Oct. 1, 2019 10a;
(WGTD)---It’s gotten harder in recent years to honor Christopher Columbus as a hero, as an increasing number of people are unwilling to overlook Columbus’ treatment of the indigenous people of the lands he explored.
Acting on the advice of a local anti-racism group, the Racine City Council Monday night rescinded an honor that it bestowed in 1992—the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the new world—by changing the name of the ‘Christopher Columbus Causeway’---the road that leads out into the ReefPoint Marina.
Yanking the designation was easy enough, but debate ensued on what the replacement name should be.
In the end, the council voted 11 to 4 to call it the “Kipi Kawi” (kip-ee-cow’-ee) Causeway", a reference to the Potawatomi tribe’s name for the Root River. "We as a city have a responsibility to honor the native people who were here and have been here since people were here," said Ald. Natalie Taft. "It's a strong statement about our city and about our values."
The Potawatomis were forced to leave the area in the 1830s under the “Indian Removal Act.”
There is a loose end to the council’s naming decision. Turns out that the county controls the east end of the road. The naming resolution calls on the county to follow the city’s lead in changing the name so the entire road can have one designation.
Also Monday night, the council voted eight to seven to impose a high-deductible insurance plan on active city workers and retirees who still have city health insurance because they aren't old enough to qualify for Medicare.
The changes would save the city over $2 million, and go a long way in reducing a projected $5 million deficit in next year’s budget.
Ald. Q. A. Shakoor said he believes the city has no choice but to make the changes. "This is not a pleasant day and we have to have to go through this but the fact of the matter is we can't continue to operate as we have in the past," he said.
Ald. Jennifer Levie blamed the previous governor and the Republican-controlled legislature for putting policies in place that squeeze cities.
The council made a couple of modifications to what the administration had originally proposed. It added more money to a fund that the city would use to help finance Health Savings Accounts for active workers. It postponed a decision until later this month on a formula for fund distribution. It also allowed retirees to continue to use the city's in-house health clinic.
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