City Council of Cathedral City’s Affirmation Statement on Community Inclusiveness
As we enter 2017, the City Council of Cathedral City would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in our community a very Happy New Year. Additionally, the City Council and City Staff reaffirm its commitment to making Cathedral City an inclusive community where all people are welcome and where all families feel safe and secure.
We share the values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all residents. Public Safety is integral to the core of that mission. We strive to provide Police, Fire and Emergency Medical services to everyone in our community and we are proud of our public safety employees and the dedication to service they demonstrate every day of the year. Forging relationships between our public safety personnel and our residents is the reason Cathedral City has one of the lowest crime rates in the Coachella Valley.
Beyond our foundation of excellent service, the following pillars rise above to formulate our pledge to the residents of Cathedral City:
• Every person in our community, regardless of their race or ethnicity, gender, religion, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity is a valued member of our community and is entitled to equal protection of the law.
• Every person must feel free to do their part in promoting public safety by reporting crime and no victim should ever be afraid to do so because of their immigration status or any personal characteristic. To that end, it is the policy of the Cathedral City Police Department that persons reporting crime need not fear that doing so will lead to any immigration enforcement action by the Cathedral City Police Department. Further, the department will not detain or report persons otherwise eligible for release based upon civil immigration status.
• City services are equally available to everyone in our community regardless of their race or ethnicity, gender, religion, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
• The City of Cathedral City is committed to the policy of non-discrimination as stated in the Municipal Code Chapter 11.88, “It is hereby declared as the public policy of the city of Cathedral City that it is necessary to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all persons to be free from all forms of arbitrary discrimination, including discrimination based upon sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, or disability.”
Inclusiveness is integral to the fabric of our community. When we understand and mutually respect our diversity, then there is no barrier that can stand in our way towards prosperity in 2017. Everyone deserves the right to live, work and play without fear as they pursue their American Dream.
