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Framework for Reconciliation in Long Beach

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed by four Minneapolis Police Officers. The incident was captured on video for the world to see. Floyd’s death was senseless and an appalling reminder that racial inequity continues in our communities and amongst the structures meant to serve them.

Across the nation, including here in Long Beach, people took to the streets in public outcry to condemn the violence and racial inequities that have systematically impacted all people of color, Black people in particular.

On June 9, 2020, the Long Beach City Council engaged in an earnest conversation about racism as a public health crisis, the need to restore public trust in City government, and how to reconcile a gap in the experiences of impacted and vulnerable people with current City policies, especially the Black community.

The City Council called upon City staff to prepare a report that would put the City Council in a position to enact culture and system change.

The protests and public outcry in Long Beach led the City Council to unanimously adopt a Framework for Reconciliation on June 23, 2020. This resolution has four key components to ending systemic racism.

 

The Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative – Initial Report was shared with Mayor Robert Garcia and City Council on August 3, 2020 to coincide with the release of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget. The report details actions to address anti-Black racism, advance racial equity, and create a vision for Long Beach’s future where race does not determine social and economic outcomes. The initial report represents the fourth step in the Framework for Reconciliation following acknowledging, listening and convening with stakeholders to shape policy and ideas.

On August 11, 2020, the entire City Council voted unanimously to formally adopt and approve the Initial Report as amended by the Council. The goals and strategies of the initial report include actions related to government/infrastructure, public safety and policing, violence prevention, health equity and economic inclusion. Altogether, the plan consists of 21 distinct strategies and 107 potential action plans.

City staff will now move forward to develop implementation strategies that include detailed actions, identification of funding sources and timelines for completion, in addition to creating measurable benchmarks for ongoing assessment to evaluate progress.

The reconciliation process and report are intended to be a first start in accelerating racial equity in the city. The City will continue to work with the community and broader stakeholder network to share updates on progress and opportunities for input and collaboration.

Comments and recommendations can be sent to the Office of Equity by emailing EquityLB@longbeach.gov.


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