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His message? Down with affirmative action and up with classes for parents who live in failing school districts
BY DAVID S. BERNSTEIN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2003 -- Mitt Romney gave a skeptical Mattapan audience of roughly 200 what it wanted to hear Wednesday night, promising that the state's affirmative action practices will remain in place as part of any new diversity plan. In doing so, however, he created needless animosity by at first denying, and then sparring over, accusations that his June executive order had placed those practices in jeopardy. The town hall meeting, announced a week ago, took place at the New Covenant Church. Romney also did little to encourage faith in the Diversity and Equal Opportunity Council that he created in September to recommend new guidelines. Boston city councilor Charles Yancey said he plans to send a letter to Romney with his concerns about the council's composition. State senator Dianne Wilkerson, a member of the 14-person group, said that it "could have been and should have been more diverse in non-traditional diverse orientations." Wilkerson also expressed surprise that Romney had not invited the other members of the council to attend the town hall meeting. And while the event was planned as an eight-person roundtable discussion, including three members of the council, Romney quickly turned it into a direct question-and-answer exchange between himself and audience members. He actually moved to the front of the stage, leaving the invited panelists to serve as a mute backdrop -- not a good sign of the governor's interest in their input. Romney tried to dismiss concerns about Executive Order 452 in his opening remarks, stating forcefully that "I don't intend to subtract from or remove from any of the seven executive orders already in place," referring to a group of policies on affirmative action, most created by Michael Dukakis. "All of the provisions of the prior executive orders are in place," he said, adding that Executive Order 452 is merely a "broad statement of purpose on diversity." In fact, 452 expressly nullified those seven orders. The provisions in them are in effect now because Romney, facing criticism, sent letters of "clarification" to state department and agency heads telling them to keep working under the old orders until new rules are created. That explanation came out at the town hall meeting only after the audience refused to let the issue drop. "We made a mistake," Romney said. "Boy I wish we hadn't written Executive Order 452." Several audience members gave Romney credit for holding the meeting, and for taking questions 20 minutes beyond the allotted time. "I'm impressed that he would take the time to meet with the community and hear their concerns about affirmative action," said Ellen Kinner before the meeting. "The boxing gloves are off -- we're hear to listen." Romney's basic message also went over fairly well -- that diverse workplaces are achieved not only through goals and quotas but by positive action. Examples he mentioned included seeking out minority media to advertise positions, investing in city development to create jobs and keep housing affordable, and providing executive incentives for promoting minorities. But Romney's words clunked more often than they rang true, judging by audience reaction. In his opening remarks, he drew some groans by reading from an article by Abigail and Stephan Thernstrom -- leading anti-affirmative-action academics, whose names Romney appeared unfamiliar with. After explaining why he nixed the planned Department of Public Health building that would have brought some 1100 jobs to the inner city, Romney touted a controversial biocontainment center that will create a similar number -- which prompted hissing. More hissing came when he mentioned his plan to require parents in failing school districts to attend weekend parenting tutorials. Romney clearly hopes that this town meeting will help smooth the way for acceptance of whatever new hiring rules he proposes next year. If he reneges on Wednesday night's promise to retain affirmative action, he can expect more than hissing next time he comes to Mattapan.
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