Politics
Racial Equity Team approved for La Crosse City Hall
The racial concerns which have stirred America since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis six months ago are being heard at La Crosse City Hall.
The city council has voted to allow the mayor to appoint a Racial Equity Team of city employees, to review the practices of local government.
Mayor Tim Kabat says the equity team idea stems directly from local demonstrations following Floyd’s death in police custody.
Members of the council questioned whether they actually needed to give Kabat permission to form that study committee.
Doug Happel of the council says this idea sounds different than the hiring practices he used when he worked for the La Crosse school district.
Happel wanted to know whether there was a specific hiring goal the mayor had in mind.
The resolution points out that people of color make up 10 per cent of La Crosse’s population, but only 6 per cent of the city’s employees.