Diversity-study expense

An article in the Jan. 15 issue of the Daily Herald reported that the Village of Arlington Heights hired the Kaleidoscope Group, at taxpayer expense, to research diversity issues in the community and report on its findings. Two virtual listening sessions were held and a town-hall forum was conducted. Public notices of these sessions and the forum were given wide publicity, all of the various diverse elements including minority voices in the community were invited to attend and in addition community leaders were asked to spread the word.

Apparently there was insufficient participation at these events and now there is an indication that another approach is needed requiring new costly studies. This indicates that either Kaleidoscope didn't know how to approach the subject or, quite possibly, that there is no dissatisfaction with the current diversity situation and that would explain why the opportunity to be heard was bypassed resulting in the lack of attendance.

Don't these contracts with consultants have an end date instead of an open end continuation of the studies? I think the village obtained the information they were seeking and no further expense is needed.

Gary Sheffert

Arlington Heights