TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Leon County Charter Review Committee voted against a proposal for a reparations-style amendment and approved a food insecurity office recommendation. <\/p>\n
The committee also voted unanimously to propose that the county\u2019s preamble be amended to affirm access to healthcare. If the county commission approves, voters will decide in November.<\/p>\n
Reparations-Style Proposal<\/p>\n
The reparations-style amendment, sponsored by the founder of Tallahassee ALERT, Dr. Strouble, was proposed to address historical inequities. <\/p>\n
In defending its recommendation not to pass the amendment, staff says they\u2019re already doing that type of work but in a legally defensible way.<\/p>\n
Assistant County Administrator Shington Lamy said that if anti-DEI laws are passed, the elected official could be removed if they implement DEI policies. <\/p>\n
Strouble said they could use new language that removes references to race or historical racism but Lamy said the problem is implementation.<\/p>\n
Even if the historic wrong was directed at a protected class, like race, the county has to withstand \u201cstrict scrutiny.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leon County attorney Chasity H. O\u2019Steen added there would be \u201csevere limitations\u201d on implementing a charter amendment to address \u201cpersistent disparities from historic public policy decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Committee Member Henry Lewis III said he supports the intent of the proposal, but it could open up the door to getting rid of single-member election districts.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Steen said it really boils down to whether or not the amendment is focused on a protected class or not. <\/p>\n
The proposal failed due to a 9-9 tie. Committee Members Slaton Murray, William Ellis and Liz Ellis were absent.<\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n
Food Insecurity Office Proposal<\/p>\n
The committee voted 12-7 to recommend, but not require, a food insecurity office. <\/p>\n
The proposal sponsored by Strouble would create an office regarding food insecurity, create a plan and make an annual report. <\/p>\n
County staff said during the meeting that the Office of Human Services and Community Partnerships (HSCP) already does that. <\/p>\n
Lamy says the county spends $7.5 million annually on food pantries, mobile food and children\u2019s meals. He said the main critique has been a lack of a centralized resource page.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t recommend the charter amendment but we did provide suggested language as directed by the committee,\u201d Lamy said. Instead, Lamy said the committee should merely recommend that the county commission continue its efforts on this.<\/p>\n
Barry Wilcox said he supports asking the county commission to create a food office. However, he thinks that\u2019s best done in a policy recommendation, not a change to the county\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not something we solve with a simple recommendation,\u201d Strouble said. \u201cFor some of us, it\u2019s a political decision. But there are people who are hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n
If it had become a charter amendment proposal, then the county commission would decide whether or not voters could vote yes or no in November. <\/p>\n
The policy recommendation approach is softer and doesn\u2019t require what amounts to a constitutional amendment.<\/p>\n
Tune in to Eyewitness News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the full story. This article will also be updated this evening with all the details.<\/p>\n
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