HomeMy WebLinkAboutOTHER-2023-069-Approval of Proposed Letter to the National Association of Counties Supporting Relocation of the 2024 Annual Conference JAMEZE/TABEDFORD, CHAIR Orange County Board of Commissioners �z
EARL MCKEE; 1/ICE-CHAIR AMY FOWLER post Office Box 8181
JEANHAMILTO 300 West Tryon Street
JEAN HAM/L7'ON
PHYLLIS SCOTT
ANNANNA RICHARDS A Hillsborough , North Carolina 27278
HARD
October 3 , 2023
President Mary Jo McGuire
660 North Capitol Street NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20001
Dear President McGuire ,
On behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners , I am writing to express our concerns
regarding the location of the 2024 NACo Annual Conference in Hillsborough County , Florida .
Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis , the State of Florida has pursued and passed
policies that are openly hostile toward African Americans , people of color and LGBTQ+
individuals . The NAACP , League of United Latin American Citizens , and Equality Florida
have all issued travel advisories outlining the devastating impact of laws that attack accurate
Black history, voting rights , immigrants , diversity and inclusion efforts , women ' s reproductive
rights , freedom of speech, the LGBTQ community , gun safety , and incite racial prejudice . The
Governor and the State of Florida ' s actions encourage a culture of fear, harassment, and
intimidation by public officials , and travel to the state poses a risk for marginalized
communities .
A value of the National Association of Counties is to embrace and respect our diversity of
experience, heritage , and thought . Holding the annual conference in the State of Florida is
antithetical to this value . We strongly request that the conference planning committee analyze
the impact on under- served and marginalized individuals and groups and relocate the event .
Sincerely ,
tell
Jamezetta Bedford
Chair, Board of County Commissioners
WWW, ORANGECOUNTYNC. GOV
ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
(919) 245-2 13 0