Athens residents got here collectively to present a unified message to the ACC Fee at their assembly this week, calling on the physique to take significant steps in direction of racial fairness and financial justice. Below important strain, commissioners publicly pledged their assist for a decision drafted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Motion and promised continued motion on these points sooner or later.
This decision acknowledges the persistent racial wealth hole in Athens and reaffirms the native authorities’s dedication to reaching housing safety, financial empowerment and security for Black residents and different marginalized communities.
In February, commissioners selected to delay passing the decision. Some Black residents requested for the delay in order that commissioners would have time to draft an ordinance that may take tangible motion with the drive of regulation, one thing a decision doesn’t do. When an ordinance was not prepared in time for this week’s assembly, commissioners appeared ready to delay for one more 60 to 90 days.
However the thought of continued delay was not well-received by those that gave public remark on the fee assembly this week.
“Don’t go away us in limbo. Don’t string the folks together with empty guarantees. No extra delays,” demanded Mokah Jasmine Johnson, the chief director of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Motion. “This decision was by no means meant to…change ordinances. It was meant to spark them, particularly in housing, youth security and financial fairness for Black enterprise house owners. However should you actually consider this decision is just not sufficient to carry this authorities accountable, don’t simply desk it…If you happen to don’t assist it, simply say no.”
“We’ve got no disagreement amongst ourselves as to the physique of it, the disagreement was whether or not or not it needs to be an ordinance or a decision,” Willie Inexperienced clarified. “Vote down the decision and provide you with three ordinances [in housing, youth safety and economic equity]…We’re going to provide you with the ordinance and the language. We’re going to make your job an entire lot simpler. We ask, Mr. Mayor, that you just work with us.”
Of the roughly 20 individuals who spoke throughout public remark in regards to the decision, some inspired the fee to vote it down, however in contrast to in February, nobody requested for a delay. Commissioners took discover.
Commissioner Patrick Davenport was the primary to make a movement; he known as for passing the decision as is. Since resolutions like this have been controversial on the fee currently, Davenport additionally prompt that Mayor Kelly Girtz assign the method for dealing with resolutions to the Legislative Assessment Committee for additional dialogue.
Commissioner Stephanie Johnson made a substitute movement, calling on her colleagues to reject the decision like some within the viewers had been calling for.
Commissioner Melissa Hyperlink sided with Davenport, calling the decision “a blueprint shifting ahead.” She even urged the mayor to nominate a citizen process drive to assist draft the three ordinances that had been requested by the viewers.
Commissioner Carol Myers additionally urged viewers members to remain energetic and concerned on this situation, particularly in Might because the fee drafts their yearly price range.
“We heard curiosity from the start of turning this [resolution] into an ordinance. As it’s proper now, it could actually’t be an ordinance, however it may be, like a few of you’ve got identified, particular ordinances down the road,” Myers mentioned. “And along with that, it’s not simply the ordinance, it’s having the price range allocations as nicely…I beseech you all to return again in Might once we are discussing the price range and provides us the identical sort of strain to seek out the cash.”
When it got here time to vote, Johnson’s try to shoot down the decision failed 5-6, with Girtz breaking the tie in favor of the decision. Different commissioners who voted in opposition to the decision had been Commissioners Tiffany Taylor, Dexter Fisher, John Culpepper and Ovita Thornton.
Consideration then shifted to Davenport’s movement to cross the decision. Unusually, Taylor, Fisher and Culpepper switched sides and allowed the decision to cross simply in an 8-2 vote. Solely Johnson and Thornton stayed agency of their opposition.
Girtz agreed to instruct the Legislative Assessment Committee to provide you with a course of for accepting fee and resident-driven resolutions going ahead.
Nevertheless, Girtz didn’t announce the creation of a process drive on this situation. It stays to be seen when the three ordinances requested by the group shall be prepared for fee consideration.
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