‘We need to move.’ Arlington leaders OK group to study racial inequity in city
Arlington City Council members created a task force to examine and address racial inequity in the city — and planned two more meetings to iron out the details.
The council has not yet landed on a name, timeline or exact makeup of the group; however, members unanimously voted to create a body that will discuss the city’s needs, examine best practices adopted by other cities and make recommendations to the council
Mayor Jeff Williams said officials will finalize details at a June 30 council meeting and announce the members at a July 7 meeting.
“Lives are at stake,” he said. “Unity is at stake.”
Early plans for the group — initially named the “Unity Council” — call for 10 appointees by the council and the 15 members of the Community Relations Commission. The Unity Council will hold community discussions, examine best practices and report its findings to the City Council regularly, according to the draft. Officials would call on the group to make recommendations to City Council by February.
According to the plan, city officials will spend June and July fielding applicants for open seats. In August, the committee would begin reporting to the City Council and weigh its meeting options. Throughout late summer and early fall, meetings should include community discussion, reviewing best practices and exploring recommendations to make to council members.
Unity Council members could have a list of recommendations to council members by February, according to the plan.
Council members discussed adding five advisory positions for representatives from nonprofits, education groups and businesses. Members also suggested specifically tasking the group with devising a racial equity plan.
The group was initially designed to be temporary, which Williams said enables it to evolve according to its findings and recommendations. However, council members and speakers said the conversation cannot end once the group presents recommendations. Members suggested enlisting the group to ultimately look at disparities among gender, sexual orientation and other areas.
“I think we’re all in agreement,” said Sheri Capehart, District 2 councilwoman. “It’s just we don’t want to leave any one segment out.”
The proposal comes two weeks after the council agreed to address institutional biases following George Floyd’s death.
Alisa Simmons, president of Arlington NAACP, said she hopes the group considers adding a citizen review board when considering solutions to problems that have long existed in the city.
“The killing of George Floyd is not new and the problem of systemic racism in policing is not new to Arlington,” she said.
Andrew Piel, District 4 councilman, said he and other council members are trying to set the effort in motion while making sure all viewpoints are considered.
“I think we need to move,” Piel said.
Piel said Monday in a phone interview that he recognizes the process must remain flexible if it means hearing as many voices as possible.
“I don’t want anybody through this process to feel like they’ve been cut off at the knees and didn’t get the chance to say their piece,” Piel said.
Dr. Victoria Farrar-Myers, who represents the entire city as District 7 councilwoman, said she looks forward to future conversations within the community. Farrar-Myers said the city is able to build on its diversity efforts it has fostered through institutions, including UT Arlington, as well as local initiatives.
“Our city can use this opportunity, though, to move forward and make strides on really difficult situations,” she said.
Applications for the group are slated to open Wednesday morning, according to city officials.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 5:19 PM.
