Council Votes Without Dissent To Support Declaring 2nd Monday In October "Indigenous People's Day"; Second Vote Coming Likely Next Week '

' Council Votes Without Dissent To Support Declaring 2nd Monday In October "Indigenous People's Day"; Second Vote Coming Likely Next Week '

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Council Votes Without Dissent To Support Declaring 2nd Monday In October "Indigenous People's Day"; Second Vote Coming Likely Next Week

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(Oct. 4, 2017, 9:10 a.m.) -- As seen LIVE on LBREPORT.com, the City Council voted 9-0 on Oct. 3 to instruct the City Attorney to draft a resolution recognizing October 9th, 2017 and every second Monday in October henceforth, as Indigenous People's Day. The item was agendized by Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce, joined by Councilmembers Suzie Price and Daryl Supernaw, using the Council's "short notice" procedure that bypassed the usual eight day public notice period for the action. The formal resolution will return for a Council enacting vote (likely on Oct. 10.)

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When the resolution returns, it will have missed this year's second Monday of the month, a matter Councilwoman Pearce (the item's lead agendizer) may have failed to grasp when she advanced the item, since she had to amend her recommended Council action on the floor to give the City Attorney a week to draft the resolution (put it in legal form) for a subsequent Council vote (likely next week.)

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With a supportive audience crowd, Mayor Robert Garcia moved the item (added near the end of the agenda) to near the start of the Council meeting (it ran from 6:30-7:11 p.m.) and Councilmembers voiced their support for the action before hearing public testimony (all of which was in support.)

Earlier that day, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 (Barger dissenting) to replace the County's observance of "Columbus Day" to "Indigenous Peoples Day" starting in 2019, and directed remove and replace references to "Columbus Day" as an County holiday and on County documents. In late August 2017, the L.A. City Council voted 14-1 (Buscaino dissenting) to declare "Indigenous Peoples Day" an official L.A. city government holiday. The LB City Council's action was tame in comparison, not directing any these formal actions...and the Pearce-Price-Supernaw agendizing memo avoided polarizing leftish-verbiage or any mention of Christopher Columbus. The second Monday in October is "Columbus Day" continues to be observed as a federal and state government holiday as "Columbus Day" with some but not all federal/state government offices and banks closed.

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But public speakers weren't as gentle. Some held capitalism responsible for genocide and oppression of native Americans and for despoiling the environment. Others said the Council action was important to mark past cruelties and injustices that they said continue today in various forms.

LB's Mayor-chosen/Council approved Human Relations Commission recommended the Council action more than five months ago. and it's not clear why Councilwoman Pearce (joined by Price and Supernaw) waited over five months to propose it. The Councilmembers' memo briefly mentioned, but didn't attach or quote, the Human Relations Commission's recommendation (following a 10-0 vote on April 13) that strongly urged the Council to adopt a resolution to observe Indigenous Peoples Day on the 2nd Monday in October on an ongoing annual basis. The Commission's recommendation letter, read aloud at the Council meeting at the public speaker's podium, stated in part that the Council action would put "an appropriate focus...on the genocide, struggles and contributions of Native Americans instead of celebrating the colonialism and oppression associated with Christopher Columbus."

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In their agendizing memo, Councilmembers Pearce, Price and Supernaw wrote:

[Pearce, Price, Supernaw agendizing memo text] Long Beach is recognized for its diverse culture and population. Celebrating the historical roots of our land and of our people is what has established Long Beach as one of the most inclusive cities in California.
Southern California, and large areas in Long Beach were inhabited by a variety of Native American Tribes. Among these tribes were the Tongva, whose village was developed in sections of California State University, Long Beach. Thus, the indigenous population has held a vital part of our history. The challenges that Native Americans faced following colonialism should be portrayed as a symbol of strength and growth for our city. As leaders of a city whose identity is reflected upon embracing equal respect among our culture ethnic groups, we believe it to be our moral obligation to recognize our indigenous population.
This resolution is in reference to the Human Relations Commission's recommendation for an Indigenous People's Day. This action is also in recognition of diversity, respect, and unity within the city of Long Beach. In declaring the 2nd Monday of October Indigenous Peoples Day we are acknowledging the challenges that Native Americans faced, and upholding openness and cultural awareness within our communities and our government institutions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact

Historians might also note that Columbus didn't "discover" North America; he first landed in the Bahamas and later on Caribbean islands and along central and south American coastal areas instead of reaching Asia where he'd hoped to enter the spice trade. His voyages began the period of economic colonization of the "New World"...and in 1992 (five hundred years from the first of Columbus' four voyages), the Berkeley City Council declared the date "Indigenous Peoples Day." After Berkeley, some other CA cities followed including Richmond, Santa Cruz and Sebastopol

In late September 2017, a "resolution" declaring "Indigenous Peoples Day" by the Burbank City Council resulted in a polarized 3-2 vote.