#452 07-02-68 Approve Human Rights Commissionc
Resolution No. 452 July 2, 1968
Member Carlson introduced the following resolution and MOVED its adoption:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Golden Valley Human Rights Commission has been requested by
many citizens of this community to review the role of the community in the
racial problems of the metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, A Great many of the citizens of this community have earnestly
petitioned the Commission to recommend to the Mayor and Village Council of
the Village of Golden Valley such steps as may seem appropriate; and
WHEREAS, The Golden Valley Human Rights Commission is an advisory body
to the Village Council of the Village of Golden Valley which is required to
review matters involving the human rights of the citizens of the community
and to make recommendations to the Council with regard thereto; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Commission believe that the assassination
of Dr. Martin Luther King on April 4, 1968, has brought home the need for
each community to examine its own role in the racial crisis facing this
nation and to take concrete steps to meet the problems created thereby.
NOW, THEREFORE, It is resolved by the Human Rights Commission of the
Village of Golden Valley, Minnesota:
That there is a national trend toward worsening
relations between the races. This trend is well doc-
umented in the data submitted to this Commission in
the "Report of the National Advisory Commission on
Civil Disorders" commonly referred to as the Riot
Commission Report published in March of 1968. This
report indicates very simply that the Negro population
of the central cities is increasing, both by natural
growth and by in -migration, while the white population
is decreasing. As of 1966, the Negro population in all
central cities totalled 12.1 million persons. By 1975
it has been estimated by the Riot Commission that the
Negro population of the central cities in this country
will increase to 16 million, or 25% of the total central
city population. This increase in Negro population will
bring with it a correlating demand for jobs, housing and
education.
Job opportunites, however, are not growing within
the central city at the same pace. The Minneapolis
metropolitan area is a part of the same trend. The
Summary Report of the Minneapolis Community Improvement
Program adopted by the Minneapolis City Council on
June 30, 1967, indicates a substantial flight of indust-
rial concerns and therefore of employment opportunities
from the central city to the suburbs. The Summary Report
indicates that 25% to 50% of Minneapolis housing has
reached a critical point in condition and age.
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Resolution No. 452
July 2, 1968
According,•to the same Report 1/4 of all of the
city's housing units were deteriorated or lacked
necessary plumbing facilities as of 1960. These
inadequacies fall disproportionately on the Negro,
community. The Riot Commission Report has the
following to say:
"About 2/3 of the lowest income group --
or 20% of all Negroes --are making no
significant economic gains despite con-
tinued general prosperity. Half of the
'hard core disadvantaged' --more than
2 million persons --live in the central
city neighborhoods. Recent special
censuses in Los Angeles and Cleveland
indicate that the incomes of persons
living in the worst slum areas, have
not risen at all during this period,
unemployment rates have declined only
slightly, the proportion of families
with female heads has increased, and
housing conditions have worsened even
though rents have risen." Riot Com-
mission Report, p. 252,
This inequity was a major source of
the civil disorder occurring in 1967•
"Social and economic conditions in the
riot cities constituted a clear pattern
of severe disadvantage for Negroes
compared with whites, whether the Negroes
lived in the area where the riot took
place or outside it. Negroes had com-
pleted fewer years of education and
fewer had attended high school.
Negroes were twice as likely to be un-
employed and three times as likely to
be in unskilled and service jobs.
Negroes averaged 70% of the income
earned by the whites and were more than
twice as likely to be living in poverty.
Although housing cost Negroes relatively
more they had worse housing --three times
as likely to be over crowded and sub-
standard. When compared to white suburbs
the relative disadvantage is even more
pronounced." Riot Commission Report, p. 8.
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Resolution No. 452 July 2, 1968
How does all of this affect our community?
The Human Rights Commission believes that over the
next ten to fifteen years this community will see
a significant growth in the Negro population of
the central city and a corresponding increase in
the need for job opportunities, education and
decent housing. We are also likely to see, how-
ever, a continuation of the trend of the flight
of industry to the suburbs, a growing concentration
of the minority population groups within the
central city, a continuation of the trend of housing
deterioration accompanied by an increase in the
cost of housing. Even today, according to the
Summary Report, one out of five Minneapolis
families has an income at or approaching poverty
levels. The plain fact is very simple --in the next
ten to fifteen years neither the housing, education
nor job opportunities provided by the central city
will be sufficient to meet the needs of the Negro
and other minority communities. That burden will
fall to an increasing extent on the first tier
suburbs. It is essential, therefore, that each
suburban community begin now to respond to these needs.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That certain goals be recommended to the Mayor and
Village Council of the Village of Golden Valley as a guide to action and as.
a demonstration of the community's ability and willingness to respond to
the needs which will be imposed upon it.
The Human Rights Commission suggests three goals or principles to
guide the community's efforts. They are as follows:
1. That the Community will, through its governing
body, adopt policies and programs and encourage
efforts to turn back the trend which the Riot Commis-
sion has clearly documented toward two societies --one
black, the other white separate and unequal.
2. That the community recognizes that over the next
ten to fifteen years, it must be ready, willing and
able to respond to the legitimate demands upon municipal
government occasioned by the racial crisis in this country.
3. That the community can make immediate and meaningful
plans to stem disorder and racial strife which may arise.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That initial steps be recommended as follows;
1. That the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission
be directed to seek to establish an active relation-
ship with the chairmen of the Village Planning Commission,
the Village Park Commission, the School Boards,, and
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Resolution No. 452
July 2, 1968
representatives from other municipal and community
organizations to meet periodically to discuss pro-
posed programs, to delineate the means of imple-
mentation; to resolve difficulties of operations;
and to generally coordinate programs related to
human rights of citizens.
2. That the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission
be directed to solicit the cooperation of property
owners in reviewing the possible areas of discrimi-
nation and residential housing in the Village of
Golden Valley and to report to the Council thereon.
3. That the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission
be directed to solicit the cooperation of employers
in reviewing the possible areas of discrimination in
employment within the Village of Golden Valley and
to report to the Council thereon.
4. That the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission
be directed to seek the cooperation of and consult-
ation with School Boards and officials in matters
relating to minority problems and human rights.
5. That the Village administration be directed to
review the opportunities for minority employment
within the municipal government and be encouraged
to employ minority group persons.
6. That the Village administration, Park Commission
and School Board members and officials be encouraged
to initiate highly visible pilot programs to indicate
the community's willingness to follow the above princ-
iples. An example might be the making of the commun-
ity parks and playgroungs available to central city
residents under the auspices of neighborhood action
groups or other appropriate groups.
7. That the Village administration and the Human
Rights Commission be directed to prepare for consid-
eration by the Village Council of the Village of
Golden Valley contingent plans for the preservation
of law and order in the event of demonstrations or
disorder. These contingent plans should have in
mind the finding of the Riot Commission that prior
planning and preparation is essential to the swift
and efficient control of demonstrations and disorder.
It is suggested that these plans might include:
(a) the training of seasoned policemen
and other municipal officers in the per-
sonal relations involved in responding to
civil disturbances;
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Resolution No. 452
July 2, 1968
(b) developing plans which will quickly
muster maximum police manpower and quali-
fied seasoned officers at the outbreak of
any disorder or any disorder or planned
demonstration;
(c) providing special training in the
prevention of disorders and controlled
demonstrations with proper field communi-
cation and discipline;
(d) developing guidelines for the use of
control equipment and providing alternatives
for the use of lethal weapons;
(e) establishing an intelligence system to
provide police and other public officials
with reliable information that may help to
prevent the outbreak of a disorder or to
institute effective control measures;
(f) developing continuing contacts with
minority group representatives;
(g) establishing machinery for neutralizing
rumors and enabling the community to obtain
facts regarding demonstrations and disorders.
8. That the Village law enforcement officials be directed
to cooperate with the Hennepin County court system and
Hennepin County attorney's office and other municipal
attorneys in providing fair, efficient and expeditious
disposition of offenders during the time of disorders.
Review of municipal ordinances regarding offenses likely
to occur in the event of disorder might be appropriate.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That by adopting these relatively simple initial
steps the community will develop a highly effective ability to respond to
the pressures which will undoubtedly be imposed upon it in the near future
and will, as a consequence, stem the trend toward racial strife.
Attest:
Village Clerk
Mayor
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Resolution No. 452
July 2, 1968
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly
seconded by Member Garis, and upon vote being taken thereon the
following members voted in favor thereof: Carlson, Garis, Stockman,
and Teresi; and the following voted against the same: None, where-
upon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted, signed
by the Mayor and his signature attested by the Village Clerk.
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