By Alan Hirsch
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is given lot of lip service in progressive circles in Yolo County. But it can turn performative – especial if those in power have already made up their mind on a solution and don’t want to be contradicted- i.e. surface and take in to account diverse opinions.
That is what has been at play for Yolo County on Yolo80 widening with local electeds having made up their mind 3 years ago to add toll lanes to a 17 mile stretch of I-80. After that they have worked to turn the legally required public process into a check the box exercise, excluding diverse view point from being considered– even when the diverse viewpoints are backed by top transportation experts from UC Davis.
We are now at the end-stage where Davis Mayor/Yolo Transportation District Chair Josh Chapman is overtly discouraging public participation: he said openly it don’t matter what members of Davis public think — hiding the fact the project is not yet fully funded and public input to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) can still make a difference.
This DEI hypocrisy in Yolo County will continue unless people call out the hypocrisy. The public can be heard at the CTC’s Equity Committee meeting Wednesday. It is especially focused on this behavior like this by in local transportation jurisdictions.
Emails are needed to the “CTC-EAC” (California Transportation Commission- Equity Advisory Committee) to note the performative nature of Yolo80 Environmental process (Caltrans District 3 and YoloTD) – and also to oppose funding the new toll lanes until the process is made truly diverse and inclusive in the search for a solution.
Write to CTC@catc.ca.gov Subject: Equity and: Funding widening Yolo80 with Toll Lanes.
Issues to note to the Equity Committee: (cut and paste into email?)
Davisite 