The recent Fox News exposé regarding Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti’s proposal for a property tax increase to fund a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) coordinator arrives not merely as a local news item, but as a calculated strike in the escalating national war against progressive values. Unearthed records reveal the Democratic mayor sought a 3% property tax hike to establish this vital role, a move now being scrutinized intensely ahead of a crucial House race where Cognetti aims to unseat Rep. Rob. This development is a stark reminder that even well-intentioned local efforts to foster inclusion are being ruthlessly weaponized by the right, turning essential policy discussions into partisan political fodder.

The Current Reality

As of July 2026, Mayor Cognetti’s past budget proposal to fund a DEI coordinator through a 3% property tax increase in Scranton is squarely in the crosshairs of conservative media, framed as a “woke” overreach and an imposition on taxpayers. This narrative is hardly isolated; it’s part of a concerted, national campaign by the Trump administration and its allies to dismantle DEI initiatives across the country.

This conservative offensive is taking multiple forms:

  • Federal Pressure and Funding Threats: Under the second Trump administration, an “all-out assault” on evidence-based DEI initiatives has been launched, utilizing rhetoric, executive orders, funding threats, and legal intimidation. Cities like Chicago, under Mayor Brandon Johnson, faced threats in April 2025 to withhold billions in federal education funding over DEI efforts, prompting the mayor to threaten lawsuits. Similarly, Fort Worth grappled with an ultimatum from the Trump administration in April 2026: end diversity programs or risk losing substantial federal funding, leaving local officials deeply divided.
  • State-Level Bans: Florida, a vanguard in the anti-DEI movement, saw Governor Ron DeSantis sign legislation in April 2026 prohibiting counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking official action related to DEI. This draconian measure even allows for local officials to be removed from office for violations.
  • Direct Attacks on Local Ordinances: Just this month, in July 2026, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) sent a scathing letter to Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, demanding the city halt its newly approved “DEI Procurement Ordinance” and explicitly warning that the policy risks the loss of federal funding. Moreno echoed President Trump’s sentiment that “DEI activities are not only unethical and often illegal, but also cause inefficiencies, waste, and abuse,” further claiming that Cincinnati “spends roughly three to five million dollars annually on DEI initiatives.”

These coordinated attacks highlight a clear strategy: to starve DEI initiatives of funding, demonize their purpose, and punish any local government or official attempting to advance equity.

A Progressive Critique

The conservative outcry against Mayor Cognetti’s tax proposal, and indeed against DEI funding broadly, reveals a cynical political maneuver aimed at demonizing essential work under the guise of fiscal responsibility. Labeling DEI as “woke” and “illegal” is a calculated campaign to sow “confusion, fear, and federal chaos,” designed to drain resources and divide communities. This isn’t about ensuring efficiency; it’s about undermining the very mechanisms designed to address systemic inequalities that have long plagued our society.

While progressives must critically evaluate the implementation of DEI — indeed, The Greenlining Institute acknowledges that some past DEI efforts “devolved into quotas, generic trainings, and surface-level representation” — this self-reflection should not be mistaken for an endorsement of conservative eradication efforts. The core mission of DEI remains vital: to dismantle barriers, create genuine opportunity, and ensure that all members of a community can thrive. Attacks on DEI are, at their heart, attacks on this fundamental pursuit of justice.

Furthermore, the threat of withholding federal funds, as seen with Chicago and Fort Worth, represents an authoritarian overreach by the federal government, stifling local autonomy and dictating policy based on ideological litmus tests. This tactic forces cities to choose between critical federal resources and their commitment to inclusive governance, a false choice that undermines democratic principles.

In the case of Mayor Cognetti, while her intent to fund a DEI role is commendable, the specific strategy of a property tax hike, especially ahead of a tight House race, invites predictable conservative backlash and can potentially alienate voters if not communicated with absolute clarity and a demonstrable link to tangible community benefits. Progressive leaders must be strategic in how they fund and implement such initiatives, ensuring public buy-in and a robust defense against inevitable political attacks.

The Path Forward

To counter this relentless assault, progressive leaders and communities must forge a more robust and resilient path forward for diversity, equity, and inclusion:

  1. Community-Led Solutions and Deep Engagement: Racial equity work must be grounded in the voices, needs, and leadership of the communities most impacted by inequitable systems. This means moving beyond performative measures and superficial representation to truly address root causes of inequality, whether in housing, education, health care, or economic opportunity. Programs should be co-designed with community input, treating local expertise as evidence.
  2. Strategic and Equitable Funding: Relying solely on direct property tax increases for DEI roles, while sometimes necessary, can be politically vulnerable without broad public understanding and support. Progressive mayors should explore diversified and more progressive revenue streams, such as corporate tax surcharges, as proposed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fund his ambitious agenda. Such approaches can shift the burden onto entities with greater capacity, while simultaneously making the case for how DEI contributes to broader economic and social well-being.
  3. Embed DEI, Don’t Isolate It: Rather than creating easily targeted, standalone DEI offices, equity principles should be embedded throughout all levels of city governance and executive decision-making. As a St. Petersburg jail administrator suggested in June 2026, the mayor and city leadership should be the “chief DEI officer,” ensuring these values are integrated into every policy and department, making them harder to isolate and politically dismantle.
  4. Build Durable Power and Legal Defense: Progressive coalitions must coordinate legal, policy, organizing, and communications strategies to respond quickly to federal and state attacks. This includes defending existing protections while building new ones and creating infrastructure that can outlast any single election or administration. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s decision in February 2025 to join a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI programs demonstrates this necessary legal resistance.
  5. Clear Communication of Broad Benefits: We must articulate how DEI benefits everyone in a community—through improved public safety, economic vitality, civic engagement, and a stronger social fabric—not just specific demographics. This proactive framing can dismantle conservative narratives that paint DEI as divisive or exclusionary, making it harder for opponents to gain traction.

The fight for DEI is a fight for a more just and equitable society. As conservative forces intensify their efforts to roll back progress, progressives must be sharper, more strategic, and more unified than ever in defending and advancing these essential initiatives.