PARK RIDGE—The borough’s first Diversity and Inclusion Committee was created on an ad hoc basis for 2021 at the Nov. 9 Borough Council meeting — and likely will become a permanent council committee for 2022 and beyond, according to its resolution.
“Whereas, the Borough of Park Ridge is committed to celebrating the positive contributions of all residents, inclusive of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, ability or sexual orientation; and whereas, in furtherance of this goal, the Borough Council wishes to establish the Park Ridge Diversity and Inclusion Committee… the Committee would have as its primary purpose uniting the Borough through the appreciation of these diverse and unique backgrounds and promote an inclusive environment and celebration of varied populations,” reads the resolution.
The resolution appoints Jamie DeMartino and Shenai Jensen as co-chairs, Keven Loo, vice chair; Jeanne McVerry, secretary; and members Gail Burton, Lynda Carraher, Pedro Castelli, Lisa Clifford; Mark Suriano; Joan Valas; Carolyn Wagner; and Sofia Wahdat, through 2021.
The resolution to create the D&I committee was approved unanimously by council. Initially, the borough was planning to form a committee this March or April.
At that time, Business Administrator Julie Falkenstern said that Mayor Keith Misciagna had asked her to gauge local interest in such a committee following Black Lives Matter-led marches in June 2020 following the death, in police custody, of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, an African American.
Earlier this year, Falkensetern had said Misciagna’s motivation for the D&I Committee “was what was going on in the world last summer” relating to protests against police brutality, police racism, and lack of police accountability, and that he believed that “maybe there was a need to have some conversations” related to local diversity.
Park Ridge’s D&I Committee will meet monthly and is tasked with at least eight goals:
- Advise the Mayor and Council on diversity and equity strategies that strengthen connections among diverse community groups and with borough government;
- Encourage residents from diverse communities to increase their involvement in town activities and existing boards and committees;
- Collaborate with our Recreation and Cultural Committee, other Park Ridge town committees and municipal departments to organize events that celebrate diversity and promote inclusion and to help existing events appeal to a diverse audience;
- Support and provide feedback to Park Ridge schools to promote and support a diverse community environment;
- Work with the chamber of commerce to promote diversity in the local business community;
- Organize public forums for residents to discuss issues concerning diversity and inclusion;
- Create a connection with other diversity and inclusion groups in the Pascack Valley towns and region;
- Source funding through grants for matters surrounding diversity and inclusion.
In Montvale, a June Pride event was marred by a testy exchange between Mayor Michael Ghassali and D&I Committee vice chairperson Elizabeth Gloeggler that led to Ghassali stripping her of the post.
In Hillsdale, Mayor John Ruocco opposed creation of a local D&I committee in early March after local activists had gathered about 50 signatures via an online petition.
He told Pascack Press then, “The borough’s governing body has not concluded yet that the establishment of a [diversity] committee, with the specific functions and goals as proposed by several residents and members of a group known as PV CORE, would improve upon the borough’s excellent record of non-discrimination and equal treatment of all its residents under the law.”