Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When Dedication Meets Disrespect: The Real Story of Leonard Woodson and Evanston’s Leadership Failures
As many parents and families of disabled individuals have shared, building trust with the disabled community requires a special kind of person - someone with a gift not only to connect but to empower those they serve, like Coach Leonard Woodson did through decades of work with the Special Olympics.
Woodson openly admitted that paperwork was his weakness. He never denied it - he asked for help repeatedly. Yet the city set high standards in that area without providing support. When he came to last week’s Special City Council meeting to speak directly, he was denied that basic chance to be heard.
Meanwhile, his true super power shines gold, literally, through the lives he touched. So why are some highly paid city staff still employed despite costly mistakes that have harmed the community?
For years, Evanston’s budget looked healthier than it was, thanks to Fire and Police Pension Funds being reported in ways that inflated revenue. CFO Hitesh Desai led this until Jack Mortell, Firefighter Pension Fund President, exposed it as misrepresenting the city’s financial state. Intentional or major error…did anyone face consequences? Nope.
Why has Corporation Counsel Alex Ruggie remained after delaying the Responsible Bidding Ordinance for months, costing taxpayers thousands? Why no answers on the missing $330,000 from the housing fund? Is Paul Zalmezak or Sarah Flax even looking for it? Mayor Daniel Biss, Jonathan Nieuwsma, and Bobby Burns don’t appear to be.
Public Works Director Edgar Cano oversees unsafe sidewalks, reckless tree removal, and blocks qualified employees from advancement.
Deputy City Manager Carina Sanchez cut disability services before a major Special Olympics event - yet remains in power.
Evanston’s HR Department appears to protect insiders while holding Black employees like Woodson to harsher standards. Who leads HR right now? Why was the “Black Employee Report” renamed “Employee Report,” burying its urgency?
In Communications, longtime employee Jessy Mayo was passed over for leadership in favor of Cynthia Vargas. Why create another salary when the role could be filled by someone who already knows the city and community?
City Manager Luke Stowe and Mayor Daniel Biss refuse full disclosure of Public Works and HR investigation reports. The community deserves more than sanitized summaries.
Woodson, with a Master’s in social work, was paid about $67K after 35 years of service. Meanwhile, Stowe makes over $300K and Cano over $250K. Many still wait to see their “super powers” beyond high salaries.
Leonard settled for early retirement after being denied a voice. Councilmember Krissie Harris still attacked him for not speaking during the 60-second public comment. A man who served us for over 35 years and helped vulnerable residents win gold for decades deserved more than 60 seconds. Shame on you.
This isn’t just one man’s firing. It’s a symptom of a culture that protects the powerful and sidelines those who serve the people. Evanston must demand justice for all the Leonard Woodsons…and hold all who fail this community accountable.
#JusticeForLeonard #EvanstonSpeaks #SpecialOlympicsChampion #AccountabilityNow #DisabilityRights #EvanstonPolitics #BudgetTransparency #NoMoreCoverUps #HoldThemAccountable #StopTheCookedBooks #FairnessForAll #ProtectOurCommunity #EvanstonPensionTruth #CommunityVoices #JusticeForDisabled
When Dedication Meets Disrespect: The Real Story of Leonard Woodson and Evanston’s Leadership Failures
As many parents and families of disabled individuals have shared, building trust with the disabled community requires a special kind of person - someone with a gift not only to connect but to empower those they serve, like Coach Leonard Woodson did through decades of work with the Special Olympics.
Woodson openly admitted that paperwork was his weakness. He never denied it - he asked for help repeatedly. Yet the city set high standards in that area without providing support. When he came to last week’s Special City Council meeting to speak directly, he was denied that basic chance to be heard.
Meanwhile, his true super power shines gold, literally, through the lives he touched. So why are some highly paid city staff still employed despite costly mistakes that have harmed the community?
For years, Evanston’s budget looked healthier than it was, thanks to Fire and Police Pension Funds being reported in ways that inflated revenue. CFO Hitesh Desai led this until Jack Mortell, Firefighter Pension Fund President, exposed it as misrepresenting the city’s financial state. Intentional or major error…did anyone face consequences? Nope.
Why has Corporation Counsel Alex Ruggie remained after delaying the Responsible Bidding Ordinance for months, costing taxpayers thousands? Why no answers on the missing $330,000 from the housing fund? Is Paul Zalmezak or Sarah Flax even looking for it? Mayor Daniel Biss, Jonathan Nieuwsma, and Bobby Burns don’t appear to be.
Public Works Director Edgar Cano oversees unsafe sidewalks, reckless tree removal, and blocks qualified employees from advancement.
Deputy City Manager Carina Sanchez cut disability services before a major Special Olympics event - yet remains in power.
Evanston’s HR Department appears to protect insiders while holding Black employees like Woodson to harsher standards. Who leads HR right now? Why was the “Black Employee Report” renamed “Employee Report,” burying its urgency?
In Communications, longtime employee Jessy Mayo was passed over for leadership in favor of Cynthia Vargas. Why create another salary when the role could be filled by someone who already knows the city and community?
City Manager Luke Stowe and Mayor Daniel Biss refuse full disclosure of Public Works and HR investigation reports. The community deserves more than sanitized summaries.
Woodson, with a Master’s in social work, was paid about $67K after 35 years of service. Meanwhile, Stowe makes over $300K and Cano over $250K. Many still wait to see their “super powers” beyond high salaries.
Leonard settled for early retirement after being denied a voice. Councilmember Krissie Harris still attacked him for not speaking during the 60-second public comment. A man who served us for over 35 years and helped vulnerable residents win gold for decades deserved more than 60 seconds. Shame on you.
This isn’t just one man’s firing. It’s a symptom of a culture that protects the powerful and sidelines those who serve the people. Evanston must demand justice for all the Leonard Woodsons…and hold all who fail this community accountable.
#JusticeForLeonard #EvanstonSpeaks #SpecialOlympicsChampion #AccountabilityNow #DisabilityRights #EvanstonPolitics #BudgetTransparency #NoMoreCoverUps #HoldThemAccountable #StopTheCookedBooks #FairnessForAll #ProtectOurCommunity #EvanstonPensionTruth #CommunityVoices #JusticeForDisabled
