HomeMy WebLinkAbout120524 email - RE_ PUBLIC COMMENT_ Use of _citizen_ in Jefferson County government documentsDear Tom,
Thank you for your comments regarding the use of the word “citizen” and the importance of using more inclusive, and, accurate terms.
I’m in the process of updating the Personnel Administration Manual and instead of “citizen” will be using terms such as people, the public or residents.
The plan is to have the Manual updated and adopted by March, 2025.
Sincerely,
Sarah Melancon (she/her)
Jefferson County, WA
phone: 360-385-9133
From: Tom Thiersch <tprosys@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2024 12:03 PM
To: jeffbocc <jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Cc: Mark McCauley <MMcCauley@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Sarah E. Melancon <SEMelancon@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT: Use of "citizen" in Jefferson County government documents
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Commissioners,
As I have said before, I’m particularly sensitive to the correct use of the word “citizen” because I have the privilege of being a naturalized citizen**.
I recently looked up some information in Jefferson County’s Personnel Administration Manual and found, to my dismay, that the word “citizen” is used throughout (11 places) when the intent
is simply to refer to members of the public, regardless of their citizenship status.
The Jefferson County Code has 51 “hits” in 35 sections according to the search tool in https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/JeffersonCounty/. Some of those 51 occurrences are innocent,
as in “Citizen band radio transmitters”, but most are not.
A citizen is a natural person (a living human being) who, by place of birth, nationality of one or both parents, or naturalization is granted full rights and responsibilities as a member
of a nation or political community.
Instead of “citizen”, especially in the context of government writings, it is more accurate to use more inclusive terms like people, the public, residents, or users. Use “citizen” only
when the specific meaning (US citizenship) is necessary; for example, when describing one who is eligible to vote in federal elections. Be specific only when necessary and as inclusive
as possible at all other times.
My request to the BoCC is that you direct staff to:
* create a policy to ensure that all new official documents of Jefferson County will use “citizen” correctly;
* conduct a thorough, systematic review of all existing official publications of Jefferson County with the goal of replacing the inaccurately used word “citizen” with the correct term(s);
* complete such review not later than the end of 2025.
Thank you,
Tom Thiersch
**I am very concerned about many of the proposed policies of the incoming administration. One such policy would deport millions of US residents, even including many who were born in
the US to non-citizens; i.e., disregarding the 14th Amendment’s “birthright citizenship” provisions. Recent estimates place between 250,000 and 300,000 undocumented immigrants in WA.