County Council of Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Resolution No. R2020-0122
Sponsored by: County Executive
Budish and Councilmembers Brown,
Conwell, Jones, Stephens, Brady,
Miller, Simon, Gallagher and Tuma

A Resolution declaring racism a public
health crisis in Cuyahoga County, and
declaring the necessity that this Resolution
become immediately effective.

WHEREAS, the Charter of Cuyahoga County declares that the people of
Cuyahoga County desire “an improved focus on equity for all our communities and
citizens”; and
WHEREAS, almost all of the four hundred years of history for Blacks in America
has been under either slavery or Jim Crow Laws, which subjected Black people to
tremendous hardships and disadvantages in all areas of life; and
WHEREAS, the total estimated population of Cuyahoga County is 1,235,072 and
residents who are Black represent approximately 30.5% of the total population, which
equates to approximately 376,697 people; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states Public Health
is “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health
through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and
private communities, and individuals’; and
WHEREAS, Structural/systemic racism- creates a disparity between Black and
White people in nearly all aspects of people’s lives but most importantly in healthcare,
the criminal justice system, healthy food, safe and affordable housing, well-paying
jobs and business ownership opportunities, quality transportation, educational
opportunities, and safe places to be active, resulting in adverse health outcomes and
shorter life expectancies among people of color, thus creating a public health crisis; and
WHEREAS, the following are specific areas of disparity between Black and
White people in healthcare, the criminal justice system, healthy food, safe and
affordable housing, well-paying jobs and business ownership opportunities, quality
transportation, educational opportunities, and safe places to be active; and
HEALTHCARE
WHEREAS, Black people have long faced several challenges in healthcare
including higher rates of disease, lower rate of healthcare access, shorter life spans, and
poorer health conditions throughout Cuyahoga County; and

 WHEREAS, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological
Association, and the American Association of Family Physicians have said experiencing
racism can play a role in raising the risk of certain chronic health conditions in Black
people; and
WHEREAS, Black people have been diagnosed with diabetes at the rate of 25.8%
compared to only 7.7% of White people in Cuyahoga County; Black people are 25%
more likely to die of breast cancer once diagnosed than White people who are diagnosed
with breast cancer in Cuyahoga County; Black people have the highest cardiovascular
disease mortality rate among all racial/ethnic groups in Cuyahoga County; and
WHEREAS, in addition to these diseases and an endless number of other health
areas, Cuyahoga County is once again reminded how Black people are
disporoportionately affected by health crises, most recently with COVID-19, as Black
people only represent 30.5% of Cuyahoga County’s population, but represent 40% of the
County’s COVID-19 diagnoses, 45% of all the hospital admissions, and 45% of all the
Intensive Care Units admissions related to COVID-19 in the County; and
HEALTHCARE: Child Welfare
WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared racism as a public
health issue and that racism against children impacts adolescent health; and
WHEREAS, Black children in Cuyahoga County have significantly higher rates
of asthma at a rate of 21% versus 10.3% of White children; and
WHEREAS, First Year Cleveland has reported that infant mortality
disproportionately impacts the Black community; Seven out of every ten babies in
Cuyahoga County who don’t make it to their first birthday are Black; and
HEALTHCARE: Suicide Rates and Life Expectacy
WHEREAS, Black people have attempted suicide nearly three times more than
White people in Cuyahoga County; and
WHEREAS, the life expectancy of Black residents is over six years less than
White residents in Cuyahoga County; and
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
WHEREAS, Black people face widespread racism in policing and the criminal
justice system throughout this country and in Cuyahoga County; and
WHEREAS, more than half (52.6%) of Black people in Cuyahoga County
reported that they trust law enforcement compared to 84.3% of White people in
Cuyahoga County; and

 WHEREAS, according to a study conducted by Stanford University, among many
other studies, stated that Black drivers are 20% more likely to get pulled over than White
drivers; and
WHEREAS, a Yale University study found that Black people are 21.3% more
likely to have a gun drawn on them during interaction with police than White people; and
WHEREAS, sentencing policies, implicit racial bias, and socioeconomic inequity
contribute to racial disparities at every level of the criminal justice system; overall, Black
people are more likely than Whie people to be arrested; once arrested, they are more
likely to be convicted; and once convicted, they are more likely to face longer sentences;
and
WHEREAS, studies have revealed that American courts significantly set higher
bail amounts for Black people than White people facing similar criminal charges; Black
people are less likely to be released on their own recognizances (signature bonds) and
Black people ages 18-29 have their bail set significantly higher than any other group; and
WHEREAS, in Ohio, statistics show that one of every 523 White people will
spend time in prison, compared to 1 of every 53 Black people will be imprisoned for
some period of time; and
WHEREAS, in Ohio, Black people are more likely to face and receive the Death
Penalty; As of 2020, 56% of the population on Ohio’s death row are Black men; and
WHEREAS, nearly half (46.6%) of Black people in Cuyahoga County reported
that they have been stopped by law enforcement for no reason compared to only 8.1% of
White people in Cuyahoga County; and
WHEREAS, Black youth make up 42% of the population in Cuyahoga County
between the ages of 10 and 17 years old, but make up 90% of the juvenile justice system
in the County, which is eleven times more than White youth in the same age group; and
WHEREAS, although Black people make up less than one third of the population
in Cuyahoga County, Black people make up 74% of the jail population in Cuyahoga
County; and
ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS
WHEREAS, facing hunger, access to healthy foods, and food security is tied to
how close a person lives to a grocery store; and
WHEREAS, according to Feeding America, Black people are two times more
likely to face hunger on a daily basis compared to White people; and
WHEREAS, approximately one out of three people in Cuyahoga County live in a
food desert (more than a half a mile away from a grocery store); and

 WHEREAS, in Cuyahoga County, 23.5% of White people live in a food desert
compared to more than half (56%) of Black people; and
SAFE & AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WHEREAS, businesses traditionally are reluctant to invest in historically black
communities; and
WHEREAS, historical policies and practices, such as discriminatory lending
practices known as “redlining,” have shaped the differences in opportunities for safe and
affordable housing for Black people; and
WHEREAS, federal agencies financed nearly half of all suburban homes in the
1950s and 1960s, with White people making up 98% of those loans approved; and
WHEREAS, the neighborhoods in Cuyahoga County that consist of majority
Black populations have the highest rates of lead poisoning; and
WHEREAS, nearly half (49%) of White people in Cuyahoga County believe that
housing is safe and affordable compared to only 26% of Black people; and
WHEREAS, more than two-thirds (70.9%) of White people in Cuyahoga County
believe their neighborhoods are quiet and/or extremely safe from crime versus only
42.7% of Black people; and
WELL-PAYING JOBS & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
WHEREAS, in Cuyahoga County, Black people are disproportionately
represented in low wage occupations such as health care support, food services, and
custodial services compared to White people who disproportionally represent higher
wage occupations like management and engineering; and
WHEREAS, in the Cleveland Metropolitan Area, the median income for White
residents is 2.1 times more than that of Black residents, which equates to a $60,000
average income for White residents compared to $28,000 average incomes for Black
residents; and
WHEREAS, remaining virtually unchanged since before passage of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, the average wealth of White households is more than 6 times the
average wealth of Black households; and
WHEREAS, Black people in Cleveland are 1.7 times more likely to be living in
poverty than White people; and
QUALITY TRANSPORTATION

 WHEREAS, transportation has long been a barrier for Black people; 4 times the
amount of Black people than White people in Cuyahoga County rely on public
transportation to get to their jobs, go grocery shopping, medical appointments, school,
and other activities; and
WHEREAS, a fifth (20%) of all Cuyahoga County households located in a food
desert do not have a vehicle; and
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
WHEREAS, Black students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are 1.7
times more likely to be suspended than their fellow White students; and
WHEREAS, Black residents are up to 4 times more likely to not have home
internet access, known as digital redlining, in Cuyahoga County compared to White
resident; and
WHEREAS, in Ohio, approximately 61% of Black people graduate High School
compared to 86% of White people; and
WHEREAS, more than a third (38.9%) of White people in Cuyahoga County
have a bachelor’s degree or higher education compared to only 14.7% of Black people;
and
SAFE PLACES TO BE ACTIVE
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that Black
people experience obesity at a rate of 44.1% compare to White people at 32.6%; and
WHEREAS, numerous studies and medical professionals have linked access to
green space and parks to the physical behavior of people; access to parks and green space
is much lower in neighborhoods largely occupied by Blacks than Whites; and
WHEREAS, evidence also shows that people will not exercise if they don’t feel
safe in their neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the conditions that shape health such as access to healthcare, the
criminal justice system, healthy food, safe and affordable housing, well-paying jobs
and business ownership opportunities, quality transportation, educational
opportunities, and safe places to be active, are not spread equitably across Cuyahoga
County, resulting in significant differences in health outcomes, life expectancy and infant
mortality; and
WHEREAS, Cuyahoga County seeks to address the impact of racism on public
health at all levels of County government; and

 WHEREAS, Anti-racism requires fundamental changes to all structural systems in
Cuyahoga County; for equitable policies and programs to be effective, attention, priority,
and resources must be allocated to the implementation of strategies that are long-term and
sustainable; and
WHEREAS, the Cuyahoga County Executive and the Cuyahoga County Council
intend to take immediate action to address these obvious and crippling inequities which
are at the root of health disparities in our community and one of the effects of racism; and
WHEREAS, because of these factors, statistics, information, and history, the
Cuyahoga County Council and Cuyahoga County Executive desire to declare racism a
public health crisis in Cuyahoga County; and
WHEREAS, Cuyahoga County is committing its resources to openly and honestly
address racism and to improve areas of all of the County’s residents including ending the
disparity between Black and White people when it comes to healthcare, the criminal
justice system, healthy food, safe and affordable housing, well-paying jobs and
business ownership opportunities, quality transportation, educational opportunities,
and safe places to be active.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF
CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO:
SECTION 1. That the Cuyahoga County Council and County Executive hereby
declare racism to be a public health crisis in Cuyahoga County.
SECTION 2. Cuyahoga County is committing its resources in all areas of its
government and throughout all of its Departments and Divisions to openly and honestly
address racism and to eliminate the disparity between Black and White people when it
comes to healthcare, the criminal justice system, healthy food, safe and affordable
housing, well-paying jobs and business ownership opportunities, quality
transportation, educational opportunities, and safe places to be active.
SECTION 3. Cuyahoga County Council and County Executive direct the County
Equity Commission and the Cuyahoga County Citizens Advisory Council on Equity to
review, focus, and provide recommendations to reduce the disparity between Black and
White people when it comes to healthcare, the criminal justice system, healthy food,
safe and affordable housing, well-paying jobs and business ownership opportunities,
quality transportation, educational opportunities, and safe places to be active
including the following areas with a status report no later than December 31, 2020:
a)

Any changes to County policies, procedures, procurement, structure of
County government, and the Cuyahoga County Code;

b)

Provide input to educate and train County employees on how their decisionmaking and work impact Black people;

 c)

Provide any recommendations to make changes to the County’s recruitment
and advancement of employees, governance, leadership, procurement
policies, economic development, specific dedication of funds, and any other
necessary changes needed through legislative action to eliminate racism in
Cuyahoga County;

d)

Provide recommendations how the County can work with the Cuyahoga
County Board of Health, and other community and interested partners, to
prioritize and identify resources for data collection and reporting on racial
disparities in health throughout Cuyahoga County;

e)

Develop and advocate for a legislative agenda at the local, state and federal
levels of government to help end racism and improve the public health crisis
that currently exists for Black people;

f)

Provide recommendations to change the 2012 Equity Plan for Cuyahoga
County to include social reform that will engage County employees at all
levels of government, community partners, and populations who obtain
services through the County in the following core ares: healthcare, the
criminal justice system, healthy food, safe and affordable housing, wellpaying jobs and business ownership opportunities, quality
transportation, educational opportunities, and safe places to be active;
i.

The strategic planning process shall integrate equity and social
reform in all major areas of County Government including:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Leadership, Operations, and Services
Policies, Budgets, and Contracts
Organizational Culture and Workforce
Community Partnerships
Communication and Education
Facility and System Improvements;

g)

The strategic plan’s goals and objectives will be aligned with the County’s
biennial budget process in order to oversee all monetary actions towards the
design, monitoring, and advancement of equitable strategies County-wide;

h)

The County Equity Commission and Cuyahoga County Advisory Council on
Equity will make recommendations for a data-measurement stategy for
determining and publicy reporting outcomes to the County Executive and
County Council on an annual basis.

SECTION 4. The County Equity Commission and and the Cuyahoga County
Citizens Advisory Council on Equity will provide regular updates to the County
Executive and the County Council, including the Human Resources, Appointments &
Equity Committee.

 SECTION 5. Cuyahoga County is committed to implement policy changes in
response to the findings or recommendations from the County Equity Commission and
the Cuyahoga County Citizens Advisory Council on Equity.
SECTION 6. It is necessary that this Resolution become immediately effective
for the usual daily operation of the County; the preservation of public peace, health, or
safety in the County; and any additional reasons set forth in the preamble. Provided that
this Resolution receives the affirmative vote of at least eight members of Council, it shall
take effect and be in force immediately upon the earliest occurrence of any of the
following: (1) its approval by the County Executive through signature, (2) the expiration
of the time during which it may be disapproved by the County Executive under Section
3.10(6) of the Cuyahoga County Charter, or (3) its passage by at least eight members of
Council after disapproval pursuant to Section 3.10(7) of the Cuyahoga County Charter.
Otherwise, it shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by
law.
SECTION 7. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council
relating to the adoption of this Resolution were adopted in an open meeting of the
Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and of any of its committees that
resulted in such formal action were in meetings open to the public, in compliance with all
legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
On a motion by ___________
Resolution was duly adopted.

, seconded by ______________, the foregoing

Yeas:
Nays:
_________________________
County Council President

__________
Date

_________________________
County Executive

__________
Date

_________________________
Clerk of Council

__________
Date

First Reading/Referred to Committee:
Committee(s) Assigned:
Journal __________

  2020