Port Huron council passes DEI statement — with 2 no votes
A diversity, equity, and inclusion statement got the green light from most Port Huron City Council members on Monday after an adjustment in some language since proposed last month.
Councilwoman Anita Ashford originally brought the resolution forward, defining several core principles for the city's “commitment to an inclusive community.”
But two councilmembers voted against the measure — one citing remaining word choice concerns and another who believed it was an unenforceable political statement versus an ordinance or policy.
On the latter view, Councilman Jeff Pemberton submitted a two-page statement outlining his opposition to his peers earlier on Monday. At the council’s meeting that night, he reiterated his concerns, citing the DEI statement as the latest of several already passed by officials nearly three years ago.
“I don’t know at what point it’s enough,” Pemberton said. "To me, voting yes on this non-binding resolution sets a dangerous precedent for this nonpartisan body. It would be no different than me introducing a non-binding resolution forcing members to take some stance on other highly politicized issues like abortion. That would be inappropriate.”
Values listed in the statement prescribe “fostering cooperative efforts” in the community to provide services inclusively, strategically, and with integrity, among other descriptive terms, and it defines equity as “fair, just and impartial treatment, opportunity, access and engagement” for all residents. The statement itself can be viewed in council agenda materials online.
Previously, officials said there were concerns with the use of the term equity — often defined academically in dealing with outcomes versus access to opportunity — in place of equality.
Councilwoman Teri Lamb, who also voted against Ashford’s statement, said it was such language she still had reservations over. The other word of concern, officials said, was the use of “prosperity” and its implications about outcomes in a non-binding set of principles.
On Monday, multiple officials said they disagreed to varying degrees that the statement as presented was political.
“I don’t need a policy to tell me how to treat people,” said Mayor Pro Tem Sherry Archibald. However, she added changes that had been made to the statement over the last few weeks — and namely the definition of equity — made it easier to support.
“I don’t look at it as a political statement. I understand where you’re coming from, though,” Mayor Pauline Repp said to Pemberton. “Because it is a slippery slope when you start getting into things that you can’t bind for any reason. Which, this is just a statement, and we have done similar statements.”
Ashford, who’s proposed anti-racism and other measures in years past, said the statement was more about being kind — something she didn’t think was political, either.
“I want to feel like we (all) belong here in the city of Port Huron, regardless of your circumstances or positioning,” she said. “DEI, to me, is important to our city as a whole because it is about fostering creativity, renewed perspective, and above all, understanding.”
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron council passes DEI statement — with 2 no votes
