Resident criticizes '30/30' police recruitment goal and nondiscrimination ordinance during public comment

Mary Mabinow, a resident of District 5, used the council’s public comment time to criticize the city’s “30/30” plan for police recruitment and the proposed nondiscrimination ordinance.

Mabinow said she supports “common sense equality” and argued the 30/30 plan — described on the city website as a goal to increase women on the police force by 30 percent by 2030 — should not replace merit-based hiring. “If I need a cop, I want one that was meritoriously selected,” she said. “I’m a woman and I don’t care if the stat is 30% or 3%.”

On the nondiscrimination ordinance, Mabinow said the city’s protections for sexual orientation, gender and gender identity should not, in her view, supersede what she described as biological women’s privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms. “Putting transgender rights above biological women's rights is immoral and it's wrong,” she said. Several parts of her remarks included strongly worded assertions and references to recent actions in other jurisdictions; she cited Scottsdale and Queen Creek and a federal action she attributed to President Trump.

The council’s public comment rules, announced before speakers, limit council response during the meeting; the mayor noted that staff or council members often follow up with speakers after the meeting. No council member engaged in extended discussion on the record in response to Mabinow’s remarks during the meeting.

Mabinow identified herself as a resident at 6019 East Hobart Street and as living in District 5. Her comments were presented during Item 9 (items from citizens present).