Title
Resolution to Request that Councilmember Jeff Hayner Resign from the Ann Arbor City Council
Body
Whereas, On July 16, 2018, the Ann Arbor City Council affirmed its leadership in the One Community initiative and its commitment to dismantling institutional inequities and biases to ensure that race, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or disability does not determine someone’s chances in life;
Whereas, On July 20, 2020, the Ann Arbor City Council declared racism as a public health crisis;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council strives to be actively and consciously anti-racist in our policies and practices;
Whereas, On May 12, 2021, an article written by journalist Samuel J. Robinson, “Jeff Hayner not backing down from debate over offensive language as recall petition moves forward,” was posted on MLive;
Whereas, While the article initially focused on the recall petition against Councilmember Hayner, Mr. Robinson reported that Councilmember Hayner “used the n-word in its entirety,” stating that, “he prefers to use the ‘actual words’ instead of using abbreviations or euphemisms”;
Whereas, It is also reported that in the same interview, Councilmember Hayner repeated the n-word again, elaborating upon his view that, “these words don’t just go away because people who are offended by them;”
Whereas, Councilmember Hayner has neither denied nor apologized for use of this harmful language;
Whereas, Regardless of intent, there are words that acquire a power to do harm by virtue of our society’s history of violence, erasure, and harassment against dominated and non-normative populations;
Whereas, Members of the community most directly impacted by this language have voiced concerns regarding the harm caused by these actions;
Whereas, This is not the first time that Councilmember Hayner has been disciplined by the Ann Arbor City Council for using denigrating and offensive language;
Whereas, The actions of Councilmember Hayner are unbecoming of a councilmember; and
Whereas, The presence of a councilmember who unapologetically voices racial slurs creates harm to the community, distances community members from their government, and degrades the efficacy of local government.
Resolved, That the Ann Arbor City Council requests that Councilmember Jeff Hayner resign from his elected position as Ward One Councilmember as soon as possible.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Grand, Eyer, and Mayor Taylor