Copyright NBC 5 Chicago
The city official responsible for putting on some of Chicago's biggest festivals resigned abruptly last month, the same official NBC Chicago has been asking questions about for months. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, NBC 5 Investigates uncovered allegations of sexual harassment, harassment based on age, race and ethnicity, and more. Clinée Hedspeth's year and a half as the leader of Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, or DCASE, was marked by turmoil. Public records show during her tenure, 29 employees left the department, including seven deputy commissioners. In April, NBC Chicago reported on the letter from more than 100 local artists concerned about her leadership. Heavily redacted documents show in September, the Chicago Department of Human Resources, or DHR, found Hedspeth violated the city's Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. She resigned Oct. 6, less than two weeks later. DCASE is responsible for the Taste of Chicago and Chicago Blues Festival, as well as fostering relationships with artists and managing public art. In March 2024, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson tapped Hedspeth, his longtime friend, to lead the department. She left less than two years later and, at the direction of the mayor's office, is not eligible for rehire. NBC 5 Investigates learned DHR began investigating Hedspeth after a complaint made in February by a DCASE employee. The employee complained Hedspeth made "humiliating and demoralizing" comments about their culture. As DCASE prepped for Chicago City Council budget hearings last year, Hedspeth asked the employee to wear "traditional cultural clothes" in council chambers and "put on a thick accent so it's hard to understand you." Hedspeth later told DHR the comments were made "jokingly." DHR found Hedspeth engaged in age-based harassment because of comments she made about grey hair, including telling an employee not to have grey hair when going to the fifth floor of City Hall, which is where the mayor's office is. Other claims included making comments about an employee’s sexual orientation and disregarding their pronouns. DHR investigated the claims and found that as a result, Hedspeth violated the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. When asked about comments Hedspeth made about her sex life, as well as asking about an employee’s sexual preferences and whether they would have an affair with a married person, Hedspeth told DHR the conversations happened prior to the employee working for the city. Hedspeth called them a “disgruntled employee.” A spokesperson for Hedspeth said, in part, "the report contains inaccuracies and omissions. Ms. Hedspeth remains confident that the full and accurate facts will ultimately come to light through the appropriate legal process.” In her resignation letter, Hedspeth said she planned to return to the private sector and lead a foundation. The mayor's press office told NBC Chicago after it received the report from DHR, it followed the recommendations provided, including placing Hedspeth on the ineligible for rehire list. The mayor's spokesperson said Hedspeth resigned before she could be terminated. According to the documents, DHR interviewed Hedspeth twice during its investigation, both times with a lawyer present. Hedspeth left the second interview and said she would not return to answer more questions. Investigators said they did not get to ask her about allegations of disability harassment and retaliation included in the initial complaint. “These allegations were raised under circumstances that warrant a more intense and thoughtful review. It is concerning that Ms. Hedspeth was not provided the opportunity to review her statement before the release of the final report, a right protected by law and standard procedure for the City of Chicago," said Hedspeth's spokesperson in a statement.
