Courage in Leadership

To the Editor:

Citizens who attended the February 19 Board of Selectman meeting were treated to an act of courage we rarely witness in our leaders. Selectwoman Kristi Sogofsky suggested that the BOS withdraw a decision they made last summer and bring the issue to our legislative body, the Town Meeting. The decision in question was made at the August 20, 2020 BOS meeting in the heat of the George Floyd issue when the BOS adopted the Easton Resolution on Racism and Public Health. The Resolution declares that racism is a public health crisis in Easton, and states unequivocally that racism is the root cause of poverty and disparate outcomes in health, housing, education, employment, and criminal justice.

This Resolution did not arise due to problems in our town. It was written by a group called Health Equity Solutions, Inc. out of Hartford and brought from outside our borders to the BOS by Easton citizens Elaine Okeefe and Lise Fleuette. It has unleashed the dangerous philosophy of Critical Race Theory on our town; it was adopted in haste under the pressure of unprecedented turmoil in our country.

Selectwoman Sogofsky pointed out that the Board had just received the 2-page document and voted unanimously to adopt it on the spot without time for serious consideration and without input from Easton citizens. First Selectman Bindelglass said he would consider her proposal and asked her to bring to the next BOS meeting suggested wording for a motion to be placed on a Town Meeting agenda.

The formation of this taskforce can hardly be classified as simply adopting a resolution, and we sincerely thank First Selectman Sogofsky for her integrity and courage in moving to rectify this misstep by the BOS.

Sincerely,

Sherry Harris

President, Citizens for Responsible Government

slhnov@outlook.com

203-374-9479

June Logie

Treasurer, Citizens for Responsible Government

mwcalm@optonline.net

203-583-0888

You can read the BOE Resolution and the EDIT charge at the bottom of the August 20, 2020 BOS minutes: board_of_selectmen_regular_meeting_minutes_08-20-2020.pdf (eastonct.gov)