Equity Task Force seated under dark cloud
Councilwoman behind the initiative casts sole dissenting vote
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson Town Council effectively created the new Equity Task Force Tuesday by approving its nine board members. They did so, however, without the blessing of the councilwoman who initiated the idea to begin with over a year ago.
Even as fellow council members and the mayor lauded the new board and its makeup, Jessica Sell Chambers complained about the process and cast the sole ‘nay’ vote to create the board she envisioned at a retreat in January 2021.
What they said
Far from putting a bow on her baby, Sell Chambers cast a pall on what other councilmembers tried to celebrate.
“I think we should reassess. See where we’ve made errors and correct course. I think what that means at this point is pausing with the selection process,” Sell Chambers said at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the town council.
The councilwoman was unclear just what she objected to other than to touch on several issues. She did not care for the Delphi Method of seating applicants, saying it should be used only by experts—“…and none of us are experts,” she said.
Sell Chambers also called the process rushed. “This was done with a sense of unnecessary urgency,” she railed.
Finally, Sell Chambers said the process could have, and should have, been done with more transparency.
In contrast, councilman Jim Rooks said he was excited about the new task force, referring to the 37 applicants as reflecting “extraordinary” interest and buy-in from the community.
“I think it’s a very important moment in the history of this town….and I am really looking forward to working with this task force,” Rooks said.
Councilman Arne Jorgensen also expressed his excitement in the new board.
“I’m struck looking at this list of applicants [and seated members] how well it represents a cross-section of this community. The many voices we’ve heard from is encouraging,” Jorgensen said.
Councilman Jonathan Schechter called the applicant pool an “embarrassment of riches,” as he called the task force a ray of hope in a world and a community mired in fear and anxiety over COVID and growth.
Mayor Hailey Levinson said she is “excited about the slate of candidates” and was “heartened by the interview process.”
Moving forward
At its August 30 meeting, town council authorized Equity Task Force members to be paid $450 per month to participate. For a 9-member Task Force, this will total to $48,600.
Appointed to the task force were: Brandon Hernandez, Jade Krueger, Jason Fritts, Jean Day, Marcela Badillo, Miki Aristorenas, Pierre Bergman, Rosa Sanchez, and Stacy Noland.
The council appointed the creation of the 9-member Equity Task Force by a 4-1 vote with Sell Chambers opposed. The board’s function is to “help develop a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse local government and a more livable community.”
It will make its first report to the town council in January 2023.
Define equity. Show me your constitutional or God given right to it. Happiness is not guaranteed but the he pursuit of is. But back to defining equity and imposing rules…. Unless your God this isn’t possible. This is yet another boondoggle pissing tax payer dollars away in an attempt to steal money from one group of people and give it to another. What your truly seeking is communism, communism killed nearly 200 million in the last century. The body count rising in Ukraine… dismantle this fake board now. Y’all have gone bat shit crazy…..