In the first few days of President Trump’s time in office, some Bloomington boards and commissions consider their work cut out for them. They discussed their immediate goals in the aftermath of the president’s decisions so far in their first meetings of the year.
Despite gag orders on national parks departments and climate change denial by the nation’s highest offices, the city’s Environmental Commission released its action plan Wednesday. The plan says the commission seeks to help the city reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 and reduce energy consumption in all of the city’s buildings by 20 percent, vehicle-miles traveled by 10 percent and landfill waste by 15 percent. The plan also says it wants the city to conduct air-sampling tests.
“Climate change is the most important challenge facing our planet,” Mayor John Hamilton said in a statement released with the plan Wednesday. “Each of us has a responsibility to do what we can to protect our environment, and that begins at home.”
The Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs tried to strategize how to help those who may not be United States citizens. Board members expressed worry about how Hispanic immigration might be affected by Trump’s recent executive orders regarding travel and refuge from seven Muslim-majority nations and the president’s statements against Hispanic immigrants. The commission discussed options on how to maintain driver’s licenses while becoming a citizen and how to protect community members from deportation and violence.
The Commission of the Status of Women and the Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs had separate meetings this week in which both said they would like to work together for intersectional support for the populations. Women’s commissioner Amanda Stephens said at Thursday’s meeting the Latino commission has discussed issues, such as work exploitation of women, specifically in restaurants, that relate to women.
“Although the issues facing the Hispanic and Latino population in Bloomington have never been good, people are very, very scared for their lives now,” Stephens said.
All of these come the same week other city officials criticized Trump’s travel ban and promised citizens they would do the best they can in order to help residents of Bloomington no matter the status.
“We in Bloomington stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Indiana University President Michael McRobbie and the IU community, with mayors across the country and with the many millions of patriotic Americans, to speak out against these unwise, shameful and unconstitutional orders,” Mayor Hamilton said at the Bloomington Common Council meeting Wednesday night.
Council member Steve Volan urged people who want to make changes in the government to run for precinct committee chairs. Fellow member Isabel Piedmont-Smith also took time to express her remarks.
“We, a nation of immigrants, are turning away immigrants,” she said.
