San Rafael, CA – With consideration of growing concern about human rights nationwide, the Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution that affirms equity and inclusion as priorities in our County and takes a stand against all forms of discrimination and intolerance.
Executive Director Cecilia Zamora of the Latino Council of Marin speaks to the Board of Supervisors in support of the equity resolution.
“The County of Marin rejects the politics of division, bigotry, hate and fear,” the resolution reads. “We will fight for the rights, freedoms and interests of all members of our community.”
Board President Supervisor Steve Kinsey said passing the resolution during his final Board meeting before retirement meant a lot to him.
"From our founding forward, America has struggled, yet aspired to be a nation that values liberty and justice for all,” Kinsey said. “Having worked with numerous individuals and organizations striving to further these ideals during my time on the Board of Supervisors, I think it is timely and useful to assure those who are uncertain or afraid that their local government values and supports them and that we will do all that we can to insure their safety, inclusion, and civil rights. The resolution expresses in words the deeper values we want to define our community through time."
District 3 Supervisor Kate Sears, a co-sponsor of the resolution with Kinsey, mentioned at the December 6 Board meeting that she was troubled by language of distrust, disdain and division both before and after the November 8 election.
“What resonates most for me now is the power of community and the importance of acting locally to protect the values we cherish: community, acceptance, respect, integrity and compassion,” Sears said. “So let’s join hands and go forward with energy and engagement, working together to creatively solve problems and enrich the lives of everyone in our community.”
The County’s 5 Year Business Plan, approved by the Board of Supervisors in October 2015, focuses on equity and inclusion as County staff strives to be a more responsive government. The plan was developed after 12 months of collaboration and input from members of the Marin community and hundreds of employees.
“Recent events and rhetoric have contributed to the fact that many in our community are fearful – fearful of discrimination, fearful of hate, fearful of deportation, and fearful of exclusion from a community in which they belong,” Assistant County Administrator Angela Nicholson told the Board. “Marin County has a role in maintaining and creating equity for our residents.”