GUEST EDITORIAL
Marching for justice in San Gabriel (File Photo – Cheryl Cabot)
On October 20, 2020, the San Gabriel City Council approved Ordinance 670 establishing the Human Equity, Access and Relations (HEAR) Commission. It is the first commission of this kind in the San Gabriel Valley.
By Chasity Jennings-Nuñez
The formation of the HEAR commission was the result of calls from San Gabriel citizens to address the bias and systemic racism that affects the community. Mayor Denise Menchaca and Councilmember Jason Pu were appointed to a City Council subcommittee to further evaluate and advise the entire council. With the additional support of Councilmembers Chin Ho Liao and Tony Ding, San Gabriel takes the lead in addressing the inequities and unequal access that prevent all residents from contributing fully to the growth and success of the community.
What is the HEAR Commission?
It is a citizen advisory body to the city council. Its purpose is to advance and advocate for equity, access, diversity, social justice, mutual appreciation, increased cultural competency, positive inter-group relations and respect for all members of the San Gabriel community. The commission will review city policies and practices to ensure they are being fairly and equitably administered. It will also facilitate public forums and activities to educate and encourage respectful dialogue around the many facets of discrimination. Racism, sexism, homophobia, and unequal treatment based on income level, ethnicity and religion are all areas the commission will address. Seven commissioners will be appointed by the City Council from applicants who have expressed an interest and are committed to the purpose of the HEAR commission. Monthly meetings will be open to the public.
Support for the commission has come from a diverse group of San Gabriel residents, religious leaders and businessowners. SGPD’s Chief Harris has stated that he is committed to leading a department with a “Zero-Tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, fear or favor” and the department will “adhere to the principles set forth in the development of the HEAR Commission.” Despite this support, a few residents have attempted to spread misleading and false information, primarily using the social app Nextdoor, to divide the community. Claims that the commission’s actual purpose is to de-fund the police have appeared in numerous comments and posts from the same few residents on the site. Mayor Menchaca has addressed these concerns on several occasions during the city council meetings on this agenda item. While the inciting events of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s murders and the subsequent national calls for police accountability and re-imagined policing were the impetus for promoting a wider discussion about social justice in San Gabriel, the HEAR commission is not a police oversight or budget review board.
As the country grapples with the how to address systemic racism and implicit bias, one of the few agreed on steps is the need for open dialogue, data collection and education. San Gabriel’s HEAR Commission is a step in the right direction on a very long road.
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