We must address systemic racism.

​I wrote this in response to a discussion on a listserve.  

We must understand that our systemic set of Plan E makes it almost impossible to effectively address the endemic racism. Plan E is a corporate set up, with a CEO, the appointed City Manager, a Board of Director, the City Council, the board amongst themselves choose the Mayor. We do not elect our Mayor. Very much like in any corporation, the power lies with the CEO. The board is purely advisory. Although it has the power to fire the City Manager, it is challenging and requires a significant mistake by the City Manager. The role of the City Manager is to make money and ensure we can offer the basic service, i.e., education, infrastructure maintenance, etc … The set up makes the decision-makers unaccountable to the people because what is considered a significant error is only tied to the financial success of the City. So any decision made as long as it doesn’t affect the bottom line will not have any consequences. Racism doesn’t affect the bottom line. Hence, it can remain unsolved. Despite our collective will to seriously address the issue. The work done over the last few years by BSU has been extraordinary, especially considering the context. But our systemic set up has not evolved one iota. We are still where we were five years ago, with very little progress. Cities around us have done a far better job. 

Cambridge is systemically racist and gender-biased, and we need to address the issue.  Suffice to look at how a white man was selected as Mayor, despite two minority women having won the popular vote in the last election.  When was there ever a minority or/and woman City Manager, the decision-maker?  When was there ever a minority or/and woman  CFO, the holder of the purse? Unfortunately, I’m not yet convinced we are willing to take the necessary steps to do so.