Philadelphia leaders said that in the year since the city pledged to address systemic racism, the police department has changed, invested in minority businesses, and moved towards making health care more equitable.

The road to reform, transformation and reconciliation Held in June 2020 after the death of George Floyd to demonstrate the city’s commitment to reforms.This One-year progress report Released earlier this week.

“Solving decades of systemic racism cannot simply be accomplished in a year,” Kenny says“But we believe that we are learning from the past, taking responsibility for our mistakes and driving change, which will make our government and our city stronger for all Philadelphians.”

The main priorities of the initiative are:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive police reform agenda
• Review city budgets, rebuild small businesses and strengthen businesses owned by ethnic minorities, women and persons with disabilities
• Dialogue between institutions and residents to address structural racism and racial inequality in the city; review public landmarks, monuments and holidays
• Address COVID-19 racial and economic differences.

In the past year, agencies, departments, community leaders and organizations have worked with the city to make changes in public safety and policing, economics, community participation and reconciliation processes, and health.

In the past year, our work has focused on:
? Police and public safety reform
? Inclusive economic recovery
? Community participation
? Health and fairness

These efforts are designed to counter the far-reaching effects of systemic inequality that affects our communities in general.

— Jim #VaxUpPhilly Kenney (@PhillyMayor) June 15, 2021

Public safety and police

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw’s executive team worked with the city to update the Philadelphia Police Department’s policy on the use of force over the past year, among other changes.

In June 2020, the department updated its policy on the use of force, prohibiting sitting or kneeling on someone’s neck, face or head. Locking the throat has long been forbidden.

The department subsequently banned the use of tear gas against peaceful protesters and prohibited entry without knocking at the door.In January, they started Issue a complaint against the police And the discipline they face online.

PPD has also implemented behavioral health and mental health business reforms.

A kind Central News Agency report After George Floyd’s protest in the city last year, the police identified 77 improvements — they all accepted and implemented them.

More than 3,200 police officers have received training and certification from the Crisis Intervention Team, and more than 2,700 police officers have been educated about implicit prejudice.

Next, PPD will implement strategies to recruit more diverse personnel, rebuild trust in the community, and proactively reduce harm.

economic

The city’s path to reform, transformation, and reconciliation created a COVID-19 relief program that allocates funds to small businesses, with a focus on ethnic minorities, women, and disabled owners. It also invests in neighborhoods and communities that are disproportionately affected.

A total of US$27 million in COVID-19 relief was distributed to 3,177 businesses, of which 63% went to minority businesses.

Community involvement and reconciliation process

The Pathways initiative hosted a dialogue between residents and leaders to address racism in the city, including reviews of public landmarks, monuments, and holidays.

The city recorded approximately 7,000 city-owned assets in the database for review.

Kenny also recognized that June Festival is a holiday and changed Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. His government is working hard to make these changes permanent.

health

City Health Bureau established Coronavirus Interim Racial Equality Plan To address the differences based on race during the pandemic.

So far, more than 857,000 people in Philadelphia have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 668,000 people have been fully vaccinated.