HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10a - Supporting Stand Against Hate Action Day
DATE: December 5, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Justine Bruno, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7534 DECLARING, IN PERPETUITY, JANUARY 28 AS
STAND AGAINST HATE ACTION DAY
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
Earlier this year, Arcadia was asked to support a resolution to annually designate January
28 as Stand Against Hate Action Day. The City Council expressed unanimous support to
further this initiative, which was subsequently adopted at the State level as well. The effort
to denounce all forms of hate can be accomplished with the adoption of Resolution No.
7534. It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7534, declaring, in
perpetuity, January 28 as Stand Against Hate Action Day.
BACKGROUND
In 2023, the Arcadia City Council has already taken several steps to denounce hate and
promote tolerance and acceptance of all people. These actions are evidenced through a
Proclamation in support of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (“AAPI”) Against
Bullying and Hate, issued in May 2023, and a Proclamation Denouncing Anti-Semitism,
issued in July 2023, as well as numerous statements throughout the year by individual
Council Members. During the February 21, 2023, City Council Meeting, then Mayor Pro
Tem Verlato, brought forward a request to designate January 28 as Stand Against Hate
Action Day annually. The City Council expressed unanimous support to bring this
proposal forward, which can be accomplished through the adoption of Resolution No.
7534.
On March 9, 2023, the State adopted Senate Conforming Resolution 15 (“SCR 15”) to
proclaim, in perpetuity, January 28 as the Stand Against Hate Action Day. This resolution
was first introduced by State Senator Josh Newman to encourage the people of California
to stand in unity against hate and bring awareness to the alarming increase in hate events
across the state. SCR 15 was formulated at the request of the ACT Against Hate Alliance,
Resolution No. 7534 Supporting Stand Against
Hate Action Day
December 5, 2023
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which was founded by Senator Bob Huff and Mei Mei Ho Huff, in response to the extreme
rise in hate crimes across California. The ACT Against Hate Alliance joins bi-partisan
leaders across all sectors to identify and make solutions against hate crimes an
immediate priority.
DISCUSSION
The proposed resolution is in response to the rising number of hate crimes that have
occurred across California, with an 89.6% increase in reported hate crimes and events in
the last decade. According to a 2021 report from the California Department of Justice,
from 2020 to 2021, there was a 12.5% increase in Black or African American hate crimes;
a 29.6% increase in Hispanic or Latino hate crimes; and a 177.5% increase in Asian hate
crimes. The same report also notes a 47.8% increase in hate crime events against real
or perceived sexual orientation as well as 32.2% rise in Antisemitic or Jewish hate crimes.
Over 40% of all hate crime victims never report these incidents to law enforcement,
leading to chronic underreporting and less awareness. To combat the rise in hate crimes,
cities like Arcadia, can pass resolutions in support of Stand Against Hate Action Day as
well as increase public education and outreach on hate crime reporting and available
resources. Other neighboring cities, like the City of San Gabriel, have passed a resolution
for the same purposes. With the proposed resolution, Arcadia calls upon its community
members to denounce hate and promote inclusion and tolerance. By adopting Resolution
No. 7534, the Arcadia City Council will declare January 28 as Stand Against Hate Action
Day in perpetuity.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”) per Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, and it can be seen
with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the City’s budget as a result of adopting this resolution.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution
No. 7534 declaring, in perpetuity, January 28 as Stand Against Hate Action Day.
Attachment: Resolution No. 7534