingness for change which the team does not see in Reese.
- Members of the team repeatedly rephrased questions about how this situation would be dealt with that the CoS did not directly answer.
- The meeting did not result in any additional clarity or changes.
- The meeting ended with a unanimous agreement that the present members of the Mayor’s Press Office team did not want to meet with the CoS and Reese to discuss this matter.

...Adding...  Tribune...

In a statement he released on Tuesday, Reese denied all the accusations and said he never mistreated any staffers.

“I strongly and unequivocally deny any allegations of wrongdoing,” Reese wrote. “Throughout my career, I have carried myself with the utmost professionalism and respect for all of my peers, something to which many of my former colleagues at the City of Chicago and previous employers can attest. There are many, many others who know my character, and who know the truth. I stand confident in that truth as I continue to prioritize my wife, my children and the health of my family in the next chapter of my career.”

 ...Adding...  Best comment so far...

Peace circles and restorative justice for sexual harassment — can’t make this stuff up. It’s like SNL doing a parody of a progressive workplace. If they burn enough incense and snap their fingers to the positive vibes, the harm will go away.