Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Stokes
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Recognizing Systemic Racism as a Public Health Crisis
For the purpose of recognizing systemic racism as a public health crisis.
body
Recitals
Whereas, Systemic racism has been an aspect of American life since the founding of this country;
Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared that health is determined in part by access to social and economic opportunities, and that the conditions in which we live affect why the health outcomes of some Americans are better than those of others;
Whereas, In recent decades, scientific research how shown that racism is a fundamental cause of poor health outcomes for racial minorities;
Whereas, Racial inequities have significant negative effects of the health outcomes of black and brown residents of Baltimore City and elsewhere;
Whereas, Systemic racism led to housing policies that created segregation, which resulted in black and brown residents of Baltimore City and other cities, living in poisoned environments filled with water pollution and air pollution and lacking basic access to affordable, fresh foods and efficient public transportation;
Whereas, Segregated, impoverished neighborhoods lack employment opportunities for residents, which can lead residents to turn to crime to pay for basic living expenses, which in turn makes such neighborhoods unsafe and stressful for residents to live in and thus leads to an increase in violent deaths for residents and an increase in residents’ susceptibility to a variety of chronic diseases;
Whereas, Black residents of Baltimore City are far likelier than non-hispanic white residents to be hospitalized for several chronic diseases and drug or alcohol use, to have sexually transmitted diseases, and to report that they have poor mental health;
Whereas, Life expectancies in less wealthy areas of Baltimore City, which are predominantly populated by black and brown residents, can be up to 20 years less than life expectancies in wealthier areas of the City;
Whereas, Nationally, black women are 3 to 4 times likelier to die from preventable pregnancy-related complications than non-hispanic white women, and the death rate for black infants is twice that of infants born to non-hispanic white women; and
Whereas, Black residents make up 30% of Maryland’s population but make up half of the deaths and infected cases from COVID-19 where race is known.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the City Council recognizes systemic racism as a public health crisis.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Health Commissioner, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.