The Greensboro City Council appointed a new member to the Greensboro Zoning Commission at the May 4 meeting, but it was not without controversy.
It is rare for a city councilmember to vote against an appointment. However, the nomination of Mary Skenes to fill a vacancy on the Zoning Commission passed, according to Mayor Nancy Vaughan, by a 7-2 vote with Councilmembers Michelle Kennedy and Sharon Hightower voting no.
Kennedy, in explaining her vote, said, “I just would like to see us move to more both racial and otherwise diversity on that board. I realize that she is a woman and will be appointed to that body but that’s my position.”
The City Council currently lists the members of boards and commissions that it appoints by race and gender. The Zoning Commission before Skene’s appointment, according to the city’s records, was made up of four black males, two white females, one white male and one Hispanic male.
Skenes, who is a white female, was appointed to replace Tony Collins, a white male, who was removed from the Zoning Commission by a unanimous vote of the City Council for exhibiting white privilege and entitlement when addressing a black female who was speaking before the commission.
The stated goal of the City Council is to have all the boards and commissions it appoints reflect the demographics of the city with each of the five City Council districts having equal representation. Because most boards and commissions have nine members and there are five council districts, the goal of having each district equally represented is a mathematical impossibility.
With Skenes on the Zoning Commission, according to the stated goals of the council, the commission does not reflect the demographics of the city. Black males make up 44 percent of the commission and make up about 20 percent of the city. White females make up 33 percent of the commission and about 24 percent of the city. White males make up 11 percent of the commission and about 23 percent of the city. Hispanic males make up 11 percent of the commission and about 3 percent of the city. Black females make up 0 percent of the commission and about 21 percent of the city. Hispanic females make up 0 percent of the commission and about 4 percent of the city. Asian males make up 0 percent of the commission and 2 percent of the city. Asian females make up 0 percent of the commission and 3 percent of the city.
The demographics of Greensboro are estimates based on the US Census figures.
The City Council itself does not come close to reflecting the demographics of the city. It is made up of five white females, three black females and one black male.
So racism is OK?
Making decisions about appointing someone to a board, based on their skin color, is racism.
I don’t think the citizens really care what skin colors are on these boards, as long as they’re making sound decisions on spending tax payers’ money, and making sound decisions about what’s good for the people of Greensboro. When elected officials openly tout their decision making criteria as being about the color of someone’s skin, then turn around and complain about so-called systemic racism, it’s enough to make you scream.
Racism goes both ways people. Making decisions based on the color of someone’s skin is racism pure and simple. When our elected officials can quit being racist (and sexist), that would be a good start to getting past all this nonsense.
What a croc. City of Greensboro is the laughing stock of the nation
Unconstitutional.
What about being knowledgeable and qualified for a position?Nah-too logical.
How about DNA analysis,ladies?
“Exhibiting white privilege and entitlement”…?
Because he refused to defer to a pompous black woman who insisted on being addressed by her full formal title? An insistence she had not required from other people prior to the white male?
She was obviously trying to poleaxe him, and nail him for being a white male.
She succeeded.
Appoint Hinson and itll pass 9-0 and Johnny wont say one word.
Anyone who serves on any of these volunteer boards & committees should quit immediately and send the council a clear message. They are not race/gender tokens and will not be used for the political gain of others.
I think we need at least one eskimo and a indian.
And a transvestite, and a bi-sexual, and other marginalized humans. Our city and country is going bonkers.
You can’t fix stupid-BUT WE can vote them out! How about a “Qualified” person? Who cares what race, creed, color, straight, gay, ooohhh wait Kennedy & Hightower do! How council wake up!!
Somebody said there wasn’t a single white male on the Greensboro city council, but I looked at the photo above and thought there was.
Apparently it’s a woman!
Yes, THIS!
Send it back to California.