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2.0

On Monday, May 2nd, I went in the Hilltop YMCA studio for a Step group exercise (4300 Lakeside Drive, Richmond, CA). When I picked up an unattended fitness step from the floor, a woman member showed up immediately and shouted โ€œUh-uh. Thatโ€™s mine.โ€ I politely replied, โ€œIโ€™m sorry." Later, someone else came in and used that step. The woman didnโ€™t show up until the class ended.

On Wednesday, May 4th, I went to the studio again for another Step class. When I picked up a single step riser from two unattended piles of five, the same woman came to me again and said that both entire piles belonged to her. (She must be very good at Step to use 10 risers.) The instructor came to me and told me that there were Step risers in the closet, and then greeted the woman warmly. After I took some risers from the closet and put them on the floor, the woman and her friend came in and kicked my step risers away. When I tried to put the risers back, she shoved me, shouting, โ€œYou canโ€™t put it here.โ€ I asked โ€œWhy not,โ€ and she started shouting at me, yelling insults including โ€œBecause you are rudeโ€, โ€œYou took somebodyโ€™s stuffโ€, โ€œShut upโ€, and โ€œ***โ€... These women were picking on me and slandering me as a thief in public. Is it because I am a new member and they have been members for a long time (as the police told me afterwards)?

A man (who claimed that he was the YMCA manager) came in while the women were shouting; asked me to get out of the studio immediately, while allowing the two women to stay. In his office, I told the manager that the two women kicked my steps and insulted me. The manager didnโ€™t show surprise or sympathy, but instead looked out the window from time to time while I was talking. (The police officer, on the other hand, was very surprised that the woman was so rude as to kick out my step riser when I reported the incident to him afterwards.) The manager asked me to leave the YMCA facility immediately, promising that he would make the two women go too. After I left his office, the two women came in. Through the office window, I could see the manger greeting the two women with a big laugh, followed by a pleasant chat.

Later, as I was driving away, I saw the woman walking back to the facility. Wondering if the woman was coming back to the facility and if the manager had broken his โ€œpromise,โ€ I stopped my car and watched them. The two women, the manager, and a staff member were gathered around the entrance laughing, while giving high fives to each other. Without any inquiry of me as to why I was watching them, they called the police, accusing me โ€œfollowingโ€ them.

On Friday, May 6, my husband and I visited the YMCA and tried to talk to the manager. The same staff member told us we couldnโ€™t see him, and she wouldnโ€™t allow us in because my membership had been suspended. When I asked about the two women, she was reluctant to confirm whether or not they were suspended from the facility as well. When I came back home, the manager had left a message that informed me that my membership had been suspended. The manager couldnโ€™t tell me face to face while I was in YMCA? He arbitrarily suspended my membership without any communication with me.

On Thursday, May 12, my husband and I made an appointment with two YMCA directors (Branch Operations Director and Regional Executive Director of YMCA of the East Bay) trying to resolve this incident. When we had just sat down, they immediately informed us that they had decided to cancel my membership after discussing with the manager, the staff, the two women, and their long-time Step classmates. YMCA arbitrarily cancelled my membership without discussing it with me at all, before hearing my side of the story. They said they cancelled my membership because of the following behaviors: first, I was upset while I was being harassed. Second, I confronted the assault without leaving the spot (while the manager allowed the woman to shout at me in his presence). Third, without leaving the facility, I stopped watching the two women and the manager laughing and giving high fives (she explained that the woman โ€œmightโ€ have come back to pick up something and couldnโ€™t leave because I was watching). They repeated that I violated the โ€œYMCA core values of caring, respect, responsibility and honestyโ€ by the above three behaviors, while ignoring the fact I am the victim of harassment and assault. YMCA didnโ€™t care, respect, take responsibility and be honest to me when dealing with this incident.

I believe Hilltop YMCA allow racial discrimination (I was the only Asian in the incident), let their members arbitrarily insult me, and then cover up their behavior because they are long term members with many friends there.

Reason of review: Poor customer service.

Monetary Loss: $1000.

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution.

YMCA Of The USA Pros: Amenities.

YMCA Of The USA Cons: Managers, Customer service.

Location: Richmond, California

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Guest

The same thing happened to me. My civil rights were violated when they called the cops on me for NO REASON.

yes, I was arrested for...no reason because "they" didn't want me there.

I tried to explain the meaning of social responsibility but they had no clue. They want it to be "their" private club and therefore discriminate against whoever just because.

Guest

Sue them for harrassement make YMCA pay a fine it's happens often some Ys are good some are bad it's the racist managers fire them

Guest

What the what! It seems to me that systemic racial harassment is ymca culture and not isolated.

I believe I will find out what federal funding they receive for daycare and summer camp programs . You don't get my taxes and membership and treat my people like the dirt beneath your feet. Seriously though take advantage of the rec centers in the city. Hunter ave indoor pool is awesome as is the staff and facility.

Also don't you know by now the rules of treatment for us by authority is a lower standard. Do not be dismayed but stop asking for justice from an unjust source.

Hitting them with publicity and loss of funding! Peace and the struggle continues

Guest

Thank you for your story. I am in Washington State and even though my discrimination was not racial, I had issues with discrimination myself tonight.

The same type of issues happened to me before, and I shrugged it off, until tonight when I was humiliated in front of a group of people. I tried to talk to the front desk lady about it, she would not listen and basically egged it on. My anxiety and ptsd went into overkill. Luckily, the pool manager was smart enough to listen to both sides and gather info.

Told me what he was going to do about it to work it out.I asked whom the manager of the front desk was. She was the manager and if enrollment services.

I do not know where they come up with these managers, but they seem to lack in customer service and problem resolution skills. Now I am afraid to go back.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1445736

Yup they shut down all YMCAs if they don't like adults bunch of racists they love woman but hate men

Guest

You were obviously the victim and those women, and Y employees were very derogatory to you. Which is not what should happen at a gym, especially one where you pay for a membership.

Those women reminded me of middle school bullies and the Y manager and Step class instructor of the middle school teachers who side with popular kids. Ugh, I'm sorry you had to go through that.

I am in agreement though that the 'race card' is played all to often.

Guest

I am very sorry that had such a terrible experience. We in Columbus, Ohio would never treat anyone that way.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1161084

There's good YMCAs in some states only in Republican states in liberal states they treat u bad

Quaron Gcz

Sounds to me like you were in the wrong and played the race card when you were reprimanded for it. Very typical.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Quaron Gcz

What a ridiculous sounding complaint! Pulling the race card at the end was an entertaining touch. Now go away!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1307949

Look, you didn't have to comment so don't tell her to go away.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1318912

And you know who sounds really ridiculous saying that? YOU DO! Although, I do agree that the race card is played all to often.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Quaron Gcz

She was in the wrong for going to a class, at a gym, where she payed for a membership, and trying to use the class apparatus?

Wow, when you say it that way she really doesn't seem like a victim. NOT!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1318911

the real question is did they refund your money? if not then it is FRAUD.

not about race , its about taking your money and not providing the promised service. Can other businesses take your money and then just throw you out ?

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