Javier Cervantes, left, and Graham Kislingbury of the Human Relations Commission appear before the Albany City Council Wednesday night.
Harmony evidently is not good enough as a goal, so Albany’s Human Relations Commission wants a change in its official mission to include striving for “diversity, equity and inclusion.” The city council’s response on Wednesday: “Not so fast.”
Back in 2007, the council formed this commission to settle a flap that arose after someone proposed to designate part of Timber-Linn Park with a Latino theme. Purposely avoiding any whiff of identity politics, the ordinance setting up the panel said its job would be “to promote harmonious relations among the citizens of Albany.”
Over the last few months, according to its minutes, the panel has talked about getting the wording changed, and this came up before the council Wednesday.
One requested change: Instead of the bit about “harmonious relations,” the commission would be set up “to strengthen connections within Albany’s diverse community.”
The other change would amplify another section by adding the phrase “committing to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Councilman Rich Kellum objected to the addition of what he called “buzzwords.” He also complained that Javier Cervantes, chairman of the commission, had reneged on a deal that he, Cervantes, would notify Kellum anytime he wanted to bring something to the council.
“Do not disparage me, Sir,” Cervantes shot back. He and Graham Kislingbury, another commission member, sat before the council as their requested ordinance change came up. (In case people don’t remember, Kislingbury and I worked together for years at the Albany Democrat-Herald. He’s retired now, too.)
It was a rare flareup between a council member and someone presenting a proposed revision in the city code. This is the background I got from Kellum and Councilman Mike Sykes:
When Sykes took office in January, it was up to him to appoint a member of the commission as Cervantes’ term was up. He named someone else, and according to the two councilors, commission members raised a fuss. Kellum also had an open position on the panel, and after a meeting with Kislingbury and Sykes in Sykes’ office, he agreed to appoint Cervantes to smooth things over. That’s when, Kellum says, he asked Cervantes to give him notice when matters would be brought to the council so members could think about sensitive issues ahead of them being broadcast on cable and online.
It takes unanimous council consent to pass an ordinance at the same meeting when it’s first proposed. The upshot Wednesday: Kellum, Sykes, Bill Coburn and Bessie Johnson withheld their consent, so action on the changed wording was postponed till the next council meeting July 12.
If you’re wondering why the commission wants its mission changed, you’re not alone. Especially since another section of the existing law says members of this panel already are expected “to be committed to the philosophy of inclusion, equal opportunity, and fair treatment for all residents of Albany.”
What more could anyone want? (hh)
The story has been edited to add Johnson to the others who voted against advancing the ordinance. I had mistakenly left her name out before. (hh)
This story is troublesome at so many levels, I’m surprised Hering even touched upon it at all.
In 2007, for a brief period, I was appointed to this very same commission. For the first few meetings, I remained quiet, hoping to learn. Then, at a particular session, the topic of Albany PD and the possibility that racial profiling might be happening as police decide on who to pull over at traffic stops came up for discussion.
Out of simple curiosity, I posed a question. Does anyone at the APD or at the City track the racial background of drivers APD pulls over?
I was told by the Commission Chair that the then-police Chief had already told the commission that Albany did not track racial backgrounds on their traffic stops and anyway, Albany Police don’t racially profile in the first place. In short, the Chair, at that time, of the Albany Human Rights Commission essentially told me this issue was not open for discussion because the Chief said there’s no problem.
At that time, there were only Caucasians on the commission. I thought it odd that a City-chartered commission on Human Rights wasn’t interested in discovering whether profiling may or may not have been taking place in Albany. Nobody knew the facts, yet the commission was ready to pass judgement based solely on the word of the chief. The commission’s unwillingness to examine something as prevalent as racial profiling was shocking. I resigned from the commission the next day.
The other revealing thing in Mr. Hering’s column today is that it exposes the Councilor Kellum once again. Hering writes that when Commission Chair Cervantes proposed that the commission’s mission statement be changed, Kellum objected to the use of “buzzwords.”
Here are the so-called buzzwords which apparently cut to Kellum’s core.
Diversity
Equity
Inclusion
That Kellum would view these words as “buzzwords” really means that Kellum is not interested in the concepts touched upon by the words. Kellum is not interested in Albany being inclusive. Kellum is offended by the idea of equity in Albany. Kellum thinks diversity is little more than a catchphrase, unimportant in any discussion as to what kind of community Albany should be.
Lastly, this reader wonders why it is that Kellum insists on prior restraint, demanding that commissioner Cervantes let Kellum know about any issues the commission might raise at Council meetings before the meeting starts. Hering claims Kellum told Chair Cervantes he had to tell the Council ahead of scheduled meetings so that the Council “could think about sensitive issues ahead of them being broadcast on cable or online.”
This prior restraint amounts to likely illegal pressure from an elected representative who’s attempting to control the flow of ideas. Hardly the kind of leadership a democracy requires. Kellum’s heavy-handed, ham-fisted approach might work in a welding shop, but not in a democratic society. Cervantes ought to consult with the City Attorney about Kellum’s brutish actions. One can only imagine how much prior restraint Kellum would apply if he learned his actions were under consideration by the Human Rights Commission.
Lastly, are City Council members so inept that they can’t talk about a subject without prior warning. It would seem, with the Council’s lack of action and Kellum’s rear view vision, ineptitude runs wild.
All I have to say is “Thanks, Mr. Kellum.”
Many thanks to the three who stopped the ordinance. The question should be “for what purpose” or “what is the goal” of the proposed word change? Diversity means many different things to many different groups. It could mean we want a sanctuary city status so we can all just “get along”. I don’t want that.
There were actually four who voted against a second reading by title only. See the correction added to the story. (hh)
Seems a commission member wants to forcefully hang on & push his agenda. Then he’ll want to push for this, push for that..it’s a slippery slope as demands are made under the guise of diversity & inclusion! I’ve had enough of “minority” groups making demands. For once a council member stood his ground. That meddlesome commission needs a new member!
Buzzwords? Just like this loose collection: Make America Great Again. Never defined yet an easily heard dog whistle.
Very tRumpian!
The proposed language change is *very* innocuous IMO. None of it is inherently “buzzword” fodder. The language baiting was entirely 100% Rich’s commentary… And, Javier was not there alone – other members of the committee were also there – and concurred.
As Javier said, it’s “evolving.” Very true. However, I, you, Rich, etc., can never understand the perspective from which it’s coming. If we all did, we’d never need the HRC in and of itself in the first place.
Side note to the discussion was Rich’s comment about “advocacy” vs. advice (to council) from the committee. I’d suggest that if any of our commissions and/or committees do not advocate from their viewpoint, they are not doing their job. I was close to jumping in with the advocacy comment being akin to the TLT committee. While I didn’t/don’t like the outcome of their work, I totally agree with their passion (advocacy) for the task they had. Pabulum & rubber stamping pre-conceived notions doesn’t work.
I will be advocating to pass the ordinance as revised with the better language…
Thank you Ray.
To answer hh, the commission members need to be such and such, but the commission itself does do have that mission. THEY Would Wish THE COMMISSION WOuLD Also Be SUCH AND such.
I note that I have talked with the chair a few times aND thought him reasonable and also maybe frustrated. I expect he found me about as frustrating as he might find
mr. Kellum.
Well, Hartman’s analysis sounds pretty solid, particularly with Ray K’s addition.
Sounds like Kellum’s personal beliefs ran ahead of his position. By requiring personal notification about upcoming issues, he’s inserting himself into a power position that’s not in his purview.
What in blazes are people afraid of??
I’ll take a stab at that centrist. Folks are shaking in their boots about losing their “whiteness” one generation at a time.
Ironically, Oregon is not very diverse compared to other states so such a “loss” will take much longer than we can grasp.
Racism lives.
To “require” a committee chair to clear proposed changes, etc., before being presented to the entire council is pure and simple bullying! The Albany City Council is mostly filled with people who are what they believe of themselves “the movers and shakers” in Albany. IMHO, nothing more than big fish in a very tiny pond!
An empty exercise in political correctness.
So sick of special treatment, recognition, and other perks for people who just can’t grasp the concept of assimilation. Shall we just declare sections of the park as Asian, German,, Irish, Polish, African, etc? It’s a PARK, not the U.N. It was intended for ALL our residents.
THAT’S inclusive!ens
Just to be sure we’re clear: There is no current proposal or controversy involving any park. The flap over a park was more than 10 years ago.
It seems whenever “diversity” is mentioned it just means “get the white guys out of the picture”.
As long as you have ANY ethnic group thinking they’re special, it’s racism.
It seems to me that Oregon has been about “get the people of color out of the picture” for quite sometime. I am more than disappointed in Mr. Kellum’s view and other’s statements that I read here. However, I am not surprised. The “white guard” is indeed feeling threatened as people of color have been for many years. Change is difficult but change must happen or we will stagnate.
One need only view Rich Kellums Facebook page to see he views the world as a right wing whack job.
Yeah, that’s the way to wage arguments these days — throw around labels and hope they influence people who don’t think for themselves. (hh)
Seems to work PERFECTLY well for the ..ah…ahh… pResident tRump. No?
1. You don’t have the guts to use your real name.
2. You live in Corvallis, which explains why you want to be so meddlesome.
3. Trump beat a BIGGER whack Job!
Why not devote yourself to cleaning up your own mess?
How does one know you use a “real name”?
Don’t live in Corvallis btw.
AND one more thought “william” a female Clinton Presidency would have been fully functioning.
This feces show is malignant!
Enjoy the show but buckle up!
I say if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Seriously people Read what the words ALREADY say. “to be committed to the philosophy of inclusion, equal opportunity, and fair treatment for all residents of Albany.”
As Dear Abby would say “Kwitchurbitchen.” They are just different words with the same meaning. Really makes those complaining look petty and silly.
Hot diggity! There is a term for this affliction. Thank you internet!
Broflake: Straight white male offended by any feminist or ethnic activity which is not directly designed for him.
Just to prove I didn’t make it up.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Broflake
There is a petition on change.org concerning this matter:
https://www.change.org/p/albany-city-council-support-for-the-albany-human-relations-commission-to-embrace-diversity?recruiter=89174135&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=share_petition