City Councilman criticizes recently passed DEI bill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A Chattanooga city councilman said that the committee he runs will look different due to a recent Tennessee bill regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. (DEI)
The Dismantle D-E-I Act was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee last month.
It prohibits local governments and schools from basing any hiring decisions based on an applicant’s race, religion, gender, age, disability, or put into place any quotas to meet certain targets based on these categories.
New councilman Dennis Clark has been placed in charge of the council’s Equity and Community Development Committee.
However, he says the Equity portion of that committee is being put on pause due to concerns with how it may impact state funding.
“I do want to say for the record, I am disappointed in that bill….Figure out how to still be a community that is inclusive and offer equity and inclusion to minority communities, women, veterans, and yes even people that live in rural parts of our county,” said Clark.
Clark says he is working with city attorneys to figure out how to be in compliance with that new law.
