June 2, 2025 — This Is Topeka
Just weeks after vocal public backlash caused the Topeka City Council to pause controversial changes to the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, those same changes are quietly resurfacing — this time, through a backdoor committee maneuver.
What Happened in May?
On May 7, the City Council considered eliminating Topeka’s DEI Office and removing affirmative action language from city policies. The stated reason? Compliance with recent federal executive orders aimed at protecting nearly $45 million in federal funding, including money for affordable housing, homelessness support, and infrastructure projects.
The proposal sparked a wave of criticism. Community members — some citing Topeka’s historic role in Brown v. Board of Education — pushed back, calling the move “tone-deaf” and harmful to the city’s values. Six residents spoke at the meeting, and councilmembers like Christina Valdivia-Alcalá and Neil Dobler voiced concerns about the speed and substance of the proposal.
In response, the Council voted unanimously to refer the matter back to the Policy and Finance Committee for further review.
What’s Happening Now?
Despite the pause and the promise of further discussion, the city is now attempting what some residents are calling a political end-run. The upcoming June 10, 2025 Policy and Finance Committee agenda includes:
“Ordinance amending TMC 2.10.010 and TMC 2.10.020, repealing existing sections related to affirmative action.”
This signals a renewed attempt to roll back DEI protections, but now in committee — a setting that often draws less public attention than a full council vote.
Why This Matters
If passed in committee, this ordinance could return to the full City Council for a final vote with little notice, potentially catching the public off guard. While nothing related to DEI is on the June 10 City Council agenda, the same cannot be said for the Policy and Finance Committee, which meets June 10 at 10:00 a.m. at the Law Enforcement Center.
What You Can Do
- Attend the June 10 Policy and Finance Committee meeting
- Email your council representative and demand transparency
- Watch for future agendas to see when the ordinance returns for a vote
Topeka residents made their voices heard in May. If they want to protect DEI policies and resist backdoor changes, now is the time to speak up again — before it’s too late.
