Legislation Introduced to Create Racial Equity and Social Justice Policy for County
Legislation to create a Racial Equity and Social Justice Policy for Montgomery County was introduced by County Council President Nancy Navarro on Tuesday.
Several local leaders, social justice advocates and community members joined in support.
Bill 27-19, the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, is geared towards reinforcing the county governments’ commitment to being a welcoming community where all residents are treated with respect and dignity and provided with opportunities to succeed. This new Bill has also been cosponsored by the full Council.
To contribute to this initiative, throughout the year, community members have been encouraged to participate in formalized dialogue to determine how county government can better meet their needs.
This Bill is expected to establish many things including a Racial Equity and Social Justice Program that will be implemented across county government by a new office in the executive branch. A County-wide racial equity and social justice action plan will also be required to be adopted by the Executive. In addition to that, each county department and office must develop a racial equity and social justice action plan. The Racial Equity and Social Justice Program will all be monitored by the Council and the Executive.
There will be a public hearing regarding this later this month. Officials say the goal is to adopt Bill 27-19 right before Thanksgiving break.
This bill creates a Racial Equity & Social Justice Program for Montgomery County. It creates a new office for equity and requires the Executive and County depts and agencies to create action plans. It creates an advisory commission and requires impact statements in legislation. pic.twitter.com/YvjPdW5SHT
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
Council Vice President @MC_Council_Katz discusses how Racial Equity and Social Justice Act will become a vital toolkit in Montgomery County's work to uplift every resident. #EquityMattersInMoCo pic.twitter.com/vi0JnEFU9E
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
Councilmember @RicePolitics shares how his parents came to Montgomery County to seek equity of opportunity, says this bill helps realize that promise.
"If we're standing still, we're not making progress." #EquityMattersInMoCo pic.twitter.com/gon8uWxgnD
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
Councilmember @willjawando shares personal stories of facing childhood racism, seeing a close friend killed because of systemic inequity.
"You must have a systemic answer to a systemic problem. I believe hearts and minds will follow." #EquityMattersInMoCo pic.twitter.com/41LHYL0ZLM
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
Councilmember @albornoz_gabe says we have the responsibility to help every resident of our County to succeed. Our demographic makeup reflects the broader changes in the United States and the country will learn from jurisdictions like ours. #EquityMattersInMoCo pic.twitter.com/GIflZ2WfTy
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
President of @montgomerycoll @DrPollard_MC thanks Council President Navarro for her work on racial equity and social justice, says education will be at the root of the inclusive changes that this legislation will promote. #EquityMattersInMoCo pic.twitter.com/BRNGO2ycnL
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
Dr. Jack Smith, superintendent of @MCPS, describes how coming to #MoCo made him understand the possibility of realizing his philosophy for student success: "All means all." Says equity frameworks are integral to improving education outcomes. #EquityMattersInMoCo pic.twitter.com/hB7ZXDW7Lz
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
Montgomery County @mocoboe President @ShebraEvans says equity is at the core of everything the Board of Education does. #EquityMattersInMoCo pic.twitter.com/rJ4t2rhp1c
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) September 17, 2019
Buried on page 12 of the Racial Equity Legislation is a direct effort to downgrade the county’s duties with respect to assessments of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE). In the bill, the county surreptitiously changes its positive duty toward action on GGE from “MUST ASSESS” GGE and the carbon footprint to a much easier “MUST CONSIDER” standard. This issue has nothing to do with Racial Equity but was placed deep in the document to hide the Council’s bias in favor of developers, who would benefit from less oversight and lower standards.
If the proposed GGE assessment changes to a lower standard (as part of the Racial Equity legislation, referenced above), then the environment in Montgomery County is at risk. This county needs a HIGHER GGE assessment standard.
We need to demand that the county RAISE THE STANDARD for GGE assessments by commenting on the proposed Racial Equity legislation which will face a public hearing this October. Urge the MoCo Council to raise, not lower, the standards for our environment by contacting them at county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.