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Home My WebLink AboutCC_2023_06_13_Public Comment by Email1 Lara Christensen From:Ford, Jennifer Sent:Monday, June 12, 2023 4:36 PM To:City Council Cc:Lara Christensen Subject:Proclamation Recognizing LGBTQ+ Citizens of Atascadero Attachments:Proclamation Recognizing LGBTQ+ Citizens of Atascadero.docx Dear Mayor Moreno and City Councilmembers, Thank you for bringing the Proclamation Recognizing LGBTQ+ Citizens of Atascadero to your agenda. I have attached Assemblymember Addis’ letter of support. Kindly, Jen Ford Senior Field Representative Assembly District 30 Official Website - Assemblymember Dawn Addis Representing the 30th California Assembly District (asmdc.org) ATTENTION: This email originated from outside the City's network. Use caution when opening links and attachments. Dear Mayor Moreno and City Councilmembers, I am writing to express my wholehearted support for the Proclamation Recognizing LGBTQ+ Citizens of Atascadero, which is currently under consideration. As an advocate for inclusivity and equality, I believe it is imperative to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's invaluable contributions to your City. By officially recognizing the LGBTQ+ community, Atascadero will join a growing number of cities across our Assembly District in affirming the rights, dignity, and equality of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This proclamation will serve as a symbol of unity, acceptance, and support for our LGBTQ+ friends, family members, and neighbors. It also demonstrates a commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all residents. It sends a powerful message that diversity is not only accepted but celebrated within your City and the Central Coast. Moreover, embracing diversity and inclusivity has far-reaching benefits for our community. It enhances our cultural fabric, strengthens social bonds, and promotes economic growth. By actively promoting an environment that values and embraces all individuals, we can create a stronger and more vibrant Atascadero. I commend Mayor Moreno and the City Council for considering this important proclamation, and I encourage you to fully support and adopt it. I am grateful for your leadership and dedication to making Atascadero a City that truly represents the values of equality and acceptance and I agree that this proclamation aligns perfectly with the City of Atascadero's mission to serve, build community, and enhance the quality of life for all residents. Sincerely, Dawn Addis Assemblymember 30th District 1 Lara Christensen From:Nicole Sent:Monday, June 12, 2023 12:38 PM To:City Clerk Subject:6.13.23.Public Comment Consent Calendar Item A 3. Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council Members, My public comment today is one of thanks. As the Field RepresentaƟve for SEIU Local 620 who represents our members and employees at the City of Atascadero, I would like to thank you for focusing your efforts on recruiƟng and retaining quality employees. This 3% increase to the cost of living adjustment is much appreciated by all of our members. When the current employment contract was negoƟated no one had a crystal ball and could have imagined the record high inflaƟon we have and are experiencing especially here on the Central Coast of California. Our bargaining unit appreciates this gesture of good faith. We would also like to thank City Manager, Rachelle Rickard and all City staff that was involved in making these side leƩers and adjustments possible. Thank you Rachelle for your years of service to the City of Atascadero and all of your efforts to improve the lives of your employees as well as this community. Thank you all. Sincerely, Nicole Bryant Field Representative SEIU Local 620 ATTENTION: This email originated from outside the City's network. Use caution when opening links and attachments. 1 Lara Christensen From: David Broadwater Sent: Friday, June 9, 2023 9:37 PM To: City Council <CityCouncil@atascadero.org> Cc: Heather Moreno <hmoreno@atascadero.org>; Susan Funk <sfunk@atascadero.org>; Charles Bourbeau <cbourbeau@atascadero.org>; Mark Dariz <mdariz@atascadero.org>; Heather Newsom <hnewsom@atascadero.org> Subject: Pride Month Proclamation 6-13-23 Atascadero City Council, Please read, and place into the record, this two-page letter regarding the Proclamation Recognizing LGBTQ+ Citizens of Atascadero on your 6-13-23 agenda. It focuses on the social circumstances and psychological conditions of LGBTQ youth, and some solutions. Thank you, David Broadwater ATTENTION: This email originated from outside the City's network. Use caution when opening links and attachments. to: Atascadero City Council re: Proclamation Recognizing LGBTQ+ Citizens of Atascadero date: 6-13-23 I moved to town in 1972 from Southern California with our one- year-old child to raise a family. My daughter and son are raising two children, each, of their own here - three generations of our family making our home here for over 50 years. We want to make our town even better. Please explicitly declare June as Pride Month in Atascadero. This is my second letter to you on this matter (see “Atas City Council - June = Pride Month” email 6-8-13). I wish to add some information to that missive regarding, especially, young LGBTQ people, who are particularly vulnerable to the social environment in addition to the usual travails adolescents and young people go through growing up. They need our protection, welcome and nurture more than adult LGBTQ people, as has been reported in recent research and surveys about and of them, although young heterosexual people and the whole LGBTQ community are suffering and need it as well. The following are excerpted quotes from those sources, which I’m not citing here for brevity, but the information is widely available for those interested. rates of… mental health problems among all young people have been rising for the last decade, but non-heterosexual students face far higher rates than straight students. About 70 percent of high school students who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual reported persistent sadness… twice the rate of their heterosexual peers. One in five attempted suicide in the past year, nearly four times the rate of straight young people. … roughly half [of transgender youth] had considered suicide in the past year. The findings… showed high levels of violence, depression and suicidal thoughts among lesbian, gay and bisexual youth. More than one in five of these students reported attempting suicide in the year before the survey… rates of suicidal thoughts have trended upward among LGBTQ young people over the last three years 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide and LGBTQ youth of color reported higher rates than their white peers. 73% of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety 58% of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing symptoms of depression 36% of LGBTQ youth reported that they have been physically threatened or harmed due to either their sexual orientation or gender identity. 31% of LGBTQ youth reported that they have been physically threatened or harmed due to their sexual orientation. 37% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported that they have been physically threatened or harmed due to their gender identity. 73% of LGBTQ youth reported that they have experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity at least once in their lifetime. Protection, Welcome and Nurture Help: LGBTQ youth who felt high social support from their family reported attempting suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate social support. LGBTQ youth who found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide. LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not. David Broadwater Atascadero