Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Debate Heats Up

GOSHEN – The Orange County Legislature last Thursday, voted to allocate $100,000 and issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a diversity intervention initiative.

The plan wound up in 90 minutes of debate because minority leaders of the Democrat Caucus, on Tuesday, proposed adding the creation of a diversity, equity and inclusion committee (DEIC) onto the resolution, which was defeated.

“The community has called upon the Democratic caucus to help support communities of color across Orange County,” Michael Paduch, minority leader of the Democratic Caucus said.

Paduch proposed that the legislature instead allocate funds for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, made up on volunteers from senior level management, legislators and senior level staff from the County Executive’s office. “We believe that this committee would be more reflective of the changes we need to see and could work collectively with local organizations to help collect data and research to help address the pressing issues of our county.”

The Democrat Caucus also wants to create and design strategies and action plans to address policies, practices and procedures affecting racial, diversity, and inclusion issues within the County.

The Democrats proposed plan also calls for all county employees to be required to take “Anti-racism” training as well as “Diversity and Inclusion” training as part of their hiring process. Training would be administered by the Human Rights commission and the Human Rights Department.

There was also a “Health Equity” component to the proposed plan which request that the Health Equity Officer provide a detailed report of what she has found to be the most challenging issues to date in communities of color, and actions that she has taken to address health disparities within these communities. They also requested that the department of health reexamine its promotion and incentive policy, due to numerous complaints of a lack of diversity in leadership positions.

“We request that the Orange County Historian give an analysis of local markers, monuments, roads, cemeteries, etc. that reflect the history of slavery in Orange County and provide ideas for ways to promote the historical contributions of people of color, native Americans and other marginalized groups in Orange County,” said Legislator Kevindaryan Lujan.

Chairman Stephen Brescia assured members such a committee would be formed, but said the proposal never went through the legislative process and was bogging down the resolution.

“There will be inclusion and oversight and input from all legislators, especially leadership; that will happen,” he said.