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RESOLUTION DECLARING RACISM AND INEQUITY AS A HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND REAFFIRMING THE CITY COUNCIL’S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN THE CITY OF STOCKTON
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution declaring racism and inequity as a Human Rights and Public Health Crisis.
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Summary
Adoption of this resolution will establish an equity mandate that prioritizes and calls for adoption of a framework to address and eliminate racism and inequity and encourage community participation to ensure shared and owned decision-making.
DISCUSSION
Background
In November 2020, the Legislation and Environmental Committee received a presentation from Kanat Tibet, MA, program manager for CA4Health, Public Health Institute. The presentation focused on the long and persistent history of discrimination and institutional racism in this country, which created glaring inequities for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) predominant communities. The report provided by Kanat Tibet highlighted the many issues stemming from the impacts of systemic disenfranchisement including economic stability, education, environment, food, housing, and access to healthcare systems (Attachment A - Kanat Diversity Report).
At the end of the presentation, the committee was asked to forward a recommendation to the full Council illustrating its support for, and commitment to, doing more to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in the community and the committee gave direction to bring back a resolution for recommendation.
Present Situation
Many cities and counties have taken the additional step of adopting resolutions formally declaring racism and inequity as a human rights and public health crisis. This action would allow the City of Stockton to join with other communities in officially declaring this crisis and affirming its efforts to eliminate racism and inequity.
The draft resolution recognizes historic and current issues related to racism and inequities such as, but not limited to:
• Historic systems of racism and slavery in United States of America.
• Discriminatory laws and policies resulting in inequities based on race, gender, and age.
• Discriminatory policies and practices that led to the creation of and underinvestment in communities of color.
The draft resolution also affirms a sustained commitment to equity citywide such as, but not limited to:
• Promotion and consideration of equity across policies and decisions approved by the City Council, and enhancing educational efforts aimed at understanding, addressing, and dismantling inequity as it relates to the delivery of human and social services, economic development, and public safety, among other areas.
• Supporting local, state, regional, and federal initiatives that advance efforts to dismantle racism and other inequities to advocate at all levels of governance for relevant policies that improve health in all communities.
• Outlining a community driven and owned approach to develop credibility, trust, and accountability with diverse communities that results in proactive and purposeful community partnerships.
• Identifying and committing resources and infrastructure needed to support this goal and establishing benchmarks and outcomes to measure success and impact of actions and strategies intended to advance these goals.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt this resolution formally declaring racism and inequity as a Human Rights and Public Health Crisis and establishing an equity mandate that prioritizes the elimination of discrimination and social injustice based on racism and other forms of inequity.
FISCAL IMPACT
Some of the actions contained in this resolution may have budget implications as specific programs are developed and implemented in future. For example, efforts related to community infrastructure, housing, and staff recruitment.
Attachment A - Kanat Diversity Report