Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor David J. Canepa, District 5
Supervisor Warren Slocum, District 4
Subject: Resolution Condemning Racism and Injustice, Declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis and Affirming Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution condemning racism and injustice, declaring racism as a public health crisis, and affirming commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
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BACKGROUND:
Institutional and structural racism and injustice have led to racial disparities across all sectors in our nation. San Mateo County is not exempt from such claim, so it is essential for local officials to acknowledge racism within the county.
DISCUSSION:
By acknowledging racism, we accept how studies link racism to unfavorable health outcomes. We further accept how we, as a county, can promote strong communities, violence prevention, and healthy communities relating to the health of individuals and encourage public health networks that would decrease racial disparities in health outcomes. Public health categories include strong communities, violence prevention, rural health, technology, public health, climate change, and global health. Promoting healthy communities relates to the health of individuals, and encourages public health networks that would decrease racial disparities in health outcomes.
Communities of color are disproportionally impacted by social detriments of health, such as: increased exposure to COVID-19, lead, poor air quality, lack of safe places to walk, bike, run, live, and inadequate health education. The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians also have declared institutional racism an urgent public health issue in statements and vowed to eradicate racism and discrimination in health care.
A disproportionate number of people of color getting COVID-19 with the county’s COVID-19 Cases Dashboard posted publicly on our Health System’s website displaying disproportionate rates of the coronavirus in our Latino communities in San Mateo County. The county’s public employees are also comprised of a diverse, multicultural and a multiethnic group of people and every person deserves to live with dignity, be valued for their inherent humanity, and be treated ethically. It is essential to recognize the experiences, honor the history, and highlight the contributions of communities of color, while ensuring that every person has the social, economic and political power to thrive.
By identifying racism as a public health crisis, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors acknowledges the detrimental effects people of color face in our local communities and are affirming that we will find ways to uproot systematic racism in San Mateo County including in our schools, financial institutions, health care settings, private and public organizations including government institutions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.