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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05191992 - H.E H.E THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on May 19, 1992 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, Schroder, Torlakson and McPeak NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Presentation by Black Employees ' Association Lloyd Madden, President of the Black Employees ' Association appeared and made the attached presentation to the Board. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the issues and requests contained in said presentation are REFERRED to the Internal Operations Committee, as well as the issues addressed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Council. The Finance Committee members invited input on issues of employment and training that are being studied in that Committee. 1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisorsp the date shown. ATTESTED: PHIL BATCHELOR, Jerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator fly Deputy cc: County Administrator I. O. Committee staff Finance Committee staff Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Council staff Personnel BLACK EMPLOYEES ' ASSOC=AT=ON CONTRA COSTA COUNTY May 15, 1992 Sunne Wright McPeak, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Supervisor McPeak: The Black Employees Association of Contra Costa County was formed several months ago. The mission of the Association is to improve the employment environment of Blacks within the County; and to address the inequity which exist with respect to promotional opportunities and representation of Blacks in all occupational categories in the County by recruiting, nurturing and grooming existing and potential Black County employees. The Association's mission will be accomplished through the pursuit of the following objectives: * Serving as the magnet organization for linking other recognized Black organizations into an effective networking coalition. * Developing innovative recruitment activities. * Sponsoring professional growth and development workshops. * Initiating forums for discussions of issues and topical concerns that directly impact Black employees. * Fostering the appointment and participation of Blacks on public boards, commissions and councils. * Advocating for equal economic, educational and employment opportunities for Blacks and other members of protected groups. We are here to express our outrage at the King verdict and the travesty that followed. Although we do not condone the violence and looting that took place, we understand the depth of the anger felt by so many people. The National Day For Justice statement distributed by the NAACP expresses some of our feelings. There are three quotes we emphatically subscribe to: "We, proud African-Americans, assert and affirm that after 373 years of denial , neglect and brutality in this nation, the time comes when we must say that enough is enough! We affirm that we are human beings made in God's image, that the color of our skin is not a badge of inferiority, but a sign of the omnipotence of our creator". Mailing Address: P.O. Box 23 Martinez, California 94553 Supervisor Sunne McPeak -2- May 15, 1992 "We believe that our tomorrows can be better than our todays." "We shall--like Martin Luther King, Jr. , Harriett Tubman and Frederick Douglas--place justice above personal safety, dignity above comfort, and hope above self-interest." After all that has recently transpired, we would like to bring to your attention how the verdict and aftermath is affecting us in our work environment. Our consciousness level has brought us to a point that has made .us more aware and sensitive to the lack of understanding of our plight and unfair treatment we endure daily. We will no longer accept or tolerate slurs, demeaning jokes, intimidating statements and questions. What is irritating to us are the many questions that are asked to which we provide answers that in most cases are found to be disturbing, creating animosity in the workplace. Healing must occur and the process should start with the Board of Supervisors. For example, we believe the Board must in some way commend cities like Richmond and Pittsburg for not reacting to the travesty of justice in the Rodney King incident in a violent and destructive manner. It wasn't by accident these acts did not occur. It was the conscious decision of those communities. The Police Chief's Association of Contra Costa County is to be commended for their statement made on Thursday, April 30, 1992, denouncing the police's conduct depicted on the infamous video tape. The question and challenge to you is, "What are we going to do in Contra Costa County to promote equality, respect and understanding of each other and to eliminate the double standard that is prevalent throughout County government? We the Black Employees Association respectfully request that the Board of Supervisors respond in writing to the question and challenge stated above. We hope that you accept this statement in the spirit of cooperation in which it is written. Sincerely, Lloyd G. Madden, President Black Employees Association of Contra Costa County Attachment cc: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator Contra Costa County Department Heads