The Answer in Equity: A Look at San Diego’s New Office of Race and Equity
The following article was published in the October 15, 2020 issue of the SD Voice & Viewpoint.
By Cori Zaragoza
In September 2020, the San Diego City Council unanimously agreed to open a new department: the Office of Race and Equity. Spearheaded by Council Member Monica Montgomery Steppe, the creation of this office is a historical one as it focuses on equity for all San Diegans, rather than equality. Equity has been a buzzword in civil rights group recently and its differences with equality are stark. The Annie E. Casey Foundation defines the differences in the following way: Equity involves trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, healthy lives. Equality, in contrast, aims to ensure that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full, healthy lives. Like equity, equality aims to promote fairness and justice, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same things.” Equity provides a personalized approach to success — it looks at each individual and provides whatever unique help they need. Equity is acknowledging that there is no “one size fits all” approach to providing all San Diegans with a happy, fulfilling life.
But, is it too late for San Diego? With a long history of systematic racism, it can be hard to believe in a real change in this county. Council member Montgomery Steppe, a black woman, passionately feels that this new department will be the change San Diego needs to start moving in a positive direction regarding race, affordable housing, and community involvement. During the last council meeting, she reiterated that what makes the creation of this office so historical is that it’s a permanent, real department working within the government, rather than a community commission or group. Speaking to her fellow council members, she described this office as “working within the system to change it from the inside out.”
The thing that makes this office truly different is its reliance on data. For months, while the proposal for this office was being made, behind the scenes were data tests being run regarding infrastructure, racial equity, economic opportunities, disparities in the Police Department, housing disparities, and many other community based concerns. The data collected, according to the city council, absolutely reveals that San Diego has fallen behind and has failed its citizens in almost every category.
The City Council acknowledged the hardships that will come with the Office of Race and Equity and admits that the scope of such a task will not be easy. Council member Gomez had this to say: “[There are] layers we need to get through, and we are acknowledging it but also being proactive.” Gomez also emphasized the idea that simply making a department is not enough, and next must come real action.
The Office of Race and Equity is only in its beginning stages so San Diegans won’t know the exact plans the office has for at least a few more months. The Leon L. Williams Human Relations Commission has been tasked with the recommendation of who should run the office and from there they will begin working on their mission statement and a roadmap to make the department a success. It’s a positive step for all San Diegans towards a better future; what the office actually achieves remains to be seen.
Works Cited
The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2020, August 24) Equity vs. Equality and Other Racial Justice Definitions. https://www.aecf.org/blog/racial-justice-definitions/
