Laserfiche WebLink
<br />ATTACHMENT A <br /> <br /> <br />Summary of Comments from Communities of Color Members’ Discussions with the <br />Mayor and Councilors <br /> May/June 2006 <br /> <br />Perspectives on the Issues <br /> <br />? <br /> Major concern is violence against women, not racial bigotry. <br />? <br /> City’s policies and promises are good in theory but not in practice. <br />? <br /> Staff works with the community but is not connected back with Council in an <br />ongoing way. <br />? <br /> We’ve gone through the meetings and focus groups and most people in the <br />community are tired of being asked to participate over and over. <br />? <br /> Relationship with communities of color and the City: “When we need you, <br />we call you.” <br />? <br /> Constant dispute undermines trust. <br />? <br /> A racism-free community would be one where there are opportunities and <br />equality for everyone and every community member would be valued. <br />? <br /> We will know when we have achieved a racism-free community by the <br />number of minorities who choose to stay here and become involved. <br />? <br /> Minority males have a tough time with EPD. <br />? <br /> Progress has been steady and happening in small increments. <br />? <br /> There is a tension and conflict between people of color being recognized for <br />their race and being labeled by it. <br />? <br /> Attitudes and feelings about race in Eugene depend on where you sit and <br />how you view the world. <br />? <br /> The message to the people of color in the community is that they are not part <br />of the power structure in the city. <br />? <br /> There is a question of how overblown race issues become in this city. <br />? <br /> There have been lots of good faith efforts. <br />? <br /> Insensitivity is a key issue. <br />? <br /> It makes people more comfortable when there are a significant amount of <br />others of your race or ethnicity. <br />? <br /> There are still some issues about how people of color are singled out in local <br />stores. <br />? <br /> There is a lot of class bias in Eugene that is often seen as race bias…race and <br />class issues are linked. <br />? <br /> There is an implication regarding efforts to assist people of color. It is that <br />“we” have to help “them” because they are incapable of helping themselves <br />which reinforces an unconscious prejudice based on assumed superiority. <br />? <br /> Latinos are keen to be part of the fabric of Eugene and full participants, not <br />just an entertaining special event. <br />? <br /> There is an impression that, real or not, the Muslim community feels <br />oppressed in part due to the politically charged climate at the national level. <br /> 1 <br /> <br />