Press Advisory
For Friday, April 23, 2021
Contact: Drew Phelan 508-404-7515 Dphelan@csea760.com
Alisah Blake 860-908-4946 Ablakeorganizer@gmail.com
The SEBAC Racial Justice Committee Stands in Support of the Demands to Dramatically Increase the State’s Financial Commitment to Communities of Color to Address & Disrupt Systemic Racism
In the wake of yet two more children dead from violence in Connecticut’s cities - one only three years old -- SEBAC’s Racial Justice Committee stands in strong support of the demand of Senators Moore, McCrory, Winfield, Representatives Miller, and many others that the State of Connecticut dramatically increase its financial commitment to address and disrupt the systemic racism in education, employment, health, housing, and incarceration that contribute to proximity violence in urban communities.
The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition’s members live throughout Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns and experience firsthand, the inequitable outcomes from disinvestments in public services, and underfunding of public structures and resources in urban communities.
“The persistence of racism, and other forms of invidious discrimination is the greatest stain on our great American democratic experiment, and the greatest obstacle against true progress for all of Connecticut’s families,” said Julius Preston, CSEA SEIU Local 2001 Staff Representative and SEBAC Racial Justice Committee member, “It puts a shadow on so many aspects of the lives and opportunities of our communities, from housing, to education, to economic advancement, from safe and livable communities and cities to rewarding and productive careers, and yes on employment in public service. The communities, organizations, and political leaders on the front lines in combating urban violence deserve our support and they will have it.”
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View the full statement below:
Statement of the SEBAC Racial Justice Committee in Solidarity With the Demand of Senators Marilyn Moore, Douglas McCrory, Gary Winfield, State Representative Patricia Billie Miller and other leaders For Resources and Supports For Youth To Disrupt Race-Based Educational, Economic, Health and Housing Disparities
The Racial Justice Committee of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) stands in strong support of the demand of Senators Moore, McCrory, Winfield, Representatives Miller, and many others that the State of Connecticut dramatically increase its financial commitment to communities of color to address and disrupt the systemic racism in education, employment, health, housing, and incarceration that contribute to proximity violence in urban communities. Our state must invest in proven programs in marginalized communities to interrupt and address the manifestations of decades of racist funding, and policies and practices—e.g., redlining, over-policing, and underinvestment in social services to prevent or mitigate violence and trauma in urban communities. SEBAC’s members live throughout Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns. Our members see and experience firsthand, the inequitable outcomes from disinvestments in public services, and underfunding of public structures and resources in urban communities.
Two more children are dead—one just three years old and the other sixteen. A mere $350 thousand is “invested” annually in Hartford to provide resources and opportunities for youth as an alternative to the activities created in the void that contribute to youth unrest, poor judgment, and far too often deadly consequences. In a state budget of well over $20 billion a year, buttressed by billions more in federal aid for the pandemic, $350 thousand does not reflect a meaningful commitment to support urban communities; it does not deserve to be called an “investment” in efforts to create safe, well-resourced, livable urban communities.
Our Coalition testified in strong support of the bills, HB 6662, and SB 1, that would correctly declare racism a public health crisis. We told the Appropriations Committee:
The persistence of racism, and other forms of invidious discrimination is the greatest stain on our great American democratic experiment, and the greatest obstacle against true progress for all of Connecticut’s families. It puts a shadow on so many aspects of the lives and opportunities of our communities, from housing, to education, to economic advancement, from safe and livable communities and cities to rewarding and productive careers, and yes on employment in public service.
It is no coincidence that as urban communities become gentrified the quality and availability of public services, resources and investments once nonexistent or substandard when the inhabitants of the community were people of color, vastly improve when the community demographics shift. The myriad tentacles of race-based inequities produced and now sustain America’s founding principle and untreated pandemic—racism. Therefore, we stand with and thank those political leaders who have shown the courage to demand a safe community and a bright future for all Connecticut residents—particularly three and sixteen year old children—regardless of zip code. We join you in this just and moral fight to dismantle racist structures, policies and practices that do not support antiracism; and an equitably funded and resourced present to ensure a safe and brighter tomorrow for all Connecticut residents--particularly our children and residents in marginalized communities.
