Temecula Grapples With 'R' Words: Race, Racism

TEMECULA, CA — A Temecula City Council member who has been critical of the city's Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiative did not get backing from her colleagues this week when she called for a conversation about possibly renaming the commission.

After an hourslong discussion during Tuesday night's City Council meeting that lasted until early Wednesday, council members were not swayed to take any action to rename the REDI commission.

The seven-member REDI commission's work, which includes studying how the city can be more inclusive for all residents, will continue.

City Council Member Jessica Alexander, who is serving her first year on the dais, requested during a contentious July 27 council meeting that the REDI name be changed.

During this week's meeting, Alexander said racism was not something council members should be tackling.

"Race is not our thing here. It has to be taken care of in the church. I can't be your therapist," she said.

Saying that she "loves Christ," Alexander explained, "I know what I'm doing is right."

The REDI commission discussion is not the first time Alexander has defended her views about race. She came under fire during an April council meeting when she compared "taking a stand" against California's COVID-19 health mandates — particularly mask-wearing — to Rosa Parks' struggle against racial segregation.

During Tuesday night's meeting, the council chambers were at overflow capacity due to the number of people who turned out to give public comments about the REDI commission.

Alexander had strong support among many in the audience. Some wore stickers with the hashtag #TemeculaStands, which references a local group that advocates for "the traditions and values of Temecula." Another person carried a sign with a skull and crossbones that read "REDI is poison."

Many unverified statements were made to the council. One public commenter asserted that the REDI commission and Black Lives Matter are aligned. Several speakers said the commission was bringing critical race theory to local schools. Others claimed racism doesn't exist in Temecula, and the commission was creating bigotry.

Mayor Maryann Edwards said the claims were false. She pointed out that the REDI commission has no power. Instead, it operates in an advisory role to help identify opportunities where the city can be more inclusive.

Many people spoke in support of the REDI commission.

A young woman said she was frustrated by the comments "coming from people who would most likely not be subjected to racism.

"The fact that there is such an issue with the R acronym supports that there is a problem," she continued.

Alexander put forth an alternative name for the commission during the meeting. The HEDI commission, she offered, could stand for the "Human Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion commission."

"Where's the R?" Edwards asked.

Alexander said it wasn't needed in the acronym because "human race" was in the full name.

Her proposal died.

"Race is there because we want to make sure people are not excluded because of their race," Edwards said.

"Since when did race become a dirty word?" the mayor asked.

Edwards said she was disturbed by hatred spewed by some public commenters.

"What is wrong with us? she asked. "I don't want to see this anymore."

"Race does matter," Council Member Zak Schwank said. "If we genuinely want a more perfect union, we have to put in the work."

Mayor Pro Tem Matt Rahn called for calm.

"We need to lower the temperature," he said.

Rahn said he believes that, by and large, Temecula is not a racist community today but racism has been a part of the area's history. He cited the brutal treatment of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, who were evicted from their Temecula-area land, forced onto a reservation, and saw their children stripped from them and placed into "Indian schools."

Descendants remain in the area, Rahn said. "We're here to represent everyone in this community."

The REDI initiative was approved by City Council in July 2020, and the seven-member REDI commission was picked out of a pool of approximately 80 applicants. When council members received the stack of applications and made their appointments to the commission, the race, age and gender of the candidates were redacted, Rahn pointed out.

Alexander had not yet been elected to the council when REDI was conceived.

The commission reviews and makes "recommendations on topics of diversity and inclusion within city events, services, programs, policies and enhanced community relations," according to the city.

The REDI commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the council chambers.

The full Aug. 10 Temecula City Council meeting can be viewed here.