Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
2 <br /> r <br /> JAMEZETTA BEDFORD,CHAIR Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> EARL MCKEE, VICE-CHAIR <br /> AMYFOWLER Post Office Box 8181 <br /> SALLYG <br /> REENE <br /> JEANHAM/ETON 300 West Tryon Street <br /> PHYLEAN HA <br /> ANNA icHARFoR EASCOTT Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 <br /> ANNA R/CHARDS Qg A T <br /> October 3, 2023 <br /> President Mary Jo McGuire <br /> 660 North Capitol Street NW <br /> Suite 400 <br /> Washington, DC 20001 <br /> Dear President McGuire: <br /> On behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners,I am writing to express our concerns <br /> regarding the location of the 2024 NACo Annual Conference in Hillsborough County,Florida. <br /> Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, the State of Florida has pursued and passed <br /> policies that are openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ <br /> individuals. The NAACP, League of United Latin American Citizens, and Equality Florida <br /> have all issued travel advisories outlining the devastating impact of laws that attack accurate <br /> Black history,voting rights,immigrants,diversity and inclusion efforts,women's reproductive <br /> rights,freedom of speech,the LGBTQ community,gun safety,and incite racial prejudice. The <br /> Governor and the State of Florida's actions encourage a culture of fear, harassment, and <br /> intimidation by public officials, and travel to the state poses a risk for marginalized <br /> communities. <br /> A value of the National Association of Counties is to embrace and respect our diversity of <br /> experience, heritage, and thought. Holding the annual conference in the State of Florida is <br /> antithetical to this value. We strongly request that the conference planning committee analyze <br /> the impact on under-served and marginalized individuals and groups and relocate the event. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Jamezetta Bedford <br /> Chair, Board of County Commissioners <br /> WWW.ORANGECOUNTYNC.GOV <br /> ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA <br /> (9 79)245-2130 <br />