500 signatures reached
To: Bexley Charter Review Commission and Bexley City Council
Amend the Bexley City Charter with anti-racist policies to end institutionalized racism
This campaign has ended.
(photo credit: Travis Long)
Bexley Residents Against Institutional Racism seek to amend our city charter to include provisions addressing institutional racism, diversity in hiring, equitable treatment for all, and government transparency. Our proposed amendments can be summarized as follows:
• The inclusion of anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and civil rights commitments to the preamble of the Charter. These commitments will recognize our country’s painful history of institutional racism and reflect Bexley’s pledge to actively bolster a culture of equity and dignity.
• Minority candidates will be actively recruited for city government employment with the goal of accurately reflecting racial, ethnic, and other minority demographics of Bexley.
• Discrimination and racism elimination, and minority and community civic involvement will be included as integral parts of the Annual Strategic Plan.
• Conduct contrary to the Charter’s anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and civil rights commitments will be included as grounds for removal of appointed officials.
• The Charter will detail hiring requirements for the chief of police, including, but not limited to: a hate-group affliction background check, review of any prior misconduct and allegations thereof, and specific training on institutional racism and cultural competency.
• The Charter will set the term of the chief of police at three years.
• The chief of police will undergo an annual performance review which will include an assessment of practices that reflect the Bexley's anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and civil rights policy. This review will be available to the public.
• A five member Civilian Guidance & Review Board will be created with the purpose of overseeing the police department.
• All classified personnel employed by the city of Bexley will undergo a hate-group affiliation background check prior to hire.
• Future charter review committees will be reflective of city demographics.
• Initiative and referendum powers will follow the state’s rules for similar actions.
Note: to see the full text of our proposed changes to the city charter, follow this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cnduRlqHYPQ2yLdoXaSo8FMDfm_n11Bg/view?usp=sharing
Bexley Residents Against Institutional Racism seek to amend our city charter to include provisions addressing institutional racism, diversity in hiring, equitable treatment for all, and government transparency. Our proposed amendments can be summarized as follows:
• The inclusion of anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and civil rights commitments to the preamble of the Charter. These commitments will recognize our country’s painful history of institutional racism and reflect Bexley’s pledge to actively bolster a culture of equity and dignity.
• Minority candidates will be actively recruited for city government employment with the goal of accurately reflecting racial, ethnic, and other minority demographics of Bexley.
• Discrimination and racism elimination, and minority and community civic involvement will be included as integral parts of the Annual Strategic Plan.
• Conduct contrary to the Charter’s anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and civil rights commitments will be included as grounds for removal of appointed officials.
• The Charter will detail hiring requirements for the chief of police, including, but not limited to: a hate-group affliction background check, review of any prior misconduct and allegations thereof, and specific training on institutional racism and cultural competency.
• The Charter will set the term of the chief of police at three years.
• The chief of police will undergo an annual performance review which will include an assessment of practices that reflect the Bexley's anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and civil rights policy. This review will be available to the public.
• A five member Civilian Guidance & Review Board will be created with the purpose of overseeing the police department.
• All classified personnel employed by the city of Bexley will undergo a hate-group affiliation background check prior to hire.
• Future charter review committees will be reflective of city demographics.
• Initiative and referendum powers will follow the state’s rules for similar actions.
Note: to see the full text of our proposed changes to the city charter, follow this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cnduRlqHYPQ2yLdoXaSo8FMDfm_n11Bg/view?usp=sharing
Why is this important?
The City of Bexley must recognize that institutional racism and discrimination, in all forms, exists, and has a painful, historic legacy in this country, the effects of which continue to place the health and well-being of minority citizens in crisis.
The City of Bexley must pledge to work together with community groups, organizations, and individuals to confront systemic, institutional, and individual acts of racism and discrimination in order to promote equity, justice, and healing.
The City of Bexley must reject, discourage, and condemn any and all racism, discrimination, and hate-based conduct in order to build and uphold a welcoming culture based on equity, dignity, respect, and inclusion of all people regardless of race, color, religion/non-religion, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, language, age, disability, or genetic information.
The City of Bexley must pledge to work together with community groups, organizations, and individuals to confront systemic, institutional, and individual acts of racism and discrimination in order to promote equity, justice, and healing.
The City of Bexley must reject, discourage, and condemn any and all racism, discrimination, and hate-based conduct in order to build and uphold a welcoming culture based on equity, dignity, respect, and inclusion of all people regardless of race, color, religion/non-religion, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, language, age, disability, or genetic information.