HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-06-2023 Press Release 02-06-2023 President McBride to Form Special Committee Sharon L. McBride
3rd District Council Member
President
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227 W. Jefferson Blvd. Rm. 441 Office: (574) 235-9321 FAX: (574) 235-9173
County-City Building Voicemail: (574) 235-5981 TDD: (574) 235-5567
South Bend, IN 46601- 1830 Email: SMCBRIDE@SOUTHBENDIN.GOV
NEWS RELEASE
FROM: COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHARON L. MCBRIDE
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MCBRIDE TO FORM SPECIAL COMMITTEE
DATE: MONDAY, FEBRURARY 6, 2023
CONTACT: SMCBRIDE@SOUTHBENDIN.GOV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
President McBride to Form Special Committee
Last month, I announced in a public statement that I would be forming a special committee, as
the Municipal Code authorizes, to work collaboratively with stakeholders to address the
important issues raised in this draft resolution. Dr. Darryl Heller, Director of the I.U. South Bend
Civil Rights Heritage Center has volunteered his time to chair this special committee.
It is necessary that an important resolution such as this is fully vetted prior to being brought to a
Common Council vote. A premature vote can cause more damage than a fully informed vote.
There also may be no need to reinvent the wheel in addressing the issues raised in the resolution.
On January 24, 2023, U.S. Senator Cory Booker introduced Senate Bill 40 the “Commission to
Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act” which would establish a
commission to consider proposals for reparations for African American descendants of slavery.
The Senate Bill is a companion to House Bill 40 previously introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson
Lee. Over 190 organizations working to advance civil rights in America have endorsed this
legislation. There are also several states and municipalities that are following a similar plan to
fully study the issues. The special committee will follow these and other studies to fully inform
the Common Council and the public of viable solutions.
A resolution is non-binding but can facilitate discussion. It is more important to take a more
global, studied, view of the problems if any meaningful solutions are to be found.
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