CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland City Council members say they originally introduced significant  legislation to promote racial equity and inclusion in early March with intentions on moving it forward, but the COVID-19 crisis delayed it. Wednesday, they passed legislation declaring racism a public health crisis. 

“Racism is a sickness and is an illness, and it is a public health crisis,” Councilman Blaine Griffin said.

“The data is irrefutable that your race has a whole lot to do with your health outcomes. And if you don't believe that you're either choosing to be ignorant or you just don't want to hear it, but he data is irrefutable and overwhelming,” Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley said.

Merle Gordon, director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health, says the action is timely, but also long overdue. 

“Especially after what happened in Cleveland, around this world, around this country, this weekend and in the last few days, over the last 400 years, we just want to say that we are behind this 100 percent and look forward to working on these issues and really making sure that we are really demonstrating, measuring and really making an impact and not just using words and overtures," said Gordon.

Councilman Basheer Jones says this legislation will lead to action. 

“It has to have life. It has to come in the form of diversity in the police department and the safety forces. It has to come in the form of those organizations that Councilman Griffin talked about. We need to see more diversity on bank boards, more diversity on foundation boards. We need to see diversity and equity all across the city,” Jones said.

The Cleveland Department of Health, Cleveland City Council, and supporting community organizations will partner to develop health policies for people of color and create ways to measure success and track progress. 

“This working group, that will be comprised of a number of committed individuals from the community, will help to develop what these metrics are, where we start, what kind of policies and what kind of procedures need to be developed and enacted in order to make sure that this resolution, this work, really is impactful, meaningful and really has systemic change in our community,” said Gordon.

Councilman Blaine A. Griffin says the action plan they are developing is already gaining attention. 

“Since this legislation has passed the health services committee, we've gotten several calls from other cities across the state of Ohio as well as across the country that want to do the same thing that Cleveland is doing," Griffin said.

The resolution, that Kelley says will improve the quality of life for all Clevelanders, passed with no objection and is sponsored by every member of the Cleveland City Council. 

“I want to thank everybody very much. This is one of the most significant things we've done and the work now lies ahead of us, so thank you so much,” said Kelley.