Landscaper speaks out after alleged racist remarks
A video goes viral in Rancho Mirage of a woman asking a landscaper for his alleged proof of immigration papers. Now the landscaper is speaking out and so is the city of Rancho Mirage.
In the video, you hear Juan Andrade say, "You're too close to me right now and you're not wearing a mask can you step away?" The woman replies, "Can you show me your papers?"
Andrade has been in the landscaping business for 10 years. He shared his video with News Channel 3.
"I didn't expect anything like that to happen to me," Andrade said.
The situation took place last week at Parkview Villas while Andrade was mowing the lawn.
"This wasn't the first time that this happened with her," he said. "Two weeks prior to this event she kicked me out of her patio. I was blowing attending her patio and she came angry, screaming at me to get off the patio," he said.
The mayor of Rancho Mirage, Dana Hobart issued a statement regarding this:
"It is appalling to learn of the hateful misconduct of one of Rancho Mirage’s senior living residents. Racist conduct of any sort is strictly prohibited and not taken lightly in our public housing," Hobart said. "The City of Rancho Mirage does not tolerate bigotry or racism by residents of our apartment properties. Our city is committed to implementing and supporting policies and practices that foster diversity and harmony between all residents and all staff and other personnel whom we ask to maintain our apartments. Our residents understand that the personnel who come to these properties do so to ensure their continuing high quality of maintenance and cleanliness. These people play an essential role in sustaining our superior reputation for senior living. We expect our staff and contractors to be treated with utmost respect. This matter will not be ignored nor tolerated," Hobart said.
The city and the property manager are both investigating this.
"We have gone through our policies for the rules and regulations and the lease agreement and we got that pretty much covered when it comes to harassment being an incurable breach of that lease aggreement," Rancho Mirage Housing Manager, Marcus Aleman told News Channel 3.
“The city condemns this type of behavior. At no point would we try to hide that. We’re going to be out in front about it and it’s just not something anyone should have to experience,” Aleman added.
The property manager could not speak on behalf of their investigation or the current status of their resident.
We reached out on social media to the woman in this video for comment and have yet to hear back.
