May 4th is the National Day of Reason in 2024 and into the future. One of the ways we have wantÂed to mark the occasÂsion is to have the city counÂcil issue a resÂoÂluÂtion markÂing the day in the city. We weren’t preÂpared for how hard it realÂly is to get it done. That’s why we startÂed a petiÂtion.
Back in 2019, SHoWLE reached out to the Mayor of Toledo about issuÂing a proclaÂmaÂtion but his office declined and then the panÂdemÂic hapÂpened and our efforts fell by the wayÂside.
This year we decidÂed to focus on the city counÂcil since they have issued resÂoÂluÂtions for a whole host of issues with the most recent being demandÂing a cease fire in Gaza. So how hard could it be?
There is no writÂten forÂmal process but in talkÂing to a long time comÂmuÂniÂty activist, they sugÂgestÂed emailÂing the counÂcil presÂiÂdent with the request. We did that and heard nothÂing back. Not even a thank you for sendÂing this email. After reachÂing out again, the presÂiÂdent respondÂed back that our request had been missed and she declined to sponÂsor a resÂoÂluÂtion from us.
A resÂoÂluÂtion has to be sponÂsored by a memÂber of counÂcil and this being a resÂoÂluÂtion from a non-religious group to mark a day about reaÂson, there were not many counÂcil memÂbers to approach who would welÂcome our request. We idenÂtiÂfied anothÂer counÂcil memÂber known for their proÂgresÂsive stances on the issues and advoÂcaÂcy for social jusÂtice and reached out to them. Never heard back. Again not even an acknowlÂedgeÂment they got the mesÂsage.
In conÂsultÂing our comÂmuÂniÂty activist friend again, he menÂtioned that counÂcil is innudatÂed with requests like ours all the time, they have no forÂmal office or staff at city hall, and most times they won’t act on anyÂthing unless they know citÂiÂzens are requestÂing it and will back their efforts.
That’s where our petiÂtion comes into the picÂture.
We’ve startÂed a petiÂtion with the goal to ask the Toledo City counÂcil to adopt a Day of Reason resÂoÂluÂtion. The National Day of Reason is May 4th. so it is most likeÂly too late this year to get a resÂoÂluÂtion adoptÂed but we will share the petiÂtion with the counÂcil for next year’s Day of Reason. Won’t you help us out?
*Note* We would realÂly like to limÂit the signÂers to peoÂple who live in the city of Toledo but if you don’t you can still help us out by makÂing a donaÂtion to SHoWLE.