In 2008, community leaders in St. Joseph County came together to craft a tax abatement ordinance that did more than incentivize business — it demanded accountability. Companies seeking public support were expected to demonstrate a commitment to affirmative action. It was a bold, forward-looking policy rooted in the belief that economic development should serve all residents, not just the privileged few.
Now, in 2025, that vision is being dismantled.
The County Council’s recent 5-4 vote to remove all affirmative action language from the tax abatement bill is a rejection of the values that once united this community. The decision erases decades of progress and ignores the persistent disparities that still plague our workforce.
Consider this: while white residents make up 73% of the county, Black residents account for 11.5% and Hispanic residents 8.7%. Yet minority representation in high-paying industries and leadership roles remains disproportionately low. The original ordinance recognized this imbalance and sought to correct it — not through quotas, but through intentional opportunity.
Removing these provisions sends a dangerous message: that equity is negotiable, and that businesses can benefit from public funds without reflecting the public they serve.
We need a County Council that represents us and listens to our voices.
Carrie Bowie
South Bend
Lost focus
Reading the article “Diddy acquitted on most serious charges, but convicted on lesser counts” in The Tribune has made me want to make a general comment about the U.S. media.
I have resided in the United States for a little over 15 years and have followed the media with great interest. It is astonishing the vast amount of attention that the U.S. media give to non-important topics like the Kardashian/Jenner sisters, the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, and the Bezos/Sanchez wedding. In my opinion, if the media were to give equal attention to topics like gun safety, homelessness, food insecurity, drug abuse and illiteracy, the country would be moving in the right direction in terms of solving such important problems. While the different ends of the political spectrum accuse the media of being biased, it’s clear that the media has just lost its focus.
Juan Gardea
South Bend
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Removing affirmative action provisions sends dangerous message | Letters
Reporting by Letters to the Editor / South Bend Tribune
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