The new mayor won her first battle.
Several weeks ago, Debra McCartt announced plans to hold a public swearing-in, free for the entire city. It was to be a festive occasion—with entertainment that represented the alleged “diversity” of Amarillo—as well as a unifying event, taking the time to honor previous city officials.
What was left of the last city commission—Robert Keys—expressed skepticism that anyone would show up.
"It would be pretty neat with respect to the old commissioners and mayors coming back," he said. "But I don't know how well it would be attended. You'd hate for something like that to be planned and not very many people show up."New commissioner but old-guard power-broker Jim "What a Coup!" Simms was also hostile to the idea:
"I'm not real big on ceremonies," said Jim Simms, elected to Commissioner Place 4. "Let me take the oath, swear me in, and I'll go to work."Tonight, the swearing-in was held. 400 seats were set up in the Grand Ballroom of the Civic Center. I found one of the last seats available, and when I quietly tiptoed out just before the “Tribute to Trent Sisemore,” I had to force my way through a SRO mass of people gathered in the back of the ballroom. I’d already watched Trent “It’s all about me!!!” Sisemore pressing the flesh before the event, and didn’t think I could stomach much more of the now-thankfully-former mayor.
The ceremony itself was a microcosm of my hopes and fears for this mayor and her new commission. Points for good intentions: entertainers performed who represented the Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Old Codger communities. But the city’s Community Relations Coordinator, Lyndy Ohayon, who played at being Master of Ceremonies, announced the various entertainers in a how-white-can-I-be chirp that laid waste to the best of intentions. The Lao dancers were from the “Lay-YO” community. The Hispanic dancers were “performing the Ballet Folkloria”.
Am I being overly picky, an English teacher and writer who quaintly thinks words matter?
I don’t think so. Pronouncing a name correctly is a sign of respect—and even Old White Men can get prickly about it. Just ask the Globe-Republican what happens when they print a news item about “Stanley Marsh III”.
So, two points: When it comes to diversity, you have to talk the talk and walk the walk. City Parents are starting to talk the talk . . . but they haven’t even got that completely right, yet.
Secondly, Robert Keys and Jim "What a coup!" Simms suffered the indignity of being sworn in before a lot of people they had dismissed as being uninterested in city government. We’ve turned out to vote. We’ve come to your party. We’ve written letters. What else do we have to do? Mayor McCartt and new commissioners: it’s time to make the city commission meetings accessible to average working citizens, as you promised you would. Any time other than weekdays between nine and five will do just fine. We’ve demonstrated that we’ll show up. You have no excuses left.
SPACEDARK
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