...needed by March 13, 4pm

Friends,

Hopefully you are aware that some members of the ED County Board of Supervisors are on a mission to disband the County Human Rights Commission.

As Allyson Tabor of the South Lake Tahoe Democratic Club wrote: "This County needs a Human Rights Commission. Incidents of bigotry, hate and unequal access to resources are part of what some residents experience every day. But human rights are not limited to discrimination and social interactions. Human rights include freedom from domestic violence, along with access to clean water, clean air, public health and shelter. These are all County issues we face right now."

The more people speak up and object to disbanding HRC, the better.

Item 23-0283 Clerk of the Board, based on direction provided the Board of Supervisors, recommending the Board: 1) Approve the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5175 amending Title 2, Article XIV, Section 2.20.110 (et.seq.), dissolving the El Dorado County Human Rights Commission; and 2) Waive full reading of the Ordinance, read by title only and continue the matter to March 21, 2023 for Final Passage (Second Reading). 

Link to BOS March 14 Agenda

HOW TO HELP

1. WRITE AN EMAIL in support of keeping Human Rights Commission, before 4pm on Monday, March 13, to Clerk of the Board at [email protected]. Clerk of the Board will share it with all 5 Supervisors and it will be placed in public record. Refer to Item 23-0283 in the subject line of your email.
2. ATTEND THE BOS MEETING VIA ZOOM and make a statement (3 minute maximum) on Tuesday, March 14. Raise your "Zoom hand" when they call the agenda item, not when they are taking open comments - but if in doubt, raise your hand and they will politely correct you if you need to wait for the item. Be sure to thank the Board for their time. Here is the Zoom link: https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/87250355168.
3. ATTEND THE BOARD MEETING IN PERSON on Mar 14 at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, and speak during the public comments for item 23-0283. You don't have to be a brilliant public speaker, you can read your written statement, 3 minutes or less. Again, be sure to thank the Board for their time.
4. NOTE the exact time of the agenda item is unknown. The BOS meeting starts at 9a, and this agenda item should not be called before 10am but they may move it around.

KEEP IN MIND: Comments or emails do NOT need to be long or detailed, but are most effective if they are your personal words, not a "form letter" or copy/paste. Even a couple sentences of your own words will be helpful. If you have observed or experienced violations of human rights in the county, speak from your experience.

LINKS click to open

Link to BOS March 14 Agenda

Helpful document on contacting your Supervisor AND history of Human Rights Commission

The above document includes:

• How to Communicate with BOS
• How to Participate in a BOS Meeting
• Overview of Effort to Disband HRC
• List of HRC Ordinances and legal documents
• History of HRC ACTIONS 
• Select Media Coverage
• Some Letters to the Board re HRC
• Links to 1-24-23 and 2-14-23 BOS meetings with transcriptions, time-stamps and summaries
• more

Submit your email to Clerk of the Board before 4 PM on Monday, March 13th to ensure the Supervisors have opportunity to review it and so that the letter is included as part of the public record.