STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — A new diversity affairs commission is set to examine some of the tough issues facing Stevens Point residents of all backgrounds.
Mayor Mike Wiza says the group was born out of the idea of making things better for those in Point that might have struggled due to things that are beyond their control. For example, he says those that are Black have traditionally had a tougher time finding housing than those of other races.
“Housing is a huge part of our community. So I want to know what issues are faced with housing. This also speaks to people with disabilities, who also find it challenging to find housing sometimes.”
He says by bringing all of those people together in the same room those issues can come to the forefront.
“I’m a middle-aged white man, so my perspective has been different from even yours, Liz (WSAU News reporter Liz Holbrook); let alone these other low-income families or worse, no-income families,” said Wiza.
He adds one issue they plan to discuss early on is housing. “The homeless problem in both Wausau and Stevens point [as well as in] Wisconsin Rapids is way bigger than it should be,” he said.
One example of that is warming centers across the region that have had to change the way they operate due to COVID-19, either closing or reducing capacity to allow for social distancing among users.
He expects those discussions will bring more issues to light as well. “Racial issues can be intertwined with mental health issues, economic issues, social justice issues. So I want to get as many people as I can to the table.”
As it stands the group has about eight members but Wiza expects to add more as time goes on.
Wiza hopes to have the group hold its first meeting sometime before Christmas. The first few meetings will be used to establish a baseline before the group prioritizes its issues and gets to the real problem-solving.
Other topics Wiza discussed with WSAU’s Liz Holbrook include:
Start of video – Winter street maintenance in Point
4:19- Stevens Point holiday plans and decorations contest
8:28- Outdoor ice skating rinks
10:56- City budget process for 2021
12:32- New Diversity group
17:38- What to expect in 2021 for Point
Comments