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— News about Quincy from Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.
Allow me to explain. There is no problem.
A Facebook image
Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch refuses to establish a Social Justice and Equity Department.
In a gobsmacking move that can only underscore all manner of previous criticisms by Quincy Quarry News as only to be expected, but also the Boston Globe, and even the usually docile Patriot Ledger, Mayor Koch has unilaterally announced that he does not believe that he needs to abide by the City Council’s recommendation to establish a City of Quincy Department of Social Justice and Equity.
Instead, Mayor Koch claims that the council’s formal recommendation could be fulfilled with the hiring of more staff under his direct control and some reassigning of current staff.
Then again, such was only reasonable to expect as Mayor Koch’s standard response to almost everything is to hire more people, usually a lot of them as well as beholden to him.
There are always openings at the DPW …
A Quincy Quarry News file photo
At the same time, however, it is hard to imagine that he still has any friends are still in need of a job at the public trough.
Then again, political favors are surely due and payable and the bill often entails hiring an otherwise all but unemployable relative of a chit holder.
The bigger problem, however, as well as again, is that in this instance is that Mayor Koch has been pointedly criticized for his racial insensitivity, a long track record of ill-advised statements on both racial and gender matters, and an arguably woeful lack of duly undertaking appropriate actions on racial matters.
The new Yakoo is still a Red Raider …
Image via the City of Quincy
That and how Quincy Quarry is behooved to add that the City of Quincy employee roster has been pretty much stuck at around 95% Caucasian during the thirteen-year era of the Koch Machine even if Quincy has even longer been a diverse community as well as is becoming even more so.
At the same time, Quincy Quarry News must note that it did not feel that the City Council’s formal proposal was sufficient.
Nowhere near sufficient even as but merely a first small step on what is unarguably a long ways to go.
City of Quincy commission members
Illumination Entertainment/Universal Pictures pic
On a generic level, the Quarry is not a fan of impaneling a special commission to address a problem and then declare victory soon thereafter over whatever even though far more often than not that nothing really happens, if not also that the underlying problem often instead only becomes even worse.
And for a granular example in this local instance, during the council’s public hearing on its proposal, testimony offered not only included comments on matters racial but also purported examples of civil rights violations and such by committed by command officers which were not racial in nature but still running roughshod nonetheless.
Quincy Police Chief and mayoral brother-in-law Paul “The Beav” Keenan
A City of Quincy headshot
Accordingly, Quincy Quarry would prefer to see that the likely only proper way to go would be to go with an independent civilian police oversight board and so removes control over the police department from Mayor Koch as it is headed by one of the mayor’s brothers-in-law.
Then again, within the whole of the CIty of Quincy operations, there are a number of Koch family members with many in supervisory positions throughout the City of Quincy’s operations as well as throwing their weight around in ways typically corpulent well above their job descriptions.
Accordingly, it is only logical to further suggest that a number of other independent oversight boards could be seen as in order.
As a resident in Quincy and counselor in Boston I feel disheartened to hear responses from our Mayor (Koch) and others in our community who do not support the diversity and culture in Quincy. The Social Justice Department was proposed to “work to create equity and inclusion among all populations in Quincy.”
Based on recent news across the country, across our state, and across our city we are able to see there is not equality or inclusion among all residents. Making a change with our city programs helping educate everyone in our community would be a step towards equality and inclusion. Many residents of Quincy and surrounding areas are not fully aware of their community.
The Social Justice Department would allow those who have not been treated as equal or included to be heard. Our democratic society has preached this before, why not now? Nina Liang has included business owners of various cultures for their feedback on seeking the redevelopment of Wollaston Center. Brian Palmucci has reached out and supports groups in our community asking for justice and equality for all such as Quincy4Justice and Quincy for Transformative Change. Noel DiBona has been participating in and including activities with Quincy Asian Resources and elderly safety.
I have lived in and around the city of Quincy all of my life and appreciate the diversity and culture from Boston to Cape Cod. Neighborhoods that are not predominantly Caucasian I remember the best experiences, relationships, and networking that has been present and available. Recognizing and respecting our differences can help with understanding, productivity, and compassion. Not first recognizing the need for a Social Justice Department does not allow the respect, understanding, productivity, or compassion to follow. Quincy needs this.
I feel that Mayor Koch and others in Quincy are appearing like they do not want others to be equal and included. It does not seem like the same observations of our society in 2021 that are encouraging communication, justice, and open minds are felt by some; we may need to speak more and speak louder. What is wrong with equality and inclusion for residents in our city?