Racism declared local public health emergency

"African-Americans have ten years less of a life expectancy in Sonoma County than whites. We've seen a significant increase in the likelihood that Blacks are going to be homeless in Sonoma County.

photo credit: Marc Albert/KRCB
Man unleashes racist tirade at Board of Supervisors

Acknowledging glaring differences in life expectancy, medical coverage and incomes, Sonoma County's board of supervisors last week unanimously declared racism a public health crisis in the county.

The resolution is an admission that equality remains elusive, even in a region seeing itself as enlightened and welcoming.

Tina Rivera, the county's director of health services said she is among those who regularly face racist behavior and assumptions.

"I stand with those who, like me have suffered discrimination, micro-aggressions, bigotry, physical, mental and emotional harm. Because as a black woman living, yes, I live in this county, and working in Sonoma County has been extremely difficult.

Rivera said such incidents have had her re-evaluate her path.

"It's been very, extremely difficult to remain here, but yet I have. For those of us who have endured years of trauma, who have persevered and simply pushed through and often suffered in silence, today, we raise our voices because silence will not serve us today."

Gabriel Kaplan, director of the county's public health division, laid out some of the racial disparities to the board.

"African-Americans have ten years less of a life expectancy in Sonoma County than whites. We've seen a significant increase in the likelihood that Blacks are going to be homeless in Sonoma County. In fact, Blacks are four times more likely than whites to be homeless. Black people are 2.3 times more likely and Hispanic/latinx people are 4.1 times more likely not to have health insurance, than whites. And Black and Latino children are about 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty, than their white counterparts," Kaplan said.

During public comment, resident Ann Selgado called racism common locally.

"It's been a cancer who spreads in all the systems. The health system, to school, even at the neighborhoods."

Retired educator Laurie Fong said those who have the biggest problems in terms of prejudice, are usually the least aware.

"[LOUD SIGH] Racism is pervasive, it's real and it's invisible to those most racist," Fong said.

But, not everyone was on board.

Three men called out the policy as wrong-headed, and part of a broader scheme to denigrate whites while unfairly lavishing nonprofit agencies with tax money.

One man, who did not identify himself, implied the resolution was part of a conspiracy to reduce the white share of California's population.

The board, like many other local governmental bodies, has heard similar racist and anti-Semitic comments in recent months.

Board Chair David Rabbitt confronted the speaker for veering off-topic.

[Rabbitt] "You need to address the board...Your conduct is interfering with this meeting and is keeping the business of the county from being completed. As chair, I request that you stop disrupting the meeting."

[Speaker] "Reset my time for a minute and thirty seconds.

[Rabbitt] "No, you have your time go ahead---

[Speaker] "Because I am not leaving this podium until I get one minute and---

[Rabbitt] If you don't leave the podium I'm going to ask the deputies in the room to help you leave the podium--

[Speaker]--I'm not leaving."

Supervisor Chris Coursey noted the disruptive comments proved at least one point.

"First of all I guess I have to thank a few people who showed up today for answering the question, 'why do we need to declare racism a public health crisis [applause] that's not meant to be funny, it's a serious problem, we live with it."