Brookline's Goal for Diversity To Come To Town Meeting

Brookline, MA— Within the town of Brookline, the Commission for Diversity Inclusion and Human Relations has a goal to eliminate discrimination in housing, work, and education. Their mission is to take concrete steps in promoting and increasing diversity throughout Brookline. Most recently this means diving into the pieces of legislature that are up for a vote at the upcoming May 22 Town Meeting.

The Commission recently discussed holding a public hearing in May before Town Meetingon warrant articles that might have some diversity, inclusion or community relation implications. On its May 9 meeting the commission will focus on articles 23, 36, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 with this in mind and they're inviting the public to come.

“We have identified these warrant articles as having potential diversity and inclusion implications,” said Kelly Race, Chairwoman of the Commission.

On May 16 there will be another public hearing on warrant articles 17-22 (related to recreational use of marijuana) and 32.

“The purpose of this hearing will be to increase the public's awareness on the diversity throughout Brookline,” Kelly Race said.

Following the public hearing the commission will decide whether the articles merit the commission voicing its collective opinion at Town Meeting.

The commission members said they encourage residents to come to their meetings to keep up on implications of new laws and rules in Brookline and beyond. The commission is also there to resolve discrimination issues in the workplace.

The Warrant Articles referenced above are:

23 - Renaming Devotion School
36 - Renaming Washington St.
24 - Land Bank
25 & 26 - Senior Homeowner Tax Credit and Tax Exemption
27 - Compliance with Living Wage By-Law
28 - 30 - Surveillance Oversight
17 - 22 - Recreational Marijuana

32 - Non Disclosure Agreements

Kristen Connors is a Journalism Student at Newbury College