DEPARTMENT: Office of Equity
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Zan Gibbs, Chief Equity Officer
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Declaring racism as a public health crisis
SUMMARY:
A draft resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis and establishing stronger efforts to promote racial equity in San Antonio will be reviewed by City Council.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In June of 2020, a first draft of a "Racism as a Public Health Crisis" resolution was created by District 2 Councilwoman Andrews-Sullivan. Additionally, a second draft was created and supported by District 7 Councilwoman Sandoval. The Office of Equity and Metro Health's Office of Health Equity was asked to merge both drafts received and worked collectively to create one resolution with the guidance of the Community Health and Equity Committee. The draft resolution was created in response to the need to address racism as a public health emergency based on the racial disparities seen in the COVID-19 pandemic.
ISSUE:
The draft resolution aims to address racism as a public health emergency based on the racial disparities seen in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Section 1. That this Council declares racism is a public health crisis, acknowledges that the effects of systemic and structural racism are a public health crisis in San Antonio and commits to advocating for racial justice as a core element of all policies, programs, and procedures. In support of this, Council will increase advocacy to include state and federal legislative priorities for City efforts to further racial equity, and to eliminate all forms of racism, from systemic, to structural, to institutional, to interpersonal, and individual.
Section 2. That this Council supports community-based groups and initiatives that promote racial equity and will work with the community to educate and find innovative solutions to address systemic and institutional racism and provide additional resources to specific efforts to dismantle racism.
Sect...
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