Kumari Ghafoor-Davis, the city's new People and Culture Specialist, previously the Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, explained that the separation was so that the people of color felt more comfortable expressing themselves. How such dual meetings promote racial harmony isn't clear to me, but then again, I'm not a People Specialist. I received a copy of the workshop notice Friday morning from someone who thought that it ironically fostered separation. By Friday afternoon, WFMZ also picked up the story.
If my low-key, write-in campaign for mayor* is successful, Allentown will be going back to just an HR director. The public is currently invited to various workshops, so that they might determine what the policy should be in parks and other city departments. In my Allentown, the public would be encouraged to follow long established policies. The Tuerk administration is obsessed with DEI, to the point where they even removed safety gates in the parks, because they might symbolize that the city wasn't welcoming. While such inclusion contortions may have political dividends, they do not make the city any safer, better nor improve quality of life for the residents.
The flooded car shown above belonged to an elderly couple who decided to take a long stroll in the rain. Unfortunately, the creek rose faster than their return walk, but at least they didn't feel unwelcome.
*molovinsky for mayor is not a political campaign, rather a manual for a better Allentown. In the upcoming primary, I support Ed Zucal for mayor.
I’m hoping that these specialized people trainings will be made available to the tax paying citizens of Allentown soon. This is vaguely reminiscent of Phyllis Alexander and her National Coalition Building Institute. Peeps sure need lessons in behavior, preferably by tribal affiliation.
ReplyDeleteThose were the days!
Ho, boy.
ReplyDeleteCan’t wait until some principled and courageous individuals refuses to go along with official segregation training. This should open up an entirely new round of recriminations and litigation.
Shades of Evergreen College!
Grab your popcorn, this should get interesting.
Our Mayor Matt should be encouraged and applauded for taking these actions to make our city more welcoming and inclusive. As these initiatives go forward it’s necessary to recognize gender diversity as a key component. Let’s not overlook the goal, everyone deserves to feel safe and included in City Hall and throughout the community.
ReplyDeleteWoke is not a four letter word!
Today of all the days in my life I WANT A WOKE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT!
ReplyDeleteThere was obviously ‘funding from someplace else’ made available to create these new positions and activities. Truth be told, THERE IS NO MONEY FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE. It all comes filtered down from taxpayers like you and I.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the ‘race business’ in America can be lucrative for organizers so it continues on taking many new forms.
Has the Equity and Inclusion coordnator, sorry, I meant the People and Culture Specialist position always been filled by a minority member of the community ?
ReplyDeleteanon@5:11:There is certainly new positions in Allentown, which I find superfluous. Although not race related, there was comment at city council that $150K is not salary enough for the new homelessness position, to attract a qualified person. In years past, such tasks were reward in themselves.
ReplyDeleteI knew that Allentown residents were paying for a Manager of Civic Innovation (she posts here) but now a People and Culture Specialist? How many other new and previously unheard of positions had Tuerk created??
ReplyDeleteAmerica learned last November this country wasn't woke! The left tried to ram bizarre nonsense down our throat as the noble path forward. They told us everyone who was anyone was for this. Those who dared question the forced compliance were summarily punished. We now know all of this was done without the support of the majority of the American people. Clearly Matt didn't get the message and is plowing forward with what we now understand is an unpopular agenda. The only question now is have the elites on the west end, in their tidy comfort zones taken note of the change in the wind. America is marching in a new direction, Allentown seems as usual heading it's own way, down.
ReplyDeleteMayor Matts tattoos make him cool, his commitment to DEI make him great. I’m proud to be part of the new Allentown.
ReplyDeleteWhen created, the position must have been given the approval of council members so try pointing fingers there. Their past meeting last Wednesday resulted in approval of all, including Zucal, of a committee for Latin affairs as well as an African American one. I don't recall Tuerk associated with that initiative.
ReplyDeleteI believe that those proposals were moved along the path, but actual approval votes have not taken place yet.
DeleteThe Mayor is the straw that stirs the drink. When appropriate he leads from the front. When required he leads from behind. Matt will make an excellent Congressperson. This is a young man with a bright future, and the future starts now!
DeleteIf these sessions can get
Deletethe Dominicans and the Puerto Ricans on something like the same page they will be worth their weight in gold.
I am looking forward to him continuing to serve Allentown as the smart, compassionate, and accomplished mayor he has proven himself to be.
Deleteanon@10:41: I believe that the meetings are only intended to address issues in the City Hall workplace. As to their value...they cost the Allentown taxpayers hundreds of hours in lost work, so I hope that they had some benefit.
DeleteMrs. Kumari Ghafoor-Davis is an amazingly gifted asset to the City of Allentown who comes from a place of peace and healing. As an employee in attendance at one of the sessions I have to say that these gatherings were fundamentally a place for employees to support each other and begin to heal from the heinous and disgusting action by someone within our City Hall.
DeleteIt is easy to make a uniformed assertion that they were designed to divide. The only one doing the division in the city is Matt Tuerk and his cast of fools.
I would really recommend a mixed race group. My lived experience has taught me that those of us who identify as mix race have our own unique experiences.
ReplyDeleteI myself am Chinese. We are a proud people even as we embrace our role as Americans. I don’t know how many Chinese individuals, or Korean’s, Japanese or other Asian people, all unique cultures, work for the City of Allentown. I don’t have any insight into East Indian’s feel, and I don’t speak for Koreans or Japanese, but I am certain that Chinese, and probably Koreans and Japanese, don’t feel comfortable opening up around white people and most certainly don’t feel comfortable with a large group of “people of color”. No insult meant, just feelings.
ReplyDeleteIf you feel this way about "white people ", perhaps you are the one with a race problem. Identifying people by their race and saying you feel "uncomfortable" around them may say more about you than it does of America or city hall in 2025. Scott Armstrong
DeleteThey probably meant to say “non-people of color” but haven’t yet had the opportunity to have their conscience raised. A lot of people could benefit from these trainings.
DeleteExactly what is the difference between "non people of color" and white people? And who are the "white people/non people of color" who haven't had their conscious raised? Were they raised in a remote region with no public schools, media, or communications with the outside world? I'm 67, when I went to school we were already taught Martin Luther King was a national hero. The civil rights act was passed by both houses and signed into law by then President Kennedy. Affirmative Action programs were implemented. Minorities were elected into higher offices in ever increasing numbers...That was 60 years ago, it's 2024 everyone is well aware that racism is evil, and judging people by the color of their skin is bigotry and reprehensible.
Deleteanon@3:16: Overt acts of intimidation and racism should certainly be the basis for employment termination in city employment. As we get into more grey areas of attitude, we begin to burden the taxpayer with the ongoing expense of employee re-education....which should not be the purpose of city hall.
Delete“The flooded car shown above belonged to an elderly couple who decided to take a long stroll in the rain. Unfortunately, the creek rose faster than their return walk, but at least they didn't feel unwelcome.”
ReplyDeleteHow bigoted of you!
How do you know if that couple didn’t feel unwelcome if you don’t know their race(s)?
And you didn’t even TRY to find out the gender identity of the flood itself!
This shows why you are part of the problem!
Maybe you need to attend a workshop or two!
Why did the DEI person need a name change???
ReplyDeleteHaving an a woman of East Indian heritage run this show solves soooo many problems.
DeleteGreat call, Mayor.
@3:15AM
ReplyDeleteIndeed, our young mayor is proudly lifting the banner of Evergreen College and carrying it forward.
Make Allentown great again.
At this point in the discussion, comments have to make a new point to appear. I prefer not to host replies and/or reiterations.
ReplyDelete