Scottsdale will end its annual Juneteenth celebration and cut other programs as it implements a city council-approved plan to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Scottsdale’s City Council voted 5-2 in February to dissolve its decades-old DEI office. The plan was added to the council’s agenda without a work study session. It came after similar efforts from the Trump administration to eliminate DEI initiatives at the federal level. Dozens of Scottsdale residents spoke in opposition to the plan during the February meeting.
City Council members who supported the plan argued it would ensure merit-based hiring for city jobs. But it was not immediately clear what the broader impact of the ordinance would be on city programs…