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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2006.08.03 - 10502MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #06130 BY: Commissioners Eric Coleman, District #23 and Mattie McKinney Hatchett, District #10 IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – OPPOSITION TO MICHIGAN CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS many decisions of the United States Supreme Court have ruled that Affirmative Action is necessary and legitimate for realizing true equality in our great nation, which is growing increasingly diverse and multicultural; and WHEREAS California businessman Wardell Connerly has launched a misleading and deceptive campaign to amend Michigan’s Constitution and would outlaw Affirmative Action and nullify the Supreme Court’s legacy of supporting Affirmative Action; and WHEREAS the County of Oakland has long recognized that the diversity of its citizens is one of its most valuable assets and further recognizes that it must be allowed to continually review and improve its processes to increase diversity among its workforce and contractors to better reflect the composition of the county and better serve its residents; and WHEREAS the deceptive Michigan Civil Rights Initiative is certain to have broad and far reaching negative consequences by irreparably harming the ability of all Michigan residents to enjoy a fair chance in education and employment; and WHEREAS the proposed constitutional amendment would remove the ability of locally elected officials to bring about diversity within the operation of local government by violating the fundamental principle of local control that is embodied in the Michigan Constitution, Home Rule Cities Act and Public Act 139 of 1973, which seeks to ensure that each governmental unit is allowed to determine how best to serve its residents; and WHEREAS numerous civic organizations, labor unions, business groups, educational institutions, persons from all political parties, religious, ethnic, and women’s organiations oppose the adoption of this amendment; and WHEREAS the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, if passed, would put an end to Constitutionally permissible efforts to provide equal opportunity for all Americans; and WHEREAS the false and divisive campaign being waged to promote this amendment will, if successful, reverse many of the advancements that have been made in race, color, gender, ethnic and national origin equality to date. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby reaffirms its support for diversity and affirmative action programs, as well as the principle of local control. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners goes on record as opposing the inappropriately named “Michigan Civil Rights Amendment” to the Michigan Constitution since it in no way furthers the civil rights of Michigan citizens and instead is completely contrary to the promotion and continuance of civil rights in this state. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages our citizens as well as our citizen organizations to become informed and educated themselves on this important issue and to actively participate in efforts to defeat this proposal. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to Governor Granholm, the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan legislature, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and the 61 cities, villages and townships in Oakland County. Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. ERIC COLEMAN, MATTIE HATCHETT, DAVID COULTER, DAVID WOODWARD, JIM NASH, MARSHA GERSHENSON, HELAINE ZACK, VINCENT GREGORY, GEORGE SUAREZ, TIM MELTON, MICHAEL ROGERS Resolution #06130 June 15, 2006 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Personnel Committee. There were no objections. Action taken at August 3, 2006 Board meeting: Moved by Hatchett supported by Gregory to discharge Miscellaneous Resolution #06130 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – OPPOSITION TO MICHIGAN CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE from the Personnel Committee per Rule XIII-F. Interim Vice Chairperson Chuck Moss assumed the gavel to allow Chairperson Bill Bullard Jr. to address the Board on the reasons he will not support discharge of Miscellaneous Resolution #06130 from the Personnel Committee. Chairperson Bill Bullard Jr. assumed the gavel. Discussion followed. Vote on motion to discharge Miscellaneous Resolution #06130 from committee: AYES: Gershenson, Gregory, Hatchett, Melton, Nash, Rogers, Suarez, Woodward, Zack, Coulter. (10) NAYS: Jamian, Kowall, Long, Middleton, Molnar, Moss, Palmer, Patterson, Potter, Scott, Wilson, Bullard, Douglas. (13) A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the motion to discharge from committee failed.