HomeMy WebLinkAbout5173-26 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 RESOLUTION No . 5173-26
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
June 22, 20 26
Attest: City Clerk
Bianca L. Tirado
Attest: President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
June 2'1, 20 26
tal/a,
Afrt-,,(----------- City Clerk
Bianca L. Tira o
Approved and signed by me i t Z 20 26
tjii Mayor
- 4% ' , , -...:71?Y5) elt
Q / P
.L tP.a.},1,:,,Ne•ft••S••.",..4‘'.,k,",4.:..%....._,1..-,\.A.,:-.0;-,1K-y I
* ; • x 3
/865
BILL NO. 26-16
RESOLUTION NO. 5173-26
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:
1447/01/
Bianca L. Tirado, City erk
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 244h day of June ,2026, at H o'clock p.m.
Bianca . Tirado, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Approved and signed by me on the lc* day of Jt,,t , 2026, at 9 o'clock
f.m.
Jo s Mueller, Mayor
Ci of South Bend, Indiana