** Please visit our website: http://www.africanassociation.org **

The following feedback is from LaMarr Billups - Chair of Communities
United and Citizen. Feel free to forward as appropriate. Hedi

It's About Time*

It's about time that the Mayor elevate the administration of the
policies, issues, programs and activities associated with the
advancement of civil rights in this community to the highest level of
our local government.  The Mayor's proposal to create a Department of
Civil Rights (DCR) that includes the Offices and Commissions of
Affirmative Action (AA), and Equal Opportunity (EOC) does exactly that.
Through the new DCR, AA and EOC are given equal stature and status to
other Departments in city government, who make up the "management team."
 Each office will continued to be led by a senior level manager, whose
level and scope of responsibility will be enhanced by executive level
leadership and a member of the Mayor's cabinet.  Even a casual observer
of Madison city government knows or ought to know that the key decisions
affecting policy, politics and budget are made at the executive level by
the Chief Executive and those who report first and directly to the Mayor
and advise Common Council.

Some have said the proposal reduces the impact of the two Offices, and
that it reduces the number of African American city managers.  I view
that response as severely limited and short-sighted.  To the contrary,
the proposal presents the clear possibility of increasing the number of
qualified African Americans or other people of color at the senior and
executive management levels in city government in the short and long
term.  One by-product of the proposal makes city department leaders more
accountable for demonstrating success in advancing affirmative actions
in hires and promotions by tying AA progress in their departments to
performance standards.

The hard fought battles of the civil rights movement in America yielded
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voters Rights Act of 1965.  Both
of these laws make up the very foundation upon which Affirmative Action
and Equal Opportunity agencies are based.  AA and EO executive orders,
rules and non discrimination statutes protect and promote the rights of
racial and ethnic populations, women, the disabled and others all across
the nation.  Neither is diminished by proximity of administration or
location as is the case in many cities across the state and nation with
similar or larger populations of African Americans, other people of
color or other protected classes.  While the missions of AA and EOC are
different, they are not mutually exclusive.  Both agencies investigate
claims of discrimination, both educate and train the public or city
staff on diversity and equal rights, and both reach out to communities
of color and difference.

Certainly, the voices of opposition to this proposal have legitimate
concerns and ideas that must be expressed, considered and integrated to
the extent practicable before a final decision is made by the Council
and the Mayor.  Let's discuss and debate openly and respectfully in the
coming weeks leading to final passage of the city budget.


LaMarr Billups
Citizen
142C S. Hancock Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
255-9291
345-9095 cell
263-5510 office

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