On Wednesday the Cedar Rapids City Council will likely finalize a nine-member committee to provide oversight of revenue generated from the local-option sales tax (LOST) approved March 3.
(As a side note, this committee will only oversee the revenue received by Cedar Rapids and not the other areas of Linn County that approved the tax on March 3, or any other areas that may approve the tax at a later date.)
The names announced during a special council meeting on Monday are:
Some residents of flood-impacted areas have already raised concerns that those offering oversight are not representative enough of the flooded areas of the city -- that they were not either personally impacted by the June floods or that they are not in a socio-economic class that would afford them understanding of most who were flooded.
My first thought upon seeing the list is how unbalanced it is from a gender standpoint. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just over half of the population of Cedar Rapids is comprised of women. One third of the LOST oversight committee is comprised of women -- and all of their terms end within two years. If those who drop from the committee are not replaced by women, then it is likely the full oversight will be in the hands of males.
Why does this make a difference? Many of the services negatively impacted by the flood are services that are traditionally decided upon by women members of households -- child care and health care chief among them. Also, it is widely known that after any humanitarian crisis, including natural disasters, the most vulnerable within a community bear the brunt of the hardship. Like it or not, the most vulnerable members of society continue to be women and children.
Outside of the initial concerns, there is also a long-term reason why women should be equally represented in government committees and commissions: they are equal partners. We want to develop communities that are vibrant and diverse. We do that by allowing as many voices as possible to be heard. We do that through inclusion.
(As a side note, this committee will only oversee the revenue received by Cedar Rapids and not the other areas of Linn County that approved the tax on March 3, or any other areas that may approve the tax at a later date.)
The names announced during a special council meeting on Monday are:
- Stephen Hammes (3-year term)
- Jeffery Beer (3-year term)
- Gary Ficken (3-year term)
- Sandee Skelton (2-year term)
- Jeff Palmer (2-year term)
- Charles Watkins (2-year term)
- Heather Schoonover (1-year term)
- Elizabeth Hladky (1-year term)
- Markell Kuper (1-year term)
Some residents of flood-impacted areas have already raised concerns that those offering oversight are not representative enough of the flooded areas of the city -- that they were not either personally impacted by the June floods or that they are not in a socio-economic class that would afford them understanding of most who were flooded.
My first thought upon seeing the list is how unbalanced it is from a gender standpoint. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just over half of the population of Cedar Rapids is comprised of women. One third of the LOST oversight committee is comprised of women -- and all of their terms end within two years. If those who drop from the committee are not replaced by women, then it is likely the full oversight will be in the hands of males.
Why does this make a difference? Many of the services negatively impacted by the flood are services that are traditionally decided upon by women members of households -- child care and health care chief among them. Also, it is widely known that after any humanitarian crisis, including natural disasters, the most vulnerable within a community bear the brunt of the hardship. Like it or not, the most vulnerable members of society continue to be women and children.
Outside of the initial concerns, there is also a long-term reason why women should be equally represented in government committees and commissions: they are equal partners. We want to develop communities that are vibrant and diverse. We do that by allowing as many voices as possible to be heard. We do that through inclusion.
Let me get this straight, a website designed for women and by women are scrutinizing gender equity. Where is the mens reading section of this site? Sites like this are contributors to inequities, as you are dividing rather than bringing together.