Tompkins County legislature adopts updated diversity, equity and inclusion policy after hours-long debate

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 employee, told legislators the updated policy was “operational, accountable, and legally grounded” and urged them not to weaken it with an added preamble disclaimer. Human Rights Commission Chair Pei Soyinka Arele commended the draft and proposed clarifying edits to definitions and language, saying the document “reinstitutes the language of equity, the quality of fairness which is our moral foundation.”

Opponents and some cautious members pressed to retain language added by the Government Operations committee — a brief legal assurance stating the policy does not implement unlawful favoritism — arguing it would protect the county from political or legal attack tied to recent federal executive actions. Legislator Deborah Dawson said she could support the policy only with that language included, saying, “I think it would be prudent of us to leave this in here to make it clear that nothing in this violates the executive order.”

Legislators debated a proposed amendment to remove that sentence. The amendment was defeated 6–7 in a roll-call vote. After further discussion the main motion, including the language, passed 11–2. County staff present described the revised policy as updating a 2013 document to reflect the county’s 2024 strategic plan, add measurable equity indicators for departments, and assign responsibilities for implementation. Charlene, identified in the meeting as the county’s chief equity and diversity officer, told legislators the update ties into a broader set of eleven related policies and will provide implementation and reporting mechanisms.

The adopted policy directs regular climate surveys, mandatory training, and requires departments to identify one or two equity indicators annually. Officials said the update is intended to provide a ten-year roadmap so future administrations will maintain continuity of equity work.

No legal action, contract award, or budget appropriation was taken as part of the vote; the measure is an administrative policy update. Several legislators and public speakers requested future clarifications and editorial cleanups to definitions and terminology; staff agreed refinements could be proposed later. The legislature recorded the vote and the amended policy will be posted in county administrative materials for implementation by the county administrator’s office.

The measure followed public comments earlier in the meeting from employees and residents, many of whom urged adoption without additional disclaimers. The legislature’s final vote came after a prolonged discussion of both policy content and the political context of federal executive guidance.