STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of July 26, 2022
TO: Mayor Bailey and Members of the City Council
SUBMITTED BY: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Town Hall Meeting about Promoting Racial Equity, Combating Racial Violence Against Asian Americans and All People of Color, and Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Council:
Receive this report from Circle Up Education summarizing the comments of the town hall meeting held on May 17, 2022, and Provide additional comments or direction to staff moving forward.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with receiving this report. Based on the direction provided by City Council tonight on this item, staff will return to the Council with programmatic details (if any) and potential costs.
BACKGROUND:
Mayor Bailey requested that the City Council discuss and consider hosting a community workshop to discuss combating racism and intolerance against Asian Americans and other people of color. Tiffany Hoang, Co-founder of Circle-Up Education was engaged to develop the subject matter content, facilitate a virtual town hall meeting on the subject (conducted on May 17, 2022), and prepare a summary of the meeting with recommendations to the City moving forward.
DISCUSSION:
According to the Associated Press, since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020, harmful rhetoric related to the geographic origins of this disease resulted in a rise in reported hate incidents and acts of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals, communities, and businesses throughout the state and the country. Similarly, communities throughout California and the nation were outraged by the circumstances that led to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other men and women, whose lives were taken much too soon. Taken together, these events have sparked civil unrest in many communities and heightened our awareness regarding ongoing racism, racial injustice, inequity, and violence against Asian Americans and all people of color.
Hercules is a diverse and inclusive city, and the Hercules community values the safety of its residents and those who work in and visit the City. The members of the Hercules City Council and City staff are committed to listening and learning to make those changes necessary to root out racism, discrimination, and hate crimes in our community. As a continuing step in this direction, Mayor Bailey proposed that the City host a community town hall to engage our community on the topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice.
The town hall meeting was conducted on May 17, 2022. This evening, Tiffany Hoang will make a presentation on the results of the town hall meeting.
Attachment 1 - Community Town will Hall Summary Report
Attachment 2 – Town Hall Summary Presentation