1 Teresa Vargas
From: Jennings Home <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 12:48 PM
To: website_cco
Subject: [**EXTERNAL**] February 13, 2023 agenda item 6.2 public comment-Submission #1 I am a, heavily taxed, paying citizen of the City of Lathrop and I am African-American.
As I scrolled through the City Council Regular Meeting’s Agenda for February 13, 2023, which was emailed to my email address on this past Thursday evening, I came across agenda item 6.2 and I paused as I was taken aback that a discussion would take place in city hall to decide “if” the city would consider renting the Generation Center, the same center that is partially paid for and maintained by monies that are paid out of the taxes in which my family’s hard earned taxes dollars contribute, to celebrate a newly appointed federal holiday that honors my ancestors.
6.2 COUNCILMEMBER DIALLO REFERRAL: Discuss Consideration of Renting the Generations Center and Park for a Juneteenth Event, to be Hosted by an Outside Organization.
MAYOR & COUNCILMEMBER COMMITTEE
I would like the council to please define what is meant by an “outside organization.” Is it one such as the low-riders, who are rooted outside of the city of Lathrop, who used the parking lot of the Generation Center to host Truck or Treat this past October? Is the Indian Community of River Islands that appears to have no issues gaining access to public spaces throughout the city, some of the events in which the Mayor of this city was said to have attended and/or supported considered an outside organization? How about a resident of this city who have also organized several events of their own where, again, the Mayor of this city was said to have attended and/or supported? Is this individual considered and outside organization? Let me be clear, I do not have an issue with any group that promotes harmony, humanity and togetherness. By group I mean those such as the Low Riders, The Indian Community of River Islands, and/or any other group or individual that promotes harmony and unity while gathering to celebrate their heritage, culture or inclusion. In fact, I applaud when diversity and inclusiveness is woven into groups and celebrations, but I also understand when these same groups feel more comfortable when celebrating with those who have shared experiences. This email is not to call out other groups that may have benefited from being able to celebrate publicly within this city, but to point out that all citizens should be able to celebrate within the city in which they live and pay taxes.
This city celebrates many federal and religious holidays-Christmas, veterans and Memorial Day to name a few. Why would a citizen and/or a citizen organization that is rooted in Lathrop have to ask council to take a vote to decide if they may secure a public entity albeit a city Item 6.2 Public Comment Provided by
Rosita Jennings _1st Comment.
2 park, for which they help to fund by their tax payments to the city and county by way of secured and/or supplemental taxes? Is this organization asking for the celebration to be funded by the city of Lathrop? The process of a citizen of this city to request to use a city park should be as simple as them obtaining an application, securing all of the proper permits and paying any associated fees, if obligated to do so.
The process/policy or lack thereof, as it stands today, has the framework that can lead to discriminatory practices. I am starting to feel that the city of Lathrop does not welcome diversity or at least the celebration of all cultures nor does it appear that this city support all cultures and/or communities. I am starting to feel like there is a pattern here and the pattern does not appear to be one based on inclusiveness and diversity.
I am founding member of the group that organized the Black Lives Matter rally in June 2020. During the organization of the rally, our group came across very similar roadblocks, as the organization that would like to host this Juneteenth celebration. When our Black Lives Matter organization approached the Mayor to ask if this city was planning to March in solidarity of Black lives we were asked to wait to city of the city will plan or will support our efforts to organize the rally while we watch multiple roadblocks be set before us. When it was clear that we would not receive the support of the city, we proceeded without the support of the city and was able to have a successful, family-oriented community rally complete with guests speakers including the mayor who did speak at the beginning of the rally, but it was clear to the group who organized the rally that he was there for an opportunity to look as if there was a show of support from the city.
Historically, there were many people and entities whom did not acknowledge or respect the forced sacrifice and the amazing contributions in which the African-American people have added to this country. Truth be told, there may be some members of our current city council that may not understand, acknowledge and/or respect the people who associate with the African-American culture and/or the Black experience.
At this point, I am seeking answers as all I would like is for the policymakers show me a policy in which all of its citizens will feel that they are being treated equally.
I want to know, as a tax paying citizen of the City of Lathrop, one that also identifies as African-American, if tonight’s process of having the council vote applies to all individuals and/or groups inside or outside groups, or does it only apply to those individuals and/or groups that look like me? Why is this an item that is placed before council? Why wouldn’t the city instead look to see how they could support this celebration seeing as roughly 4,200 of its 31,000 citizens identified as AfricanAmerican/Black/Person of Color? I understand that an application was submitted to rent the Generation Center to celebrate Juneteenth. Why are we now here, in this chamber, asking for permission to celebrate Juneteenth at a city park? Why did it take for an organization, that identifies with the African-American community, to ask to celebrate for an agenda item to be placed that will ask for permission to use a public park be set before city council and the public?
Surely, our city manager who collects 300k+ by way of salary and benefits, one whose salary is not used to fund the park or recreational facilities in the city of Lathrop as he does not live or pay taxes here and/or the sitting city council will have the answers to my questions.
3 Please include print the pictures of the mayor attending various events and the salary and benefits for the city manager as proof that what I have alleged in this email are in fact true.
Confused tax payer,
Rosita Jennings
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