Business
Report including DEI proposals for La Crosse County stirs discussion at county board meeting
A consultant’s report on diversity equity and inclusion efforts in La Crosse County has been accepted by the county board, after lengthy debate by board members.
The 20-9 vote to accept the 40-page document prepared by an out of state consultant, who is originally from Milwaukee.
Several, who were against accepting the report, argued that it was too long and detailed, containing about 200 suggestions for making possible changes in county government.
County board member Kim Cable chairs the executive committee, which brought the report to the full board.
She sees DEI efforts as positive for the county.
“When people from different backgrounds come together,” she said, “they challenge each other’s assumptions, and approach problems in new ways.”
Board member Steve Doyle said the report was not perfect, but also noted that it doesn’t require the county to spend any money on new programs at this time.
The document was prepared by consultant Chanin Kelly-Rae, after getting input from surveys and community meetings conducted over the past year.
Some supervisors were concerned the report could lead to reverse discrimination in county hiring and other practices.
The report suggests goals addressing 10 specific areas, including workforce, justice and human services.
Some opponents of the report suggested that the list of goals should be shortened and simplified.
The board’s vote is expected to lead to discussions of specific county DEI programs in the coming months.
LG
August 15, 2024 at 11:53 pm
More identity politics from the liberal left. So you spend taxpayer money, bringing in someone from the left coast/California to tell us how to run our county. This is the epitome of stupidity. Planning to hire based on prejudicial criteria like gender, race, sexual orientation? Or does La Crosse County want to hire the best and most qualified persons for jobs. Which is it County: Meritocracy or Identity politics?
John Q Public
August 16, 2024 at 6:01 am
Democrat DEI policies gets the most unqualified person for the job…case in point the dysfunctional deranged delusional depraved perverted unqualified fraudulent blithering idiot Biden and Harris regime and the majority of freaks in that regime
of Circus side show freaks.
walden
August 16, 2024 at 12:16 am
Has Seattle consultant Chanin KellyRae submitted her proposal for the next phase of this scheme?
How much has this little foray into social engineering cost to-date and how much more is she asking for Phase II? With 200 suggestions to implement this sounds like a career-long project.
By the way, the only City more trashed out than her Seattle Washington is Spokane Washington…both are war zones.
Roy
August 16, 2024 at 5:58 am
This introduction of social engineering as a Board concern began with the endless Chairmanship of Tara Johnson, now running for the Assembly. That prolonged tenure of Ms. Johnson caused other like-minded liberal females and a few men to run for the Board and a host of qualified, capable people to say “forget it.”
As a result, The La Crosse County Board is dominated by left-liberal members, primarily women, who view their responsibility as a social engineer, supreme court, arbiter of grievances, Aunt Bea and top cop. County Board Supervisors used to see that roads were maintained and plowed, the sheriff was doing his job, state aid was paid on time and taxes were kept low.
Now, the bulk of agenda items and discussions by the Board center around items that appear to have been submitted by Bernie Sanders. Biggest spender in the County? Human Services (used to be the Health Department) of course.
Member Steve Doyle, running for re-election to the Assembly, his other job, straddled the political fence by saying “it’s not perfect, but it’s free, for now.” Watch out for that “for now”.
nick
August 16, 2024 at 8:15 am
There is always a cost so you have to wonder how much hard earned tax payer money will be wasted. Oh, that is right the left never worries about tax payer money being wasted.
The agenda was clear from the beginning when they brought someone in from Seattle.
The universities are all about DEI so let us bring it to its illogical conclusion. The University of Wisconsin’s football team at Madison must include native Americans, the physically disabled and mentally challenged individuals.
Paully
August 16, 2024 at 8:46 am
From the consultants web site. In their own words:
Chanin Kelly-Rae Consulting is a Black-owned, women-owned company dedicated to transforming organizational cultures and building data-driven strategies leading to measurable result .
Our Team works with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leaders to build equity and achieve meaningful change, no matter where they are on their individual DEI journey.
Roy
August 19, 2024 at 11:36 am
Fits in nicely with the La Crosse County Board leadership clique. Your tax dollars will cover their paychecks for years.