Politics & Government
Worcester Councilors To Review Diversity, Equity Shakeup Plan
The Worcester City Council has weighed in on major changes to the city's approach to diversity, equity and inclusion.
WORCESTER, MA — A reorganization of the city's diversity and equity structure will soon be reviewed by a city council subcommittee, a process that may allay concerns about the plan raised by a city commission that will be a key component of the restructure.
On Friday, Batista sent a wide-ranging plan to city councilors describing a new structure for the reformed Executive Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. One major part of the plan involves dissolving the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and combining its members with the Human Rights Committee.
Under the plan, the Human Rights Committee would expand to up to 13 members, but shrink over time as members of the two committees reach the ends of their terms. The members of the dissolving DEI Committee were involved in Batista's plans going back to May 2022, but Human Rights commissioners found out about the plan hours before Monday's meeting, they said.
At a Monday night meeting, members of the Human Rights Commission said they felt the city manager was "kind of throwing us a curveball."
"This feels very sudden for myself, and there is a lot to process," Vice Chair Elizabeth O'Callahan said during the meeting.
But one day later, Human Rights Commission Chair Guillermo Creamer spoke at Tuesday's city council meeting in support of the change.
"I believe our mission aligns well with the city manager's recommendation for where he wants to take the commission," Creamer said. "I look forward to seeing its development and full potential."
The HRC voted to ask Batista for several things: to pause any city council votes on the DEI shakeup until he can answer questions from the commission; give a presentation on the changes at a commission meeting; and solicit feedback from the public on the changes. However, HRC members may instead attend city council meetings to learn more about the changes.
City councilors largely lauded the plan Tuesday night, but did ask questions about the changes, including the idea for combining the two commissions. Batista said at Tuesday's council meeting that he sought to dissolve the DEI committee because over the years it has had trouble finding members and having enough people present to meet. Combining it with the Human Rights Committee allows its members to harness the HRC's powers, like issuing subpoenas and accepting complaints from the public.
Under Batista's plan, the Human Rights Commission could review complaints made against city employees, and external complaints involving civil rights issues. The commission would also be inside a department with two investigators who could launch inquiries and report findings on human rights and civil rights issues.
"For those of us who do this work in our day jobs, this is beyond incredible," District 1 Councilor Sean Rose said Tuesday.
At-Large Councilor Khrystian King — whose committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations will review Batista's proposal — also asked Batista to again consider his request to form a committee focusing on the needs of Black and African residents. The city has commissions focused on Latino affairs, the status of women and disabled residents.
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