Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ City Council President answers Human Rights Commission question T he Globe writes: “Does Revere Need a Human Rights Commission? The City Council doesn’t think so.” The true answer to this is an emphatic, yes; yes we need to establish the Human Rights Commission (HRC). But let’s get the facts straight on the HRC and decide where the big stall is actually from; the City Council has voted three times since 2014 in favor or re instating this commission; three times. The commission was left dormant since approximately 1999 – that’s 21 years and three administrations. Now after almost fi ve years in offi ce, two affi rmative council votes our mayor wants to appoint an ED. Not a commission just an ED. It’s taken fi ve years to fi nd ONE candidate, not one other person was ever considered or interviewed. That isn’t an appointment – that’s an ultimatum and that is a giant process failure fully knowing we vote yes or there is no commission established. So I ask again who is stalling the process. Why is the hostility toward the council when three administrations did not feel this was important enough to take action? How many times have those so engaged today written to him to get this going before this became a hot topic in late May? How many times did you contact the Boston Globe to ask why your boss isn’t moving on this project? I know myself, Councillor Steven Morabito and others reminded him often as a matter of fact on his dry erase board in his offi ce it says HRC, it has been there for two plus years. Now I don’t blame him, he’s a busy man and has to prioritize so clearly he felt this was not as high on the list of priorities. Clearly you all felt that this was ok to stay dormant for over 20 years. Maybe the city isn’t so bad. Now again, I agree we need to get this commission going but we need to get it right and the lack of options is concerning to say the least. So now you say to The Globe the city council is not in favor of establishing the commission? Is that truthful when the fact is we have initiated this process over and over again with no response? Would you criticize your boss on this matter? This is anRe-Elect Terrence Kennedy Governor’s Council Please Vote September 1, 2020 Paid Pol. Adv. other example of unfairly characterizing the body. Sound Judgement, fairness, honesty and representing the facts is an integral piece of this commission in order to really fi ght for what’s most needed. The ability to work through the weeds and manage the grey is a vital role in leadership. Yes, we should be okay with uncomfortable conversations, it’s the only way we can really work on structural change, but divisive and uncomfortable are far diff erent. This process is divisive. We should not be creating and endorsing false narratives and crying wolf as it will dilute the times we truly need to help those who need us most. This is the major disconnect. It’s not personal but this entire process has taken this into a dark place it does not belong. Starting out on the wrong foot is an understatement between the initial concerns with what you would get in return via compensation and what your current work load is makes me really question what’s happening behind the scenes. The mayor only off ered one appointee and you can argue this to be a politically motivated move as The council just wants to get it right, that is our job we are here to speak for the entire community, who clearly have concerns. Secondly and most importantly, instead of this process being about the actual commission you took advantage and made it about you which it is not. Not one person is greater than the commission and no one person should be the focal point. I again feel this too has gone in the wrong direction. To contradict the current narPATRICK KEEFE Council President he would have oversight in dictating the moves of the director. It’s certainly not out of the realm of concern. The fact that this was tabled to be further discussed and then immediately we took to name calling, misrepresenting information and ultimately creating a large divide in our community is not the path we could have taken. This was an epic process failure and showed lack of judgement in understanding this is the fi rst appointment to this commission in 21 years. rative that the City Council is standing in front of the inception of this commission, I challenge the mayor to look inside his capable city, his cabinet, city staff , school administration and city council to assist in getting this commission off the ground. Let’s get the actual commission appointed and work on beginning this process in a more inclusive way rather than this ultimatum we have in front of us right now. Revere has always found ways to come together for the better good and this in my opinion can unite us rather then divide us. Respectfully, Patrick Keefe Council President
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