MH City Council assures residents that they will stand up against hate

Following city of San Jose’s lead, Morgan Hill sends out letter of assurance

Published in the January 4-17, 2017 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Staff Report

With growing concerns across America about potential federal government actions leading to racial and religious discrimination following the 2016 presidential election, the Morgan Hill City Council voted unanimously Dec. 14, to approve a “Statement of Support and Assurance to the Morgan Hill Community.”

“Recent national events have triggered some negative impacts in many Morgan Hill residents; fear and uncertainty about their well-being and their status in our community and country,” begins the statement which is addressed to Morgan Hill residents. “The Morgan Hill City Council and staff want to reassure our residents that we will stand up for all of them. Many of our residents are foreign-born and fear that changes in immigration rules or enforcement could separate their families. There are also concerns about proposed federal registries of community members of the Muslim faith. And the recent nationwide spike in hate crimes is causing even more fear. Here in Morgan Hill, we cannot control the events in Washington, D.C., but we can do much to care for each other here at home. We want to assure you that.”

The statement came about when San Jose Mayor Sam Licardo sent one of his regular newsletters with a similar article, said Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate who wrote the document with assistance from city staff.

“So we sort of stole the idea from him,” he said. “It made a lot of sense to send it as a statement to the residents in order to ease any concerns they may have. Other communities like San Francisco have done more formal resolutions that are much more political and even somewhat combative, but I thought a simple statement of assurance was much more appropriate for our residents.”

The Morgan Hill City Council adopted the statement because it strongly believes that all people should be treated fairly and equally, he said.

Council members believe it is important to assure all residents in our community that discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, color, or disability is prohibited under federal and/or state law and will not be tolerated in Morgan Hill, he said. Council members also believe Morgan Hill residents are highly ethical and foremost among the ethical values is respect.

“I appreciate our community and the individual efforts that make Morgan Hill a well respected and inclusive community,” he said. “Because we respect those we interact with, we treat them honestly, fairly and responsibly”.

The document passed by the council members explains and expands the American pledge of allegiance by affirming the fundamental principle that Morgan Hill remains “indivisible, with justice and freedom for all,” said Rabbi Debbie Israel of Congregation Emeth in Morgan Hill.

“They are responding to a genuine need. People indeed are worried about their security and very lives,” she said. “This righteous standard, where leaders assure all of its citizenry that they will be protected at all costs, is unique in world history. As a Jew, I know all too well what happens when a community turns its back on the vulnerable among them.”
In addition to political leadership, the South Valley Interfaith Clergy community has stated unequivocally that we all stand together, because it is the only moral, ethical, and religious standard for people of faith, Israel said.

According to the statement, hate crimes will not be tolerated in Morgan Hill, local police will not be used for federal immigration enforcement and constitutional rights will be protected.

The statement reads: “Changes to immigration laws and enforcement are the responsibility of federal policy makers. Local police should not be involved in federal immigration enforcement and our Police Officers will continue to focus their time on high priority crimes. In accordance with best practices of local law enforcement professionals nationally, we will stay out of immigration enforcement. Our priority is to maintain the trusting relationship Morgan Hill Police Officers have with our community.”