City of Green Bay
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Green Bay’s city council has passed a resolution committing to an economic and social bill of rights.
The vote was 9 to 3 and came after more than an hour of discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Out of reflection on America’s 250th anniversary, Alderperson Jon Shelton says he formulated “A Resolution Proclaiming the City of Green Bay’s Commitment to an Economic and Social Bill of Rights.”
“I would compare this to the Declaration of Independence, which outlined a vision,” said Shelton.
It is a resolution, which means the document is non-binding.
The resolution lists 10 items, which include the right to clean drinking water, a job with a living wage, quality public education, healthcare, quality and affordable housing, clean energy, worker voice in the workplace including union and collective bargaining, and ability to participate in free and fair elections.
“This is the kind of thing we can use to chart our path over the next couple of years,” said Shelton.
The resolution also calls on the state legislature to “share revenue with local units of government and empower them to advance these rights by restoring local controls so every resident in Green Bay enjoys these deserved rights.”
“I guess what I’m nervous about with this is the measurables,” said Alderperson Jen Grant. “What do you count as affordable housing? What’s that number?”
“We can discuss the specifics as we go forward, but these are here to highlight what we want to protect as a city,” said Jim Hutchison, Vice President of the council. “I think it makes a ton of sense.”
Eleven members of the public spoke on the issue. Nine voiced clear support, one was against, and one had concerns.
“Employers, housing providers, hospitals, utilities, taxpayers, finance staff, legal counsel, wouldn’t they like to have input in such an all-encompassing proclamation?” questioned Cynthia Narence of Green Bay.
“This should not be a partisan issue,” said Tara Yang, the chair of the Green Bay Equal Rights Commission. “These are not polarized political concerns. These are community concerns.”
While council members agreed the issue isn’t partisan, the outcome of the vote appeared to be. Three of its known conservative members (Jen Grant, Melinda Eck, Bill Morgan) voted against the resolution with known liberal members among the most vocal of the nine supporters.
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