Thursday, June 18, 2009

Duncanville City Council figures out what “inclusive” includes

By Brian Allen of Best Southwest Citizen

Over the past few years it’s become customary for the District 3 Duncanville councilman to be alone in championing a stance on a seemingly uncontroversial issue. Whatever the majority opinion was, it was anticipated that Paul Ford would be against it. But at the June 16 meeting, it was newly elected Councilman Anthony Skinner who found himself islanded without any support from his colleagues.

Duncanville residents have likely noticed the “Inclusive City” signs throughout town, although many of them are unclear on just what that means. Skinner said he and many of his constituents were seeking some clarification.

At this meeting the council discussed the mission statement of the Duncanville Community Multicultural Commission. That group will be tasked with helping celebrate all Duncanville’s unique cultures.

Skinner said his stance on the issue had been misinterpreted in the media and went on record (six times, in fact) that he supported the concept of a Multicultural Commission. He expressed some problems with the mission statement before the council, however.

The District 3 councilman questioned the amount of public input into the process. He then asked Councilwoman Dorothy Burton, who had asked for the measure to be placed on the agenda, if she would accept a friendly amendment. Skinner suggested postponing approval of the mission statement until July to allow for a public hearing. Burton declined, and Skinner said he didn’t understand why.

Skinner suggested trimming the proposed 13-member makeup of the commission to 11 and asked for changes in some wording to clarify the meaning of inclusive.

Burton had struggled with a fading voice for the entire meeting, and while her words weren’t loud, she made herself heard in her own style.

“I think you should be transparent and come forth with what you’re dancing around,” Burton said. “I’m not calling you out in any way, as a matter of fact I was hoping you would say what your objection to this is.”

The at-large councilmember said this meeting was the first time anyone was hearing about an objection Skinner had other than the singular one he hadn’t voiced yet.

After Burton finished “not calling Skinner out in any way,” he got a little more specific in his objection.

“All I ask is that you add before the words, something like 'culturally inclusive' or 'culturally diverse,'” Skinner said. “The concern is that the terminology such as inclusive and diverse are too broad, are too broadly understood. They are too general in their meaning and would imply the city’s endorsement of lifestyles my constituents find offensive and immoral.”

(Editor’s Note: There, Dorothy! He said it! Sort of.)

With Skinner voicing the only objection, the measure passed.

Pegasus News content partner - Best Southwest Citizen

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