CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 23, 2023
DOCUMENTS RECEIVED
AFTER PUBLISHED
AGENDA
PUBLIC COMMENTS
CONSENT ITEM # 11
RPT 23-056
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 6:23 PM
To: CityClerk <[email protected]>
Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2023-05-23 7:00 PM New eComment for City Council on 2023-05-23
7:00 PM
Hayward-Tri-City DST Social Action Committee submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2023-05-23 7:00 PM
Item: 11. RPT 23-056 City Council Referral: Use of Council Member Funds for Reimbursement Related to Juneteenth Hayward Coordination (Report from Council Members Andrews and Roche)
eComment: The City of Hayward should fully invest in the celebration of Juneteenth. The City budget decisions will reflect the priorities of the City. The city has committed to prioritizing Juneteenth with the unanimous vote in November of 2021 approving both the apology to the Black community and the 11 actions attached to the apology as provided by the Community Services Commission. We ask that you honor this commitment by providing the funds needed to celebrate Juneteenth in Hayward.
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From: Hayward-Tri-City Alumnae Social Action Committee <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 7:08 PM
To: List-Mayor-Council <[email protected]> Subject: Hayward City Budget Funding Allocation - Invest in Hayward Juneteenth 2023 & Future Years
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Greetings Hayward City Council Members,
We are reaching out to you all this evening on behalf of the Hayward-Tri-City Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Social Action Committee. As you consider the city budget's funding allocations for this year and future years, we ask that you please remember your unanimous vote in November of 2021 approving both the apology to the Black community and the 11 actions attached to the apology as provided to you by the Community Services Commission.
This year marks the 3rd Annual Citywide Juneteenth Celebration in Hayward. This important annual event is in honor of Black liberation and represents an opportunity to uplift Black history, culture, contributions and excellence. This is incredibly relevant in Hayward, especially as the city works towards Reparative Justice with the descendants of Russell City, to undo the generational harm caused by decades of red-lining and institutional racism, and to create an inclusive environment for all residents of Hayward, including Black residents.
To honor the commitment to Hayward residents, we ask for the following 4 actions
;
1 - allocate from the general fund each year $100,000 to support an annual standalone Juneteenth Celebration for the City of Hayward as requested by the Community Services Commission 3 years ago.
2 - prioritize providing financial and in-kind support to Black residents and leaders to organize a single annual Hayward Juneteenth event focused on Black liberation.
For 3 years in a row, Ronnie Stewart, Executive Director of the West Coast Blues Society, the lead organizer of the Russell City Blues Festival for nearly 25 years has offered his support, funding,
leadership and network to build a citywide Juneteenth
event we can be proud of. The limited events funding from the Community Services Commission cannot underwrite an event of this magnitude. We urge the city to do the work to support community leaders and to provide the infrastructure needed to successfully execute community led events. It is important we invest in the residents committed to the city, like Ronnie Stewart, and support them in elevating the city of Hayward through the celebration of Juneteenth.
3 - allocate $100,000 and in kind support for the 2023 Juneteenth event planned for the City of Hayward on June 17th, 2023
The idea of merging Juneteenth with the downtown street party on Thursday night may have been well intended. However, the celebration for Juneteenth should be honored,
organized and branded as a singular focused opportunity to celebrate Black liberation. For this year, we ask that the city to financially support the June 17th event in addition to the planned June 15th event.
4 - provide the adequate funding including reimbursements needed to support the efforts of Council Members and other community leaders planning the June 15th, 2023 celebration
In future events we would like to see one unified event to celebrate Juneteenth in Hayward. In support of moving in that direction, it is important the City financially support both Juneteenth Celebrations given the commitment already made.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are interested in discussing the requests.
In community,
--
Aurielle Trapps
Jamela Joseph
Co-Chairs, Social Action Committee
Hayward-Tri-City Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
https://linktr.ee/htcacdstsocialaction