The Arlington City Council passed a new antidiscrimination chapter into the city code Tuesday, months after the original’s removal. The revised chapter gives the city less control over discriminatory issues than the last.
The decision marks the end of a several-month back-and-forth between constituents and the council after many residents decried the original chapter’s suspension in September. Over a dozen people spoke during the Tuesday meeting, all of them opposing the new chapter.
Tuesday’s ordinance, one of the issues on the consent agenda, passed 6-3 with all council members present for the vote. During the previous meeting on Feb. 10, the council passed a resolution condemning discrimination.
The original antidiscrimination chapter allowed the city to investigate claims of discrimination based on race, religion or sexual orientation, among other categories. The chapter was suspended five months ago, with city officials citing concerns that Trump administration policies would bar Arlington from receiving federal grants…