Board Demographic Quotas

[brendan.ritter]

Hello everyone,
I wanted to revisit one of the more controversial decisions facing the bylaws creation process, namely demographic quotas for the board.

Why am I bringing this back up?

1) Although there was an informal straw poll on the topic last meeting, its possible that not everyone who had an opinion on the matter had a chance to weigh in.
2) Despite the straw poll it seems like those who favor quotas hold this position very strongly, and we would like to gain more consensus on the matter, perhaps by some compromise. Particularly I want to understand more about what negative outcomes are prevented via quotas, and whether there is some other mechanism for preventing these outcomes
3) It has been brought up that particularly Davis square merchants may desire this provision in order to ensure they have a voice in the group. Their inclusion in the group is very desired.
4) It would be useful to learn more about why Union square included this in their bylaws

To my knowledge, the following positions have been put forward:
- We require different board positions be filled by different demographics, similar to union square
- We allow for open elections, but do some sort of recall or add additional seats if not all demographics have been represented
- We ensure that the slate of candidates fulfills all the demographics, but not necessarily the end board.
- No quotas

And to these, I will put forth two more compromise positions:
-There exists a key advisory committee in close connection with the board, and that this committee has quotas applied to it.
-There are additional votes, but not explicit seats, given to certain demographics

I am very much looking forward to hearing everyone's opinion on this topic.

[Zachary Yaro]

Hello everyone,

I don't have a silver bullet solution, but since I haven't seen other input in this thread, here are some of my ruminations from the past week.  These are miscellaneous personal thoughts; they aren't required reading for today's discussion and certainly don't dictate any direction the Bylaws Committee will take.

• If we don't have categorical representation (“quotas”), what will increase the probability of a representative Board?
• ↳ What will make folks elect someone?
• Know xem → care about xer interests & believe xe cares about yours
• The DSNC should enable & encourage that regardless!
• Neighborhoods are a small enough scale we can realistically facilitate that in ways the City can't.
• An Outreach Committee should already be tasked with identifying reasons people from various groups don't engage with the DSNC.
• What if they don't?
• Would categorical representation solve that, or would we just have no one for certain categories?
• USNC's approach is to just keep the seat open.
• Would we rather an understaffed Board?  Maybe.
• How do we decide which categories?
• Presence in the DSNC doesn't guarantee the DSNC elects anyone from the category to the Board
• Which groups are underrepresented in the DSNC or Board may vary over time; would we want to regularly amend the bylaws for that?
• We have heard concerns about:
• Renters
• Homeowners
• Brick-and-mortar workers
• Brick-and-mortar business owners
• Youth
• Elders
• If you asked me who seemed underrepresented in leadership right now, my mind goes to:
• Women
• Non-white people
• Brick-and-mortar business owners
• We may, in the future, worry about categories like:
• Immigrant (a USNC priority in their bylaws)
• Queer sexual/romantic orientation
• Genderqueer
• Polyamorous
• Parent
• Union member
• Jewish
• Muslim
• Etc., etc.
• What happens if we refuse categories entirely?
• Could avoid essentializing people to just whichever category they are listed as representing/whichever interests that category is perceived to have
• Are we worried specific groups will struggle to have their interests heard/represented by the Board?  If so, which are they, and can we do anything else to help them in particular?
• Could we give the Board and/or Outreach Committee specific mandates?
• Are we worried some groups won't trust us if not guaranteed board seats?
• Is a Board seat the best way to check we built that trust?
• Again, we need to aim for everyone integrated into the DSNC regardless of whether ≥1 of them is on the Board
• Categories engaging vs. categories unheard by us vs. categories w/out substantial presence in Davis
• If groups are telling us they must have seats guaranteed on the Board, they are necessarily some amount involved.  We can hear their concerns and see whether they can be addressed in other ways.
• For groups not telling us that, but we think they are present in Davis, how do we know what they want?
• That again seems like Outreach Committee?  So then, again, what additional mandate(s) can we give them?

I look forward to what other ideas folks bring to the meeting later today!  One of the best ways out of an impasse between two sides is finding a compromise both can accept, certainly, but another is finding solutions in entirely different directions than either was considering.  I hope everyone comes open to hearing all options attendees may propose!

See you soon,

Zachary Yaro

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