Complying with state anti-DEI laws

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The Chattanooga City Council chamber at 1000 Lindsay St. (Photo/William Newlin)

See the Sept. 16 meeting minutes here

Removing Department of Equity & Community Engagement

Council approved a proposal from Mayor Tim Kelly’s office to restructure parts of city government in compliance with two state laws enacted in May. The “Dismantling DEI Departments Act” bans local government departments that create “benefits, opportunities, advantages, or disadvantages” for a person or group based on sex, ethnicity, or age.

The other law, “Dismantle DEI in Employment Act,” bans considering demographics in public employment decisions. The approved changes are budget neutral.

Changes include:

Eliminating the Equity and Community Engagement Department
Eliminating the Chief Equity Officer position
Creating the Office of Community Engagement within the Community Development Department
Moving neighborhood services, which supports neighborhood associations, to the Mayor’s Office
Eliminating the Office of New Americans, which provides resources to immigrants and refugees
Creating the Office of New Chattanoogans to integrate remote workers into civic life

At their Sept. 9 meeting, Council members Dennis Clark, District 5, Ron Elliott, District 9, Raquetta Dotley, District 7, and Jenny Hill, District 2, expressed frustration over the state mandates. They said they’ll look for the Kelly administration to keep its commitment to equity.

Elliott asked city Chief of Staff Kevin Roig how removing the Office of New Americans would impact Chattanooga’s Latino communities, which Roig said were the office’s “primary” focus.

“They have very little institutional support,” Elliott said. “And I hate to see us walk away from the work that was supporting them in a time that’s becoming even more difficult.”

Roig said outreach would continue as part of the city’s community engagement work despite disbanding the official department.

“Our commitment to extending access to all of our resources, activities, and programs impartially includes our Latino neighbors,” he said.

The new state law also deletes requirements for officials to consider demographic diversity when making appointments to various local boards, including those for utility districts, sports authorities, and convention centers.