The following letter was sent to the City of Frisco’s Mayor and City Council highlighting the importance of diversity in our local community. We are including this here for your reference.
July 6, 2020
Mayor and Council
CITY OF FRISCO (mayorandcouncil@friscotexas.gov)
AN OPEN LETTER TO FRISCO LEADERS
“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
Today, more than ever the words of Gandhi remind each of us of the struggles we continue to endure. In our own city, we have seen a surge of unity towards the injustices that have occurred locally, and around our country, not only recently, but over the decades of our existence. Along with that unity, we have seen our vibrant and diverse cultures come together to share in the pain of our fellow citizens. We do that because it is what we have done, and continue to do, as citizens of this great country. That is the beauty of our home.
However, it is also a test, as Gandhi suggests. It is a test for our leaders to determine if they have the vision to overcome the hurdles that impede progress. The city’s motto continues to be Progress in Motion, and today more than ever, it is each one of you that have the responsibility to determine the pathway – the vision – to move us forward, or not. That is the test of our civilization.
Less than two weeks ago, the Supreme Court of the United States established into law that a person can no longer be fired from their employment for being gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual. This happened in June 2020. Our city council was asked to make this change back in 2002 but they took a different pathway, advising our citizens that they would legislate by ordinance rather than embed this into our City Charter. They never did. They were advised not to “rock the boat” and bring unnecessary attention to Frisco. They lacked the commitment and vision for an inclusive city back then.
Embracing diversity has never been a strong point for our local leadership. Referring back to 2002, when the suggestion that a statement about non-discrimination would enhance Frisco’s place as a preferred workplace in the USA, a city manager asked if Frisco’s LGBTQ employees (“if any”) were being mistreated, and when advised that there was no indication of this, he followed this up with the old adage of “if it is not broken, why fix it.”
And he was right. Regardless of the decision that could have been made by the city council, having a diverse workplace, does not mean that it would be an inclusive workplace. Inclusion matters: in the workplace, and in our city.
A similar challenge around inclusion happened in our city as discussions took place to approve a request for a mosque in 2007. The public forums demonstrated how exclusive many of our citizens wanted our city to remain, and while ignorance appeared to be the main rationale for people’s opposition, it highlighted how many in Frisco were not ready for something “so different” in our city. An inclusive city would have widely opened their arms to the diversity offered through another religious institution without this opposition, and thankfully, in that instance, the city did make the right choice, but not without a little “rocking of the boat” of their own.
Today, our city council is exploring the concept of an inclusion committee, and this is to be commended. It is a great first step and appears to be an evolution of the Mayor’s announcement last November forming an ad-hoc committee with a similar focus. I fully support a city-council appointed taskforce or committee that will guide the city’s efforts to address the lack of inclusivity within our city.
As I mentioned, this is a first step, and there will be many more ahead of you as council members, and us as citizens, as we transition to a better and more inclusive society. As you consider the role of an inclusion committee, a focus is needed on a long-term solution that recognizes the value of diversity in our city, that promotes a city that is inclusive and that leads the way for all of our citizens on this issue. The citizens of Frisco need leaders with the vision to move us forward. To begin, here are several steps that you as our elected leaders could commit to as we move towards a more diverse and inclusive city:
- Present to the citizens of Frisco a resolution committing to the values of a diverse city, including restating that the city will not accept or tolerate any form of discrimination in its operations.
- Adopt the establishment of a citizen-lead City Taskforce or Commission, similar to what exists in Plano (and has done since 2002), that encourages understanding and participation in the government process while fulfilling the needs and desires of its diverse citizens.
- Seek to review and update all City personnel management policies and practices to include (if not already) diversity and inclusion best practices.
- Mandate that all senior leadership positions within the City attend regular diversity and inclusion training.
While I do not speak on behalf of any one group, I do ask as an engaged member of our city’s LGBTQ community that each of you take a moment to ask yourself what you will do as an elected member to take action toward the vision and – more importantly – the realization of a more inclusive Frisco in 2020.
Once again, I applaud the discussion the city has scheduled on inclusion and ask that you take the next step to act and make this a reality. Actions always speak louder than words, and now is the time for our council to act. To once again quote Gandhi,
“be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Respectfully,
James Nunn
