To the community of Hastings, Last week was very eye opening for me as a lifelong resident and Mayor of Hastings. THRIVE hosted a community discussion with law enforcement from Hastings, Dakota County and Hennepin County about diversity and equity in policing and hiring. On Wednesday morning, Chief Schafer, Deputy Chief Wilske,Councilmember Braucks, City Administrator Dan Wietecha and I had a conversation with three members of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Alliance) about specific instances of racism in Hastings and how important my voice is in our community.

It was disturbing to hear about some of the negative encounters members of our minority community have experienced while living here. Through this narrative, I gained a better understanding of the issues surrounding race/diversity and acknowledge we have work to do in our community to bring awareness and change.

See Mayor Statement Page 5 Mayor Statement

From Page 1

We will not condone the behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive to this city.

Our black residents matter. Their experiences matter to me personally. Their voices matter. Their stories matter.

The City of Hastings should continually strive to foster an inclusive and welcoming community that values all residents and their diversity. The city has been involved in The Diversity, Inclusion and Equity for years, which is now called Thrive Hastings. We will continue to have workshops for City Council to educate ourselves and assist in becoming a more welcoming community. We will continue to examine our hiring practices to ensure we are receiving and choosing a diverse pool of candidates.

As your Mayor I have great compassion for our community. I will continue to participate in implicit bias training to understand more about my personal lens and viewpoint, and to listen to all voices in our community. It is my goal and belief that Hastings is and can be welcoming to all. Our support for each other is what makes us truly great.

We have a very strong community and will continue to strive for welcoming atmosphere for residents, visitors, and all those that we encounter.

Mary Fasbender Mayor of Hastings