Note: As authorized by California Government Code Section 54953(e) and the Mayor’s 45th Supplement to her February 25, 2020 emergency proclamation, this meeting will be held remotely without providing a physical location. Members of the Immigrant Rights Commission will participate and vote by video. Members of the public may observe the meeting and provide public comment online. View instructions for providing public comment.

1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.
Present: Chair Kennelly, Executive Committee members Khojasteh, Ricarte, Souza; Commissioners Latt, Rahimi (5:46 p.m.)
Not present: Vice Chair Paz (excused)
OCEIA staff present: Acting Director Whipple, Commission Clerk Shore, Civic Engagement Officer Noonan
City staff present: Deputy City Attorney Cabrera

2. Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment
This item is to allow the Commission Chair to acknowledge that the Commission is on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula.

Chair Kennelly read the land acknowledgement statement.

3. General Public Comment
This item is to allow members of the public to address the Commission on matters that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission and that do not appear on today’s agenda.

There was no public comment.

4. Action Item: Resolution to Allow Teleconferenced Meetings
(Discussion/Action)
a. Adoption of resolution making findings to allow teleconferenced meetings under California Government Code Section 54953(e)
Discussion and possible action to approve a resolution making findings to allow for continued remote meetings due to the COVID-19 emergency. Explanatory Document: Findings Resolution

Commissioner Souza motioned to adopt the resolution to allow teleconferenced meetings, seconded by Commissioner Ricarte. Chair Kennelly called for public comment, and there was no public comment on this item. The motion was approved unanimously by the four Executive Committee members present.

5. Action Item: Approval of previous minutes
(Discussion/Action)
a. Approval of July 20, 2022 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the Immigrant Rights Commission’s Executive Committee meeting of July 20, 2022. Explanatory Document: IRC Executive Committee July 20, 2022 Draft Minutes

Commissioner Souza motioned to approve the July 20, 2022 Executive Committee meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Ricarte. Chair Kennelly called for public comment, and there was no public comment on this item. Deputy City Attorney noted that Commissioners may not abstain, and the motion was approved unanimously by the four Executive Committee members present.

6. Discussion/Action Items
(Discussion/Action)
a. Immigrant Parent Voting (Annette Wong, Chinese for Affirmative Action)
Presentation by Annette Wong, director of programs for Chinese for Affirmative Action, and discussion and possible action by the Executive Committee, on the San Francisco Superior Court decision revoking noncitizen voting in School Board elections, and what the Immigrant Rights Commission can do. San Francisco voters approved Proposition N in 2016, and the Commission supported its reauthorization in 2021. The ordinance was challenged in court, and the San Francisco Superior Court revoked the ordinance on July 29, 2022. The Commission participated in a press event on the day of the court hearing, and released statements in support of immigrant parent voting. Explanatory documents: Statement in Support of Immigrant Parent Voting Rights in San Francisco, Statement on San Francisco Superior Court Ruling Revoking Noncitizen Voting

Annette Wong, director of programs for Chinese for Affirmative Action, provided an overview of the latest developments on immigrant parent voting in San Francisco. On July 29, 2022, the San Francisco Superior Court revoked the ordinance allowing noncitizens to vote in School Board elections. The San Francisco City Attorney is appealing the decision. Programs Director Wong answered questions from Commissioners and provided information on possible future scenarios, including proposing an amendment to the California Constitutional to allow noncitizens to vote. Commissioner Rahimi asked if the Commission could play a role in supporting a constitutional amendment, and offered to help arrange a meeting with Chinese for Affirmative Action and state representatives.

b. Proposed Statement/Letter on Resources for Newcomer Students
Discussion and possible action on proposed statement/letter on resources for newcomer students. This is a continuation of an item proposed by Commissioner Souza in response to reports of attacks at Everett Middle School. The Executive Committee voted to move forward with drafting a statement or letter around the provisioning of additional resources for newcomer students promoting the general safety of students within SFUSD.

Commissioner Souza provided an overview of the draft letter and answered questions from Commissioners. Chair Kennelly noted that Vice Chair Paz would like to review the letter. Chair Kennelly suggested that OCEIA staff and the Executive Committee finalize and send the letter from the Chair and Vice Chair, after additional edits and feedback. Commissioner Souza made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Khojasteh. Chair Kennelly called for public comment, and there was no public comment on this item. The motion was approved unanimously by the four Executive Committee members present.

c. Planning for IRC Hearing on Immigrant Perspectives on Housing in San Francisco
Discussion and possible action to plan the Commission’s hearing on housing scheduled for September 12, 2022. This is a continuation of an item proposed by Commissioner Souza to hold a special hearing on the inclusion of immigrants in San Francisco’s plans for housing. Explanatory Document: IRC Hearing on Immigrant Perspectives on Housing in San Francisco

Commissioner Souza thanked OCEIA staff and Chair Kennelly for their work finalizing the outline, inviting speakers, and conducting outreach on social media. Acting Director Whipple stated that OCEIA staff finalized the multilingual flyer and shared it with Commissioners, invited the speakers recommended by the Executive Committee, and asked them the questions that the Executive Committee suggested at its last meeting. Commissioner Ricarte asked if speakers could provide basic data on how many affordable housing programs they operate, how many people they are serving, and how many of them are immigrants. Commissioner Rahimi suggested inviting additional speakers. Commissioner Souza noted that the hearing should focus on community members, and suggested an alternate speaker to represent a faith-based organization. Commission Clerk Shore asked Commissioners to help invite community members, and to alert OCEIA staff in advance if anyone may need interpretation.

7. Staff Reports
(Information)
a. Director’s Updates
Report on OCEIA and IRC activities and announcements. This item allows the Director to provide brief updates on activities and announcements.  If the Commission would like a full report, we can place that matter on the agenda for a future meeting.

Acting Director Whipple provided an update on OCEIA’s plans for Citizenship Month, including a press event in concert with the Commission in early September, followed by a San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative workshop on September 24, 2022.

b. Reappointment Hearings
Report on vacant seats and four Board-appointed Commissioners whose seats are up for reappointment: Commissioners Ruiz, Gaime, Khojasteh, and Enssani.

This item was deferred.

c. IRC Annual Report
Update on the publication of the 2022 IRC Report, summarizing the Immigrant Rights Commission’s accomplishments throughout its history, the current challenges faced by San Francisco’s immigrant communities, the Commission’s activities over the past year, and its recommendations on how to improve the well-being of immigrants in San Francisco. The Executive Committee voted to adopt and publish the annual report. Explanatory Document: IRC 2022 Report

Acting Director Whipple provided an update on the IRC annual report, which has been published online.

d. Letter to City College of San Francisco
Update on the letter sent to City College of San Francisco in support of ESL, Cantonese and other language courses that serve immigrant students. This is a continuation of an item proposed by Commissioner Wang to write a letter in support of City College’s Cantonese program. The Executive Committee voted to approve the letter, asked OCEIA to revise it to include broader language, and voted to approve and send the revised version.

This item was deferred.

8. Old and New Business
(Information)
This item is to allow Commissioners to provide updates on items the Commission has previously discussed, and to introduce new agenda items for future consideration by the Commission.

Commissioner Latt noted that Parivar Bay Area had reached out to the Commission regarding a trans immigrant conference they are planning, and suggested an LGBT townhall meeting. Chair Kennelly stated that the Commission has organized similar events in the past, and can add the item to the agenda for the next Executive Committee meeting. Commissioner Souza suggested scheduling another language access hearing. She invited Commissioners to join the language access committee, and Commissioner Latt volunteered. Chair Kennelly can add the item to the next Executive Committee meeting agenda.

9. Adjournment
Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 6:58 p.m.