4. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
· Met with Supervisor Yaki regarding the recent
domestic violence homicide of Claire Joyce Tempongko. An investigation will
be conducted by the Department modeled after the 1991 Charan investigation.
A review panel will be formed and Commissioner Keehn will chair.
5. STAFF REPORT
A full written report was included in the Commissioner’s
packet.
Ms. Navarrette spoke on the following:
· California Endowment: A grant was received
in the amount of $145,475 for a 1 year plan process from the California Endowment
to establish San Francisco’s first centralized twenty-four hour multi-language
domestic violence crisis line. Meetings will begin in December for community
planning process.
· Public Awareness Campaign: Posters and
billboards will appear in neighborhoods that previously were not targeted
in the last campaign.
· Environmental Health/Justice and Women: COSW
has already taken a position on one environmental issue through its endorsement
of the Resolution on Dioxin.
6. OLD BUSINESS
· Presentation by Kate Monico Klein, Director
of Women Services, Department of Public Health
Ms. Monico-Klein serves as the coordinator of Women’s
Health for the Department of Public Health. She thanked the Commission for
inviting her to speak. Ms. Monico Klein distributed a hand out providing history
and current efforts on women services by the Department. The office developed
a breast cancer program that resulted in the creation of the Breast and Cervical
Cancer Services program. The program is entering into a second phase of operation.
There is a new method of identifying health issues, which is data-driven and
community-focused. The data used will be computed from the sum of years-of-life-lost
to premature death and years of life lived with a disability. This "metric",
or DALY (Disability Adjusted Life Years) more closely approximates actual
public health impacts upon the lives of women in San Francisco. The DALY report
will show the burden of osteoarthritis, and alcohol issues among women, as
well as heart disease and breast cancer. Ms. Monico Klein stated that in the
breast cancer program the major concerns were housing, depression and poverty.
Ms. Monico Klein stated that the Women’s Health Services
Committee would return to present the first report to the Commission on the
Status of Women sometime in September. She thanked the Commission.
A discussion ensued among Ms. Monico Klein, Commissioners,
staff and public regarding what some of the main issues that needed to be
focused on by COSW. Some issues that were discussed were violence against
women, housing, healthcare, and respite care. Also brought up was the topic
of environmental issues, especially in the Bayview Hunters Point community.
· Presentation by Linda Mack-Burch, Health Educator,
Health and Environmental Resource Center (HERC)
Ms. Linda Mack-Burch is a Health Educator for the
Bayview Hunters Point Health and Environmental Resource Center (HERC).
The mission of HERC is to:
· Promote the health and wellness of the neighborhood
residents;
· Influence policies governing environmental issues;
and
· Inform community of health care issues and solutions
required to improve the quality of life.
HERC pledges to keep the Bayview Hunters Point Community
informed of environmental and health issues; encourage communication between
the citizens and all stakeholders; emphasize friendly and courteous service
to the public; and seek to improve the quality of life in Bayview Hunters
Point.
· Reduce the prevalence of asthma, breast, cervical,
and prostate cancer in Bayview Hunters Point by providing education, information,
referrals and training to the residents.
· To make available to interested parties, access
to the Internet and literature through usage of the Resource Center.
Services they provide are an Asthma Program, Women’s
Health in the Point Project (WHIPP), host community meetings on health
issues, tours (childcare centers and school age), internet access available
and asthma and cancer workshops.
Ms. Mack-Burch spoke of the environmental racism that
plagues Bayview. Underground hazardous sites are located throughout the Bayview
community. She presented a map which showed the specific locations. She also
stated that 80% of San Francisco’s water and diesel refueling sites are located
in Bayview. The community is distressed about the impact of the hazardous
waste upon people’s health. Also, due to the waste women are concerned about
having babies. Many residents are experiencing asthma and asthma like symptoms.
Women are concerned about having babies. A woman is having pre-menopausal
symptoms at age 32. There is a sense of powerlessness within the community.
HERC believes that change comes about by raising awareness of the issues.
Ms. Mack-Burch thanked the Commission.
A discussion ensued among Ms. Mack-Burch, Commissioners,
staff and public regarding what the Commission could do to support HERC
efforts and eradicate the hazardous contaminates that are still located
at Bayview. Ms. Mack-Burch request that the Commission continue to advocate
on behalf of all women.
Various suggestions inclueded Commissioner Murase’s
idea that the community put a list of priorities that they want addressed
and the Commission put it into a resolution that would encourage the decision
makers to take action. Commissioner Keehn suggested that it be a joint
effort with the Department of the Environment and should be staff driven.
Follow up to Strategic Plan
Recommendations
· Internal Issues: Bring in a coach/facilitator
to help problem-solve as well as help with team building. Have a staff only
meeting, once the issues have been identified and recommendations are made,
Commissioners will be informed.
· CEDAW: Complete gender analysis with
four departments, monitor two departments, promoting citywide family friendly
policies by identifying best practices and conducting a study of existing
policies; citywide survey & recommendations (continues in YR1-YR3), public
awareness campaign (continues in YR1-YR3), planning for symposium (YR1); and
develop a transition plan for the CEDAW Task Force.
· Violence Against Women (VAW): The
Department will continue to engage in a three (3) year funding cycle and incorporate
the recommendations from the VAW Needs Assessment.
· Employment and Economics: Request
the Controllers Office to provide the Commission with WBE status on a semi-annual
basis as well as the Consent Degree for law enforcement on an annual basis.
Plan process on the Individual Development Account (IDA) for the City.
· Organizational Development: A discussion
was held regarding neighborhood Commission meetings, mailings to communities
via e-mail updating mailing list and send notices to those interested, holding
3 annual public events (Take Your Daughters To Work, Women’s History Month
and Women Who Make A Difference to include VAW) and maintain full staffing
as well as meeting all required City and County requirements to serve the
public.
· Leadership Development: Conduct research
and produce annual Gender Parity analysis/report on the appointments of women
by elected officials.
· Housing: Request periodic
presentations and reports from various City departments that work on housing
issues.
· Health: Request presentations by
the Department of Public Health and other community entities. Work jointly
with the Department of Public Health to create IDENTIFIED health policies
and insure their implementation.
7. NEW BUSINESS
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO CEDAW ORDINANCE
m/s/c (Murase, Marks, Majority) (See attached)
APPROVAL OF RE-APPOINTMENTS OF THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO THE CEDAW TASK FORCE:
m/s/c (Murase, Marks, Majority)
· Krishanti Dharmaraj, Executive Director of the
Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) for Human Rights;
· Cosette Thompson, Western Regional Director,
Amnesty International USA;
· Patricia Chang, CEO of The Women’s foundation;
and
· Kenneth Theisen, Advocate, Bay Area Legal Aid.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
Commissioner Kheen stated that a meeting was held
with Supervisor Yaki who asked what should be done regarding the Claire
Joyce Tempogko homicide. All who were present felt an investigation should
be opened like the Charan investigation. Supervisor Yaki passed a resolution
requesting that all departments cooperate with the Department on this
new investigation. Supervisor Yaki also agreed to get a budget to conduct
the investigation. The group will meet to decide who will be on the review
panel, the timeline and process.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Valerie Tulier stated an event would be held at the
U.N. Plaza on Saturday, November 18, 2000.
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS
Vice-President Marks stated that she was Forum Co-Chairperson
for the Healing Choices, Bridging Communities 2000, which was being held Saturday,
November 18, 2000, at University of California, San Francisco. She invited
everyone to attend.
10. ADJOURNMENT
President Miles called for the meeting to adjourn at 7:04
p.m.
Know Your Rights under the Sunshine
Ordinance
Government’s duty is to serve the public,
reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils
and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business.
This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people
and that City operations are open to the people’s review. For more information
on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance, or to report a violation of the
Ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force at 415-554-4851. To obtain
a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task
Force, Rachel Arnstine O’Hara, Clerk, City Hall, Room 362, 1 Dr. Carlton B.
Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4683, phone: 415-554-6171, fax: 415-554-6177,
email: rachel_arnstineo’hara@ci.sf.ca.us. Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance
can also be obtained from the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s
website at www.ci.sf.ca.us. To review or obtain documents referred to on agenda,
contact Susan Murphy at 25 Van Ness Ave, Room 130, San Francisco, CA 94102;
phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575.
Attention: Individuals and entities that
influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action
may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (SF Admin Code 16.520
- 16.534) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about
the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 1390 Market
Street #701, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone 415-554-9510, fax 415-703-0121
and web site http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/ethics/.
