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City council members voted 4-1 Tuesday, June 17 to approve a calendar of events for social media acknowledgment that includes recognition of ethnic and cultural heritage months, despite passionate opposition from some residents who called the proposal divisive. Councilman Roger Neal casted the sole dissenting vote.
The calendar, which will be used for posts on the city's Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, includes observances such as Muslim American Heritage Month in January, Black History Month in February, Irish American Heritage Month in March, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Pride Month in June, Hispanic Heritage Month in September, German American Heritage Month in October and Native American Heritage Month in November.
During the meeting, Councilman David Reid made a motion to approve the calendar with the addition of Jewish American Heritage Month in May, which was seconded and passed by the council.
"This is a calendar of inclusion," said Councilman Omar Roman during his remarks. "This is a calendar to make sure that people see themselves in this city that they live in and pay taxes in."
Roman emphasized that the calendar's impact extends beyond the council chambers. "When you come up here and you make comments about certain groups, individuals or belief systems, you're not just talking to the city council," he said. "You're making a statement to your neighbors, to members of the community who are watching and listening, to children who are not only in the audience but who might be watching at home at the dinner table – and most importantly, you're making these remarks to our city staff who work tirelessly, some more than 12 hours a day, to keep our city running."
Councilman David Reid, who co-requested the agenda item along with Roman, acknowledged that Pride Month was the primary point of contention. "I get it, personally I can't relate to Pride Month and to be honest it's not that important to me," Reid said. "However, it is important to some members of our community, and as a city councilman and a member of that community, this community, it's important to me from that perspective."
Reid clarified that the calendar represents acknowledgment, not endorsement. "Please remember, recognizing is not supporting or promoting," he said. He also stated his opposition to any future resolutions or proclamations regarding Pride Month, noting that while he initially opposed it, three council members supported it, so he accepted the decision and moved forward.
Councilwoman Tina Bennett-Burton, who voted in favor of the calendar, explained her position had evolved. "I was very clear that I didn't have a problem with the social media posts," she said. "I don't like proclamations or resolutions, quite frankly. I feel like the ceremonial items take so much time away from the business of the business that they [residents] don't want to engage."
Bennett also revealed that state representatives had requested to present a Pride Month resolution at the meeting. "How do we say no to our state representatives when they respond to all of us?" she asked, referencing the officials' assistance with various city needs.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Villafranca supported the calendar, calling attention to marginalized communities. "I think that it's really important for us to acknowledge people that do tend to be vulnerable and that come from marginalized communities," she said. She also criticized what she called attempts to "create hatred and division in our community."
Councilman Roger Neal expressed concern about the time spent on the issue. "In my opinion, I think we spent far too many hours on this topic," Neal said. "We've had three or four council meetings and study sessions and countless staff hours working on this." He argued the council should focus on "more important issues facing our city like our roads, our streets, water and sewer, code enforcement, public safety, our parks."
Neal concluded that the calendar was "a divisive issue within our community" that "does little to promote the inclusion of all people," leading to his opposition vote that made the final tally 4-1.
The calendar also includes recognition of city services, federal holidays and appreciation weeks for various municipal departments and professions. According to city staff, the calendar items will be acknowledged only through social media posts and do not require any additional city activities or expenditures.
The proposal had been discussed at previous council meetings in March and May without formal action being taken. The Tuesday, June 17, approval came after more than an hour of public comment from residents both supporting and opposing the measure.
The calendar will take effect immediately, with the city's social media accounts beginning to acknowledge the various heritage months, holidays and appreciation days throughout the year.
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