Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Office of Equity to establish a policy requiring a health equity lens statement on all staff reports related to COVID-19 impacts and response. Further, request the Office of Equity to train the Joint Information Center on utilization of the Long Beach Equity Toolkit.
Thank you. Motion carries. Thank you for that. We're going to have a had a request to move item 28. So we'll go ahead and move item 28. Adam Court. Communication from Council Member Richardson. Vice Mayor Andrew's Council member Urunga Councilman Austin. Recommendation to request city manager to work with the Office of Equity to establish a policy requiring a health equity lens. Statement on all staff reports related to COVID 19. Okay. Thank you. I'm going to. I'm going to turn this over to Governor Richardson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Okay, so I wanted to start off just thanking the Coal Agenda's vice mayor Andrews, Councilman Austin Austin Councilmen Ranga for signing on to this proposal. The idea here that this COVID 19 crisis has really impacted cities across the country and here in Long Beach, we're noticing, you know, based on the data that we see, that the demographic data really shows that there's disproportionately impacts on African-American AAPI communities. And we also know that we've learned a lot over the last few years about making clear that we understand this concept of equity and undertaking need into account in how we respond. I think that's that, for the most part has done a good job of thinking about the concept of equity. I saw when we are you know, I really want to applaud the memo when we talked about the demographic data, which, you know, the city council asked for it. There was really a lot of context put there. And in my opinion, that really showed how much growth the city has really taken on in becoming a leader, in really understanding this concept of equity. Well, all of that comes from a number of practices we've taken on. You know, we've made a commitment to join the Governance Alliance and Racial Equity. We've participated in the National League of Cities, a real conference that's reached equity and leadership, where, you know, our deputy city manager attended trainings in New Orleans and we've traveled the country and learned from what other cities are doing. And we also took an important, important step. We're one of just a handful of cities around the country that has actually established an Office of Equity to ensure that we understand what this equity concept is, and that is baked into the decisions that we make and that sprinkled on top. I think, given what's taking place with this, with the COVID 19 emergency, I think we should look at best practices of what's happening around the country. And we see that many jurisdictions place an equity impact statement on agenda item. And now is an opportunity, I think, for us to really demonstrate that we are thinking about all communities and and that is a central driver of our response, not an afterthought. This activist, you know, this action is take effect. People are doing this all around the country California, Texas, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin. And it's widely supported in our own communities. You'll find letters of support from a number of community organizations from the Advancement Project, the Filipino Migrant Center and Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization Lobbies Forward Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs, Healthy Communities, Mangrove Action, a nonprofit partnership. So it's this is a practice that has brought support within the community. I think our staff has taken steps to be prepared for this. And I think now is the moment that we really demonstrate that we understand the concept of equity and we're going to play to how we respond. Actually, I've I've talked through this with Carmen on how you receive it, how you handle it, and you have a good understanding of what the expectation is. Staff Report The memos related to the COVID 19 response should have a statement related to, you know, how this impacts equity or helps us to close gaps or takes need into consideration. We have an equity toolkit in the city and it really helps staff that's out, I believe, seven, seven or nine questions. And there's really questions to consider as you make decisions. And those are the types of things you would consider in when you issue this statement. Another thing I'd say is, you know, when you add statement agenda items, it it does it triggers it's good practice for all of us to really think about certain impacts. I remember back in, I believe it was 2011 when then council member James Johnson initially made the motion to include fiscal impact statements on agenda items. And it was a bit controversial that initially happened. Folks thought it would be an additional step, additional thinking. But now that process is well, it's refined. It's it's really been it's really been a good process that we've seen that's really been embraced by both the city council and staff and the community. And I envision that this is this you know, this is something that we can do today to make sure that we place this equity lens on our decision making. So that's it. I'll conclude my comment and this is my motion, and thank you for your support. Thank you both, Mr. Andrews. You know. I want to thank our special counsel in Richardson, you know, for bringing it to hate and blow it. You know, just last week, this is the day we've done the days of speaking about mental illness. And today we're talking about health equity. Every one of these issues boil down to continue to be an exclusive, supportive city for all residents. There's no secret that the community with a large concentration of minorities and people of color and it's not a light. It's you know, it's a it's an expensive project. But, you know, with this pandemic, we showed that once again, the African-American community is affected at a large scale. Yeah, I'm looking forward really to use. Now these have equities, you know, lithium, you know, statements on staff report and how the GC team implement that equity toolkit and really recalibrate in the way that we look at things and implement strategies for this. Because I think this is something that we really, really should take a serious look at and think you when we for bringing this to the. All right. Thank you. Vice Mayor. Next up, I have with your Councilwoman Van Day. Thank you. I also want to thank Councilmember Richardson and Cosigners and council vice mayor and Councilmember Austin. And I think that this is very important. It is becoming more and more clear that the impacts of this pandemic are spread evenly among our community. What is to come from the people of color living or being hospitalized in Long Beach? I hope the. Next step. That is just to make sure that we are aware and mindful of the issues in our conversations about COVID 19 and supportive of this item. And I think it will lead to more equitable and just policies as we respond to this president's crisis. Thank you. And I fully support this item. Thank you, country ranga. Thank you. I want to thank all the comments that have been made thus far from our less colorful colleagues. This is a this is a growing pattern in our country. And we need to identify the fact that we are a diverse country and that where they were sitting and this action would make it a lot stronger and much more informed as to how our policies were affected our communities. So thank you for bringing this forward, and I hope that I get that we get the support of the full council. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Upton. Thank you. Happy to support this open season and take a whole other side when I was in school to cosign this because this is obviously an important issue with a diverse city, with a diversity of language, it's important that we understand, analyze and understand the data so we can make smart decisions to deliver services, but also protect our residents. And, you know, looking at the data from last week, it's clear that 55% of those who were hospitalized due to COVID 19 were African-American or Latino. But that was the same disparity, to be my understanding, that we can be smarter with our resources in terms of targeting. We're testing test methods. Are education campaigns well, in other words, to just be a high functioning city that serves everybody. So I'm happy to support these items and kudos for bringing it through. Thank you. Thank you. That concludes a couple of comments. So, one, we're going to do a roll call vote. And I'm. District one. By. District two. I District three. District three. District four. I am District five. District five. District six. I went. Yes. Yes. Thank you. By District seven. By District eight, by district nine. I. Motion carries. Great. Thank you. I've also had a request to move up item 27. So, Madam Quirk, please read that item.