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Commission on the Status of Women
25 Van Ness, Suite130, San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 252-2570 FAX (415) 252-2575
http://www.sfgov.org/cosw email: cosw@sfgov.org
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City & County of San Francisco
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ANDREA SHORTER
President
ANGELA WILLIAMS
Vice President
ANDREA EVANS
Commissioner
DORKA KEEHN
Commissioner
JING XU LEE
Commissioner
CAROLENE MARKS
Commissioner
KATHERINE MUNTER
Commissioner
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COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
City and County of San Francisco
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
DRAFT MINUTES
5:00 PM
City Hall, Room 408
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Public comment will be heard before and/or during each agenda item.
Members Present Staff Present
President Andrea Shorter Executive Director Emily Murase
Vice President Angela Williams Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette
Commissioner Andrea Evans Executive Assistant Bernice Casey
Commissioner Dorka Keehn Justice & Courage Coordinator Justine McGonagle
Commissioner Jing Xu Lee Policy Analyst Carol Sacco
Commissioner Carolene Marks
Commissioner Katherine Munter
President Shorter called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM.
Vice President Williams arrived at 5:16 PM.
No public comment.
Action: Adopted amended agenda for COSW Meeting, January 23, 2005.
m/s/c (Marks/Munter/Unanimous)
No public comment.
Action: Approved Minutes from COSW Retreat, December 10, 2004.
m/s/c (Keehn/Evans/Unanimous)
No public comment.
4. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Shorter welcomed newly appointed Commissioner Lee and Commissioner Munter. Ms. Shorter said the Commission welcomes their input and guidance.
- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Murase welcomed the new Commissioners. Ms. Murase gave a brief summary of the Executive Director’s report that had been supplied in the Commission packets. In the area of Public Outreach, Ms. Murase reported on the work the Department had done before the Taxi Commission in the area of sexual harassment prevention training, the recently published resource guide, and the work done with the San Francisco Area Pro-Choice Coalition. Executive Director Murase extended an invitation to the Commissioners to attend the Department’s Women’s Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, March 24, 2005, at City Hall.
Ms. Murase reminded the Commission that due to budget and staffing constraints, the Department’s public office hours were now from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. She informed the Commission that Richard Eijima, temporary Secretary I would be starting on January 31, 2005. Ms. Murase reviewed Mr. Eijima’s qualifications, particularly his nine years of previous service with the City and County of San Francisco.
Ms. Murase informed the Commission that the CEDAW meeting had been postponed.
Commissioner Marks asked if the Department was working on a public event for Women’s History.
Ms. Murase reviewed the events planned for Women’s History month.
Commissioner Keehn asked that a resolution recognizing March 8th as International Women’s Day be put on the February agenda.
No Public Comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Agenda and are considered to be routine by the Commission on the Status of Women. They will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as a separate item. Members of the public may speak on each item listed on the Consent Agenda.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
President Shorter read the Consent items into the record.
Action: Approved Consent Agenda.
m/s/c (Marks/Keehn/Unanimous
- That the Commission recognizes the contributions of Connie Perry to the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women. RES-NO 2004-32
- That the Commission recognizes the contributions of Lela Harris to the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women. RES-NO 2004-34
- That the Commission recognizes February as Black History Month.
RES-NO 2005-01
- , That the Commission recognizes February as American Heart Month.
RES-NO 200-02
- That the Commission recognizes San Francisco’s women’s advocate Olivia Wang as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century chosen by Women’s Enews in 2005.
RES-NO 2005-03
President Shorter stated that the Commission would discuss what qualifies for a resolution at the March 23, 2005 Commission meeting.
Olivia Wang thanked the Commission for the resolution recognizing her achievement, but credited her success ot the many people she works with.
7. OLD BUSINESS
a. Recommendations Regarding Labor Conditions of Exotic Dancers in San Francisco .
President Shorter provided the Commission with background on the policy options provided.
Commissioner Keehn suggested going through each policy point one by one.
President Shorter said that the legal prohibition of stage fees in not being enforced. She reviewed the testimony provided to the Commission by State Labor Commission employees, who stressed a lack of staff and resources available for investigation and enforcement.
Commissioner Keehn urged the Commission to submit the letter to the Labor Commission and to contact local state representatives Assemblyperson Leland Yee and Assemblyperson Mark Leno.
President Shorter said it was important to discuss who is going to enforce the labor laws and, if possible, to develop a City code to address this issue.
On the issue of private booths, President Shorter reviewed the testimony that had been brought forward to the Commission which stated the booths created an unsafe environment for the dancers.
Commissioner Munter asked what the City Attorney’s Office suggested.
Deputy City Attorney Paula Jesson said that legislative proposals to change the codes are still being discussed.
Commission Keehn asked who the police representative working on this issue was.
Executive Secretary Bernice Casey informed the Commission that Lieutenant Mary Petrie has been working on the issue.
Commissioner Keehn suggested going to Police Chief Fong to ask who the enforcement party should be.
Commissioner Evans suggested developing local legislation to prohibit stage fees and to call upon the Board of Supervisors to provide a mechanism for amending existing legislation.
Public Comment.
Datura Larsen, a former dancer, said that so long as the private booths remain there will be safety problems. Ms. Larsen said the best policy would be to not have booths. In the area of zoning, she said that clubs are already violating zoning regulations.
Rachel West from Women in Dialogue said that the stage fees were a labor issue, not an issue for the police. She said she was concerned about the police going after the dancers.
Daisy Anarchy from Sex Workers Organized for Labor Human and Civil Rights thanked the Department and the Commission for their work. She stressed the need for revised code language to be specific. Ms. Anarchy said that code 1060.10 was already on the books, so a new code provision did not need to be created. She reviewed the history involving the police department on this issue. She stated that the District Attorney’s Office has not attempted to prosecute club owners.
Based on information provided by Commissioner Marks asked Ms. Anarchy how she thought the Commission should proceed.
Ms. Anarchy echoed Commissioner Keehn’s request for a letter to be sent to the Labor Commission.
Commission Marks asked Ms. Anarchy if a dancer could make $5000.00 in a week.
Ms. Anarchy gave a history of the money that dancers made in the past, but said that the high stage fees and the resulting coerced prostitution have prohibited her from currently dancing.
Isis Rodriguez, supporter of labor issues, warned against using police for code enforcement. She said the booths should be removed. She said that dancers were entertainers, not “service” providers.
President Shorter said that the consensus seemed to be to remove the booths.
Commissioner Munter asked why the clubs had booths.
Executive Secretary Casey gave a brief history of the exotic dance clubs in San Francisco.
Commissioner Keehn said it seemed like a way of making more money.
President Shorter said that the patrons seem to have an expectation of booth activity.
Commissioner Evans said she would work on legislation to address these issues.
Commissioner Keehn suggested that state legislators and police be contacted. She stressed the need for enforcement.
President Shorter suggested that Commissioner Evans and she continue to work on the issue and asked the Department to continue to investigate.
The Commission did not take formal action on the policy options, but agreed to meet again once Commission Evans developed a legislative proposal to address the key issues.
President Shorter reviewed the Strategic Plan and provided the new Commissioners with background on the policy issues.
Action: Approved the Strategic Plan for 2004-2005
m/s/c (Marks/Evans/Unanimous)
No public comment.
a. Budget
Executive Director Emily Murase reviewed budget information for FY 2005-2006.
Commissioner Marks asked for something in writing that indicated that Commissioners would not lose benefits if they waived their $25.00 stipend.
Commissioner Munter asked directive from the Mayors’ Office on how cuts should be made.
Executive Director Murase explained that the cuts were based on a historical effort to protect emergency services.
Commissioner Keehn urged the Commission to oppose the budget cuts and lobby the Board of Supervisors to preserve the budget.
Executive Director Murase explained the parameters of the budget instructions.
Commissioner Keehn said that the Commission’s mandate was to support women.
Public Comment.
Emberly Cross from the Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic (CROC), explained the difference between the legal services programs that the Commission funds.
Ken Theisen of Bay Area Legal Aid reviewed the budget information that the Department had provided the agencies. He noted the line item for rent which indicates that the Department pays $35,000.00 a year to the City in rent. He then referred to article in the San Francisco Chronicle that noted that the Airport Commission was considering a rent reduction for a for-profit organization to the amount of $5 million. He suggested that the City use that $5 million instead of taking money from non-profit agencies.
Executive Director Murase reminded the Commission that former Commissioner Carol Ito serves on the Airport Commission.
Gloria Romero of Mission Neighborhood Centers asked the Commission not to support the cuts. She said that the prevention and education programs that were subject to cuts work with vulnerable populations.
Lori Nairne of Women In Dialogue urged the Commission to oppose the cuts. She said that the programs being cut affect the most vulnerable populations and that these programs save lives. She said that public education is essential to prevention.
Beverly Upton of the Domestic Violence Consortium further entreated the Commission said to oppose the cuts. She said that the community would go before the Board of Supervisors as it had done in the past and ask for their support.
Kathy Black of La Casa de las Madres asked for a vote for no cuts. She said that emergency services were directly tied to prevention services.
Action: To not approve the budget for FY 2005-2006.
m/s/c (Keehn/Marks/Unanimous)
- DNA/Police Department Crime Lab
Mr. Kelly, a private citizen, discussed his concern over the backlog of DNA evidence at the San Francisco
Police Department Crime Lab. He provided the Commission with a history of the backlog at the DNA Rape Unit. He said that there was still a serious backlog and that out of the 700 cases, 600 dealt with sexual assault.
Commissioner Marks suggested writing a letter to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors citing the references Mr. Kelly provided.
- Lack of Protection for Homeless Women
Carolyn Ritchie, an advocate with 12 years experience working with homeless and 9 of working with homeless women, spoke about her concern of the lack of protection for women in Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels and those who live on the street. Ms. Ritchie provided examples of women who were afraid to live in shelters and women who lost housing for “unlady-like” behavior. Ms. Ritchie said a woman with cerebral palsy was raped her first night at a SRO. Ms. Ritchie said that out of 13 residents, 15% were women. She said that women need some place to go that will guarantee their safety. She said that homeless women are getting killed and raped. Ms. Ritchie stated that there was a great need for services as these women were the most vulnerable.
President Shorter asked the Department to follow up and provide the Commission with what types of action it can take to help in this area.
Public Comment.
John Kelly provided the Commission with information he had gained during his tenure on the Senior Homeless Action Task Force.
Kathy Black said that La Casa was currently providing intensive case services and had 53 beds at Mary Elizabeth Inn. She said that women needed to go to the HAT Office within the General Assistance Office to request housing.
Executive Director Murase said that homelessness was one of the Mayor’s cluster groups and that she would ask Senior Policy Analyst Caroline Donnola to follow up.
9. REPORTS DISCUSSION/ACTION
a. Justice & Courage
Action: Approved new panel members for the Justice & Courage Oversight Panel.
m/s/c (Marks/Munter/Unanimous)
No public comment.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT DISCUSSION
No public comment.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:18 PM.
American Sign Language interpreters and a Sound Amplification System provided upon request with 48-hour advance notice to 415-252-2570. Translation into languages other than English is also available with 48-hour notice. Limited accessible street parking available. Accessible MUNI Metro station in the Van Ness Station and lines are J, K, L, M and N. Accessible MUNI Lines are the 6, 7, 9, 42, 47, 49, and 71 lines. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available. Meeting proceedings available in alternative formats. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at least two business days before the meeting at 415-252-2570 (Voice) or 415-252-2550 (TTD).
The Board of Supervisors has amended the Sunshine Ordinance by adding provision 67A.1. The provision is effective as of January 21, 2001.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
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 415-554-7724. To obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance contact Donna Hall, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall, Room 244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4689, phone: 415-554-7724, fax: 415-554-7854, email: Donna.Hall@sfgov.org. Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can also be obtained from the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s website at www.sfgov.org.
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 Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100 – 2.160) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Ave., Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-581-2300, fax: 415-581-2317 and web site http://www.sfgov.org/ethics.
Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
