Suppose the Monroe Chamber of Commerce intends to mend its image in the minority community. In that case, its recent efforts to remove Karl Dhwaliwal from the Southside Economic Development Board are a giant step backward.
Dhaliwal is the owner of the 76 Now and Save franchise in Monroe. His family operates 21 outlets, mainly in South Monroe, and is one of Monroe’s largest retail taxpayers.
The Dhaliwals are Indian-Americans who have built a successful enterprise in Monroe over the last four decades. Recently, the family’s decision to give back to the Southside community by selling 76 cents per gallon gas in November and December went viral on social media as cars lined up for blocks, filling up and giving him thanks.
The family also gives back by serving on two boards that plan ways to help develop Monroe. His daughter is a Downtown Economic Development Board member. Karl is a Southside Economic Development Board member nominated to serve by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
Last week, Monroe Chamber president Roy Neatherly called Karl Dhaliwal to his office to tell him that the Chamber was unhappy with his representation on the SEDD Board. He said the Chamber wanted Dhwaliwal to resign because he was not functioning on the board, and the Chamber wanted better representation.
Dhaliwal was hurt. He and his family thought they were being good citizens and giving back. He was also hurt when Heatherly told him that the board’s vice-president for Diversity, Jasmine McConnell, reported that Dhaliwal was causing problems on the board and was unliked by board members and city council members.
In his private meeting with Heatherly, Dhaliwal said he did not want to hinder the community, only to help. He agreed to step down if he was unwanted.
However, an hour later, before he could write a letter of resignation, hurt turned to anger, and anger turned to renewed resolve when Dhaliwal learned that SEDD board leaders had not asked for his resignation. He was encouraged when one SEDD member after another praised his service. He changed his mind and did not submit a resignation letter.
Assuming Dhwaliwal would follow through on his resignation, McConnell quickly contacted city council president Kema Dawson. Without a letter of resignation from Dhaliwal, Dawson hastily scheduled an emergency meeting of the city council for Friday, January 6th, at 4:30 p.m. to name Dhaliwal’s replacement.
The special meeting was canceled when Dawson learned that Dhaliwal had not submitted the required resignation letter. Emergency council meetings are highly unusual and have rarely been called, even in the aftermath of floods, tornadoes, or storms. The move seemed planned and calculated.
Monday night, McConnell came to the SEDD board meeting and announced that Dhaliwal no longer represented the Chamber of Commerce because he had resigned, and she walked out of the meeting.
In response, Dhaliwal told the SEDD board he has not resigned and HAS NOT submitted a resignation letter.
Dhaliwal attends nearly all SEDD meetings, gives written notification when he will be absent, and has never caused a disruption or made an offensive statement. SEDD president Tony Little said Dhaliwal is a very quiet, humble man who lends his business experience to help SEDD develop sound plans for the future.
Little said Dhaliwal was an active participant in crafting SEDD’s “Southside Dream” 25-year revitalization plan and was crucial to its passage. He has been a highly engaged team player, said Little, who called the Monroe Chamber’s action “Appalling.”
The Chamber of Commerce has a history of fighting against South Monroe’s economic and social issues that stem back to the Jim Crow days.
Heatherly, who appears to be an honorable man, assumed leadership of the Chamber, intent on changing its image.
He’s new to the city and apparently gets his advice about minority affairs from a limited circle of Southside contacts. Heatherly never consulted the president of SEDD, checked Dhaliwal’s participation record, or sought input or the endorsement of the full Chamber of Commerce Board of directors before leaning on Dhaliwal to resign.
The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce owes Karl Dhaliwal and the Dhaliwal family an apology for its failed effort to remove him.
The Dhaliwals deserve our praise rather than scorn and arm-twisting from the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
