After deciding that a panel chosen for a new racial equity task force was not diverse enough, the Martinez City Council on Wednesday will discuss starting their recruitment process over again for what may be a larger task force than first imagined.
On Wednesday night, the council will; consider not only formally establishing the Anti-Racism and Discrimination and Pro-Inclusion and Equity Task Force, but also to start over on their panelist recruitment process.
The council also will consider whether to make the task force larger than the originally planned nine members. A city staff report suggests that, in addition to the nine members and two alternates previously approved, that each council member could personally appoint one member to the task force.
The City Council first approved the concept for such a panel on July 29. Its main tasks would be to review city policies, programs and procedures for bias, and to help make city committees and commissions more inclusive.
The city sought applications for prospective panelists, and chose a six-person “community panel” to interview and then select at least nine prospective task force members. The first panel presented to the council on Oct. 21 included only one Black member.
Council members, including Mark Ross and Lara Delaney, said on Oct. 21 the task force members who were nominated were not diverse enough, and the city needs to “go back to the drawing board,” mainly with the recruitment process.
Wednesday’s City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m., and it’s on Zoom.
Go to https://www.cityofmartinez.org/gov/meetings.asp
On an earlier thread, someone posted the population of Martinez, and the racial make up of said population. Using those numbers for the 9 person panel, it appears that one POC was the correct amount to have on that panel.
But like most of the ‘racial/social issues’, people are not concerned with actual data, only perception. So yes, the data may have supported 1 POC on this committee, the perception would state that somehow a group of people was not adequately represented.
It is a sad world that we live in where perception trumps reality.
What is the cost to the cities tax payers? What a waste of tax dollars, didn’t they consider this while targeting their first group if not then why? The entire city council needs to go, tomorrow is fast upon us…
What some people will do to justify their existence.
Martinez council members need to get the hint. Martinez doesn’t want or need a racial task force.
What Martinez does need is a new pier. The pilings of which are rotten in many areas. If there’s any place where people of diverse backgrounds can congregate, it is the fishing pier. And to close it for lack of funding while creating funding for a squad of leftist pseudo-police would be to the detriment of the whole city.
Yeah, what happened to the ferry service that was supposed to begin? That would have required the landing pier to be upgraded. I even saw the ferry do practice runs to the area. Martinez needs to stop electing people who have a conflict of interest to the city council.
I think they also need some mental help
They also need to replace their drinking water pipes. They’re having weekly main breaks.
Absolutely. They should redo the whole marina/dock/etc. Combine that with cleaning it up and keeping the homeless from trashing it.
Could you imagine what they could do with that shoreline marina area if they tried to build it up. Wow hotel, restaurants, boardwalk maybe some rides. I mean nothing brings people together like food and amusement. This is the problem with democrats, they are so negative and have zero vision. How long will you let them divide you into racist groups?
Sam, they’ve been trying to do that ever since I moved here but nothing moves forward. I don’t think a lot people want highrises on the waterfront. And a Marina restaurant has been a comedy of errors for years. And lets not forget the baseball team fiasco.
Wondering if city council members are seeking attention of the progressive liberal king makers in hopes of gaining higher elective office.
What a complete waste of city time and tax payers’ money.
What a complete waste of time!!!! Such BS because these bureaucrats have nothing else to do. My suggestion, get rid of them and start saving some money that can be use in a manner that benefits everyone.
exactly G
and this as well
that each council member could personally appoint one member to the task force.
there is the rub …..more power to influence the outcomes
just as kamala and biden want to do to the supreme court
this is the guinea pig so to speak for their actions towards the supreme court
being able to influence the process
in other words communist socialism
We’ve got to protect our phony baloney jobs, Gentlemen!!!!
Harumph
Vote.
Martinez needs a more diverse City Council. Which of the current Council members is ready to step aside?
Any MTZ city residents please vote Mark Ross out! He is a slum lord shady realtor.
Uhhhhhh, a “task force” should represent the demographics of the city. With less than 3% of the population being African American……..you are now becoming racists for trying to stack the task force in an inequitable way, See how that works 🙂
Martinez is a hot mess, why don’t you do something about Quality of life for your residents for a change like a Railroad Quiet zone from your 2009 pdf study.
A racial equity task force in Martinez is absurd. No wonder the task force wasn’t diverse enough. Martinez is less diverse than a lot of cities in California. What did they expect?
What a bunch of BS!!!!
I detest the use of POC to be inclusive! POC in itself is racist! Who wants to be identified with that??
Here’s an idea: Don’t rob, loot, commit arson, assault, murder, resist arrest, use illegal drugs or stop taking your psych meds. Treat others well. Oh, don’t have a dozen kids before you are 30, don’t drop out of school, don’t do things that get you sent to jail/prison. Get a job, show up every day and work hard. Ask your boos what it will take to get a promotion. Save up and buy a place. Do this and you will leave the losers far behind you.
Is the City Council following the will of the poeple or doing whatever they want?
If the people don’t want this overstuffed fools conglomeration, vote the Council out.
What in the world?
What a joke. Martinez could be a gem of a little city, but year after year it gets worse. They could start by cleaning up all the trash on the streets and get rid of all the drug addicts taking over the downtown area. Why won’t Martinez consider it’s residents that pay the taxes? Clean the city up.
I’m sorry, but I can’t read this without laughing.
We will never become a truly color blind society…. the liberals won’t let us!
Thank you.
This task force is not wanted or needed. Bigger concern is now that they have allowed hundreds of homeless to live at the marina, how will they ever get rid of them. Answer is they won’t.