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HomeMy WebLinkAbout26-16 A Resolution Acknowledging the History of Racial Discrimination, Environmental Harm, Disinvestment, and Industrial Pollution Impacting the LaSalle Park Neighborhood, and Formally Apologizing to the Residents and Families of the Community Filed in Clerk's Office Jun 9, 2026 Bianca I iradu June 09, 2026 City Clerk south Bend, IN TO: Ms. Karen White, Councilperson At-Large Chair, South Bend Common Council Residential Neighborhoods Committee A Resolution Acknowledging the History of Racial Discrimination, Environmental Harm, Disinvestment, and Industrial Pollution Impacting the LaSalle Park Neighborhood in the City of South Bend, Indiana Dear Councilwoman White, Please accept this letter in support of the attached resolution entitled, "A Resolution of the South Bend Common Council Acknowledging the History of Racial Discrimination, Environmental Harm, Disinvestment, and Industrial Pollution Impacting the LaSalle Park Neighborhood, and Formally Apologizing to the Residents and Families of the Community." This resolution is respectfully requested to be acted upon during the Residential Neighborhoods Committee meeting and during the South Bend Common Council meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026. This resolution is specific to LaSalle Park Neighborhood in the city of South Bend, Indiana because of the neighborhood's unique history as a primarily historically Black community that has contributed greatly to South Bend while experiencing decades of racial discrimination, housing segregation, redlining, environmental harm, industrial pollution, and public disinvestment. Generations of LaSalle Park residents have raised concerns regarding environmental contamination, neighborhood conditions, and unequal treatment, making formal recognition of this history an important step toward accountability and healing. We respectfully request that the Residential Neighborhoods Committee review and act upon this special resolution acknowledging LaSalle Park's history and formally apologizing to past, present and future residents and families impacted by these harms. This resolution represents a commitment to truth, to reconciliation, to environmental justice, and to building a stronger relationship between the City of South Bend and historically impacted communities. With Gratitude, OQurer Dams Dr. Oliver Davis, Councilman At-Large Sherry -Sue Sherry Bolden-Simpson, Councilperson - 5th District Filed in Clerk's Office Jun 9, 2026 BILL NO. 26-16 Bianca Tirado RESOLUTION NO. City Clerk, South Bend, IN A RESOLUTION OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION,ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, DISINVESTMENT,AND INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION IMPACTING THE LASALLE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD,AND FORMALLY APOLOGIZING TO THE RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES OF THE COMMUNITY WHEREAS, the LaSalle Park Neighborhood in the City of South Bend has historically been home to a significant Black community that contributed greatly to the social, cultural, political and economic life of the city; and WHEREAS, residents of the LaSalle Park Neighborhood experienced decades of racial discrimination, redlining, unequal public investment, housing segregation, and environmental injustice that negatively impacted the health, safety, stability, social and economic opportunities of the community; and WHEREAS, industrial dumping, contamination, and pollution associated with nearby industrial activity caused longstanding concerns regarding environmental quality, public health, and neighborhood wellbeing in and around the LaSalle Park and Beck's Lake area;and WHEREAS, generations of residents raised concerns regarding environmental contamination, neighborhood decline, public disinvestment, and unequal treatment, while often feeling unheard or excluded from decision-making processes affecting their community; and WHEREAS, redlining,racial covenants,and unfair loan practices relegated Black people to certain areas of the city, including LaSalle Park; and WHEREAS, other governmental bodies and officials in our region of Indiana have formally acknowledged and/or apologized for histories of racial discrimination, including the City of Goshen, Indiana's 2015 resolution recognizing its history as a "sundown town," where people of color faced threats of harm after sunset, and the unanimous 2020 declaration by the St. Joseph County Board of Health recognizing racism as a public health crisis; and WHEREAS, by passage of this resolution, the City of South Bend joins similar efforts lead by Mayors and local leaders across the United States in cities like Evanston (Illinois), Chicago (Illinois), Asheville (North Carolina), Boston (Massachusetts), Kansas City (Missouri), San Francisco (California), Tulsa (Oklahoma), among others, in acknowledging harms committed against Black communities and seeking forms of repair; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend recognizes the importance of acknowledging historical harms and the lasting impacts of environmental racism and systemic inequities on Black residents; and WHEREAS, acknowledging historical injustice is an important step toward healing, accountability,reconciliation,and building a more just and equitable future for all residents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL: SECTION I. The South Bend Common Council formally acknowledges the history of racial discrimination, redlining, environmental harm, disinvestment, and industrial pollution impacting the LaSalle Park Neighborhood and its residents. SECTION II. The South Bend Common Council formally apologizes to the past and present residents and families of the LaSalle Park Neighborhood for the harms caused by policies, practices, and decisions that contributed to intended and unintended racial inequities, environmental injustice, and community disinvestment. SECTION III. The South Bend Common Council reaffirms its commitment to advancing equity, environmental justice, community health, and meaningful engagement with residents of historically harmed neighborhoods. SECTION IV. The Office of the South Bend City Clerk is directed to provide copies of this Resolution to relevant city departments, community organizations, and neighborhood representatives connected to the LaSalle Park Neighborhood and beyond. Canneth J. Lee, Council President South Bend Common Council Attest: Bianca L. Tirado,City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the day of ,2026, at o'clock .m. Bianca L. Tirado,City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Approved and signed by me on the day of , 2026,at o'clock .m. James Mueller,Mayor City of South Bend,Indiana