Title
Resolution establishing the Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force.
Body
WHEREAS, the United States is facing an unparalleled modern catastrophe created by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, ironically during the same month as National Public Health and Minority Health Month; and,
WHEREAS Covid-19’s spread is creating havoc in our daily lives by testing our communities and workplaces, and our governments’ ability to protect and prioritize the health of the public in general and people of color in particular; and,
WHEREAS Covid-19 is a public health crisis and with any crisis, the strategy and response must help address the current realities as well as prepare for additional challenges in the future; and,
WEHEREAS, equity must be at the center of any response to this Covid-19 health crisis. In order for the city and the county to thrive, it cannot be at the expense of the African American population who is on the frontline of this pandemic and currently reporting disproportionate coronavirus mortality; and,
WHEREAS, across the United States, cities and states are establishing task forces, response teams, and oversight entities to guide communities through the Covid-19 pandemic by reviewing data, making recommendations to and developing strategies to address current and future health disparities; and,
WHEREAS, major cities across the country, like Boston and Detroit, are incorporating an equity component to their Covid-19 responses; and,
WHEREAS, in Milwaukee, WI, African-Americans are 21% of the population yet they account for 81% of all Covid-19 related deaths. And other major cities are seeing a disproportionate amount of Covid-19-related deaths among the African-American population; and,
WHEREAS, In the State of Pennsylvania, African-Americans are 11% of the populations yet they account for 21% of all Covid-19 related deaths; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh recognizes the history of racism in our country and how it has led to many current-day disparities in education, health and safety, job attainment, income and wealth, housing and healthcare, disproportionate incarceration rates for people of color and other pernicious systems of injustice; and,
WHEREAS, on December 23, 2019, the Honorable William M. Peduto, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, signed into law Resolution Number 843 of 2019, declaring racism a “public health crisis” in the City of Pittsburgh, a home rule municipality and political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and,
WHERAS, the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath has the potential to disproportionately disaffect Pittsburgh’s African Americans and their communities according to the social determinants of health.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force is hereby established as follows:
1. The Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force shall function as a sub-committee of the Pittsburgh Commission on Racial Equity.
2. The purpose of the Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force is to integrate health and social equity into the Covid-19 response and its aftermath here in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
3. The Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force shall work with all interested parties including State, County and local government entities to save lives and create shared proactive and coordinated responses to Covid-19.
4. The Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force shall be a Joint Task Force composed of members from the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials, the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Public Health Officials, University representatives, Covid-19 Equity Working Group and community representatives, all with specific expertise on African Americans and/or African American communities.
5. The Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force efforts shall be aligned with the City’s recent adoption of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) framework for development, will address good health and well-being, reduce inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, peace, justice and strong institutions and partnership for the goals.
6. The Greater Pittsburgh Covid-19 Racial Equity Task Force shall apply an equity lens that will:
a. Incorporate a community-driven process, where the expertise and experiences of marginalized, vulnerable African American communities are centered and valued;
b. Be proactive and think strategically about how to provide equitable treatment and resources to appropriate communities and most vulnerable populations;
c. Collaborate with the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health;
d. Assure racial and social equity is a core element of Covid-19 response, solutions and service delivery and outcomes;
e. Advocate for relevant equity-oriented interventions and policies that improve Covid-19 responsiveness in communities of color, underserved and vulnerable populations;
f. Recommend solutions to address Covid-19 pandemic in Pittsburgh and the region in general; and,
g. Address the current issues of education, economic wellbeing, affordable and available housing, sustainable community design, and health and wellbeing and develop a long-term strategy to reduce the risk to these targeted communities; and,
h. Engage actively and authentically with populations of color, vulnerable and under resourced communities.
7. The City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Equity in collaboration with Pittsburgh City Council is responsible for establishing the Greater Pittsburgh Racial COVID-19 Equity Task Force.