Amy Gillentine, Publisher and Executive EditorÂ
Last week, Colorado Springs City Council decided El Paso County Public Health's board didnât need representation from women of color, opting to replace Councilwoman Yolanda Avila, who is Latina, with a white man. Itâs almost as if there havenât been yearlong discussions about equity all around the country. Or maybe leadership in the Springs just havenât been listening to the rising voices of the disenfranchised?
Council opted to replace Avila, who represents the Southeast, with brand-new councilor, Dave Donelson, who represents District 1. Avila just started her second term â she was elected to the board of health in 2019, and served on it during its most challenging year, helping connect health officials with those who most needed assistance during the pandemic. Last year, she represented the cityâs most diverse neighborhoods and the ones with the highest rate of COVID infections in the county.