023 of 2021 - Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis.A JOINT RESOLUTION DECLARING RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declares that “Racism is a
system—consisting of structures, policies, practices, and norms—that assigns
value and determines opportunity based on the way people look or the color of
their skin”; and
WHEREAS, racism is a serious public health threat because racism - both interpersonal and
structural - is proven to have harmful impacts to the mental and physical health
of communities of color; and
WHEREAS, racism is declared as a public health crisis that directly impacts Salt Lake City
residents resulting in health disparities that are both measurable and
preventable; and
WHEREAS,racism affects where one lives, learns, works, worships and plays, which creates
inequities in access to a range of social and economic benefits—such as housing,
education, wealth, and employment which are often referred to as social
determinants of health; and racism is a key driver of the determinants of health,
shaping access to resources such as education, housing, employment, and
healthcare that creates opportunities for health; and
WHEREAS, outcomes from these structural inequities can be seen through increased
exposure to environmental toxins, unmet housing needs, disparities in policing
and the criminal justice system, inadequate private and public investment,
decreased access to educational and employment opportunities and multitudes
of health measures; and
WHEREAS, this nation and the states and municipalities within have been designed to
systematically disadvantage underrepresented racial and ethnic groups thereby
creating health disparities that have persisted even after the Civil Rights
Movement following the abolition of slavery; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how pre-existing structural inequities
created heavier burdens of disease, death, and social consequences onto
communities of color in Utah; and
WHEREAS,the data from the Utah Department of Health reveal stark differences in health
between persons of color and their white counterparts:
1. Odds of infection were three times more likely in very high deprivation area
such as Glendale and two times more likely in Rose Park, where there are
high percentages of Latino and nonwhite residents.
2.The Latino communities account for 14.2% of Utah’s population, but 40% of
the state’s COVID-19 cases.
3.American Indian and Alaskan Native communities in Utah had a case fatality
rate that is roughly three times higher than the state average.
4.Black persons in Utah are significantly less likely to be screened for
colorectal cancer, but more likely to both contract and die from colorectal
cancer.
5.Black and Asian babies born in Utah are more likely to have a low birth
weight.
6.Pacific Islanders have twice the rate of infant mortality than the statewide
average; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City believes we have a moral imperative to combat racism,
discrimination, and inequities in all its manifestations; and
WHEREAS, leaders from Utah’s healthcare organizations declared systemic racism a threat
to the health of patients, families, and communities through economic and
resource inequities which result in poor health outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City has recently moved forward to develop a city-wide equity plan
with a goal to methodically review all City practices and policies and confront
the systems that have resulted in generational injustice and health inequities;
and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City remains committed to the work that it will take now and into the
future to dismantle our racist legacies so that all feel welcome and safe in Salt
Lake City.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
That in our capacity as a local municipal authority we declare racism as a
moral and public health crisis in our city, state, and nation and reaffirm our
commitment to the principles of the Utah Compact on Racial Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That we commit to look internally, externally, and encourage all who reside,
work, and own businesses in our city to commit to the work necessary to
dismantle racist legacies and equitably work to repair our communities. That
we commit to seek out strategies and solutions to unfair institutions in our
society, businesses, government, and culture to improve the health outcomes
and the life of all persons of color of Salt Lake City. That as we continue our
work going forward we will continue to be critical about the policies and
ordinances we create to ensure they do not add to the compounding of
inequities, and that they work to undo the damage done over many years.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That Salt Lake City commits to utilize work with County Health officials and
data partners to report and review public health data including:
City health metrics (disaggregating the data),
Current tasks to be done,
Next steps to address poor outcomes,
Make public health data available online,
Increase transparency,
Utilize City equity staff to work with County Health partners to address
systemic barriers to health including racism.
Adopted this _____ day of July 2021 by the Salt Lake City Mayor and the City Council. This
resolution was adopted by the Racial Equity in Policing Commission on the 2nd day of June,
2021 and by the Human Rights Commission on the 1st day of June, 2021.
__________________________ ______________________
Erin Mendenhall Amy Fowler, Chair
Salt Lake City Mayor Salt Lake City Council Member, District Seven
__________________________ ________________________
James Rogers, Vice Chair Dennis Faris
Salt Lake City Council Member, District One Salt Lake City Council Member, District Two
______________________________ ____________________________
Chris Wharton Ana Valdemoros
Salt Lake City Council Member, District Three Salt Lake City Council Member, District Four
__________________________ __________________________
Darin Mano Daniel Dugan
Salt Lake City Council Member, District Five Salt Lake City Council Member, District Six