The city of Madison may soon weaken its civil justice departments, warned members of the Equal Opportunities Commission Thursday.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's plan to create the new Department of Civil Rights would combine the current Affirmative Action Committee and the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission.
The plan garnered tentative acceptance from the Ad Hoc Committee on the Department of Civil Rights, a group the mayor assembled to address the plan. However, members of the EOC are sounding warning alarms.
Some claim the move will create coordination and better address the needs of Madison residents. The EOC said combining the agencies will not bring the desired efficacy.
\It's a change, not an improvement,"" said EOC member and former chair Bert Zipperer.
The EOC said they agreed with the importance of services the DCR would provide: a language assistance program, fair housing testing and increasing representation of communities of color within City government. However, they said they believe the benefits can be achieved without restructuring.
The EOC said they worry about the elimination of key positions. According to their criticisms of the plan, ""working, front-line"" supervisors including the EOC's Investigations Supervisor and the AAC's Contract Compliance Officer positions would be eliminated.
EOC president Ramona Natera denounced a mayoral press release, claiming the Ad Hoc Committee voted in unanimous support of the plan.
""The press release was misleading,"" she said.
The EOC staff comment to the Ad Hoc Committee asserts the proposal ""marginalizes individuals in the community whose concern lies in protected classes beyond race and national origin.""
Michael Howe, member of the EOC and chair of the Commission on People with Disabilities, said the CPV was not included in the original plans to create the DCR. ""We weren't even invited to be at the table,"" he said.
Zipperer explained the nature of civic justice places it in the ranks of other long-range concerns like fire services, police and environmental organizations that receive public funds.
The city council will vote on the plan this summer.
