The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Anti-racism panel would make issue a city priority
Middletown lacks equity in labor, criminal justice, health, affordable housing, say residents of color
MIDDLETOWN — The Common Council will consider a resolution Thursday on a proposal to create a permanent committee on anti-racism.
The discussion began at the June 1 regular council meeting, according to Mayor Ben Florsheim. “The deal for that was hatched over the past couple months, and came very quickly to a head ahead of the council meeting.”
The council will discuss the resolution at 5:30 p.m., ahead of the 7 p.m. budget vote.
The council is reviewing funding for the initiative, consulting with Faith Jackson, director of the Middletown Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management department, about moving that project from the purview of the Human Relations Commission, Florsheim said.
“She was starting to get stretched more and more thinly across different projects, and brought the work to a really good place. It plateaued in terms of capacity, and there’s still more to be done,” Florsheim explained.
Since September 2017, Human Relations Commission members have been taking the “pulse” of Middletown in terms of inclusion, equity, employment, equality and equity with a threepronged approach: antiracism training, focus groups and a series of community conversations.
The city hired a consultant to study Middletown’s racial climate, in addition to training with department heads and stakeholders, such as those from Liberty Bank, the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, and black and brown community members, Jackson said.
The National Conference for Community and Justice, based in Windsor, recently delivered a preliminary report, which will be reviewed for any changes. She expects to make a report to council members at the July meeting.
The findings are based on focus groups, which included youths, as well as community dialogue sessions with between 60 and 70 people, labor and criminal justice system equity and housing segregation, and the need for affordable housing in other areas of town, not just in urban areas, Jackson said.
“People could own a home, and they can be paying a whole lot less than these $1,200, $1,400, $1,600 rents I’m seeing walk into my office when they fall behind on rent,” she added. “They could be paying a mortgage of $900 or less.”
Residents also want to see changes to the Police Department’s policies, so as to minimize bias when they make motor vehicle stops and arrests, as well as hold officers accountable when those regulations are violated.
Many expressed frustration with being “tokens” when applying for jobs in city government, because those who move on to the interview process often aren’t hired, she added.
The community also is concerned about disparate methods of punishment. “In the largest cities, the difference between who is disciplined for infractions, the severity of the punishment, and educational tracking have resulted in more vigorous courses and opportunities being populated primarily by white students,” Jackson explained.
After the council reviews the report, according to Precious Price, director of the Middletown Racial Justice Project, “There will be recommendations that need to have action that will need to be moving and moving quickly.”
Having the commission overseen by the mayor’s office gives a little bit more expediency to the process, Price said.
A group of 750 citizens marched down Main Street May 30 and ended up at the police station. There, demonstrators took part in a conversation about race and policing with city officials and others.
The task force will be overseen by staff in the mayor’s office so it can remain a priority for him and Chief of Staff Bobbye Peterson. “The urgency of that really escalated in the past couple of weeks,” Florsheim added.
City officials also have been working with the racial justice coalition. “There was a universal recognition of the need for there to be some action,” said the mayor, who will make sure the task force will have a clear mission.
Members will be charged with addressing other things, such as changes to policing, health equity, and housing and welfare policies. “A lot of that will be picking up and running with things that have already been done,” Florsheim said.
The city’s focus groups were formed in reaction to a rally that turned deadly in Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017, when a man drove into a crowd, killing a woman and injuring 19 people.
While watching the June 1 council meeting, Price checked in with friends in other cities who were being tear gassed and arrested. They feel the mayors in their towns weren’t as receptive to their concerns.
“Here in Middletown, we have a mayor that wants to take on this work, elevate this work, and let people of color lead this work,” said Price, who admitted she was unhappy the council pushed off the decision until members received more information.
“It was really daunting to watch. I do think the council will make the right decision on Thursday,” said Price, who intends to speak at the meeting.
Thursday’s Zoom meeting will take place at 7 p.m. To watch the livestream, visit cityofmiddletown.com. The pre-meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m.