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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR HEARINGS FOCUSED ON BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has a population of 2.7 million, of which 33 percent is black, and Cook County has a population of 5.2 million, of which 25 percent is black; and
WHEREAS, the State of Illinois in 2016 had an overall unemployment rate of 5.7 percent; and
WHEREAS, unemployment among white Illinoisans in 2016 was 5 percent; and
WHEREAS, the unemployment rate for black Illinoisans in 2016 was 12.7 percent; and
WHEREAS, unemployment in the majority black communities of West Garfield Park, Austin, and Englewood is above 20 percent; and
WHEREAS, there is a direct correlation between increased unemployment and increased violence; and
WHEREAS, nationally, whites are employed at a rate of 2 to 1 compared to their black counterparts, but in Illinois that rate is 3 to 1; and
WHEREAS, this is an urgent issue facing the City, County, and State; and
WHEREAS, the Human Relations Committee of the County Board will hold joint hearings with the Chicago City Council’s Human Relations Committee regarding policy solutions to this important issue.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the President of the Board of Commissioners that the Human Relations Committee will hold public hearings to explore policy solutions to the high black unemployment rate in Illinois.end