Chief equity officer finalists make pitches

Leader of new office charged with finding disparities in programs.

Austin residents got their first look at the person who will be the city’s first chief equity officer during a town hall event Thursday night at the Palmer Events Center.

The newly created position will head an office of two or three staffers focused on identifying disparities in city programs and services, and also on helping create ways for city departments to address those gaps. The office will work with community groups to ensure equal access to city programs and services. The sal- ary for the position hasn’t been determined, city officials said, and will be based on the experience of the person who is hired.

Austin residents petitioned the city to create the position because of the growing number of minorities leaving the city because of the increased cost of living and other issues, such as tensions between police and communities of color.

At Thursday’s event, attended by about 100 people, the three finalists for the position were given 10 minutes to make opening remarks and then answered questions from the audience for 15 minutes.

The three finalists are Veronica Briseño Lara, director of the city’s Small and Minority Busi-