Mayor’s state of city: Dayton on right path
In her final speech about the city’s future, Nan Whaley says she believes “we can get through anything” as a community.
When I delivered my state of the city speech one year ago, I said that 2019 had been the most challenging year I had faced as the mayor of Dayton. While I still believe that is true, little did I know what 2020 had in store for our community and our country.
In 2019 we faced down tornadoes, a hate group rally, a mass shooting, and the murder of one of our police officers. Through it all, we were united in our pain — and in our resilience.
But then came 2020 and a new type of disaster. The twin crises we’ve faced over the last year are both about disconnection — one caused by a pandemic that forces us to be away from our lives and loved ones, and the other a disconnection between people who look different, driven by our history of racism.
All of these problems are big, and structural — beyond any of our individual control. But I do believe — still — that we as a community have the power to make change. And I do still believe that, as a community, we can get through anything. The pandemic has been a period of incredible pain and suffering. Hundreds of lives in our community have been cut short by COVID-19. Thousands more continue to struggle with the awful virus. And even more have been faced with immense economic hardship and uncertainty as measures to stop the spread of the disease shut down our economy.
But this crisis has also brought out the best in people. People in Dayton stepped up, just like they always do.
Our health care workers took on the Herculean task of healing us when we were sick.
Our frontline workers — like our first responders and grocery and food service workers — risked their lives to keep the rest of us safe. We owe them all an immeasurable debt of gratitude.
Across the country and here in Dayton, African Americans were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the ensuing economic crisis. I am proud of our community’s willingness to not only acknowledge this reality but act on it. Early in the pandemic, I began hosting weekly Zoom meetings with Public Health and clergy, many of whom pastor congregations in West Dayton. It is not enough to simply go back to the way things were. We must build something better. We must ensure that unlike the recovery from the Great Recession, this COVID recovery makes our city more just and more equitable.
I convened an Eviction Task Force in 2019, long before the present crisis. Over the last year, that group has met frequently to focus on keeping people housed. Members of this task force have stepped up to protect tenants from unnecessary evictions, and to make sure our neighborhoods are not destabilized by a wave of evictions when the COVID crisis is over.
We are in a pivotal moment. I believe half of our city has begun to wake up to the reality that the other half faces on a daily basis. This process is painful, and long overdue, but it is critical to us building a more just city that works for everyone.
Issues of policing are some of the most complex I’ve ever encountered. Police have incredibly difficult jobs. And as we in Dayton know better than most, they are willing to put their lives on the line to save others. Most police officers I know were drawn to the job because of a sense of duty and a desire to serve others. Most are good and decent people. Yet our criminal justice system is broken. And the racism that pervades ALL of our systems in America is present there as well. Policing itself is not the problem — its bad outcomes are symptoms of a much larger one.
The police reform process has already led to a number of major policy changes that I believe will make Dayton safer for police and residents alike: a new de-escalation policy and emphasis on de-escalating situations, rather than responding with force. A new auditor position will ensure internal investigations are done appropriately. All DPD officers will be issued and required to use body worn cameras when responding to any citizen call. We will begin to divert non-violent crisis calls to a non-police responder so that police will not be forced to act as social workers and people experiencing mental health crises or addiction get the help they need. And, we will place a new emphasis on recruiting officers that reflect our community — not just in terms of race and gender, but also in terms of background and experience. This change in particular will be up to the voters: the recruitment working group is recommending a change to the city charter that will allow us to take these kinds of characteristics into consideration when hiring new police officers.
Nearly the entire City organization has devoted resources to this effort, from the Dayton Mediation Center, which facilitates the meetings, to the budget office, which is working to track policing data.
This has truly been a giant effort, at a time when capacity and resources are already stretched. But that’s the thing about being resilient. You don’t get to turn it off — it doesn’t go away. It does not break.
You don’t stop being resilient because the crises pile up. And that is what I know to be true about Dayton. Our grit and perseverance will overcome any challenge and we will come out stronger than before. I have no doubt in that.
This is my final state of the city address. Being the mayor of Dayton is the best job I’ve ever had. But being truly committed to a community also means knowing when you need to make space for new leaders and new ideas. The resiliency I have seen in our city has shown me that those new leaders and ideas are here in Dayton and ready to step up. I can’t wait to see what they have in store.
The Racial Equity Mini Grants aim to empower people to come together to fight racial inequity and to make sure everyone has the chance to succeed and a better quality of life.
“We are pleased to announce these grants funding the important work of equity,” United Way of the Greater Dayton Area President and CEO Tom Maultsby said. “We are hoping to receive some innovative proposals on how we can build strong diverse communities. We see a future for our region where all of us can achieve our full potential in life, regardless of race, ethnicity, or the zip code we grew up in.”
Grants include financial and
technical support to people, organizations and groups working on projects that address racial equity concerns and issues.
For its first year, three grants of $2,500 each will be awarded.
To apply, visit www.dayton-unitedway.org. Applications are due by March 1.
STAFF REPORT
Washington-Centerville Public Library is reinstating evening hours at its Centerville Library and Woodbourne Library locations effective Monday, March 1. The Centerville Library, will be
open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Woodbourne Library will be open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Curbside Hold Pickup remains an option for those who prefer it.
“The downward trend in COVID-19 cases made us confident in the decision to safely expand operating hours. Having evening and weekend hours, increases access to the library materials and services and makes planning library visits more convenient those who work during the day,” says Library Director Liz Fultz.
Adding evening hours is the latest step in the library’s slow, phased approach to reinstating library services. Since June 2020, the library has gradually added hours and services in an effort to deliver a level of service that is safe and sustainable. “Library staff and patrons have been diligent in adhering to safety protocols, and as a result, we feel confident in taking this forward step,” said Fultz.
For more information on Washington-Centerville Public Library, including how to access digital resources, or for updates on library operating hours, visit wclibrary.info.