XPost: ba.politics, dc.media, soc.penpals   
   XPost: alt.burningman   
   From: a-pox@abe-lincoln.com   
      
   Barneys New York, which has served New York City's fashionistas   
   since 1923, has agreed to pay a $525,000 penalty to settle   
   claims that it mistreated African-American customers by   
   subjecting them to unwarranted scrutiny and falsely accusing   
   them of committing crimes.   
      
   The agreement between the retailer and New York State Attorney   
   General Eric Schneiderman comes after a 9-month long   
   investigation after two African-American shoppers complained   
   they were falsely accused of credit card fraud after making   
   purchases at the trendy Manhattan retailer. According to   
   Schneiderman's office, the probe found that a disproportionate   
   number of black and Latino shoppers were accused of shoplifting   
   and credit card fraud by Barneys security staff.   
      
   Store detectives hassled sales associates so much about credit   
   card use by minority customers that some wouldn't serve them in   
   to order to avoid the aggravation, Schneiderman's office said in   
   a press release. Barneys security staff also followed minority   
   customers in the story even when associates identified them as   
   frequent patrons.   
      
   "This agreement will correct a number of wrongs, both by fixing   
   past policies and by monitoring the actions of Barneys and its   
   employees to make sure that past mistakes are not repeated,"   
   Schneiderman said.   
      
   In a press release, CEO Mike Lee said the retailer was "pleased"   
   to have reached the agreement with Schneiderman, saying it was   
   "truly a progressive company" with "absolutely no tolerance for   
   discrimination of any kind."   
      
   "During the entirety of our 90-year history, Barneys New York   
   has prided itself on providing an unparalleled customer   
   experience to every person that comes into contact with our   
   brand -- open and welcoming to one and all," he said.   
      
   Under the terms of the agreement, Barneys has agreed to hire a   
   consultant with expertise in preventing racial profiling in   
   investigating criminal activity in its store. The retailer will   
   develop and implement new anti-profiling policies for sales and   
   loss prevention employees. Security staff will also need to   
   track investigations, detentions and false stops because of new   
   record-keeping requirements. Customer complaints of profiling   
   will also need to be investigated.   
      
   When these allegations were first publicized last year, the   
   retailer hired San Francisco attorney Michael Yaki, who serves   
   on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, to review its policies   
   and procedures. The store also reached out to community leaders   
   such as the Rev. Al Sharpton, who met with Lee to discuss the   
   allegations.   
      
   The negative publicity surrounding the racial profiling   
   complaints has been a headache for the iconic retailer and   
   repairing its reputation will take time.   
      
   Barneys' Facebook page shows a picture of an African-American   
   model wearing a Valentino handbag that retails for $2,445. The   
   symbolism was apparent to one user, who noted "Oh look...they   
   used a black. Still not giving Barney's a cent. Racists."   
      
   Rapper Jay-Z came came under pressure from fans to drop plans to   
   collaborate with Barneys on a holiday collection. Sharpton's   
   National Action Network threatened to picket the store if the   
   racial profiling didn't stop. The National Action Network didn't   
   immediately respond to an email requesting comment.   
      
   http://www.cbsnews.com/news/barneys-pays-525000-fine-to-settle-   
   ny-racial-discrimination-probe/   
      
         
      
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