Women, yes; commission, no

Smaller government won out at the Fort Worth City Council last week.

After more than a year of study, the council eliminated the city advisory Commission for Women.

The commission was established in 1983 to advise the council on women’s issues. But from the beginning, it was seen by some critics as a hollow public relations effort.

The commission was authorized only to take assignments from the council, which were few and noncontroversial. For example, the first task was to report on the social problem of alcoholism.

Over the years, the commission has hosted many banquets and given many worthy awards honoring women and volunteers, but rarely took a role promoting equal rights.

Council members were told the commission often did not muster a quorum.

It is too easy to say that in a city with a congresswoman, women in the Texas Senate and House and as mayor, the commission is not needed. But this particular commission is not.

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Women, yes; commission, no."