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While the Commission has broad responsibilities to respond to human and civil rights issues as they arise, we are limited to dealing with community problems, not individual discrimination issues. If you have a question and/or problem of this nature contact:
Human Resources Department
994-2803
The Commission can:
- recommend new laws to Council (though we do not pass laws);
- monitor polices and recommend changes to them (though we do not have enforcement powers);
- examine the larger issues that may surround an individual complaint such as police discrimination or discriminatory hiring practices (though we do not investigate specific complaints)
Currently, the HRC is working in three general areas:
Police/Community Relations: The issue of racial profiling (also known as Driving While Black) has been a long-standing concern of the commission. After receiving the recommendation of the Commission that the Police should begin collecting information on stops that are made, the Council passed a resolution requiring the AAPD to begin collecting this data on July 1, 2000. The HRC has been monitoring the data collection process which is being analyzed by John Lamberth and Associates in Pennsylvania (one of the country’s leading experts on racial profiling statistical analyses). The Police Department expects the results of the study to be released sometime in April or May 2003.
Affirmative Action: In 1995, after an extensive investigation, which included public hearings, into the hiring and promotion practices of the City, The Commission recommended to Council that the City adopt an Affirmative Action Plan. At that time, the Ann Arbor City Council became one of the few municipalities to champion Affirmative Action at a time when many were backing away from this important employment tool. The Commission continues to monitor the City's progress on this plan as one of its highest priorities.
Public Education: The Commission has hosted public hearings on Driving While Black (racial profiling), on the issues surrounding the collection of DNA from blood samples during the serial rapist investigation; and employment practices of the City. Op Ed pieces ("Other Voices" columns) have appeared in the Ann Arbor News on topics including benefits for domestic partners of City employees, Human Rights of Iraqi citizens, the Homeless Shelter, Affirmative Action, and the role of police in the public schools.