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Resolution establishing the City of Pittsburgh Equity and Inclusion Implementation Team (“EIIT”).
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Whereas, the federal Civil Rights Act(s) of 1964, 1965 and 1968 banned discrimination because of a person’s color, race, national origin, gender or religion; and,
Whereas, Article III, § 26 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prohibits the Commonwealth or any of its’ subdivisions from denying to any person “the enjoyment of any civil right”; and,
Whereas, in Pittsburgh, concentrated poverty remains a serious challenge to the ability of poor families and children to access opportunities and move up the economic ladder; and,
Whereas, here in Pittsburgh, a pervasive sense exists that are “two Pittsburghs”: one which grows more prosperous with each passing day and the other, cut off from opportunity by poverty, structural racism and discrimination; and,
Whereas, data recently released by the National Equity Atlas show that this inequality comes at a great cost to the city and the region: Pittsburgh’s economic output would be nearly $5 billion dollars higher every year without the clear racial inequities in income; and,
Whereas, urgent action is needed is needed to steer growth and change in a new direction; and,
Whereas, Pittsburgh’s racial, economic and geographic inequities are no mere moral challenge, but an existential threat to the City’s long-term resilience and prosperity; and,
Whereas, All-In Cities, a program created in conjunction with PolicyLink, works to dismantle persistent racial barriers and invest in people of color who are the emerging majority in America, is the only just course of action for all of the City’s residents; and,
Whereas, the time is long overdue for the City to enact, implement and enforce policies and practices to build a City for All.
Whereas, the City is committed to implement the recommendations of the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition (PBEOC) facilitated the Pittsburgh Peace and Justice Initiative (P&JI). The P&JI recommendations covers six (6) key civic areas Public Safety, Affordable Housing, Family Outcomes, Business and Organizational Development, Education and Employment identified by the PBEOC as critical to the future of the African American’s in the region.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby establish the City of Pittsburgh Equity and Inclusion Implementation Team (“EIIT”).
SECTION 2. The membership of the EIIT shall be as follows:
1. Director of the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service Commission - Equity Training;
2. Urban Redevelopment Authority Director of Performance and Compliance, MWBE;
3. Administrator, City of Pittsburgh Equal Opportunity Review Commission;
4. A member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh;
5. Department of City Planning - Zoning Administrator;
6. Innovation and Diversity Professional to be appointed by the Mayor.
SECTION 3. The purpose of the EIIT will be to support City Departments in meeting the new equity goals by helping to provide assessments and training as needed; to implement, enforce and monitor equity policy; and to report out to the community the progress made on a semi-annual basis. The EIIT shall hold semi-annual public meetings in furtherance of the above requirements.
SECTION 4. The City of Pittsburgh Equity and Inclusion Implementation Team may add new members, with the approval of the Mayor, as needed as the Team undertakes specific policy priorities.