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Meeting Information



Full Commission

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Immigrant Rights Commission Neighborhood Meeting

Portsmouth Square Community Room

Chinatown (Kearny & Washington)

November 14, 2007

Minutes

 

 

I. Roll Call

 

Members Present:  Chris Punongbayan, Gilberto Alexander, Felix Fuentes, Felix Levy, Sonia Melara (Chair), Jay Gonzalez, Diana Lau, Angus McCarthy, Solomon Jones, Falguni Sheth, and Sam Ng

 

Members Absent:  Jamal Dajani, Elahe Enssani,Vera Haile, and Toye Moses

 

II. Approval of Minutes of October 16th Meeting

 

Mr. Pham explained that due to the illness of the Commission Secretary the minutes could not be completed.

 

III. Desperate Housewives’ derogatory remarks on Filipino American Doctors

 

Chairman Melara explained that item was not on the agenda at the last Commission meeting and the Commission was unable to take a vote on the Resolution which was requested by Commissioner Gonzalez.

 

Commissioner Gonzalez indicated the need for the Resolution besides the letter the Commissioners signed.  The Resolution is going to be used in a court case regarding a class action law suited filed last month by 50 Filipino American doctors on behalf of the Filipino American Medical Community against Disney and ABC.  The Resolution the Immigrant Rights Commission to be approved today will be read at the hearing.

Commissioner Gonzalez urged the other Commissioners to consider the Resolution.

 

Commissioner Gonzalez recommended that the Resolution should strongly urge the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to join the Immigrant Rights Commission and the Filipino American Immigrant Community in condemning the derogatory line in the Desperate Housewives on the Filipino Education of Filipino American Doctors.  The suggestion was seconded by Commissioner Lau.  The motion passed.

 

IV. Draft Letter of Congressman Mollahan regarding “English-Only” Language from the Appropriate Bill for Commerce and Justice

 

Commissioner Melara requested that staff to draft a letter to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi regarding the “English-Only” language in the Appropriation Bill of the Commerce Justice and Science Bill.   This request was seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez.  The Commission approved the recommendation.

 

V. Retreat Meeting on December 8, 2007

 

Commissioner Sonia Melara informed the members that the Immigrant Rights Commission will hold a retreat on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 8:00 AM.  At this retreat meeting, the Commission will plan for the activities and lay down the strategies for the future.

 

Commissioner Alexander moved that the Retreat for the Immigrant Rights Commission be held on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at the Pacific Rim Center at the University of San Francisco – Lone Mountain campus.  This motion was seconded by Commissioner Lau.  The motion passed.

 

The Commissioners agreed on the items to be placed on the Retreat’s agenda:

 

·                          Relationship of the Commission to existing government bodies that oversee certain Immigrant related issues for the City. 

·                          Sanctuary City Ordinance and what role the Commission can play in guaranteeing San Francisco remains a sanctuary City.

·                          Amend the language of the Equal Access Ordinance.

 

VI. Summary of the Commission Accomplishment:

 

Commissioner Melara gave the following brief summary of the key accomplishment:

 

·                          Equal Access Ordinance to ensure Language Services throughout the City Departments in San Francisco to all the citizens in their language. 

In 2006 IRC held a hearing regarding input from the public to assist the Commission to better monitor the Ordinance. 

The Commission also published the very first report on the Equal Access to Services Ordinance.  In that report, it outlined the City Departments that are in compliance and non-compliance.

 

·                          Participated in the Mayor’s Cultural Competency Task Force to look at the City’s websites to ensure the websites are being culturally and linguistically competent and sensitive.

 

VII. Statements from the Representatives of the City Departments and Organizations:

 

* Mr. Tomas Lee, Director of the Office of Language Services informed members about the $500,000 contract for two fiscal years with an approved vendor.  Due to the ongoing process, Mr. Lee couldn’t disclose the name yet according to the City Attorney’s Office.  This approved vendor will be providing 24/7 language interpretation services in 170 different languages pending approval from the Human Rights Commission as well as the Civil Services Commission.

 

* Sebasten Wong, Acting Section Chief of Emergency Medical Service Operations for the San Francisco Fire Department.  Fire Chief Joanne Hayes would like to state that the Fire Department is 100% committed to respecting the policy of the sanctuary city and also equal access to city services.

 

The Fire Department’s service to the residents of San Francisco is universal regardless of a person’s documentation status, race, creed and color.  Firefighters will risk their lives to help any persons regardless, where ever they may be and/or whenever they need it.

 

* Patricia Erwin, Newcomer Program of the Department of Public Health indicated that their mission is to improve the health and well being of refugees and immigrants throughout San Francisco and provide services to individuals from dozens of different countries.  Its staff speaks 8 different languages including Cantonese, Mandarin & Burmese .

 

VIII. Public Comments

 

* Christabel Chung, Director of Social Services at Self Help for the Elderly. 

The Self Help for the Elderly has serve twenty five thousand low income seniors in San Francisco.  The Commission honored the work of the organization at the 2007 Immigrant Rights Summit.  In regards to the recent fee hikes for the naturalization process, it’s really become an issue with the organization that offers services to low income seniors.  The fee hikes made the naturalization process very costly and prohibited a number of low income seniors who are on a limited income to become US citizens.

 

The Commission might work with the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to address this issue.  The City might needs to these low income immigrants with some type of grants to subsidize the increase cost.

 

* Ms. Maria Lordes of the Committee Youth Center shared with the Commissioners of the work at the Center in helping the youth, especially youth in gangs and at risk youth. 

 

* Daniel Espinosa representing Justice Advocacy Committee and Faith in the Movement.  He indicated that an event related to Sanctuary issues and Dream Act will take place soon at the corner of 23rd & Capp from 12p.m.-5 p.m.

 

* Risha Slade of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) discussed about the Equal Access Ordinance.  She indicated that MUNI will work closely with the Commission to address the access issues according to the language of the EAS Ordinance.

 

 

 

 

IX. Adjourment

 

Commissioner Gonzalez moved to adjourn and was seconded by Commissioner Jones.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.