Eyeing Racial Equality, Melrose Begins Self-Evaluation

MELROSE, MA — Mayor Paul Brodeur has directed all city departments to evaluate if how they operate allows for any systemic racism or racial inequality and how such shortfalls might be remedied.

Brodeur ordered all departments, boards and commissions to examine their procedures, policies, public interaction, potential pitfalls and other operations and to consider how to improve those that don't promote racial equality and equity. It is not meant to be a quick solution, but an evolving piece of self-reflection in an effort to move the city forward.

"The goal here is to not simply rush through a series of half- thought out ideas, but rather, to put in a concerted effort to identify and frame the issue areas and steps we should take in order to make lasting and responsive change," Brodeur said in a news release. "We may not have all the answers but my goal is to make sure that we are closer to understanding the problems."

The wide-ranging effort will result in a public report detailing findings and proposed solutions to the kinds of problems that have permeated municipal governments across the nation. For "One Community Open To All," it could reveal some uncomfortable truths.

"I do not expect us to produce neat and tidy work because frankly, these are not neat and tidy issues," Brodeur said. "But I do expect each of us to bring compassion and empathy to this work."

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The five-part project, called "Two Weeks Toward Change," begins Monday.

• Part one (June 8-9) is when departments will take stock of how they operate and identify areas they could improve.
• Part two (June 10-11) will include researching best practices from counterparts outside of Melrose.
• Part three (June 12-15) will include drafting a report based on the findings of the previous two parts and identifying what immediate and long-term solutions could look like in an action plan.
• Part four (June 16-17) will be when departments can implement immediate action steps they identified.
• A report will be made public in part five (June 18-19.) The community will be encouraged to engage with the city after digesting it.