Fired DOT chief fights back for job

Just a week after being fired by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Department of Transportation General Manager Gloria Jeff has hired a high-profile attorney to fight for her job. Kerry Cavaanaugh in the Daily News.

Recruited by the mayor 18 months ago, Jeff was fired last Friday after refusing to resign amid mounting complaints from employees and city leaders about her management style.

Villaraigosa has said only that he wanted the department to move faster and in a new direction. But attorney Gloria Allred said Jeff was callously fired with no review and no documented performance issues.

"It does not speak well for our city that she was fired with less than one day notice, without provisions for adequate severance and in a manner which was designed to inflict maximum career damage on this hardworking, skilled and dedicated city employee," Allred said in a statement.