Meeting Information

Full Commission

Immigrant Rights Commission

Minutes of Regular Meeting on May 7, 2001

The Immigrant Rights Commission (IRC) regular meeting was held on Monday, May 7, 2001 at San Francisco City Hall in Room 400, at 5:00 P.M.

Members Present Renee Saucedo, Penelope Chronis, Vera Haile, Marie Lorraine Mallare, Philip Nguyen, Thou Ny, Richard Ow, Diana Lau, and Phu Nguyen. Diana Lau arrived at 5:40 & Thou Ny left at 6:00.

Members Absent Samuel Assefa, Isabel Huie, Anita Friedman, Fidel Jimeniz Emi Gusukama and Vram Kouramajian.

Guest Present Susan Alunan, Lourdes Tancinco, Mars Estrada, Gary Aranal, Erenesto Cinco and Felimon Mordeno

Others Present Dang Pham, Executive Director of the IRC

Winny Loi, Commission Secretary

William Chan, Deputy City Attorney

Introduction: Commissioner Renee Saucedo welcomed & introduced

Vera Haile, succeeding Renato Ecarma, (Seat No. 1)

Approval of

Minutes: The minutes of April 16, 2001 meeting was approved by the Commission. Commissioner Nguyen moved the motion & was seconded by Commissioner Chronis.

Presentation: Susan Alunan, Chair of Advocacy Committee, for the San Francisco Veterans Equity Center spoke to the Commission and ask us to support the resolution towards U.S. Veterans status for Filipino Veterans of WWII. She gave the Commission some background of what the Filipinos Veterans did for the U.S. during WWII. After the war, the rescission Act of 1946 rescinded any benefits that Filipino Veterans of WWII could receive. They were the only country of the 66 nations that fought with the United States during WWII who were affected by this and it is a grave injustice. The Filipino’s have been waiting for 55 to 56 years for benefits that were promised to them by Franklin Roosevelt and Douglas MacArthur.

Lourdes Tancinco, President of Veterans Equity Center gave the commissioner some background. In 1946, congress decided not to grant them U.S. citizenship. Only in 1990 Immigration Nationality Act that this was rectified and they were finally granted citizenship ten years ago. They have come to the United States as new immigrants but this did not come with the benefits. The Filipinos are still not being treated as other U.S. Veterans. The Veterans Equity Center is still struggling for their rights and they also have an equity bill that has been introduced since 1993 before the U.S. Congress, but it has not been passed. She asked the Immigrant Rights Commission to support the HR491 Equity Bill. This is the only agency that is supported by the City of San Francisco nationwide that is addressing the needs of veterans from housing, to case management and to immigration and legal services. They are depleting their one time funding from the City and now they are trying to ask, the Immigrant Rights Commission to support the center.

Mars Estrada, Counselor at the Veterans Equity Center wanted to thank the Immigrant Rights Commission for our support. He spoke to the Commission about how the Veterans were not given a decent burial they are not even given the flag that they fought for. All of the Veterans are only receiving welfare, but they are not receiving any benefits from Veterans affairs. He also stressed that when the Filipino Veterans go to the Social Security office, they are treated like any other recipient receiving welfare, but if they go to the Veterans Equity Center they are treated as a hero. The Veterans are being treated very well at the Veterans Equity Center, they are being saluted for what they have done and they are given the benefits that they properly deserve.

Gary Aranal, President Filipino WWII Veterans and Family and Friends started his organization in 1994. When they first started there were 140 Veterans, but now there is only 40 left, because most of them have died and some have returned to the Filipinos. When the Filipino Veterans came to the U.S. in 1990 they thought that they were getting all the benefits a Veteran would receive, but all they got was Naturalization Certificate and SSI benefits. They are very happy that the San Francisco has supported the Veterans Equity Center & it would be a tragedy to lose this Center, because they would not know where to turn to. The Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution to support the funding and hopefully that this budget will be approved.

Erenesto Cinco, a WWII Veteran, talked about demanding of getting fairness & that someone needs to be responsible to the Veterans who has service for the U.S. Army. The Veterans just want the government to pay for the health or other services. They have fought for their country and they would like to get fair treatment for what they have done for their country.

Felimon Mordeno, a WWII Veteran, has maintained an organization just to pay for the benefits that Veterans have been looking for many years. He also stated that due to other funding from other organizations, the Veterans SSI check were being reduced. The Veterans believe that these amounts should not be deducted from the amount that they were given. The Equity Center is a place where they can go when they do have problems or just need assistance and help.

Before closing their speech, Susan told the Commissioners that Supervisor Gavin Newson introduced a resolution to the Board urging the Mayor to support the Veterans Equity Center at $250,000 per year annually, it was pass by the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisor also passed a resolution urging the President and the U.S. Congress to support the Equity Bill that was signed by the Mayor. The Center has 850 open unduplicated cases of veterans that they are serving this year and would like to open the doors to more than 1,200 who are living in the South & North of Market and Tenderloin. The Veterans Equity Center asked the Immigrant Rights Commission to support the Center.

Action Items: Consideration of Resolution Supporting U.S. Veterans Status for Filipino Veterans of WWII

The Veterans Equity Center drafted a resolution for the Immigrant Rights Commission. Commissioner Saucedo made a motion to adopt the title Toward U.S. Veterans Status for Filipino Veterans of WWII, with an amendment that the IRC also supports Supervisor Newsom legislation to fund the Veterans Equity Center in this year’s budget.

The last three paragraphs will be amended as follows:

"Therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission supports the correction of the grievous act of institutional injustice and discrimination leveled against Filipino WWII veterans by amending the 1946 Rescission Act;

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission supports the restoration of full United States veteran’s status to Filipino WWII veterans by supporting the introduction of legislation to this effect;

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission supports the on-going campaign of the last twelve years for full equity and justice for Filipino WWII veterans in a coordinated effort among Filipino American veterans, community leaders and all who believe in the justness of this cause, by advocating and working for equity through a comprehensive legislative, judicial and public education campaign and therefore be resolved that the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission urges the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to support Equity for Filipinos American WWII Veterans;

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission supports Supervisor Newsom’s legislation regarding this year’s budget & support HR491 for the Veterans Equity Center."

After proposing a few changes to the resolution, the Commission moved for a vote on the resolution, as amended and was seconded. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Resolution as amended.

Director’s Report: Director Pham reported to the Commission on the following:

On May 16, Commissioners Ow & Huie joined Director Dang Pham & Commission Secretary Winny Loi drove to Sacramento for Immigrant Day. The Immigrant Rights Commission joined Isabel Alegria, California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative, to talk with Assembly women Carol Migden’s staff, Kevin Shelley’s staff & Senator John Burton’s staff to ask for their supports towards the AB989 & the Driver License issue regardless of immigration status. Migden, Shelly & Burton strongly support the AB989 & the Driver License issue. Around 1,500 people joined to support Immigrant Day.

Also reported to the Commission about status on the membership, 7 applications were submitted to the rules committee and the meeting is on May 17, 2001 at 10:00 a.m.

Director Dang Pham also reported that he met with Supervisor Mark Leno to discuss the Language Access Ordinance. He will introduce the bill and drafted up some estimated costs and he will try to get a full time person the handle the Language Access Ordinance.

On May 10, 2001 Mr. Pham, the Director will meet with Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) at 17 Walter Lum Place in San Francisco.

Immigrant Pride Day might be in Mission District, they are still discussing about the location. Edward Rodriguez will meet with Director Dang Pham to discuss about information regarding Immigrant Pride Day.

Commissioner Saucedo informed the Commissioner’s about two main pieces of legislation, the Language Access Ordinance and the Immigrant and Public Housing Committee. She strongly urged the Commissioners to attend the Language Access Ordinance on May 17, 2001 at 1:00 and the Immigrant and Public Housing Legislation that’s being pushed by Supervisor Ammiano, on Thursday May 24, 2001 at 1:00. There is a rally that Commissioneer Saucedo will be helping to organize a rally with various individuals and other community groups. The rally will be held at 12:30 pm and the hearing before the Housing committee will occur at 1:00 pm.

The members of the Commission and the Director will meet with the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to talk about the Language Access Ordinance and the 2001 Workplan & Budget.

Consideration of the Waiver of Bylaws to Elect a New Chair and Vice-Chair.

Due to absent members of the Commissioners, Commissioner Ow made a motion to postpone the nomination of the Chair & Vice-Chair until June’s monthly meeting. On June’s meeting Commissioner Saucedo proposed to nominate & vote for Chair and Vice-Chair. The Commission moved for a vote, which was seconded by Commissioner Philip Nguyen.

Next Meeting: Next regular meeting will be held in City Hall, on June 4, 2001 at 5:00 p.m.

Adjournment: The Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.