BECKLEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – Nearly one dozen community members- those who have personally experienced discrimination in regard to their natural hair and those who have not but simply wish to be advocates for change- took part in the Beckley Common Council meeting Tuesday and vocalized their support for the CROWN Act.
The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” was formed by Dove and the CROWN Coalition in 2019.
Since its creation, the CROWN Act has become law in eight states. In 2020, 25 states, including West Virginia, considered but did not pass the CROWN Act.
Although the state of West Virginia did not pass the act into law, the City of Morgantown recently passed its own CROWN Act, which affirms the city’s support against hair discrimination in the workplace.
Beckley Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chair Danielle Stewart and HRC member Dr. Kristi first approached Council in March asking for the City of Beckley to adopt an ordinance similar to Morgantown.
During the meeting, Dr. Dumas shared that Black women are 4.5 times more likely to be sent home from their workplace due to their hair and people of color are 80 percent more likely to feel like they must change their hair from its natural state in order to fit in at their place of work.
According to Dr. Dumas, hair discrimination affects more than 25 percent of people in the Beckley area.
In the few short weeks since the Human Rights Commission initiated the conversation about hair discrimination, City Hall has received numerous calls from the public asking Beckley to adopt the ordinance, according to Mayor Rob Rappold.
Those who spoke during Tuesday’s meeting included Stewart, Dr. Dumas, Vice President of the West Virginia chapter of the NAACP Katanya Hart, and other human rights activists.
Stewart spoke of how one Beckley professional came forward, stating that she had damaged her naturally curly hair nearly beyond repair after she was given the ultimatum to straighten it every day for work or lose her job.
Another Beckley resident came forward, explaining that, while she had never been the victim of hair discrimination, she couldn’t imagine what she would do if she were told to alter her natural hair to retain her employment.
One woman told Council that she only recently started her natural hair journey after experiencing hair discrimination in the workplace and fearing what would happen if she didn’t fit into society’s standards.
“This is real, and this is happening now,” Stewart said. “We need to demonstrate with firm intent that this city accepts diversity.”
Both Dr. Dumas and Hart said their respective groups were ready, willing and excited to collaborate with the Beckley Common Council as council members continue to understand the ordinance.
During the meeting, Mayor Rob Rappold stated that he is in favor of the intent of the wording of the proposed ordinance and announced that Council will participate in a workshop on Monday, April 26, to further discuss the topic and what the ordinance entails.
A reading of the CROWN ordinance will appear on the agenda for the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, April 27. If approved, the ordinance will be placed on the agenda again on May 11 for a second reading. If the second reading is approved, the ordinance will be adopted.
In other actions:
After passionate comments from multiple council members, Council decided to table the bid acceptance for the demolition and asbestos abatement of 227 Prince Street.
Councilwoman Sherrie Hunter stated that she and At-Large Councilman Cody Reedy recommended that Council accept Empire Salvage’s bid for $62,000; however, Councilman Robert Dunlap and Councilman Tom Sopher immediately expressed their concerns about tearing down the building.
Both men believed Council should wait to receive a letter of approval from the City of Beckley Historic Landmarks Commission in order to proceed with demolition as the property is located within downtown’s historical district.
Dunlap also showed his concern for what the building’s absence will mean for Prince Street, stating that demolition will yield another “missing tooth in our city’s smile.”
Reedy approached Council, asking if the building could be put up for auction under the guideline that it must be repaired or demolished within six months to a year of sale.
“This was not an overnight decision,” Mayor Rappold said, adding that he understood Sopher and Dunlap’s concerns.
Mayor Rappold continued, stating that the building is in such a state of disarray that it would take an excess of one million dollars to repair it.
“The building as it stands now far exceeds the thought of trying to preserve it. That building is the very first building in our effort to deter buildings that are in danger of collapse like the two on Main Street. This building was the first to be looked at and the first to be designated.
“The presence of eminent danger overrides the time it would take and the theatrics it would take for the Beckley Landmarks Commission to issue an approval. This has been brewing for some time, and the time has come for us to do what we need to do…I think this will end up being something we are all proud of.”
Jerry Stump, Director at the Board of Public Works in Beckley, attended Tuesday’s meeting via phone to further explain the poor state of the building, which includes structural problems, a crumbling façade and raging asbestos.
“This is kind of hard. Obviously, you’d like to save things the best that you can, but, at this point, I think it’s done reached past that.”
Councilwoman Hunter and Councilman Kevin Price supported the building’s demolition.
Councilwoman Janine Bullock requested that the issue be tabled for further discussion. The motion was approved by Council.
Other notable agenda items:
-Council approved Empire Salvage’s bid of $29,594 to demolish a building located at 107 Earwood Street. According to Mayor Rappold, the city purchased the building on Earwood Street to expand parking.
-Beckley Common Council opened bids from three companies for the milling and paving of Franklin Ave, Appalachian Drive and a portion of Woodlawn Ave.
The first bid was from Princeton’s AAA Paving & Sealing for $198,5000. The second from Asphalt Contractors & Site Work for $187,922.22. The third bid came from Beckley’s Southern West Virginia Paving, Inc. for $164,125.
The bids will be reviewed and possibly awarded at a future meeting.
-Council approved a resolution to aid Heart of God Ministries at 1703 S Kanawha Street in Beckley in the demolition of a property at 101 Jameson Street- a lot that the church bought in order to expand its parking. The resolution would allow for the City of Beckley to offer assistance through the Flying Eagles Grant which is managed by the Beckley Area Foundation. The grant, which is to be used for public and economic improvement, will pay for demolition and landfill expenses.
-City Attorney Bill File read a resolution amending the City of Beckley CDBG Program Policies and Procedures. According to File, the policies have been in place for some time but must be approved by the Council.
The motion to adopt the resolution was approved.
-File also read a resolution amending the 2020 fiscal year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. File stated that the annual action plan set aside $100,000 to pay for the milling and paving of three to four streets in Beckley. Several of these streets were paved in the Fall of 2020. The resolution was to amend the program to include two new streets that need paving.
The motion to adopt the resolution was approved.
-Mayor Rappold announced the date for the Council’s law levy meeting, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20.
-Mayor Rappold reminded that the city’s Spring Cleanup will begin on Monday, April 19. The cleanup should take one to two weeks to accomplish, according to Stump.
-Mayor Rappold commended three Beckley Public Works employees who cleaned up 146 trash bags full of leaves from the Black Knight County Club tennis courts. The courts can now be repaired and properly maintained for future use.
-Councilman Price inquired when the traffic light and sidewalk repair downtown will be completed. Mayor Rappold stated the current date for completion is slated for September 11, 2021.
-Councilwoman Hunter announced a litter sweep with the Piney Creek Watershed Association is to be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Soccer Complex.
-Hunter also announced the Raleigh County Make it Shine litter sweep, which will begin at noon on Monday, April 20. According to Hunter, the focus of this sweep is Harper Road. Volunteers will meet at the Harper Road Kroger parking lot and make their way to the Shell Station as they clean litter from both sides of the road.
-Hunter announced the upcoming annual Earth Day Bud Buster event for downtown. On Thursday, April 22, volunteers will sweep up cigarette buds from around the Beckley Courthouse Square. Volunteers are to meet at Shoemaker’s Square at 2 p.m.
-Hunter reminded that the United Way of Southern West Virginia’s Earth Day 5K walk is slated for April 24. Participants will begin their walk at the Rahall Company Store. Following the walk, will be a FUN Cow Chip BINGO event, as well as a variety of Earth Day events for kids.
