Dallas City Council approved racial equity resolution

DALLAS, TX – Dallas City Council approved on Wednesday a resolution that encourages racial equity in all city policies and spending, education to combat racism and the completion of the city’s racial equity plan, NBC 5 reports.

“This is a historical day for the City of Dallas, a city where at one point in time, the individual who sits in the seat of the mayor and several of us, were members of the Klu Klux Klan,” Dallas council member Casey Thomas said.

The council approved the resolution unanimously. Some council members talked about how the resolution can be applied to city budgets and the promotion of affordable housing.

Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax said the changes in the resolution will take time, but it’s a step in the right direction. Broadnax said he has considered equity while making budget decisions and will continue looking for additional ways to spend money on historically underserved areas.

“What’s good for the least among us in certain areas in this community is good for the entire community, because it brings a balance when it comes to tax base as well as resources that don’t have to be oversaturated in certain areas because of certain types of conditions,” Broadnax said. “So again, that’s what I’ve been doing my entire career. I’ll continue doing it as long as council lets me and supports me. And this resolution seems to be giving me that guidance and support.”

Broadnax added, “You’ve got to put your money where your mouth is. And we’ll try to do that.”