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Tompkins County legislature adopts updated diversity, equity and inclusion policy after hours-long debate
Summary
The Tompkins County Legislature voted 11–2 on July 15 to adopt an updated internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy (Policy 01-43), rejecting an amendment that would have removed a legal disclaimer addressing federal executive orders.
Tompkins County legislators on July 15 adopted an updated internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy intended to institutionalize equity work across county departments, after more than three hours of public comment and debate.
The legislature voted 11–2 to approve the update to Administrative Policy 01-43. Legislator Amanda Champion, who moved the resolution, described the draft as an operational rather than aspirational policy that aligns county practice with the county’s strategic operations plan and institutional equity objectives. “This is a policy about county operations. This is not anything having to do with the community or what the community is doing,” Champion said while introducing the resolution.
Supporters, including members of the public and equity-focused county staff, urged adoption. Rachel Graham, who identified herself as a 19‑year county…
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