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Residents debate role of DEI in Ellensburg comprehensive plan during public comment
Summary
Dozens of residents spoke during public comment on whether a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion chapter should remain in the city comprehensive plan. Speakers debated legal risk to federal grants, community priorities and the commission’s activities; council heard both calls to remove Chapter 9 and defenses of DEI programming.
A large contingent of Ellensburg residents used the city’s non‑agenda public comment period to debate whether the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) chapter should remain in the city’s comprehensive plan and how city government should respond to federal guidance.
Multiple speakers urged the council to remove Chapter 9 (the DEI chapter) from the comprehensive plan while preserving an advisory DEI commission; others defended the commission’s activities and urged the council to keep DEI in plan language. Comments included personal testimony about community service, program outcomes and concerns about public safety tied to heated rhetoric.
Among arguments opposing the chapter, one commenter said she had obtained a 04/24/2025 letter from the U.S.…
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