City Council will receive a report tonight from consultants with the Maroon Society detailing the city’s deficiencies in providing services to people of color.
The project began in October 2020, when City Council directed staff to perform an analysis of the social
services needs of people of color in West Hollywood.
The Maroon Society found that people of color felt services were lacking and that they were generally unaware of many services the city already provides.
The staff report reads:
“Community members of color reported the greatest interest in rental assistance, mental healthcare, food and nutrition, healthcare, and employment services. Community members of color report a greater need for “help with life necessities” than White community members. However, they have lower awareness about City-funded social
services, which presents the largest barrier to service access.”
The Maroon Society’s analysis can be found here: https://weho.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=1353&meta_id=227600
The Maroon Society’s web site gives a broad if vague description of its operations:
Maroon Society is a research organization that develops evidence-based insights to help improve people’s lives. We are one of the only privately held research organizations to employ rigorous methods and analysis rising to the scrutiny of peer-review by experts. This is why governments, non-profits, and private sector clients trust Maroon Society to solve their most critical problems.
Historically, “maroon communities” were groups of formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants who gained their freedom by fleeing chattel enslavement and running to the safety and cover of the remote mountains or the dense overgrown tropical terrains near the plantations.
Robin DiAngelo is the only person qualified to evaluate this situation.
What? WEHO provides services? The only service I know about is the free weho party bus on weekends. The only reason I know about that is I’ve seen it a bunch of times. Hard to miss.
The best social program society can offer is a job.
Perhaps it’s because 87% of the country is NOT black. 95% is NOT Yellow. 95% is NOT grey.
I just walked out of the Sheriff’s station in West Hollywood denied service….again. Eight days ago I was promised that the FBI would be contacted regarding theft, harassment, and brutality committed against me by at least one employee of the station. The next day I was told,”we called and they are backed up.” The third and fourth days I was shut down by an incredibly rude female employee from ‘behind the window’ who turned the intercom off. Today is day eight and Renfriro, to my face, denied me this call to the FBI. I am a handicap person on mixed… Read more »
You can call the FBI yourself.
What was the budget for this enterprise?
The entire Social Services Budget deserves scrutiny. It appears to be primarily a glorified referral service to state and other organizations with some exceptions. Anyone else have experience with this?
Did I read correctly that they are saying that black people in West Hollywood need more services and are less able to find them than other groups? This sounds to me like a racial slur. Let’s not waste any more money on these jokers.
Doesn’t it?! Are they saying that people of color are more stupid and less able to use their brains to seek out resources than people that are not of color?
A phone number to a city supported non profit that takes 7 months to return a phone call/ email is not a resource. .
Yup! Their resources are apparently out in left field where even if you do reach a Dept head , the response is round about word salad as in they will help you with your own self help expedition.
Please state what provider took 7 months to return your call. I find this disturbing and correctable if true.
Please install a hyper link to Abbe Land who presumably had a handle on this when she wasn’t shopping.
Abbe Land!?! Isn’t she John Erickson’s agent? Got him a job with Planned Parenthood? Otherwise, no one would hire that clown!
I’m so tempted to comment on this, but I’m just gonna leave it alone.
I’m trying to keep my mouth shut 🤐
….. when there’s so much to say.
But, …..
The City offers an array of services to anyone that qualifies, albeit you have to qualify in various area such as income level. It sounds here as though the city believes POC should have their own set of city services. That smacks of segratory. Why do I think that SHE has something to do with this?
All the city services are listed on the city’s website. And last time I checked neigh a one was asking an applicant for their race. In West Hollywood that’s kinda the point.
“Why do I think that SHE has something to do with this?”
…because you didn’t bother to read the article?
“The project began in October 2020, when City Council directed staff to perform an analysis of the social
services needs of people of color in West Hollywood.”
But yes, it’s much easier to just baselessly blame the same 3 council members.
I did read the article. And the council can request studies as can individual council members. There was no identification of who those were that requested the analysis. And based on past agenda and analysis requests from SHE its pretty obvious.
You needn’t get your panties in a wad.
Did that also inspire the Reparations for POC item? Seems as if the timing is a bit unusual.
How much did we pay this consultant?
City services are listed on the City Of West Hollywood website and anybody can gain access to it. There’s also this thing called a phone that someone can pick up and contact the city if they have questions about what services are available. And since our city is such a small city you can actually walk out your front door and walk to City Hall if you have any questions. There’s also a free city line bus that can take you to City Hall if you’re unable to walk. I bet this consulting firm was very happy to take our… Read more »
Grevience Goblins, Stirring up Trouble
Yup. Be part of the solution yourself instead of the perceived problem, slight or whatever.
The Complaint Department is Closed!
Use ingenuity to craft a solution and/or make a respectful request for help. People like to help if one doesn’t attempt to antagonize in their quest for perceived benefits after an oversight.
Yup.
If you have ever noticed the broader spectrum of studies and surveys it appears they needlessly appear under nearly every category of municipal interests. Staff who presumably are qualified in their disciplines, are collectors of information who then get to frame it according to their own lack of expertise. Survey Salad, a self fulfilling enterprise designed to “include the residents in the public process” when they get 2 minutes to address the city council. In one division it is suspected that candidates sought in the RFP process circulate through a consulting system benefiting who? presumably the department head. Round and… Read more »