In the midst of President Donald Trump\u2019s war on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Dallas is right to rethink how it can continue to open opportunities to those with the least access. <\/p>\n
The president has signed executive orders this year forcing many cities to rethink some of their policies. One such order<\/a> forbids federal grant recipients like Dallas to operate \u201cany programs promoting DEI\u201d in violation of anti-discrimination laws. Faced with the prospect of losing vital federal funds<\/a>, the city has had little choice but to change course. <\/p>\n At the council\u2019s direction, City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert in June instructed departments to stop using policies and programs that advance DEI.<\/a> <\/p>\n Council members discussed how to proceed<\/a> at a briefing earlier this month but didn\u2019t make any final decisions. Policy recommendations are expected in September.<\/p>\n Opinion<\/p>\n For decades, Dallas has had some versions of rules on the books that encourage the city to have a certain amount of minority or women-owned businesses participate in city contracts. The current iteration<\/a> is the Business Inclusion and Development plan.<\/p>\n Under Trump\u2019s executive order, that\u2019s kaput. City staff are considering a replacement that would instead prioritize local and small business for city contracts.<\/p>\n Dallas has also had to pause the use of its racial equity plan. Approved in 2022, it\u2019s a document intended to \u201caddress racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes,\u201d a city staffer explained.<\/p>\n City staff are proposing a transition to a \u201cdrivers of opportunity framework.\u201d Though it\u2019s still a work in progress, it would be based on indicators like public safety and well-being, gainful employment and high-quality education.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s plan to reform these programs and others strike us as the right approach. DEI is likely to continue facing constitutional challenges, but the goal underpinning it is worthy and shouldn\u2019t be lost. <\/p>\n We have just one note of caution for city leaders. The DEI programs intended to make sure contracts would involve minority and women-owned businesses have not always worked out. <\/p>\n The intention is to lift up those with the least opportunity; to give the little guy a fighting chance in the feeding frenzy to get a piece of the city contracting pie. <\/p>\n But contrary to that goal, many of the same people and companies have benefited from the program over the years, winning contracts over and over again. Commonly, they have not lacked in means and opportunity. The city\u2019s proposed replacement must avoid those missteps.<\/p>\n