Resolution 15684CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 15684
DECLARING RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
WHEREAS, race is a social construct with no biological basis'; and
WHEREAS, racism is a social system with multiple dimensions: individual racism
that is internalized or interpersonal; systemic racism that is institutional or structural, and
is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social
interpretation of how one looks, that unfairly disadvantages some individuals and
communities, unfairly advantages other individuals and communities, and saps the
strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources2,3; and
WHEREAS, racism causes persistent discrimination and disparate outcomes in
many areas of life, including housing, education, employment and criminal justice; and an
emerging body of research demonstrates that racism itself is a social determinant of
health' ,4; and
WHEREAS, more than 100 studies have linked racism to worsened health
OutComes5;
WHEREAS, racism and segregation exacerbate a health divide resulting in Black
residents having the lowest life expectancies of any racial group in Alameda County.
Black residents also suffer disproportionately from infant mortality, lower birth weights,
obesity, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and strokes; and
WHEREAS, communities of color, and specifically Black people, are more likely to
experience poor health outcomes as a consequence of their social determinants of health
— health inequities stemming from economic stability, education, physical environment,
housing, food and access to health care systems. As an example, many studies link lack
of housing to poor health outcomes. Black residents experience a higher burden of
unaffordable housing, evictions, and homelessness than white residents, comprising 47%
of unhoused residents in Alameda County despite only making up 11 % of the population;
and
WHEREAS, the same broad -sweeping structural racism that enables police
brutality against people who are Black is also responsible for higher mortality among
Black Americans with COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Black people are disproportionately impacted by the policing and
criminal justice system and one in every 1,000 Black men and boys can expect to be
killed by police in this country, a fatality rate 2.8 times higher than whites. One-third of
people arrested in the City of Alameda are Black, even though Black people only comprise
7% of the City's population, 11.2% of the population in Alameda County, and 6.5% in
California; and
WHEREAS, the Alameda City Council acknowledges that communities of color -
and specifically Black communities - have borne the burdens of inequitable social,
environmental, economic, and criminal justice policies, practices and investments; and
understands that the legacy of these inequitable policies has caused deep disparities,
harm, and mistrust; and recognizes that racial equity is only realized when race can no
longer be used to predict life outcomes; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Alameda declares that racism is a public health crisis affecting our entire society; and:
1. The Alameda City Council commits to promote equity and justice through all
policies and enhance educational efforts aimed at understanding, addressing and
dismantling racism and how it affects delivery of human and social services,
economic development and public safety.
2. Commits to conduct an assessment of internal policy and procedures to ensure
racial equity is a core element of the City of Alameda and explore alternative
service delivery for calls for vulnerable members of the community, guided by
community -led workgroups assembled by the City Manager other relevant
parties, communicates results of assessment, and determines appropriate
interval for reassessment.
3. Works to create an equity and justice oriented City, with the Council, its Boards
and Commissions, and the community led workgroups evaluating existing
practices and procedures and identifying specific activities to increase diversity
and to incorporate anti -racism principles across leadership, staffing and
contracting.
4. Incorporates into the organizational workplan educational efforts to address and
dismantle racism, expand members' understanding racism, and how racism
affects individual and population health and provide tools to assist members to
engage actively and authentically with communities of color.
5. Advocates for relevant policies that improve health in communities of color, and
supports local, state, and federal initiatives that advance social justice, while also
encouraging individual member advocacy to dismantle systemic racism.
6. The City Council pledges to return in October 2020 prior to the next quarterly
budget review to begin the process to develop, adopt and implement a
comprehensive strategic plan informed in part by the community led workgroups.
7. Works to build alliances and partnerships with other organizations that are
confronting racism and encourages other local, state and national entities to
recognize racism as a public health crisis.
End Note References:
1. Garda JJ, Sharif MZ. Black Lives Matter: A Commentary on Race and Racism. AmJ
Public Health. 2015;105: e27 -e30. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2015.302706)
2. Jones CP. Confronting Institutionalized Racism. Phylon. 2002;50(1/2):7---22.
3. American Public Health Association. Racism and Health. Available at:
https://www.aiDha.or ltopics-and-issues/health-eguityLracism-and-health. Accessed
February 20, 2018.
4. Flynn, A., Holmberg, S., Warren, D., and Wong, F. REWRITE the Racial Rules: Building
an Inclusive American Economy. Roosevelt Institute, 2016.
5. Institute of Medicine. Unequal Treatment. https://www.nap.edu/read/l
0260 chater 2#7. Accessed 3/2/2018.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting
of the City Council assembled on the 28th day of July, 2020, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Daysog, Oddie, Vella and Mayor Ezzy
Ashcraft — 4.
NOES: Vice Mayor Knox White — 1.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official
seal of said City this 291h 'day of July, 2020.
i_ara Weisiger, City CI rk
City of Alameda
Approved as to Form:
G
Yibin Sre Attorney
City of eda