LAKEWOOD, Wash. – The Lakewood City Council adopted a statement on equity on April 19, 2021. Resolution No. 2021-05 commits the Lakewood City Council to take measures to identify and eliminate systemic racism.
Issues of social justice have been magnified by recent events. The statement reflects the Lakewood City Council’s consideration of the influence of government on the wellbeing of diverse populations.
“The decisions we make as municipal leaders have consequences. This resolution is a promise to intentionally practice equity and inclusion in all matters that pass before the Lakewood City Council.”
– Don Anderson, Mayor
Resolution 2021-05 commits the Lakewood City Council to six perpetual practices:
- Instilling equity as a priority of policy and the delivery of services.
- Enacting initiatives that support and celebrate the diversity of the community.
- Ensuring equity in municipal planning.
- Identifying and dismantling preconceived prejudices.
- Increasing sensitivity to social norms and cultural expectations.
- Pursuing justice and equity for all residents.
Additionally, the resolution condemned acts of hate based on creed, ancestry, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or socioeconomic status.
“Because Lakewood is a community rich in diversity, this Council is committed to ensuring that equity is a priority of policy in the planning for and delivery of municipal services to our residents.”
– Jason Whalen, Deputy Mayor
Didn’t we already do all of these things? The answer is yes. We already have anti discrimination and equal opportunity policies. All this is is lip service and pretending the government can fix issues in the home.
Equality = equal opportunity
Equity = equal outcome
Not the same thing folks.
Kristi,
Equality= a condition of being equal
Equity= a condition of being equitable
Equity= means removing barriers based on the need, not so that everyone gets there at the same time or even the same way, but so that everyone gets there.
The bus stop has loose gravel
All people have access to the bus stop = Equality
Making a trail for wheelchair users or those with ambulatory issues where there is no gravel = Equity
This CRT that people are talking about and equity are not the same; why is it so hard to understand?
Social justice means a vision of an equitable society, and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure.
None of this is race-based.
I understand that if the lie keeps people in fear of losing something, they will cut off their nose to spite their faces while empowering those working against their best interest.
The conspiracy theorists proved this logic repeatedly, which is a proven fact of how the insurrectionists landed on Capital steps throughout the nation and not just in DC. They believed a lie that was told repeatedly until they believed it, an echo chamber, if you will.
Whenever you have to ask for help you are asking for some sort of equity.
I agree with Kristi. To come up with all that’s in this resolution implies that we’ve not been doing so all along. I don’t believe that’s correct. Think about it! Sometimes we make bad decisions, but for the most part people try to do the right thing. As they say, you can’t please all of the people all of the time… That’s life! Get over it!
Meaningless pap to satisfy woke leftists who think the entire country………….including Lakewood’s city council………are inherently and systemically racist. This resolution simply confirms that in their minds. Apologizing for something you’re not guilty of does not require courage. Quite the opposite: it requires cowardice. The need to “mea culpa” has become a national pastime in the absence of any critical thinking on critical race theory. Indeed we have regressed to the point where the color of one’s skin, or more importantly the color of one’s group, now supersedes the content of an individual’s character. Why has it taken council this long (since 1996) to admit that they are inherently racists? That Lakewood’s government is systemically racist? What epiphany “woke” these current council members up? Why would anyone trust these same white people to fix a system they have spent the last 25 years perpetuating? Perhaps they should all resign and replace themselves with people of color. (sarcasm intended!) Indeed they have become the very thing they allegedly abhor……..race is only important to racists.
“What epiphany “woke” these current council members up? Why would anyone trust these same white people to fix a system they have spent the last 25 years perpetuating? Perhaps they should all resign and replace themselves with people of color. (sarcasm intended!) Indeed they have become the very thing they allegedly abhor……..race is only important to racists.”
Ability
LGBTQIA+
Religion
Gender Identity
Financial class
Age
Race
Yet your focus is only on race, you are a hypocritical bigot. Race was not the focus of this policy, though it is clearly yours.
This policy simply states they will be intentional about ensuring they are not creating impacts to people that cause harm. Why?
“Because Lakewood is a community rich in diversity, this Council is committed to ensuring that equity is a priority of policy in the planning for and delivery of municipal services to our residents.”
– Jason Whalen, Deputy Mayor
You have a problem with that? Because…???
Justice and equity for all people bothers you why???
You showed us your hand.
WE SEE YOU.
Critical RACE theory is all about race and based upon race as are its component parts equity, inclusion and diversity. It has nothing to do with:
Ability
LGBTQIA+
Religion
Gender Identity
Financial class
Age
Indeed CRT’s mantra is expressed in terms of “communities or color” “black and brown people” who have, in their opinion, been “marginalized”. By whom? White people of course! This is nothing but a throw back to tribalism; dividing people into groups; stereotyping them by the color of their skin, gender, religion, etc. and ignoring their individualism.
Justice and equality for all people does not bother me. Justice and equity based on an individual’s group “membership” rather than them as an individual does bother me. It is by definition racist when based upon race.
You showed us your hand.
WE SEE YOU!
CRT and Equity are not the same. Completely different. You do not know what Equity is, and you sound like an old fool stuck in his ways willing to believe whatever because it supports your ideology and allows you to dismiss people who are not like you. Everyone is wrong about systemic racism, but you. Even Dump Trump’s analysis showed that systemic racism is real. Barr, with the numbers in his hand, said systemic racism existed and then came back later and said it was not real. Your pedo cult leader duped you yet again.
The whole country is systematically racist. As soon as the boomers die off or get put into homes, we will change it.
Are you white? Then that means you are immutably a racist according to CRT. That’s how their (CRT) brand of racism works. Or is it that you’re the exception to the rule because of your “wokeness”?
Well yes, I am about as white as they come. I do not consider myself to be racist I certainly don’t agree with the ideas put forth by CRT. I also realize that I have had a privileged life just because I am white.I realize that much of Washington D.C. was built by slaves I realize that I don’t have to worry about being killed by a cop during a traffic stop. I realize that my chances of being imprisoned are far less then those of the average man of color.
I’m just glad that most of those coming of age today do not have the same upbringing that I have had. They do not buy into the racist propaganda that I was brought up with. They are much closer to the idea of judging a person by what they do, not what is the color of their skin.
You are scared; your pointed white hood, power, and privilege are no longer acceptably upholding the status quo is no longer a sustainable option in our community. The times are changing, and it scares you. So you approach another white person and try to shame them for being forward-thinking and not subscribing to your white supremacy rhetoric based on misinformation and lies.
“Are you white? Then that means you are immutably a racist according to CRT. That’s how their (CRT) brand of racism works. Or is it that you’re the exception to the rule because of your “wokeness”?”
Newsflash John Arbeeny, racists, are people with power who uphold systems that create disproportionate impacts on a group of people.
Racists are not a specific group of people of a particular color; anyone with power can be a racist. Racism is about power. Are you saying only white people have power?
You are uninformed and outdated in more than one way. I know you will come back with the few black exceptions who subscribe to the Trump Republicans ideology; you know the exceptions and not the norm to justify your bigotry save it we heard it all before.
The City of Lakewood never mentioned CRT at all; you did.
When black people say black lives matter, they are not referring to any group or organization. They are letting us know their lives matter too. If you are honest with yourself that is what you have a problem with. That is why you consistently have something negative to say when race, black people and people of color in our community are involved. WE SEE YOU.
This post by Lakewood Government cites the word “equity” six times and throws in “social justice”, “systemic racism” and other modern societal buzzwords of “wokeness.” Interestingly, once again none of these terms are defined; they never are with virtue signaling, because they are just empty “signals.”
Pat is so correct. And Kristi’s eloquent, pithy comment has the substance and heft Lakewood’s pronouncement lacks. Sadly, “equity” as used by the Council, et al, buys into Marxist ideology and is not the same as “equality” as used and defined in America. I had hoped better of local government and its ability to resist Seattle style leadership. Sad!
Did I miss the inclusion of religion. Or, was creed suppose to cover that?
I’ll try this again:
I am glad to join with Kristi, Pat and John in condemning the Lakewood Council’s Equity Statement.
The Council’s post cites “equity” six times and also includes “social justice”, “systemic racism” and other modern social buzzwords of “woke speak.” Interestingly, none of these terms/concepts are defined. Of course, they never are because they are hollow virtue signals designed to suggest caring without specifics.
Kristi’s eloquent, pithy comment has the substance and heft lacking in the Council’s words. It offers a correct, defining context we should all applaud.
“Equity” as used by our officials unfortunately (and hopefully, unintentionally) buys into Marxist ideology and is not the same as America’s vision of “equality.” I had hoped better of local government and its ability to resist Seattle style pronouncements of leadership.
This is sad!
So basically just lip service?
Ok.
How about raising taxes on the top 5% of earners in Lakewood and using that money to actually do something instead of just talking? How about reducing the police budget?
This is effectively nothing, but it still took time to come up with, which I’m sure taxpayers paid them for.
It just amazes me how many racist a**holes live around here.
I find it laughable that the likes of Steve and SM make assumptions about people they don’t know. What they don’t know about me would fill a book. No, I’m not scared. Ethnic and racial differences are no threat to me: I live in the middle of them! I suspect I have more diversity in my pinky finger than either of you. I’m Hispanic/white/Middle Eastern (how’s that for ethnic diversity), married to a Korean (how’s that for racial diversity) and count within my extended family and friends Filipinos, Mexicans, Japanese and Blacks and none of them consider themselves “marginalized”. They don’t need victimhood to be successful. CRT is all about race. BLM is all about race. Race is only important to racists. WE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE!
John, to be someone who is colorblind, you sure threw your racial identity out there real quick to prove your point, now didn’t you? Do you realize how laughable that is? The ability to be color blind when it is convenient is where racism comes from. Just say it, John; the sooner you accept it, the better, we already know. You are a racist. WE SEE YOU.