REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution Denouncing Xenophobia and Anti-Asian Sentiment Due to the COVID19 Pandemic and Affirming City of Sunnyvale Support of and Commitment to the Well-Being and Safety of Asian American Communities.
Report
BACKGROUND
In response to the alarming escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, San Francisco State University's Asian American Studies Department and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) civil rights groups launched the online reporting center Stop AAPI Hate to collect and track incidents of anti-AAPI hate violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying in California and nationwide. Since its launch on March 19, there have been more than 1700 cases reported.
The World Health Organization has cautioned against using geographic descriptors because it leads to ethnic discrimination. Since the December 2019 outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan, China, the infection has grown to more than three million confirmed cases and more than 200,000 confirmed deaths worldwide, and in the United States, over one million cases have been reported as of May 3.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan, Chapter 2 Community Vision, Goal IV Safe and Healthy Community:
To maintain Sunnyvale’s traditional high level of public health and safety, so all residents, employees and visitors feel safe at all times and in all places in the City.
General Plan, Chapter 6 Safety and Noise, Goal SN-3 Safe and Secure City:
Ensure a safe and secure environment for people and property in the community by providing effective public safety response and prevention and education services.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a "project" with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378 (a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
DISCUSSION
At the May 14 Board of Directors meeting, the Cities Association of Santa Clara County, an association of the 15 Cities of Santa Clara County, unanimously supported a resolution to denounce the anti-Asian sentiment arising due to fears of the Covid-19 Pandemic and affirming their commitment to the well-being and safety of Asian-Pacific American Communities.
According to the US Census Bureau, the County of Santa Clara is one of the first minority-majority counties in the nation, and as such, Asians have been the largest racial group since 2014. Currently, Asians make up nearly 38 percent of the county’s population. Incidents of discrimination, hate crimes, and microaggressions against Asian Americans of all ethnicities are on the rise throughout the country as they are being blamed for the COVID-19 virus.
The attached Resolution joins cities, counties, and states across the country in affirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of Asian-Pacific Americans and in combating hate crimes targeting Asian-Pacific Americans. The Resolution is consistent with the Statement on Our City Values and Public Service (Attachment 2) adopted by the Council on February 2, 2017 (RTC No. 17-0070). In unanimously adopting the Statement on City Values and Public Services, the City Council expressed its commitment to “protecting people of any race, religion, ancestry, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, Sunnyvale Public Library and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt a Resolution Denouncing Xenophobia and Anti-Asian Sentiment Due to the COVID19 Pandemic and Affirming City of Sunnyvale Support of and Commitment to the Well-Being and Safety of Asian American Communities.
2. Do not Adopt a Resolution Denouncing Xenophobia and Anti-Asian Sentiment Due to the COVID19 Pandemic and Affirming City of Sunnyvale Support of and Commitment to the Well-Being and Safety of Asian American Communities.
3. Take other action as directed by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution Denouncing Xenophobia and Anti-Asian Sentiment Due to the COVID19 Pandemic and Affirming City of Sunnyvale Support of and Commitment to the Well-Being and Safety of Asian American Communities.
Staff
Prepared by: Michelle Zahraie, Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Statement on Our City Values and Public Service
3. Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center (Hyperlink)