Scottsdale City Council member says vote to remove DEI program is not effective
Vote to nix Scottsdale DEI programs faces backlash
Critics are saying the 5-2 vote by the Scottsdale City Council in February to eliminate DEI programs was done behind the scenes and serves no purpose. FOX 10's Ashlie Rodriguez has the story.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - We now know what dissolving DEI in Scottsdale will look like.
The City Council voted 5-to-2 to end the program, but council members in the majority say this debate is far from over.
How did it get to this point?
What they're saying:
The night Scottsdale City Council ended its diversity, equity and inclusion program in February was a contentious one.
"We don’t need another government program that is - what we heard – doesn’t do much at all," said council member Adam Kwasman.
Scottsdale City Council member Adam Kwasman
But council members who voted against terminating the DEI program say the tension wasn’t over Scottsdale’s hiring practices, which have always been merit-based, it was over how the city opted to end the program and why.
"This ordinance was done behind the scenes without a public process, and serves no purpose," said council member Solange Whitehead.
Scottsdale council member Solange Whitehead
"First, I think we have to really emphasize what the DEI decision by the majority on the council does not accomplish. So it does not eliminate DEI hiring because the city has never had DEI hiring."
What we know:
Taking a closer look at the DEI transition plan released this month, it says the decision eliminates the office of DEI and the use of city funds, which spent under $300,000 in 2022/23 out of a $2 billion dollar budget.
That money mainly paid for two DEI and ADA positions, which are eliminated - but the people will be moved to other departments.
"With no cost savings and no changes in policies, there have been no public benefits to the decision by the council. However, with this memo we have opened an entire can of worms. And we’re starting to realize the vast array of possible downside risks," said Whitehead.
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City of Scottsdale council members vote to end DEI practices
The Scottsdale City Council voted to eliminate DEI programs and "ensure city employees are hired, evaluated, and promoted based on merit."
Why you should care:
Take a look: Scottsdale is eliminating sponsorships with organizations like the NAACP and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
It ends "Scottsdale for All" branding and marketing, Juneteenth celebrations, employee resource groups that include Veterans of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Women for Inclusion, Black Employees for Opportunities, City of Scottsdale Christian Alliance, Scottsdale Hispanic Network, Scottsdale Pride and Disability Support.
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky
"I read it to mean that Holocaust Remembrance Day programs are no more in the city of Scottsdale," said Whitehead. "Or what about a festival celebrating Native Americans?"
Councilmember Whitehead says the lack of public process and council debate has motivated her to get the council back to the table.
What's next:
Is there something the council can do to clear up the confusion with constituents?
Whitehead says her goal is to set up a community task force to define what programs are worth keeping and go from there.
"Everybody I know agrees that our programs at the city are wonderful and everybody I met agrees we should have merit-based hiring, which we do. So this entire effort has really divided the city of Scottsdale for residents on something they absolutely agree on," she said.