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Somerville commissions shuffled under new racial and social justice department

Wicked Local Metro - 6/22/2021

Jun. 22—Earlier this month, two Somerville officials learned their commissions are now under the authority of Denise Molina Capers, director of its brand new Department for Racial and Social Justice.

In her inaugural proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, Capers, who took on the role in March, announced her department would now encompass three commissions that used to stand alone — the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Commission for Women, and the Human Rights Commission.

"The current proposal is the result of a top-down decision between the mayor and director of RSJ, not done in consultation with the commission or engagement of community stakeholders," the co-chairs of the Commission of Women said in a letter to the Finance Committee and City Council.

The commissions are frustrated the mayor has not listened to their concerns and believe his and Capers decision to add their commissions to the Department of Racial and Social Justice does not meet their needs.

Prior to a June 7Finance Committee meeting, Capers recommended the three commissions report to her and set a meeting to discuss their new roles.

However, 30 minutes before meeting started, commissioners received a memo from Mayor Joseph Curtatone stating Capers' recommendation had already been "submitted and approved," despite the fact Capers hadn't met with the commissions or "[engaged with] community stakeholders," the co-chairs stated in their letter.

"We are past being considered an afterthought. We want more focus, more funding, more support, and more communication from the mayor," said Bonnie Denis, chairperson for the Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

The mayor, however, believes the commissions' rightful place is in the new department.

"Working collaboratively with RSJ department staff, commission members will have the opportunity to craft strategic plans, find opportunities to engage with the community, and work collaboratively with other departments on broader city initiatives," he said in a statement.

The events at the Finance Committee meeting do not seem to be the first time the mayor hasn't listened to the needs of the commissions.

Last year, when Denis became the chairperson of her commission, she asked the mayor to hire more people who have a deep understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

As the city followed state guidelines in making pandemic-safe dining options, Denis claims Somerville became less accessible for people with disabilities — specifically when the city blocked off handicap parking for outdoor dining sections and made inaccessible ramps for people who use wheelchairs.

"I don't feel like we are adequately being served by the city," Denis said. "[The government] is not meeting legal obligations, let alone moral obligations."

In the days following the meeting, Capers presented a statement to the City Council and Finance Committee about the events that had transpired.

"I feel saddened to have experienced how the commissions concerns were handled ... and am actively meeting with the other commissions to make sure their needs are met," she said.

When she was hired back in March of this year, Capers said her goals, as were made clear in listening sessions with the community and conversations with the local government, are to leverage city resources in order to eliminate systemic issues.

However, Capers feels she faced microaggressions in the Finance Committee meeting.

"There was a break from being equitable and fair," she said. "This is the first time, to my knowledge, that there were last minute public testimonials during a budget proposal. The [new] Housing and Stability Office was not given the same harsh treatment."

During a time of racial injustices and social unrest nationwide, this is Somerville's first department that is focused on fixing these systemic issues and is built on rebuilding public trust and a sense of community.

"I am confident that the proposed RSJ Office will be well-suited to support the work of Somerville's social-justice-related commissions," said Kristen Strezo, councilor-at-large and former co-chairwoman for the Commission for Women.

Volunteer commissioner Christopher Spicer-Hankle, of the Human Rights Commission, agrees.

"It was a great move to create a department for what we should be celebrating," he said. "This is the impact that should be felt by our community."

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