"Processing the complaint would create the appearance of a conflict of interest."

Thus has the State Division of Human Rights rejected a complaint filed by Tami Campbell against Jerome Blue.

Campbell is a former RIOC employee. For three years starting in November of 1995, she was the first RIOC employee visitors would meet when visiting the RIOC office at 591 Main Street. She often notarized documents for residents or provided strangers with directions.

Blue, of course, is the former President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) who is now State Commissioner of Human Rights - the very unit of State government to which Campbell's complaint was referred.

Campbell provided The WIRE with papers in the case, dating back to April, when she wrote Governor George Pataki asking that his office refer her case to the appropriate State agency. She charged Blue with employment discrimination for talking to female members of his staff with "four-letter words."

In the materials, she points out that she was one of only five administrative staffers retained by Jerome Blue after he took over RIOC. Her complaint alleges, among other charges, that after she helped a fellow employee with a task, she was told not to do that in the future, and to stay in her office with her door closed because Blue said he did not wish to hear her voice.

Campbell says she was suspended in April, 1999, without being given a reason, after consistent scores of 4 or higher on a personnel rating scale with 5 as the highest score. Her formal complaint says, "Dr. Blue speaks to me and other female employees in a more harsh manner than to male employees. He curses at me and [other] females, but not at males."

Campbell told The WIRE she plans to pursue the matter through legal action, the media, and "everything else I can think of." She said, "This one, I'm not going to let drop."