La Quinta Library report: “no evidence” of discriminatory intent by city staff

The report of the independent investigation into instances of alleged discrimination at the La Quinta Library was released today, concluding that “there was no evidence of discriminatory motive on the part of any City staff” relating to the name change of the cultural event at the library.

Additionally, the report found that according to the credible evidence gathered, “Ms. Hassan’s rehearsed dance and music program was not changed by Library staff.”

In early November, Supervisor Perez requested an independent investigation into one instance of discrimination which occurred at the library involving a class from Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Coachella having to modify their performance for Hispanic Heritage month so as to take out cultural references from the performance.

School district, city leaders argue over alleged discrimination

The investigation’s scope was later expanded to include a second instance of alleged abuse uncovered by News Channel 3, when, in January 2016, renowned Mexican-American Victor Villaseñor’s presentation was allegedly interrupted by staff. In an interview with News Channel 3, Villaseñor said he felt discriminated against.

Villaseñor, however, gave a different account to the investigator involved in the report.

“Mr. Villasenor did not recall any negative experiences when he was invited to speak at the La Quinta Library in January 2016,” read the report.

You can read the full Investigative report below:

News Channel 3’s Jake Ingrassia covered the news conference; you can follow his notes from inside the room below:

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085968218458488832″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Supervisor Perez taking questions in Spanish. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/XdUrX6Hsvi”&#gt;pic.twitter.com/XdUrX6Hsvi&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085968218458488832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;January 17, 2019&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085966928512864256″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;I asked Supervisor Perez what message is being relayed to the students. &#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;He said he plans to apologize personally to the class and that they should be proud of the Mexican heritage.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085966928512864256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;January 17, 2019&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085964031838412800″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;&#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/linda4lqmayor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;@linda4lqmayor&#lt;/a&#gt; apologizes to the city of &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/LaQuintaCA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;@LaQuintaCA&#lt;/a&#gt; and the kids for an “avoidable” event. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/eHOmTUMIeW”&#gt;pic.twitter.com/eHOmTUMIeW&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085964031838412800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;January 17, 2019&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085963303313039360″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;”Who goes to a library to close their mind?” – Supervisor Perez, condemning the alleged discrimination and intolerance.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085963303313039360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;January 17, 2019&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085962702869094400″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Supervisor Perez says what should have been a beautiful performance for the kids was ruined by adults.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085962702869094400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;January 17, 2019&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085962407673876480″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;The 36-page report looks at an instance of alleged discrimination involving a Cesar Chavez Elementary School class in Coachella allegedly having to remove cultural references from a Hispanic Heritage month performance.&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;MORE: &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/l0t0BdPdBo”&#gt;https://t.co/l0t0BdPdBo&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085962407673876480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;January 17, 2019&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085962192258707456″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Supervisor Manuel Perez holding a press conference releasing a report of the &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaQuinta?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;#LaQuinta&#lt;/a&#gt; Library independent investigation. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/BiStP4ChD7″&#gt;pic.twitter.com/BiStP4ChD7&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1085962192258707456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;January 17, 2019&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

I-Team uncovers emails in alleged discrimination incident at La Quinta Library

Villaseñor told News Channel 3 that library staff asked him to take down a Mexican flag he had displayed, and then he was later asked to leave.

Mexican-American author accuses La Quinta Library of discrimination

“How do we make it up to the kids? How do I make it up to the kids?” said Perez in a statement when the investigation was first announced. “These students put their hearts into performing and were let down by adults in a truly regrettable situation. I sincerely apologize to the children and families.”

The Riverside County’s Office of County Council retained Barbara Railneau of Woodruff Spradlin & Smart for the investigation.