Hutchinson, Minnesota's city council defeated a "Welcoming Resolution" on Tuesday, and the editorial board of the local paper thinks that just might be a shame.
Stephen Wiblemo reported on Thursday in 'Welcoming' resolution not welcomed in Hutchinson: Here's what people said:
In front of a full house Tuesday at Hutchinson City Center, the City Council voted 3-2 against a resolution affirming the city to be a welcoming and inclusive community.
The result was met with applause by some in attendance and disappointment by others.
Those who opposed the resolution — Council Members Mary Christensen and Chad Czmowski, and Mayor Gary Forcier — said it was unnecessary and that Hutchinson was already a welcoming community. . . .
Read the rest at the Leader. We noticed something about the photo published with the article, but couldn't quite put our finger on it.
The editorial board of the paper had something to say about the matter in What was learned from Tuesday's 'welcoming' vote:
1. Those who speak the loudest are more likely to get their way. And the concerns of hundreds of people who have responded to city surveys can go unnoticed.
Not once at the meeting did anyone mention the 2015 National Citizen Survey, which cost the city $12,500. A question on that survey, answered by 408 people, showed only 38 percent feel this community is “good” or “excellent” at being open and accepting of people of diverse backgrounds. As a result, Hutchinson ranks 231st among 238 U.S. cities that have asked the same question.
Most disheartening is that the unfavorable openness and acceptance response to Hutchinson's 2015 survey was the lowest since the same question was first asked in 2007.
Instead of citing the city's research, the three council members who voted “no” said they were basing their decision on comments made by people who had called or visited them.
2. Resolutions are apparently meaningless in the eyes of some leaders. Council Member Mary Christensen said, “A resolution does not mean anything. It is not a law, not an ordinance, it's just out there. So we're going through all of this for a piece of paper.” These unfortunate words are an insult to anyone who has benefited from a council resolution or mayor's proclamation.
3. Good intentions may be overlooked. Council Member Chad Czmowski said he heard from people who claimed discussion of the resolution was a waste of time. In explaining their votes, Mr. Czmowski, Ms. Christensen and Mayor Gary Forcier never said the resolution had one iota of merit, though it is based on the same principles espoused by the city's founders 162 years ago.
Hutchinson resident Craig Bishop spoke against it, claiming the council needs to stay focused on issues such as taxes and streets. It seems to us that matters of human dignity, acceptance and opportunity — particularly in a local context — should be within the council's purview.
BTW: Bishop is the chair of the Seventh Congressional District Republicans. In 2013, Bishop invited those on the CD7's email list to an anti-Muslim talk in Little Falls. He did apologize for a mean-spirited post by someone else on the CD GOP Facebook page about Congressman Keith Ellison, however, so he's not totally unfriendly to people who aren't like him. The Republican Party of Minnesota named him best CD chair of the year at a recent meeting.
But we digress. The editorial board goes on to note:
4. Fear can isolate a community. More than one audience member echoed a concern voiced repeatedly on social media leading up to the vote: If Hutchinson passes this resolution, it will see an influx of immigrants, crime will increase, and our school district and social services will not be able to handle the changes. . . .
Hutchinson will not remain 96 percent white, nor will Minnesota remain 85 percent white. Our demographic profile will continue to change. Our city's prosperity depends on a diverse workforce, one that might not dress alike, eat the same foods, pray the same way, or speak with a Midwestern accent. We must accept that reality. . . .
There's more at the Leader.
Photo: Citizens gathered for the city council meeting that defeated a welcoming resolution. Photo via the Hutchinson Leader.
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