A new permanent commission is being set up in Lexington to address race and equality. Mayor Linda Gorton has announced the leadership of the Racial Justice and Equality Commission. The group will be led by chairman Sam Meaux and vice chair Charlotte Turley. Meaux said they must get to the bottom of racial issues.
“What’s going on today is a result of fissures in a foundation that should have been laid many years ago. Yes, it’s difficult but it’s just different. We need to address the cause of the fissures in the foundation.”
Tiffany Brown is the city’s equity and implementation officer. She will be working with the commission and said this new version is only part of the original commission’s suggestions.
“Also working with community organizations, the courts and other resource agencies to offer an expungement clinic, that information will be forthcoming, that is one of the barriers that keeps individuals out of the workplace, out of housing, out of health equity and out of education.”
The original commission made other recommendations the city is implementing, including the use of body cameras and enhanced software for police officers. The commission members are pending final approval from the Urban County Council.
