Discrimination should NEVER stand … regardless

From the June 2, 2005 edition of the Collin County Opinions in the Dallas Morning News
Just when you think it’s safe to go back to the governing waters that is the city of Plano, a fin appears in the viewfinder, the “Jaws” theme begins to play and it’s time to run, not walk, out of danger. This is what happens on an all-too-regular basis with the City Council and its latest example of “discriminatory elitism,” propped up by an uninformed vote of city citizens.
If someone needed further proof of such improper thinking, it is the decision by the council to “uphold” a part of the city charter allowing only property owners to serve on boards and commissions. Mind you, an earlier court challenge already washed away the same requirement to be elected or appointed to the council. However, on May 7, an attempt to scrub the city charter clean of such discrimination was inexplicably rejected by an uninformed public. Had the issue been given one iota of the attention of the arts hall funding or alcohol sales proposition by a single city leader, explaining why it was necessary to erase such a stain on the charter, the issue would probably have passed.
Unless, of course, the vote was to endorse discrimination in Plano, which is a whole other issue to be discussed.
I was amused to read young Justin Nichols’ piece in yesterday’s Collin County Opinion Pages (“The Volunteer Tax”) and I had to chuckle at his naïve take on the council’s reaffirmation of the people’s voice. Obviously, a certain amount of historical perspective was missing because, sadly, that part of American or Texas history isn’t mentioned too often here in the 21st century.
This is an example of a latent (and abhorrent) Jim Crow law, the kind of law that was designed to circumvent voting rights laws across the South during a time when one group of citizens attempted to retain total power and control over communities. Back in the day (and the day wasn’t that long ago), only property owners could go to the ballot box, keeping thousands of Hispanics and African-Americans from any American’s basic freedom – to exercise the constitutional right to vote.
This charter provision is no different. Being a legally registered voter in Plano - that, and only that, should be the main requirement to serve on a commission or board. End of story. There can be no defending such a charter provision; in fact, the real question is why, in 2005, it even breathes any kind of life.
Simply put, the percentage of white property owners (versus minorities and poorer people) is higher than the actual ethnic demographics of Plano. It is reasonable to assume that people of lesser economic means and minorities would be those most likely to inhabit multifamily dwellings.
As young Mr. Nichols correctly notes, renters indirectly pay property tax through their monthly rent. They are just NOT on the county tax rolls. But neither are people who lease expensive homes in west Plano. Neither are those children who live in houses owned (on the county rolls) by their parents. And if you take it a step further, neither are many spouses who live in homes without their names on the title.
Where does it stop? How far should such discrimination go? And don’t give me any hooey about the “voter’s will.” Once upon a time, slavery was the “voter’s will” and the Constitution valued an African-American’s life to be worth 3/5 of an Anglo. Wrong IS wrong!
It is bad enough that so many wealthier local residents publicly oppose the state’s collegiate admission 10 percent rule because so many of their children have had their places at the University of Texas bumped by minority students.
It is worse that the city they call home believes that only one “class” of citizen can officially be part of the process that governs everyone! Until this stain is permanently erased, until the council stands up to such practices and declares that it will not allow them to exist, no resident of Plano can honestly speak about how “diversity” exists in this community.
Instead, there should be a cloak of embarrassment over the mere mention of it.
Chuck Bloom is an award-winning former columnist and editor and can be reached at chuckbloom@hotmail.com.