County Needs a Human Relations Commission

Recent articles and commentaries have acknowledged the existence and increase of hate / bias incidents and crimes in Ventura County. As the coordinator of the Santa Barbara County Human Relations Commission, I would like to urge the creation of a human relations commission in Ventura County.

Human relations commissions have formed throughout the state and nation over the past several years as a response to the need for organized, cohesive efforts to combat hate and bias incidents and all forms of intolerance that threaten the health and vitality of our communities.

The Santa Barbara County Hate Crime Network was formed in November 1998 by the Human Relations Commission in response to local concerns that hate and bias incidents in our community were occurring at an increasing rate and were not being reported, for a variety of reasons. Since that time, representatives from criminal justice, community-based and educational organizations, as well as concerned individuals, have met monthly to increase trust and communication among ourselves and within our respective communities.

We have developed a hate / bias incident reporting process that provides community-based organizations a way to document incidents that are brought to their attention that might otherwise go unreported. This process allows law enforcement agencies to become aware of trends and incidents in the community and requires all of us to respond in ways that will demonstrate a commitment to confronting indications of hate and bias wherever they might emerge, preferably before a crisis. It is always preferable to respond thoughtfully to a potential threat than to be forced to react, unprepared, to a devastating crisis.

The Santa Barbara County Human Relations Commission co-sponsored the initial meeting of the U.S. Attorney’s Tri-County Hate Crime Working Group in November 1998. Another meeting of that group was held in Ventura in April of this year, and was well-attended by Ventura, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara county criminal justice representatives. The additional benefit that a local, county-based human relations commission can provide is to reach out and encourage the participation of typically underrepresented groups in the community and sponsor projects to foster better relationships and communication among those groups.

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The California Assn. of Human Relations Organizations (CAHRO) provides detailed information and resources regarding the formation of a human relations commission on its Web page, www.cahro.org. I am also more than happy to respond to any inquiries regarding the function and activities of the Santa Barbara County Human Relations Commission. I can be reached at 568-2706 or via e-mail at mogorm@co.santa-barbara.ca.us.

I lived and worked in Ventura County for many years, and have countless friends and familyin the county. I have faith in the dedication and concern of most County residents who I know are committed to confronting the emergence of hate and bias incidents.

Mary E. O’Gorman is coordinator of the Santa Barbara County Human Relations Commission. She was a Ventura County deputy probation officer from 1995 to 1996 and is a graduate of Newbury Park High School.