Our View: A worthwhile goal - Opinion - DailyTidings.com - Ashland, OR

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2015-01-17

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Police Reports Group continues to press search for missing Ashland girl Have we recovered from the Great Recession? 10 things to know for Friday They got algorithm Education Ashland schools expand chicken pox exclusion rules Students go behind the scenes at hospital Ashland robotics team aims to build a winner AHS ranked No. 7 by Niche College debt load balloons: What could, should be done? Environment The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Turning fire fuel threat into wood stove heat Ashland watershed trails would change under proposal Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Cadillac Escalade Brammo bought by Polaris They have a plan Ashland coffee roasters win nationwide honors Chamber's Business Resource Portal offers tools for success Politics and elections Chief Holderness retiring, wants to help find successor State News New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Police officer shoots armed driver near Reedsport Nation - World Obituaries Susan Lynne Schaffer Dolores M. Edwards Betty Jean Gee Death Notices Elizabeth Hope Garrett Shareable Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Sports Latest Stories Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Leonard's strong return powers Spurs past Blazers Mariota wins Manning award Respect: sock it to him A Grizz sweep High school Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown A Grizz sweep Comets press past Grizzlies Raiders put on a show Graham sparks Grizzly rout Southern Oregon University Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Mariota wins Manning award Heisman winner Mariota says he's going to the NFL Buckeyes won title behind line play, Elliott and Jones Sayre says character key to SOU's success Opinion Latest Stories Our View: King's other message Herb Rothschild Jr.: King's provocation Kent Bush: Capital punishment raises questions Our View: A matter of survival Letters to the Editor, Jan. 16 Editorial Our View: King's other message Our View: A matter of survival Other Views: Get GMO rules right Our View: No benefit from LNG pipeline Our View: Putting slash to work Letters Letters to the Editor, Jan. 16 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 14 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 5 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 31 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 29 Guest opinions Herb Rothschild Jr.: King's provocation Guest Opinion: Bikes, hikers/equestrians need separate watershed trails Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Guest Opinion: City hiring policy is fair, unbiased Another view: Cheney defends nation's journey into darkness Revels Latest Stories Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Best Bets: Jan. 15-22 A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. 'Spotlight' highlights Orbison's life, music 'Selma' struggle remains relevant today Theater Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Theater is an act of co-creation Music Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore The Farr Side: Top 10 album count-up for 2014 Visual Art Schneider winter exhibits on tap: 'Baker's Dozen' and 'New Works' First Friday kicks off a new year Movies Movie review: ‘Blackhat’ is a frustrating 404 error Movie review: ‘A Most Violent Year’ is a gritty look at oily dealings in ’80s New York Movie review: Clint Eastwood shines as director in ‘American Sniper’ 'Selma' struggle remains relevant today Interview: Bradley Cooper discusses working with Clint Eastwood on ‘American Sniper’ Food and Drink Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories When the grieving happens before the passing Community Blog: Structural Tension Ride & Drive: 2015 Cadillac Escalade Dr. Jeff Hersh: Heart test causes undue alarm Dr. Murray Feingold: How reliable is the medical information we read? Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW   Our View: King's other message       ...       Herb Rothschild Jr.: King's provocation       ...       Have we recovered from the Great Recession?       ...       Our View: King's other message       ...       Herb Rothschild Jr.: King's provocation       ...       Have we recovered from the Great Recession?       ...           OUR VIEW Our View: A worthwhile goal Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jan. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jan. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am »  Social News Former City Councilor Eric Navickas says the city isn't living up to its goal of race and gender diversity in hiring staff, and he and some like-minded folks will be watching closely as the city looks for a new police chief. We haven't always seen eye-to-eye with Navickas, but when he's right, he's right. Navickas notes that all of Ashland's city department heads, as well as managerial staff, are white men. That wasn't always the case. Martha Bennett was city administrator from 2006 to 2011. Paula Brown headed the Public Works Department for 10 years, leaving in 2007. But since then, Navickas notes, the city's hiring record doesn't match its stated policy. He points to Ashland's affirmative action policy, which says the city's goal is to "employ qualified women and minorities in all job categories in proportion to their availability in the labor market." While some fields may attract more men than women, it's probably fair to say the number of women and minorities available in the labor market is not zero. Where we part company with Navickas this time is when he calls the city's hiring practices "racist and sexist." That's a stretch. Three of six City Council members, as of this month, are women, and only one of them is new to the office. We doubt those councilors would be silent if they thought city staff were deliberately passing over women or minorities in hiring decisions. But the council should also speak up now and ensure that every effort is made to build a diverse management staff. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jan. 8, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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