San Gabriel Council meeting on March 19, 2024 (Photo – Chasity Jennings-Nuñez)
Reaction to the March 5th proposal by three San Gabriel councilmembers to terminate the City’s Human Equity, Access and Relations (HEAR) Commission was on display at Tuesday night’s general City Council meeting.
By News Desk
Although the proposal was not on the agenda of the March 19 meeting, in-person attendee and online public comments concerning the Commission and their previously proposed All Are Welcome Program continued for two hours, extending the meeting to over four hours.
The (HEAR) Commission was created in October 2020 and serves as an advisory body to the San Gabriel City Council. Its purpose is to “advance and advocate for equity, access, diversity, social justice, safety, mutual appreciation, increased cultural competency, positive inter-group relations, and respect for all members of the San Gabriel community.” On March 5th, Councilmembers Denise Menchaca, Eric Chan and Mayor John Harrington, requested a future agenda item to terminate the commission.
Over 40 members of the public utilized the General Public Comment agenda item to express their opinions and feelings. Comments were from a broad cross-section of the San Gabriel community, including high school students, parents, business owners, young and older residents. Sentiments were overwhelmingly in favor of continuing the HEAR Commission as well as in support of the recently proposed LGBTQ+ public safety decal program “All Are Welcome”. Most were delivered by San Gabriel residents, but representatives from LGBTQ advocacy groups like The Wall Las Memorias, PFLAG, and the SGV LGBTQ center were also present with in-person support.
Comments in favor of disbanding the commission focused on a perception that, at the February 27th HEAR Commission meeting, the Commissioners inappropriately engaged the Youth Ambassadors who sit on the Commission in the discussion of LGBTQ issues. The Commissioners were also accused of asking the Youth Ambassadors to engage fellow students at Gabrielino High School to appear before the City Council to share their experiences as members of the LGBTQ community.
One of the last comments submitted online was a letter sent from First District Supervisor Hilda Solis in support of maintaining the HEAR Commission.
It is anticipated that this issue will appear on the City Council Agenda in early May.
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