City of Dubuque Civility AccordTHE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CIVILITY ACCORD
March 7, 2011
1 -On the morning of January 8, 2011, gunshots fired in Tucson, Arizona, reverberated through all of America.
A federal judge and a nine - year -old girl were among the six people killed that day in Tucson, and
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the target of the shooting rampage, was among the 14 more who were
wounded. The pain inflicted on them and their families is shared by people across our nation.
Regardless of what the motives behind the tragedy in Tucson might have been, it occurred in an
atmosphere in which public discourse is often confrontational and lacking in civility. We in Dubuque should
use this event as a point of departure, to recommit ourselves to building a more civil society in which each
person is respected and public and political discourse are aimed at the betterment of our community,
nation, and its people and not the destruction of those with whom we disagree. As President Barack Obama
said in the January 12 memorial service for the Tucson victims, "only a more civil and honest public
discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation."
We believe that because mayors and city council members are the elected leaders closest to the people,
restoration of civility must begin with us. We are in a unique position to have a positive impact on behavior —
individual and collective — and to lead by example. While the tragedy in Tucson is the impetus for this
Accord, it represents a commitment that must live on in every elected official in our nation from this day
forward.
The City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, in order to restore civility to our communities and
through them to our nation, pledge our commitment to the following principles for civility:
• Respect the right of all citizens to hold different opinions;
• Avoid rhetoric intended to humiliate, de- legitimatize, or question the patriotism of those whose
opinions are different from ours;
• Strive to understand differing perspectives;
• Choose words carefully;
• Speak truthfully without accusation, and avoid distortion;
• Speak out against violence, and incivility in all of their forms, whenever and wherever they occur.
We further pledge to exhibit and encourage the kinds of personal qualities that are emblematic of a civil
society: gratitude, humility, openness, and passion for service to others, propriety, kindness, caring, faith,
sense of duty, and a commitment to building a more civil society.
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
Ric W. Jones
Council Member At -Large
David T. Resnick Kevin J. Lynch
Council Member At -Large Council Member First Ward
Karla A. Braig Joyce E. Connors
Council Member Second Ward Council Member Third Ward
THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
CIVILITY ACCORD
January 19, 2011
On the morning of January 8, 2011, gunshots fired in one of our nation's great cities
reverberated through all of America. A federal judge and a nine- year -old girl were
among the six people killed that day in Tucson, and Congresswoman Gabrielle
Giffords, the target of the shooting rampage, was among the 13 more who were
wounded. The pain inflicted on them, their families, and the entire Tucson community
is shared by people across our nation.
Regardless of what the motives behind the tragedy in Tucson might have been, it
occurred in an atmosphere in which public discourse is often confrontational and
lacking in civility. We should use this event as a point of departure, to recommit
ourselves to building a more civil society in which each person is respected and public
and political discourse are aimed at the betterment of our nation and its people and not
the destruction of those with whom we disagree. As President Barack Obama said in
the January 12 memorial service, "only a more civil and honest public discourse can
help us face up to our challenges as a nation."
We believe that because mayors are the elected leaders closest to the people, restoration
of civility must begin with us. We are in a unique position to have a positive impact on
behavior — individual and collective — and to lead by example. While the tragedy in
Tucson is the impetus for this Accord, it represents a commitment that must live on in
every mayor in our nation from this day forward.
Through The U.S. Conference of Mayors, we, the mayors of America's cities, in order to
restore civility to our communities and through them to our nation, pledge our
commitment to the following principles for civility:
• Respect the right of all Americans to hold different opinions;
• Avoid rhetoric intended to humiliate, de- legitimatize, or question the patriotism
of those whose opinions are different from ours;
• Strive to understand differing perspectives;
• Choose words carefully;
• Speak truthfully without accusation, and avoid distortion;
• Speak out against violence, prejudice, and incivility in all of their forms,
whenever and wherever they occur.
We further pledge to exhibit and encourage the kinds of personal qualities that are
emblematic of a civil society: gratitude, humility, openness, passion for service to
others, propriety, kindness, caring, faith, sense of duty, and a commitment to doing
what is right.
The immediate need is to help our citizens through this difficult period. Our long term
responsibility is to work with them to build that civil society.
,A
onio R. Villaraigosa Michael . Nutter
Burnsville or of Los Angeles Mayor of Philadelphia
t President Second Vice President
Robert E. Walkup
Mayor of Tucson
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TOpi Cochran
CEb and Executive Director
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PAXIS Institute
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National leaders in promoting science into practice through research, services, publications, media and training
Potential Community and National Benefits of the Mayors' Civility Accord
The Mayors' Accord (presented by Mayor of Tucson) intends to reduce incivility in daily life in America's cities
and towns. Such incivility has increased in every corner of America, according to 78% of Americans polled' —
regardless of political party, religion, culture or ethnicity. Highly regarded scientists in the United States have
widely studied such incivility, and have proved that increasing civility in homes, schools, businesses, organizations,
and communities has positive benefits on education, health, safety, business, politics and the economy.
The Benefits of Civility. A mayors' accord for civility in politics, in community, in neighborhoods, in businesses,
in schools, and in homes has the potential to inspire the following proven scientific benefits as examples:
• Improved language and cognitive development in children.
• Improved employee behavior and business success.
• Increased academic achievement, high school graduation and college entry.
• Reduced school and community vandalism costs and discipline problems.
• Reduced need for costly special education.
• Reduced prevalence of costly ADHD, without medications.
• Reduced violent injuries by and from students.
• Improved health among students and adults.
• Reduced lifetime major psychiatric disorders and improved behavioral health.
• Reduced lifetime criminal violence.'
• Reduced felony offenses and relapse of current drug offenders.
• Reduced lifetime suicidal behaviors.' 8
• Reduced lifetime alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug addictions in children, teens and adults.
When citizens negative ruminations about such incivility decrease, the US economy rebounds.
The notion that civility is good for family, business and community health ought not to come as a surprise. The idea
is embodied in every religious faith. For example, the New Testament commands that we should do unto others, as
we would have others do unto us. That is the Golden Rule.
The Dangers of Incivility. Incivility, insults, threats, name - calling, or degrading and humiliating comments have
no proven benefits for improving public safety, public health, -24 common defense or economic wellbeing.
Organized incivility has widespread adverse consequences in a free society. There are studies that show such
behaviors provide short-term gain for the perpetrators, but not for the greater common good. When incivility is
consciously invoked as a political strategy, it has another name: propaganda —used by the right or left across the
world for evil.
A Practical Science of Increasing Civility and Reducing Incivility. Every mayor knows that his or her
community can grow and prosper when civility rules. Civility does not preclude spirited, even pointed discussions,
debate, or challenges. Our Founding Fathers were spirited and passionate. Our Founding Fathers valued Reason,
which is strengthened by civility and diminished by incivility and irrationality. The proposed accord will utilize the
best peer- reviewed science to promote civility in American communities. As the Founders were scientists of
everyday events, we must be everyday scientists for improving the wellbeing, safety, health, freedom and security
of every one of our citizens —young or old, Republican or Democrat, Liberal or Conservative, rich or poor, recent
or new to America, Black, White, Red, Yellow something in between. We are all Americans.
A Call To Action. As mayors we can lead by example and moral persuasion to enlist fellow citizens, families,
neighborhoods, school boards, county officials, businesses, state officials, faith leaders, advocacy organizations,
local media and others to adopt, reinforce and spread proven practices that increase civility and decrease incivility.
1
References Cited
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2. Bradshaw CP, Zmuda JH, Kellam S, Ialongo N. Longitudinal Impact of Two Universal Preventive Interventions in First Grade on
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Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 1983;16(4):355.
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dependence. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology 2000;68(2):250 -57.
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CITY OF
TUCSON
OFFICE OF THE
MAYOR
ROBERT E. WALKUP
February 14, 2011
Mayor Roy Buol
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
SUBJECT: US Conference of Mayors' Civility Accord
Dear Mayor:
I want to personally thank you for signing the US Conference of Mayors' Civility
Accord.
We believe that a renewed commitment to civility in our professional and
personal lives is an appropriate response to the tragic events of January 8, 2011.
As President Obama said, "only a more civil and honest public discourse can help
us face up to the challenges of our nation in a way that would make [the victims]
proud."
I encourage you to share the Civility Accord with your City Council and
encourage it to adopt its own. You can also share the attached information
regarding the quantifiable, scientific studies that have measured the value of
civility to a community with local agencies in your city if it can assist them in
their efforts. The Paxis Institute is a national leader in the study of the costs and
benefits of certain behaviors to societies. Its work is widely recognized and
respected, and it is provided to you as a reference.
Additionally, I hope you will wear the enclosed lapel pin. This "civility" pin will
demonstrate your commitment to civility to your community.
Thank you for joining me in this important effort. I truly believe that America's
Mayors can lead the way yet again to improve our cities and our nation.
Robert E. Walkup
Mayor
CITY HALL • 255 W. ALAMEDA • P.O. BOX 27210 • TUCSON, AZ 85726 -7210
(520) 791 -4201 • FAX (520) 791 -5348
www.cityoftucson.org