Mayor Taylor, Vice Mayor Combs, Council members Nash, Carlton and Mueller and Staff, According to staff report definition of institutionalized bias from Encyclopædia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/topic/institutionalized-bias >, an example of institutionalized biased practice that works to systematically dis-advantage a certain group of residents is how the staff choose to communicate with the residents of Menlo Park. The creation and maintaining a one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring all residents receive the most current information appears based on certain assumptions. These assumptions are made without consideration of whether or not all residents have access to reliable internet, email, smart cellphone, member of Nextdoor, or through an up to date phone number through the San Mateo County Elections Office. Inclusive communication has been included in every survey of the Belle Haven neighborhood since 1999. Residents have consistently requested to be included in Menlo Park’s outreach with specifics to and within the Belle Haven neighborhood. The most recent survey in 2014 produced a commitment by the city to produce a “regular” Menlo Park Belle Haven News email which began 2016. Since the March 11, 2020 declaration of local emergency Belle Haven residents have received 26 alerts while Menlo Park City News has sent 32 alerts to the rest of the city. Since residents have to sign-up for individual Alerts they wish to receive, there is no guarantee that Belle Haven residents receive the Menlo Park News such as the Weekly Digest or any other Alert unless they are aware that additional information is included that may not be found in the Belle Haven News. Whether an oversight or a product of institutionalized bias, it appears that how staff have interpreted the TIERS Public Engagement Framework has been unsuccessful in addressing communication through multiple platforms and methodologies including regular mailers. The demonstrated incapability to address institutional bias as applied to inclusive and dynamic communication requires a different approach that includes a willingness to admit what is not working and a deep commitment to change. Stay well, Pamela D. Jones, Resident Belle Haven Neighborhood The impossible dissipates when I becomes WE. Received on Tue Jul 14 2020 - 16:44:31 PDT
