The vote comes nearly twenty two months after local advocate, Lyone LaGrone wrote his own Human Rights Ordinance and presented it to the Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission.
“Our city has to have ways for people who are experiencing pain to have that pain relieved. An ordinance helps protect individuals, but also helps remove some of the pain and the sting of society by saying this is what we believe, this is how we will operate in this community.”
That’s Tommy Allen the head of the Community Relations Commission – a resident volunteer group responsible for writing the first iterations of the policy and presenting it to city officials.
Not only does the ordinance fine those who make racially biased 911 calls but also outlines what discriminatory employment and housing practices entail; and provides a process for residents to file a complaint. If someone is found to have violated the ordinance, they could face a civil infraction of up to $500.
According to Stacy Stout, Assistant to the City Manager, the ordinance will provide a place for folks to bring their concern to a single place.
“When someone is experiencing discrimination – that’s very traumatic, right, that’s very stressful and for them to have to navigate the many systems, so this is more community friendly and so that’s really exciting that we are going to partner with Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Fair Housing and others.”
The ordinance will be effective as of December 1 of this year.
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News.
