Monday, July 10, 2006

Help Me Howard: Topless Trouble

Reported by:

Patrick Fraser

Producer:

Diana Reed

Contact:

dreed@wsvn.com

Archived Reports:

All Help Me Howard

At one point she was a model who wanted to appear in playboy. Then she was a city clerk who was fired, not for failing to do her job, but because of a picture she took for playboy. Is that legal? Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser has the answer.

WSVN--There is no denying Cache is a pretty woman.

She's been in music videos with P-Diddy and other performers.

As a model Cashe's looks brought her lots of attention...

And now its brought attention that cost her a job.

Cashe Royal: "One shot of me topless."

Back in 2002 Cashe was told she should try out for Playboy.

Cashe Royal: "I was trying to do other things as far as being a model. Actually those pictures were shot for me to maybe get into playboy. That's why those pictures were shot."

She never made it into Playboy.

This year she decided to move into a new career and went to work for the city of Miami Gardens in the building department.

Cashe Royal: "I was a permitting license clerk."

Helping people restore their homes after hurricane season was a pretty satisfying job.

Cashe Royal: "I felt like I helped them a whole lot because I heard them out. If you don't listen, you're not going to be able to help nobody."

But while she was helping people some of her co workers were playing on the internet.

Cashe Royal: "Someone googled my name."

And under Cashe came this website. With that topless photo she submitted to Playboy.

Cashe Royal: "It's so little you can barely see it."

But at her office they were gawking at it. Which she found out when a supervisor confronted her.

Cashe Royal: "When she turned the computer around to show me that picture I laughed. Because number one that picture was shot in 2002. Maybe 2003."

Cashe didn't think the picture was a big deal. But her Miami Gardens supervisor did. As she accused her of violating the city's morality code.

Cashe Royal: "Immoral or unlawful conduct on or off the job. But when I thought about it after I got home, I was like this doesn't speak of past tense. And those pictures were shot in 2002."

Cashe says she should not be judged by a single topless picture taken years ago. And thinks she should be judged by her work today.

Cashe Royal: "When I came here I cried my eyes out because I know what they did was unfair to me and I know they couldn't fire me on work merits because I came in there and I did my job."

But doing her job was not enough.  Miami Gardens fired her.

As for the people who were surfing the internet searching for a nude picture while being paid by taxpayer dollars.

Cashe Royal: "They still work there."

And wondering if she should be still be working for Miami Gardens Cashe called Help Me Howard.

Howard Finkelstein: "Sadly no, because employees in the state of Florida have almost no rights. Your boss can fire you because you change the part in your hair. The only reason they can't fire you is, for example, your race, religion and your sex."

When we talked to the city of Miami Gardens, they told us Cashe was on probation at the time she was fired.

When we asked them what was inappropriate about pictures taken years before she was hired. They told us we don't discuss personal matters.

When we asked if anything was done to the employees who searched the internet for the nude photos while on the city time. We were again told "We won't comment on personal matters."

Howard says the city, in effect, is punishing one person for something done years ago, but those that are doing something wrong today are ok.

Howard Finkelstein: "There seems to a double standard here...a woman gets fired for something that was done years ago and employees who are surfing the net on government time still work there."

Cashe's decision years ago has now cost her.

But she says it was something she did as a young girl, and wouldn't change a thing.

Cashe Royal: "I don't regret anything I've done. Every thing you do is a stepping stone. You know you learn from everything you do. I'm not ashamed of nothing I do."

Patrick Fraser: "Now while you can be fired for almost any reason in Florida, if Cashe worked in another state, she would still be doing her job. In Florida, workers have less rights than almost any other state. That's the way the politicians set it up. And by the way, Cashe is now looking for a job where her work skills matter more than a four-year-old photo."

Uncovered a problem? Want us to blanket it with a solution? Get in touch with us, we won't stop less we get an answer.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
DADE: 305-953-WSVN
BROWARD: 954-761-WSVN

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