Sponsor
Alderman Shakoor, Fair, Sarrazin, Shields, Kaplan, Kaprelian-Becker, Weidner, DeHahn, Shakoor, II, McCarthy, Wiser, Helding, Hall, Morgenroth, Hart and Mozol
Title
Civil Discourse Resolution
WHEREAS, the concept "of the people, by the people and for the people" suggests that elected officials at all levels of government have a responsibility to try to build community; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution stresses the importance of insuring domestic tranquility and promoting the general welfare of the people; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Constitution proclaims that governments are instituted for the purpose of securing the inherent rights of citizenry to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and
WHEREAS, in recent years we have been witness to an increasing challenge in general society and our own community including greater political and socio-economic polarization, the deterioration of civil interaction, and decreased sense of common ground among individuals with divergent perspectives.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Racine City Council encourages elected officials at all levels of government, at any time the public's business is being conducted, maintain the following standards of civility:
1. Maintain an atmosphere of tolerance that fosters thoughtful deliberations of the measures under consideration and encourages citizen participation.
2. Exercise responsibility both in the exercise of the speaker's rights and in protecting the rights of others, including those who disagree.
3. Advance programmatic and process oriented solutions for difficult communal issues that afford opportunities for disparate voices to be heard, respected, considered and valued.