In my last article, I noted that back in February 2023, the Director of Racial Equity, Xusana Davis, warned in testimony that the Clean Heat Standard in its then-current form was not an equitable piece of legislation, listed a number of problems with the bill, and hasn’t been heard from since. Weirdly so. This got me wondering: where are Davis and her Office in all this mess? Bueller?… Bueller?….
Here we have a law that is supposed to change how our entire economy works and our very way of life – with lots of so-called “social justice” and “equity” issues at stake, not to mention the accompanying tornado of politically correct, social justice warrior lingo, official and unofficial — and the Office of Racial Equity (which its website insists is “not exclusively focused on only certain racial and ethnic groups—we support equity for all of Vermont’s residents and visitors,” so we all have a stake in its ostensible mission of fairness) has absolutely nothing to say about it? Again, I say, weird.
The Climate Council has nine members from the Administration on it, plus five more non-member appointees to subcommittees – NONE from the Office of Racial (But Not Really Racial!) Equity. Not even on the Council’s Just Transitions subcommittee for which, one would think, it would be a natural if not critical fit.
The Public Utilities Commission’s Equity Advisory Group on the Clean Heat Standard has three Administration members representing the Department of Public Service, the Department of Children and Families, and the Vermont State Housing Authority. But NO ONE from the Office of Racial (But Not Really Racial!) Equity Office. For crying out loud, the two entities have the same operative word in their titles, but… no? Weird.
Are Davis and her Office being ironically discriminated against? Intentionally silenced on this issue? If so, they don’t seem to care. About that, this, or apparently anything. It turns out my mystification about the Office’s disinterested silence on climate policy isn’t limited to just climate policy.
According to the Racial Equity Office’s state website, the last public meeting it held took place on July 26, 2023. The one before that on March 15, 2023. There are currently no events listed on its calendar.
As far as I can tell, neither Davis nor anyone in her office has ever issued a press release on any policy, anything of substance, or really anything at all. Every press release posted on its webpage is a reprint of something put out by the Governor’s office recognizing one day of recognition or another, the last one being a boilerplate hat tip to Black History Month last February signed by Governor Scott.
Even this year, when the Vermont legislature moved forward a proposed Constitutional Amendment adding an “equal protection” clause, PR.4, the Office of Racial (But Not Really Racial) Equity didn’t release a public statement as concise as “Yippee!” That’s weird.
A Google search of “Xusana Davis VT/news” returns less than a page of hits, the latest of which is an October 2023 article on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to supply translation services in emergency situations in which she is quoted. Interesting, but more important than an energy policy that will likely impact low-income and other economically vulnerable Vermonters’ ability to survive winter and/or afford to stay in their homes? I don’t think so!
It’s almost as if this whole office is just an expensive, taxpayer-funded, BS façade that is intended to be seen (as a “social justice” fig leaf to distract and placate the masses of low-information Leftist drones) but not heard, certainly not in any meaningful way on any policy of substance. And its members seem okay with that role.
The near total lack of documented activity by the Office after early 2023 led me to wonder if the thing had been quietly shut down, just as Burlington recently defunded its not particularly useful Racial Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity department to help curb out-of-control spending. But no. There in the state budget was listed the salary and benefits package for the “Exec. Dir. Of Racial Equity” at $167,143, plus two more additions to the team, an Education and Outreach Associate and an Equity Policy and Research Analyst at $103,123 and $95,553 respectively, bringing the office’ complement up to five members.
All doing what and to what end, one asks.
When the highly touted equity goals in arguably the most far-reaching economically disruptive policy in our state are overtly and aggressively tossed out the window… (Quote: “We’re taxing the poor so that the rich can benefit,” Christopher Trombly, Equity Advisory Group. Quote: “We don’t do things based on helping poor people. We do things based on saving the world,” Sen. Mark MacDonald on the Clean Heat Standard. Quote: “The whole Clean Heat Standard… was a boondoggle that really is designed to support entrenched interests,” Pike Porter, Equity Advisory Group.)… and the Office of Racial Equity has nothing to say, what good is it? And why should we taxpayers continue to fund it?
