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ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY

 

Introduction

At the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, we want a world where everyone is treated fairly and equally. We know that is not yet the world that we live in, and acknowledge that there is power and privilege that we must work to address to level the playing field.

We have a zero-tolerance policy for harm and harassment. The Downtown Association of Santa Cruz reserves the right to decline membership privileges to anyone violating this policy. A person whose membership privileges are revoked shall remain obligated to pay all applicable Business Improvement Assessments, and any other taxes or applicable business fees. This policy is shared on our website along with contact information for reporting negative experiences, and a list of individuals who can respond to concerns.

 

Guidelines

We seek to build a community where everyone feels supported to show up as their best self and share their unique contributions with one another. We believe that we create our best work in the world in an environment where everyone can thrive. We seek to support our members in being in community with one another in a way that dismantles oppressive systems present in society at large.

To create a space where everyone feels welcomed and supported, we ask all members in our community to follow these guidelines:

  • Respect others. 
  • Assume the best. 
  • Stand up for yourself. 
  • Engage in constructive dialogue. 
  • See what you can learn from another's point of view.
  • Do not harass others, and do your part to prevent and stop harassment. Contribute not only through refraining from engaging in harassing behavior yourself, but by standing beside and in support of others who you see experiencing forms of harassment.


What is harassment?

What is harassment? Harassment can be verbal, physical, or emotional.

Harassment includes:

  • Offensive comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, citizenship status or religion.
  • Use or abuse of a position of privilege or power to manipulate or extort others into doing something about which they are hesitant or uncomfortable.
  • Unwelcome comments regarding a person's lifestyle choices and practices.
  • Unwelcome sexual attention.
  • Unsolicited or off-topic sexual images, references, behavior, or advances.
  • Physical contact and simulated physical contact (e.g., textual descriptions like "*hug*" or "*backrub*") without consent or after a request to stop.
  • Coercion, pressure, or repeated suggestions to engage in the consumption of alcohol or drugs.
  • Threats of violence.
  • Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm.
  • Deliberate intimidation.
  • Deliberate misgendering.
  • Stalking or following.
  • Harassing photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes.
  • Sustained disruption of discussion.
  • Pattern of inappropriate social contact, such as requesting/assuming inappropriate levels of intimacy with others.
  • Continued one-on-one communication after requests to cease.
  • Deliberate "outing" of any aspect of a person's identity without their consent.
  • Publication of private communications.

 

Reporting Process

If you are involved in or witness any wrongful conduct while doing business with the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, we encourage you to notify us by emailing director@downtownsantacruz.com. Emails are treated confidentially and initially reviewed by the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz’s Executive Director, and the Board of Directors Chair and Vice-Chair.