Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 10, 2021 Advertise in The Advocate 617-387-2200 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available T Malden City Council seeking to establish new Racial Equity Commission Councillor Sica's proposed resolution to form new group is adopted by unanimous vote By Steve Freker he Malden City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a pair of resolutions with the intent to address a state of affairs in this city which, they said, has caused a distinct atmosphere of discord and divisiveness. The two resolutions, both firsts for this community, are calls to establish formal training sessions for City Council members in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2022 and also to establish a Racial Equity Commission which would propose recommendations for a Racial Equity Plan for the city of Malden. Both of these undertakings would be coordinated by the first-year coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Bybiose Larochelle. The resolution to establish the training sessions for City Councilors was sponsored by Councillor at Large Debbie DeMaria. The resolution to establish the Racial Equity Commission was initiated and sponsored by Ward 8 City Councillor Jadeane Sica, who credited her former election opponent Nate Bae Kupel for assisting her in coming up with the full proposal. Over a dozen Malden citizens http://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only participated in the public comment section of the meeting, some by written emails or letters and nine residents who spoke in person at the Council podium, all of them addressing one or another of the resolutions. All of the speakers or others who commented were in favor of the resolutions, though two of the speakers said they believed there was not a clear mandate on "whose story would be the basis" for the research planning that was designed to acThe Malden City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution by Ward 8 Councillor Sica and co-sponsored by eight other Councillors to establish an ad hoc Racial Equity Commission with the intention of ultimately forming a Racial Equity Plan. The City Council includes, front, l-r, Barbara Murphy (Ward 5), Amanda Linehan (Ward 3), Jadeane Sica (Ward 8), Debbie DeMaria (at large), Second row, l-r, Craig Spadafora (at large), Neal Anderson (Council President, Ward 7), David Camell (Ward 6).Third row, l-r, Paul Condon (Ward 2), Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Stephen Winslow (at large) and Ryan O'Malley (Ward 4). (Courtesy Photo) company the establishment of the commission. Councillor Sica's resolution was co-sponsored by Councillors Stephen Winslow (at large), Craig Spadafora (at large), Amanda Linehan (Ward 3), Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Deborah DeMaria (at large), Neal Anderson (Council President, Ward 7), Paul Condon (Ward 2) and Barbara Murphy (Ward 5). On a statement she made as an introduction to her resolution, Councillor Sica said she was at first "reluctant to pursue it," when she considered the premise of establishing a Racial Equity Commission in Malden and then discussed it further with Kupel. "The past year has been a difficult one with respect to the topics of race and racial equity," Councillor Sica said ."It seemed that, at every turn, someone was leveling charges of racism, scouring social media for evidence of past racial insensitivity, or questioning qualifications based on race or perceived racial attitudes. "A great deal of time and effort has been spent on the topic, and the only thing we have to show for it is an increase in discord and divisiveness," Councillor Sica added. The Councillor said it has been disheartening to see, hear and read what has transpired in Malden in the past several years, particularly through the use of social media. She said it has gotten into many aspects of daily lives, from elections to other realms. "Over the last year, we have allowed race to become weaponized, to be treated as a political club, used to belittle opponents in an effort to gain personal electoral advantage," Councillor Sica said."We’ve allowed ourselves to be sidetracked by issues that are, at best, trivial, and, at worst, contrived. We’ve spent too much time sniping at each other over perceived slights and interpreting each other’s words and actions in the worst possible light. "Worse still, our scattershot approach has emboldened the most vicious, racist elements in society to take potshots at our residents, while hiding behind their computer screens," Councillor Sica added."At times, we have been tempted to mistakenly equate their sentiments with those of individuals - myself included- who find their views despicable." Councillor President and Ward 7 Councillor Neal Anderson said it was the right time to adopt this resolve and that it has been a long time coming. "This is something very important for our community as a whole that all of our community can be proud of, taking a big step to address racial equity with the help of our own citiCOMMISSION | SEE PAGE 10
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