Full Commission
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Minutes of Meeting on November 8, 2004
A meeting of the Immigrant Rights Commission (IRC) was held on Monday, Nov. 8, 2004 at City Hall Hearing room 416.
I. Roll Call:
Members Present The meeting was called to order on 5:20 p.m., Commissioners Alexander, Escobedo, Haile, Jones, Kaff, Lau, Melara, Nguyen, Ow, Specktor, Tran were present. Commissioner Tran left at 6:41 p.m.
Members Absent Commissioner Bondoc & Zheng were absent. Huie & Lee were also absent, but they were excused.
Others Present Dang Pham, Executive Director & Winny Loi, Commission Secretary
II.Approval of minutes for Nov 8th: The Commission adopted the minutes with the amended changes: correct spelling of Western Addition & correct sentence structure: Commissioner Malara has suggested that we could contact the community leaders & ask them what issues concern them, so that the public will be interested in attending the meeting. The Commission unanimously adopted the amended minutes.
III.Planning December Neighborhood meeting: Commissioner Jones has done lots of legwork on putting this meeting together. He has suggested using the Police Community Room on Wednesday, December 1st for the IRC community meeting. Commissioner Lau suggested that we hold our meetings on Monday, since many Commissioners are not able to attend the meetings Wednesday, so she suggest that the commission will hold the meeting on Monday, December 6th. Some Commissioners suggested using another facility to facilitate the meeting. Commissioners suggests of using New Comer High School, Fillmore Center & Benjamin Franklin Middle School. If staff is unable to locate a new location, then we will use the Police Community room.
IV.Goals & Objectives for the Immigrant Rights Commission:
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- Work more closely with the Board of Supervisors & Mayor try to be more influential in overseeing & creating new policies
- Strengthen & implement the Equal Access Services Ordinance
- Outreach to the community
- Work closely with the San Francisco Unified School District
- Resolution follow-up
- Do one hearing on one subject-have the community testify & the departments present so they can also hear the issues
- Employment issues
V. Review Muni Complaint: Commissioner Escobedo gave an overview of the September 13th Commission meeting, but there was no quorum. Maria Vasquez & MUNI representatives was present at the Sept. 13th meeting. She was applying for a Regional Transit Discount Card at MUNI & presented them with a completed medical verification form from her doctor and a letter from the doctor describing her disability. She also presented them with a valid Guatemalan Consulate card, but they only accept Mexican ID card. The MUNI employee on duty, reportedly refuse to accept the documents. She requested for a Spanish speaking person & the MUNI employee responded, that there is no one here that speaks Spanish. Then the MUNI employee threw the documents at her through the window & without apology. The MUNI employee laughed at her face & she left crying feeling humiliated. The Program & Access Committee met last month & Commissioner Escobedo drafted a letter to MUNI & wanted the full commission to approve the letter. Commissioner Haile moved to approve the letter & Commissioner Alexander 2nd the motion. The Commission unanimously adopted the MUNI letter.
VI. Discuss Hotel Worker Strike: Commissioner Escobedo spoke with the Hotel workers, & most of these workers are immigrants. She didn’t have enough time to draft a resolution. If the workers still needed the commissions help, we would put it on the agenda for next month.
VII. Commission Updates:
- Commissioners Bio for the Website: Commissioner Lau asked all commissioners to give their bio’s to Ms. Loi so she can post it on the website.
- Form 700, Statement of Economic Interest: Please submit Form 700 to Ms. Loi for assuming office, there is a penalty for not submitting form.
- Excused & unexcused absence: If a commissioner cannot make it to the meeting, commissioners should call Ms. Loi to inform her. If a Commissioner misses two or more regular meetings of the full Commission that were not excused, the Executive Director shall contact the Commissioner to inquire as to the reason for the absences. If a Commissioner misses three or more meetings of the Commission, the Executive Director shall inquire whether the Commissioner intends to continue to serve on the Commission. If the Commissioner indicates a desire not to continue to serve on Commission, the Executive Director shall notify the authority responsible for the appointment of the Commission. If a Commissioner misses four or more meetings of the Commission, the Executive Director shall notify the appointing authority of such absences.
VIII. Director’s Report: Day Labor Program: Bill Lee, City Administrator, issued the RFP on Aug 23 & asked Mr. Pham to assist him on the proposal conference. On September 20th was the deadline to submit proposals. La Raza Centro Legal & Volunteers of America were the only ones to submit proposals. There were 5 members on the review panel. The review process ended on Oct 14th at 5pm. Mr. Pham received all of the tallied scores & sent them to the Human Rights Commission. La Raza received the highest score. The City will attempt to negotiate the contract with La Raza.
Office Meetings: On October 18th he met with the International Diplomacy Council. Most of the guests were from Turkey. They wanted to know how the Commission was established & understand the commission’s work.
On October 25th he met with another group with the International Diplomacy Council. These guests were from Mozambique & South Africa. They also wanted to know how the Commission was established & understand the commission’s work. They want to set up something similar in there country.
Today he met with a group from China.
On November 10th he plans to meet with Steve Kawa, Chief of Staff, to talk about citizenship & education programs to try to help the newcomer become citizens.
Adjournment: The Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.