New Commission Would Take Aim at Discrimination in City Hall

While the city of La Crosse fights charges of discrimination, it appears to be moving towards more policing of its own policies regarding discrimination.  The city council’s rules committee tonight considers legislation that would turn the city’s long-standing Equal Opportunities Commission into a first-ever Human Rights Commission.  Among the charges for the new commission would be to expand its education reach but also to monitor city hall with the goal of eliminating discrimination and inequality.  A police officer has filed a discrimination suit against the city for what he says is a workplace environment of hostility and racial harassment.