The Mayor's Office of Social Equity and Innovation, a Denver initiative aimed at tackling systemic inequalities, seems to be stumbling in its tracks, per the findings of a recent follow-up report from Denver Auditor Timothy M. O'Brien. Formed in 2020, this office is showing a lag in its duty, with unclear powers and an undeveloped strategic plan that's causing concerns about its effectiveness, as detailed by the Denver Auditor's Office.
Timothy M. O'Brien expressed discontent with the progress of the office, noting, "I'm disappointed the Mayor's Office Social Equity and Innovation has yet to develop fully detailed programs, strategies, and policies and procedures four years into its existence and two years after our initial audit," as obtained by Denver Auditor's Office. Despite previous recommendations from a 2022 audit, the office has only fully executed two, partially implemented seven, and left seven others unaddressed which raises the question of how much longer will it take for the office to deliver on its promised remit.
The strategic plan of the office is said to boast 42 objectives, yet according to the auditor's findings, none of these are specific and measurable, casting doubt on the actual impact of the office's activities. The staff retorted that their "Racial Equity Action Plans" will function as an updated set of key performance metrics, though during the audit, a dashboard to track these metrics was incomplete, Auditor O'Brien highlighted, "When there is no formal process to track performance metrics, we can't guarantee these programs are achieving their intended outcomes," as per Denver Auditor's Office.
Further complications arise from Executive Order No. 146, which established the office, and its vague language leaves the office without teeth to enforce its policies across city agencies, the order wobbles on mandates for racial and social justice training for city employees and on the office's authority in ensuring these trainings are completed. The nature of the office's existence by executive order also means that it hangs by a political thread susceptible to the whims of any future mayor who may choose to modify or dissolve it, as O'Brien cautioned, "We’ve seen what happens when new administrations take office. It is critical the Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation engage with the Mayor’s Office to ensure the city’s commitment to combating injustices and inequities in Denver is an embedded practice." as noted by the Denver Auditor's Office.
