By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council was asked again last week to take a bigger role in creating racial equity in the community.
Members of BRAVE – Black Rights Activism, Visibility and Equity – talked of the organization’s efforts in Bowling Green, but again urged city leaders to do more.
Chris Douglas said BRAVE is working on voter registration with the League of Women Voters, the BGSU Black Student Union, and city officials.
That effort will continue until the voter registration deadline of Oct. 5.
“BRAVE is looking forward to helping local residents become a bigger part of their local democracy,” Douglas said.
Elijah McKnight, who handed out BRAVE pins to council members, thanked city officials who listened in on the virtual Emmitt Till program hosted by BRAVE.
“It means a lot to us when you guys are involved in things we do,” McKnight said.
Lindsay Durham, however, asked that city officials get more involved. She repeated her request that the city hold a special meeting on racial disparity in Bowling Green. Public meetings are difficult during the pandemic, but the city did hold public hearings to get input on the mask mandate adopted earlier this summer, she pointed out.
The city needs to address issues such as the higher rate of citations and arrests for Black people in Bowling Green than the proportion of Black residents in the city, Durham said.
“We cannot continue to push these issues aside,” she said.
Durham also asked about the list of books on racial equity that council member Neocles Leontis is working on. Leontis said he is compiling the list and will make it available to council members.
“I commend those that have taken on the challenge of educating themselves regarding issues they may never face,” Durham said.
Leontis acknowledged the efforts of BRAVE members, and urged them to keep pushing.
“I want to thank these young people for keeping issues in front of us,” Leontis said. “I urge you young people to keep on top of us. Don’t let us slide.”
While the resolution adopted by City Council was a good step – it was just a start, he said.
“There’s a lot more work we need to do,” Leontis said.
The racial equity resolution passed by City Council in July states the following:
- City Council pledges to listen and learn, in order to take meaningful action on racial injustice to ensure that people of color are treated equally in every encounter with the city and in receipt of city services.
- City Council seeks to increase diversity present throughout all city departments and divisions.
- City Council pledges to ensure that there are transparent processes across all city government for investigating employee misconduct and employing progressive discipline.
- An existing police officer will be assigned the duty of liaison to communities of color. Just as the police division assigns liaisons to school-age children and other community groups, outreach to communities of color should be formalized.
- The Human Relations Commission will create a series of city-sponsored “Listen & Learn” events, with the goal of educating city staff and the public on the history of racism and furthering the discussion on these issues within our community.
The resolution states that institutional and structural racism has plagued this country since its founding, and that there is a cry across America for public officials to take bold action. The wording acknowledges that Bowling Green is not immune from systematic racism.
In other business at last week’s meeting:
- Mayor Mike Aspacher said he had appointed Nick Hennessey, director of the Bowling Green State University Office of Sustainability, to the city’s sustainability board.
- Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter said paving on Maple Street will begin next month.
- Tretter also reminded council that a public meeting about a new roundabout at the intersection of East Wooster Street and Campbell Hill Road will be held Sept. 16, from 4 to 5 p.m.
- Council member Greg Robinette announced that a finance committee meeting will be held Oct. 19, at 6 p.m.
- Council voted to authorize the city to seek funding from the Wood County Park District’s Local Park Improvement Grant Program.
- Council learned Tom Striggow had been appointed to the city’s tree commission.
