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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Can somebody explain to me why the county will be clearing snow from low income and minority areas? Why this group and the other group? They cite high traffic and accidents but it feels more like they don’t think we are capable of understanding or following laws so they’re just going to lower the bar for us (I’m Latina).

This bothers me because special exemption bills and laws like this end up creating resentment towards all of our groups.

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Racial equity is about providing access.  There are already multiple barriers than impede wealth creation and challenging commutes is one of them.    It's not about individual people of color, but the fact that when looked at by group demographic data, AA and Latino/a residents have worse outcomes in every measure -- wealth, income, education, health care, housing, etc.

I've always been white but I have lived in very low income areas and now in upper middle class areas.    The ability to access EVERYTHING is so much easier now.   They are like two different worlds.   MoCo is already much better at providing access to many services, including public transportation.  This would make it a little easier.    The cost benefit analysis is up for debate, for sure.   But this is one of their equity approaches that I actually agree with in theory.  [/quote]

I’m op . I appreciate your thoughtful response. I didn’t think I had to disclose this in my question but I am a Hispanic/Latina woman. My family lives in the county and does your landscaping, carpentry work, painting and childcare. I am not a troll and unlike the other person, I don’t want more pedestrian fatalities. But I do not like that the county thinks that low income/minority people aren’t capable of following the same rules. This might sound strange to some of you but I actually find it offensive that the bar is lowered. What I see happening is this will create resentment for us. Because if it’s a question about ability, there are many people in the entire county who are unable to shovel their own sidewalks so why don’t they get the benefit? Somebody upthread said they were single mother or elderly.

There are many great programs that do help with equity, this one just has me scratching my head a little bit.

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Then you're not very intelligent. To use misplaced pride and fear of being resented by other communities as a reason to put even more barriers to success (and literally, refuse to save lives) for certain low-income communities is... stupid. Sorry to be blunt, but your stance is mind-bogglingly irrational. This is simply the county deciding to address a serious issue (DEATHS of pedestrians) in the most rapid and efficient manner. Surely you can see that waiting for individuals to clear snow would not be that productive. This is not a cosmetic problem. It's a life and death issue.

Do you also use the concept of individual freedom to argue against vaccinations and mask mandates?

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So you are in favor of treating minorities and the poor as helpless characters in need of constant assistance?[/quote]

Whether we like it or not, this is a narrative that some believe, and not just white people.   I have many friends of color who are upset with the way racial equity discussions go, and that they are almost always led by white people who think they are acting like allies but are really acting like white saviors.   That doesn't mean this situation is one of them.  But I do think that people who hare having the racial equity conversation need to be aware of this.   There is a balance between providing access and still expecting people to do their best, and acknowledging that they are capable.   [/quote]

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