Bellingham mayor declares racism a public health crisis, will present a proclamation soon
Racism is a public health crisis, Mayor Seth Fleetwood announced during a City Council meeting Monday, Sept. 14.
Fleetwood said he intended to draft an official proclamation and present it to the City Council soon.
Members of Whatcom County’s appointed Public Health Advisory Board voted Sept. 3 to urge the Whatcom County Council to declare racism as a public health crisis.
A measure was tentatively scheduled to go before the County Council, acting as the Whatcom County Health Board, on Oct. 6, according to Bellingham Herald reporting.
Both King and Pierce counties have made such declarations, as have dozens of other communities and public agencies across the nation, according to .the American Public Health Association.
Fleetwood’s announcement came after a day of council committee meetings that featured several discussions and presentations focused on race and social justice:
▪ A new report shows that city workers are mostly white men. City officials discussed ways to recruit a more diverse workforce.
▪ City Council members, Fleetwood and his staff will take a course on how to integrate diversity and inclusion into the city’s mission.
▪ The Public Health, Safety and Justice Committee discussed its ongoing Join Hands Against Hate Program and the possibility of hiring an ombudsperson to focus on racial equity.
▪ City Council members discussed the possibility of changing the name of Pickett Road because it might be named after the Confederate general.
Fleetwood has been vocal on the issue of racism and social justice since marches and rallies in support of Black Lives Matter began in early June, following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
He attended the massive June 6 rally at Maritime Heritage Park and met with marchers at City Hall at a “defund the police” event June 17.
In partnership with Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu and several social justice organizations, Fleetwood organized a series of online community forums where people described the racism they have faced locally.
