The city of Albany has had a “human relations commission” since 2007. Last year it blew up in discord, and now the city council is trying to write down what the newly constituted commission is supposed to do and why it exists.
Wednesday was the night of the purge in three of the volunteer commissions that advise the Albany City Council, something that I can’t remember happening before.
The dispute over changes in the 2007 Albany ordinance that created the city’s Human Relations Commission ended without acrimony Tuesday. In a two-hour work session, the council and commission worked out wording that seemed to reflect, more or less, what everybody wanted to say.
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.”
“National Night Out” is coming up in a couple of weeks. And when people in various neighborhoods get together for the usual block parties and such, it will be good if the activities draw participation from everybody including Albany’s Latinos.
Was the Albany City Council resolution “regarding the rights of all city of Albany residents” really necessary? Or does it give people the wrong impression? Does it make them think the city or its current residents have something for which to atone?
‘Human relations:’ Council likes new draft
The Albany City Council has settled on a new job description for its Human Relations Commission. But while the language is high on principles, it is short on details.
Tags: Albany City Council, diversity, equity, gender expression, Human Relations Commission, inclusion