Elmhurst To Confront Racial Inequality: Official

ELMHURST, IL — An Elmhurst alderwoman said Tuesday a city committee plans to examine local racial inequality and listen to residents about the issue. This effort, she said, is in response to local Black Lives Matter supporters' comments about racial issues at a council meeting in early August.

In a statement at Tuesday's council meeting, Alderwoman Marti Deuter said the residents identified things they wished were different and made suggestions about possible improvements.

"Nationally, there is a growing consensus that we can do better," Deuter said. "Although the country is looking closely at these issues because of the events in other places, there is a portion of our residents who want to examine issues related to race in the context of our community. Because the city of Elmhurst is a critical component of our community, I think we should embrace these discussions, listen and work diligently to identify areas of improvement."

She said the council's Public Affairs and Safety Committee has agreed to start a series of discussions on diversity and inclusion as they relate to city operations, specifically, training, hiring and outreach.

At the committee's next meeting, Deuter said, the city administration plans to present background information about such issues. Another part of the effort is a "listening tour" to hear from residents about their experiences and needs related to diversity and inclusion in city operations, she said. These discussions, she said, are set to happen in committee meetings and gatherings convened by residents.

At a mid-August meeting, an alderman announced he wanted to take part in the effort to fight racial injustice. Two months earlier, following local Black Lives Matter protests, Mayor Steve Morley and two aldermen, to varying degrees, praised the demonstrators, with one official saying, "Black lives do matter."

Elmhurst is less than 2 percent African American.