Fargo City Commission Votes 4-1 To Eliminate DEI Department

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The possible elimination of DEI had many come out and speak against this vote.

“The last time I checked my money is green and it spends the same way as your money. You bleed the same way I bleed. You breathe the same air I breathe. So please … if you need to find another DEI that’s fine. But it needs to stay,” said Faith.

Faith, a resident of the Fargo area for over twenty years, had been one of the speakers who came out against the department’s elimination. But some in the audience did not agree with what Faith had to say.

“We need that position here because we need a place that we can go to that we feel comfortable. A place that we can go and we can let them know what’s going on with certain departments of racism. It’s racism in Fargo,” said Faith.

Other speakers spoke in favor of the decision that was being decided to eliminate the department. Some stated that there was no value in it and that they had not seen any work done for the community.

“Well I appreciate you guys deciding to eliminate the DEI department. It’s been a total waste of time I don’t know..I never heard a report from the guy. I don’t know what he does honestly,” said Brad.

At the end of many various remarks made by the public, the majority vote was in favor of eliminating the department. Although the Commission eliminated it, they had hinted at the diversity initiatives put in place within other departments.

Commissioner John Strand was the only one to vote against dropping DEI in addition to cutting a public health analyst and not filling four vacant positions at Fargo Cass Public Health to save $680,000.

Mayor Mahoney’s $133 million budget for next year was initially approved and then brought back after some commissioners raised concerns about spending.

We will have more on the City Commission decision tomorrow.