Jacksonville’s City Council Finance Committee is once again taking aim at Mayor Donna Deegan’s Chief of Diversity and Inclusion.
On a 4-2 vote, the committee decided to strip $230,000 out of the city budget intended for the position Friday morning.
The move came just a few days after Councilmember Rory Diamond (R-District 13) promised to introduce legislation that would prohibit the city from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
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“In my opinion, it’s government-sponsored racism. It’s separating us. It’s dividing us,” said Diamond.
Mayor Deegan pushed back on Diamond’s efforts to target DEI initiatives Thursday.
“It is incredibly important to me that one of the most diverse cities in the country, which is our city, really make everyone feel welcome here. I don’t know why that threatens people so much,” said Deegan.
Last year, Mayor Deegan shifted money around within her office’s budget to fund the Chief of Diversity and Inclusion position after the council …