Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

In Dunedin, taking risks may open diversity's door

In 2003 and 2004, Dunedin residents and officials spent months discussing ways to become a more inclusive community. An Inclusion Task Force came up with 60 ideas for making this city that is about 93 percent white more welcoming to people of color. A majority of the City Commission eventually approved renaming part of a street and a recreation center for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., celebrating Martin Luther King Day, and holding a diversity week every year.

Those things have been done, but is that all there is?

People in Dunedin's small minority community may be asking themselves that question after the Dunedin City Commission recently passed up an opportunity to move the ball forward.

An opening arose on the five-member Dunedin Housing Authority, a volunteer board appointed by the City Commission that oversees the provision of public housing to low-income people. The term of one board member was expiring. Shirley James, who has been on the board for 30 years, wanted to be reappointed.

James, like the other four members of the authority board, is white. The Dunedin Housing Authority is the only one in Pinellas County that does not have a minority member.

Two black Dunedin residents had applied to serve on the Housing Authority. Commissioner Bob Hackworth suggested to his City Commission colleagues that they expand the Housing Authority to seven members so they not only could allow James to continue serving, but also take advantage of the rare opportunity to appoint African-Americans to a city board. They declined.

Current members of the Housing Authority also argued against expanding the board. Why?

Well, Housing Authority chairman Ron Duffey told a Times reporter that he thought the two black people applied only because the authority may soon decide whether to sell land that could be used for affordable housing to the city for expansion of the sewage treatment plant. The plant is in a minority neighborhood and smells bad sometimes, so some residents oppose its expansion.

Perhaps Duffey is not aware that it is quite common for residents in any city to volunteer for boards or even run for office after their interest is piqued by a controversial issue. Whether that was the motivation for James Brown Sr. and William Charles Davis or not, people ought to be applauded for getting involved rather than staying in the background and complaining.

Housing Authority member James said that Brown and Davis had never attended a Housing Authority meeting until the issue of the land sale came up, and added, "I don't know what these gentlemen have done in their community." Their community? Is that separate from the community of Dunedin?

Housing Authority members and some city commissioners as well argued against expanding the board because, they said, a five-member board is more efficient than a seven-member board. There is some truth to that, but there was a higher purpose to be served at this juncture than mere efficiency.

Coverage of the issue by Times reporter Megan Scott earlier this month included this information: Few of the 160 volunteers who serve on city boards and committees are minorities, and there also are few in the upper ranks of Dunedin city government. In fact, there is only one minority in a city supervisory position.

All of this begs the question, is Dunedin serious about bringing inclusiveness to city affairs and city government? Creating diversity in a community unaccustomed to it, even opposed to it, is hard work (ask Largo officials). Those in positions of authority have to be willing to take risks and accept criticism to open doors that have been firmly closed.

The long-silent black residents of Dunedin have taken some risks lately. They served on the Inclusion Task Force. A roomful attended a recent commission meeting to be heard on the issue of the sewage treatment plant. Two applied for the Housing Authority. The Rev. Clem Bell, a local pastor, announced he is urging members of his church to apply for city boards and committees, especially ones with real influence.

Black residents of Dunedin are knocking on the door.

Will Dunedin city commissioners let them in?

[Last modified March 27, 2005, 00:34:19]