After this, I am sure to be accused of being divisive by pointing out divisiveness...

but that seems to be the way things work in the Hall of Mirrors that is Lake Worth politics.

As a previous post documented, we had the chair of the Complete Count Committee, Annabeth Karson send out an e-mail yesterday that called out an entire area of the city for what she thought was an apparently lower response than other parts of the city, or perhaps below the expected rate for that part of the city.  Ms. Karson sending notice to the press telling the area east of Federal Hwy. to "beef it up" - pardon the term vegans and vegetarians - demonstrates a certain view that, due to the characteristics of people that live in that area, the expectation is that they will perform their civic duty quickly and without prodding or oversight required of other areas of the city.  I will leave you to characterize that area of the city for yourselves and how it is different from other areas of the city.  What is clear is that this area's response rate is within the range of all other parts of the city - and it is still early in the collection process.  What is also clear is that Ms. Karson is responsible for the Complete Count of all Lake Worth residents no matter where they live in the city.

Then, around 11 last night, we were showered with another e-mail, this time sent from the e-mail address "lakeworthgetscounted @getcounted.us" -  I have made jpegs of pertinent parts of the e-mails, but it seems that Blogger is having trouble with uploading images right now.

Here is what the e-mail included

Hello to Census Job Seekers:

If you did not get a job with the U.S. Census Bureau, here is another opportunity to get paid to work on the 2010 Census!

The application period ends this Friday, April 2nd.

Please call below, and note that only team leaders would need a car.

All inquiries should be made to Ben Gasper at 786-260-5167.

And then it is signed by both Annabeth Karson and Shauna Coolican.  They are identified as Chair and Assistant Chair of the City of Lake Worth Complete Count Committee, with associated e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

The bottom half of the e-mail, which originated from Lynne Purvis, and included Commissioner Cara Jennings as a recipient, contained text from Palm Beach County Coalition for Immigrant Rights.  The group is hiring its own set of workers for the "Florida New Majority" (FNM) - people hired would knock on doors.  Please click on the above link for the entire contents of the website, but my eyes nearly fell out of my head when I read the following under "Requirements."

Commitment to values of economic and racial justice and participatory democracy.

Ability to carry out FNM black and brown unity message.

Wear FNM T-Shirt uniform.

and under "Team Leader" Requirements:

Demonstrate a high level of volunteer recruiting to FLIC/Palm Beach County Coalition membership.

Now, I understand the need to mount a special effort to count historically under-counted populations around the nation, state and individual localities like the city of Lake Worth.  I also understand that filling out a Census form can be used by those who are here without citizenship status and may be used in the future to document the fact that they are here at a certain point in time.  This would be helpful if an immigration amnesty program is ever implemented.  Those are all givens.

However, what I do not agree with is an individual(s) who are employed by a contract with the City of Lake Worth, paid for by Lake Worth taxpayer dollars, being encouraged to apply for a paying job that has a "belief" litmus test on carrying out the Florida New Majority black and brown unity message as part of that employment.  And, this alternative is being offered in lieu of  employment with the U.S. Census.

I have done a "Google" and other searches for the FNM black and brown unity message, but no link has appeared in the search results other than the website referenced earlier.  I can guess that it relates to the well documented fact that the population of white people here in south Florida and across the nation will soon lose their traditional "majority" status - if not already.  And I really don't have a problem with this fact, but what I have a problem with is being offered an opportunity for a paying job where I have to subscribe to an unknown "black and brown" unity message that leaves other groups, based upon skin color, out of this "unity message."  Who is not included here?

Shouldn't we be sending a message out that encourages unity amongst all groups?

Here is what the City of Lake Worth Civil Rights Act says:

Sec. 20-1.  Purpose.

The city commission of the City of Lake Worth desires to secure for its citizens freedom from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap or marital status and thereby to protect their interest in personal dignity; to make available to the city their full productive capacities; to secure the city against domestic strife and unrest; to preserve the public safety, health and general welfare; and to promote the interests, rights and privileges of individuals within the city. The city commission also desires to adopt an ordinance which is consistent with state law and which affords its citizens a clear channel of access to a state-mandated remedy in the case of alleged discrimination, to wit the Florida Commission on Human Relations.

(Ord. No. 94-23, § 1, 11-1-94)

Anyone else have a problem with this?