Mayor names 9-person Quincy Equity and Inclusion Commission
QUINCY — Mayor Thomas Koch has named nine people to an equity and inclusion commission he says will examine the city's practices and culture to make recommendations on how to welcome and involve all in the city.
The commission members are: Quincy City Councilor Ian Cain; lawyer Gabriel Cheong; Faries Gray of the Massachusett Tribe; Philip Chong of Quincy Asian Resources, Inc.; Quincy Commissioner of Natural Resources David Murphy; Lola Tom, Director of Asian Services & Community Development at Hamel-Lydon Chapel; 30-year resident Mercy Umoren; business owner Tony Patel; and Jean Kutash, a member of the Quincy Commission on Disabilities.
The commission had its first meeting Thursday evening.
"The meeting went great. It was very introductory in nature, everyone had a chance to introduce themselves and set their own expectations," Cain, who was chosen as chair, said. "I'm trying to level set the group so we can set a framework of what we are trying to understand and what goals and outcomes we are looking to achieve."
Cain said each member has been tasked with creating their own set of goals. He said he personally would like to focus on the distribution of money and resources in different areas of the city.
"I want to look at how different people are receiving resources around the city and how accessible they are to everyone, accessibility is going to be a big part of this I think," Cain, the first Black person elected to Quincy City Council, said. "It sounds like it is going to be a frank discussion."
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The equity and inclusion commission was formed by the mayor in response to the city council's request to create a Department of Social Justice and Equity and hire a full time director. Koch did not budget any money for the creation of such a department for Fiscal Year 2022, and has said he's not sure such a position is necessary.
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Instead, he said this commission will look a the city's practices and make recommendations to the mayor. If the department is recommended, Koch has said he will take another look at it.
On Friday, he said he has no specific expectations for the commission.
”I think we have a great city but there’s always room for improvement look at it from a new set of eyes,” Koch said. “I think it’s going to be a learning experience.”
The mayor said he expects some kind of report on the commissions findings this fall.
“I don’t want it to be political,” Koch said. “Let’s look at our community and if there are things that we could do better, let’s do them.”
During budget hearings last month, Ward 4 City Councilor Brian Palmucci told the mayor he was disappointed to not see the department funded. While a full department was not included, a position for a "diversity/inclusion officer" was listed under line items of the mayor's administration. It was given a $0 budget. The councilor said he wanted the department included even if it was unfunded to reflect that it was a priority for the city.
"It's well within your authority to put zero down - it's not a priority and that's within your rights," Palmucci said at the time. "I'm just disappointed and I'm disappointed in you Mr. Mayor, respectfully. I expect better of you because you are a caring and considerate person, I know that, I have seen it in public and in private. I feel that this approach to not include this (department) in the budget lacks your usual thoughtfulness."
"We do have a disagreement of this as a priority," Koch replied. "I did give it a lot of thought."
Palmucci and councilor-at-large Anne Mahoney ultimately voted against the final budget.
At the commission's next meeting, members will go over their goals, discuss a mission statement and set a plan going forward. Cain said the commission plans to meet every three to four weeks and will hold a few public meetings to get feedback from residents.
Meetings of the commission are not subject to the state's Open Meeting Law, Chris Walker, Koch's chief of staff, said. He added there will be "amply opportunity for access and input."
Original Source: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/07/09/quincy-mayor-appoints-equity-commission-first-meeting-held/7918026002/
