San Lorenzo Board Member Of 42 Years Censured After Racist, Sexist Comments To Employees

SAN LORENZO (CBS SF) -- An East Bay sanitary district's board of directors has censured a longtime board member for racial slurs and sexist remarks they say he made to district employees.

According to the Bay Area News Group,  Oro Loma Sanitary District board directors voted 4-0 to censure Laython Landis for a pattern of "highly inappropriate" behavior, including intoxication at public events and sexist comments to a female employee.

"Mr. Landis has made sexist comments to our female district staff. And it's becoming more and more of a pattern of behavior," board president Tim Becker told KPIX 5.

The punishment comes nearly two weeks after Landis, a board member of 42 years, remarked "It looks like it's going to rain cats and dogs and (black) babies today," during a construction committee meeting, according to Becker.

"It's a saying that's been around for years -- I've said it many times," said Landis, a former San Leandro City Council member. "I probably offended a few who take offense to the word."

Landis, who has not publicly apologized for the derogatory term, said he apologized to a board member during a recent phone conversation.

District leaders said Landis' censure was the Oro Loma board's first in its history.

Landis told KPIX 5 that he refuses to resign.

In:
• San Leandro
• Hayward