Bill No. 22-61 A Resolution Calling for Reparatory Justice

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WHEREAS,the South Bend Common Council acknowledges that in Westside communities where African Americans and other disadvantaged groups are concentrated, there exists hazardous lead contamination in a neglected and aged housing stock; and WHEREAS,the South Bend Common Council acknowledges that the history of racist redlining practices and divestment from Black communities has led to the loss of roughly a billion dollars in property value from South Bend relative to what existed in 1930, according to a financial analysis by Urban3—a private consulting firm specializing in land value economics, property tax analysis and community design—conducted at the request of the City of South Bend; and WHEREAS,the South Bend Common Council acknowledges that the COVID-19 Pandemic further unearthed significant racial disparities in the City that are rooted in a history of racism; and WHEREAS,the South Bend Common Council recognizes that this history of racist torture,physical, mental, economic and environmental abuse and coercion was tolerated by local, state, and federal law; and WHEREAS,the trauma and damage caused by these heinous acts continue to deleteriously affect African Americans and other people of color in the City of South Bend; and WHEREAS, the trauma and damage caused by these heinous acts will continue to cause egregious harm to those affected unless the City of South Bend and other municipal bodies enact reparatory justice to mitigate the harm; and WHEREAS,the South Bend Common Council acknowledges that the City has a history of complicity in racist practices; and WHEREAS,the South Bend Common Council recognizes that today it faces an opportunity to make historic and"once-in-a-generation"investments in affected communities as unprecedented levels of federal funding have come to the City; and WHEREAS,the City of South Bend must officially acknowledge the harm that occurred in the City and resolve to never allow such acts to go undeterred,unpunished, and unaddressed ever again. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IS RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section I.The Common Council hereby issues a formal apology to the LaSalle Park Neighborhood, African Americans, and other affected individuals and communities on behalf of the City of South Bend for the violations and harm incurred by these practices. Section II. The Common Council hereby recommends a Truth and Reconciliation Commission made up of representatives and members of affected communities be