2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Donaldina Cameron House
Culbertson Hall
920 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Members Present Staff Present
Commissioner Nicky Calma Executive Director Emily Murase
Vice President Kay Gulbengay Policy Analyst Ann Lehman
Commissioner Dorka Keehn Administrative Analyst Laura Marshall
Vice President Carolene Marks Policy Analyst Anu Menon
Commissioner Katherine Munter Policy Analyst Jill Tregor
President Andrea Shorter Grants Administrator Carol Sacco
Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Intern Callen Kurpinski
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
President Andrea Shorter called the meeting to order at 5:10 pm and thanked Donaldina Cameron House for hosting the meeting. Doreen Der-McLeod, Executive Director of Cameron House, welcomed all present and provided a brief historical overview of Cameron House. Cameron House proves counseling, domestic violence intervention, employment assistance, referrals, and support groups.
President Shorter announced that there would be an imperative agenda item added to the consent agenda, adding: Resolution Commemorating the 2008 Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Action: Approved amended agenda. m/s/c/ (Marks/Gulbengay/Unanimous)
No public comment.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action: Approved draft minutes from October 22, 2008.
m/s/c/ (Munter/Gulbengay/Shorter/Unanimous)
No public comment.
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT DISCUSSION
A. Executive Director's Report
Explanatory document - The Executive Director's Report discusses the work of the Department according to the 5 principles of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Ordinance: Implementation of Women & Girls Human Rights, Right to Adequate Standard of Living, Right to Bodily Integrity, Right to Adequate Healthcare, and Human Rights of Girls to Education and Social Services.
Dr. Murase reported that the Department's first annual cell phone drive collected 688 cell phones and thanked Grants Administrator Carol Sacco for spearheading this project. Dr. Murase reported 100% of Department staff members have donated to the Combined Charities Campaign and encouraged all Commissioners to also donate.
President Shorter announced that she would have to depart from the evenings meeting at 6:30 pm and Vice President Kay Gulbengay would chair the remaining part of the meeting.
IV. 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.
A. Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of State Senator Carole Migden
B. Resolution Congratulating Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her Re-Election the U.S. Congress
C. Resolution Congratulating Congresswoman Jackie Speier for her Re-Election to the U.S. Congress
D. Resolution Congratulating Assemblyperson Fiona Ma on her Re-Election to the California State Assembly
E. Resolution Commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, November 25 - December 10, 2008.
Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.
m/s/c (Shorter/Keehn/Unanimous)
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Human Trafficking
1. Presentation by the Department of Public Health
Dr. Johnson Ojo, Manager of Massage Parlor Licensing and Coordinator of the Mayor's Massage Program Taskforce, thanked the Commission for inviting him to present on such an important issue. Dr. Ojo explained that the work that he does is an interagency effort to curb human trafficking in the City. It is a humbling experience to work in a "modern day slavery." In December 2003, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to transfer the regulation of massage parlors from the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to the Department of Public Health (DPH). This was an effort to have DPH monitor the health and safety standards of the massage parlors. In June 2004 the program mandating DPH to conduct mandatory background checks on practicing Masseuses as well as a written test for those applying for licenses. Currently there are 152 active massage parlors with a total of 1429 massage practitioner licenses. On a monthly basis, there are approximately 50 new applicants for massage licenses.
In 2005, an interagency task force was convened that included DPH, SFPD, the Fire Department, the Planning Department, the Department of Building Inspection, and the City Attorney's Office to coordinate joint site visits to the massage parlors to ensure code compliance and that no illegal activities were taking place. Those not compliant during the inspections were fined or closed. Some businesses were levied fines of $200,000. The task force meets on a monthly basis before inspections to exchange referrals and information.
In a new approach, the City is tracking down the owner of the buildings where these massage parlors are being run to impose fines for lewdness or prostitution. A letter was recently sent out to building owners and since then some of the parlors have closed down.
2. Presentation by the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD)
Lt. Mary Petrie, SFPD Vice Crimes Unit who has over 30 years of experience with the SFPD, explained that 5 years ago, human trafficking was not widely discussed. Now more police have received training on identifying victims of human trafficking and educating them about the services that are available to them. Although human trafficking is the presenting crime, it is usually followed by various crimes including domestic violence or kidnapping.
The Police Department works closely with community-based agencies to provide referrals and services to victims. In the last 7 years, the SFPD was able to get over 500 children who were providing sex work off the streets.
In October 2008, the Police Department participated in an "Operation Cross Country" to combat domestic sex trafficking of children. Law enforcement targeted venues such as truck stops, motels, casinos, and the Internet where children are prostituted. In San Francisco , 4 children where rescued and 4 pimps are being charged as traffickers, headed for the federal correctional system to receive harsher punishments than otherwise.
Maxine Duggan of the Erotic Service Providers Union requested more information on how many trafficking cases have been filed in the last 6 months. Lt. Petrie reported that 4 cases had been filed in the last 6 months.
3. Presentation by Asian Anti-Trafficking Collaborative (AATC)
Hediana Utarte and Ivy Lee with the AATC shared a personal story of a victim of human trafficking and explained the importance of direct services. The AATC consists of 5 leading agencies preventing violence against Asian and Pacific Islander women that include:
· Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO)
· Asian Women's Shelter
· Donaldina Cameron House
· Narika
· Asian American Legal Education & Defense Fund
Ms. Lee, an attorney with APILO, prosecutes traffickers and advocates for victims rights explained that human trafficking cases require a team approach made up of various service providers. AATC alone served over 200 victims, including men, women, and children.
AATC explained of forced labor that the following resources would help their efforts go futher:
· Having a women's center where survivors can gather to access resources and services.
· Affordable and safe housing
· Resources or groups working in the field to collaborate and leverage resources.
4. Presentation by Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE)
Donna Sinar and Molly Ring with the SAGE Project discussed intervention strategies. Ms. Sinar provided a brief history of SAGE and explained that large portions of the staff are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. SAGE works to improve the lives of victims of sexual exploitation, violence, prostitution, and/or human trafficking. The SAGE Anti-Trafficking Program provides:
· Advocacy for victims and survivors.
· SAGE also provides comprehensive services:
§ Trauma recovery
§ Case management
§ Mental health
§ Vocational training
§ Housing assistance
§ Legal advocacy
§ Health advocacy
In 2007, SAGE served 80 trafficking clients. The SAGE staff has found that the critical needs of their clients include:
· Long-term, safe, affordable and local housing
· Domestic trafficking resources and public awareness tool.
Commissioner Keehn suggested that the Commission start exploring drafting city-wide legislation to enforce the citations given to traffickers.
Policy Analyst Jill Tregor informed the Commission that she is collaborating with other City and community-based agencies to identify the gaps in services to victims. Intern Callen Kurpinsky is currently working on a resource guide of Bay Area services that assist victims.
Action: To co-sponsor a convening on human trafficking in late spring 2009 with the Jewish Coalition Against Human Trafficking, the Human Rights Commission, among other stakeholders.
m/s/c (Keehn/Gulbengay/Unanimous).
VII. OLD BUSINESS
A. Current Year Budget
1. Presentation on the City's fiscal crisis.
Kate Howard of the Mayor's Budget Office thanked the Commission for inviting her to present more information on the City's current budget shortfall. Ms. Howard explained that the City is currently facing a $70 million shortfall. The City is seeing less property transfer taxes and hotel taxes that would feed into the City's budget. San Francisco is legally mandated to have a balanced budget and that is why Mayor Newsom is asking for general fund reductions from each Department. It is possible that if the City continues to have a deficit, there will be more reductions in the spring. Ms. Howard reported that the City will be facing a huge deficit in the next fiscal year.
2. Mid-Year Reductions
Dr. Murase reported that on November 14, the Department held a briefing with the Partner Agencies informing them of the projected cuts. Dr. Murase explained that all of the services that the agencies provide are important and rely on each other to continue to better the lives of the clients they serve.
Department staff explained that there where two options: tiered vs. across the board reductions. The larger agencies requested across the board cuts, but smaller agencies explained that cuts to their programs would threaten their viability.
Maxine Duggan expressed her support for Proposition K, which would have decriminalized prostitution, because she stated that the funds that are being used to continue to prosecute prostitutes could be used to fund the services the Department funds.
Alex with the Homeless Coordinating Board requested that the Commission reject cutting funding to the emergency shelters because all of the other shelters are booked to capacity. Alex stated that only 22% of adult shelter beds are dedicated to women.
Jennifer Grant with La Casa de las Madres urged the Commission to not cut funding to the shelters. Ms. Grant reported that most nights the shelters are at capacity or overloaded and that there are only 3 shelters in the City that specifically serves women. Ms. Grant reported that no one from the Riley Center was able to attend the meeting today because of a staff shortage.
Vanessa with Asian Women's Shelter thanked the Commission for supporting the agency's programs. AWS serves monolingual clients that are victims of human trafficking or domestic violence. If funding is cut, the agency will lose 1 year of a bed night. Many of the shelters are also receiving a 10% cut in funding from the State.
Shelly Resnick, a college student and an escort for 15 years urged the Commission to not cut funding from the shelters. Ms. Resnick explained that some transgender do engage in sex work to survive. Ms. Resnick expressed her concern about the St. James Infirmary which has lost 50% of its funding because it serves transgender women.
Emberly Cross with the Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic thanked the Department for its continued work and assistance during these difficult times. Ms. Cross explained that CROC is opposed to the 7.5% reduction.
Doreen Der-McLeod, Executive Director of Cameron House, explained how great of an impact the cuts would have on all of the agencies. Ms. Der-McLeod expressed her concern about of how smaller departments are expect to make cuts to their budgets in comparison to larger departments.
Roberta Toomer, Executive Director of WOMAN Inc., urged the Commission to reject any cuts at all. A reduction in funding for some agencies would mean that some agencies would have to lay off some of their employees.
Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, stated that it is unacceptable to continue to cut funding from emergency services. The Department has already given up too much. Ms. Upton urged the Commission to not support any cuts to the funding.
Commissioner Keehn she had to leave. However, her vote would be to not approve any cuts to the grants program. (7:00 pm)
Jill Zwaza with WOMAN, Inc. urged the Commission to work with the Partner Agencies and not support funding cuts to the grants programs. Ms. Zwaza noted that the shelters are all reaching capacity and they are at the point where they will have to turn people away.
A staff member of Bay Area Legal Aid explained that the agency provides crisis services to clients that are served by many of the Partner Agencies and funding cuts will affect services all around.
Commissioners expressed their concern with the request to cut funding to the Partner Agencies.
Action: Motion to not approve mid-year mid-year reductions to the VAW grants program.
m/s/c (Gulbengay/Marks/Unanimous).
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Maxine Duggan objected to the resources used to arrest and prosecute prostitutes. Ms. Duggan explained that once massage parlors are raided or evicted from their place of business, it drives those businesses into residential areas.
IX. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn.
m/s/c (Munter/Marks/Unanimous).
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
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.
Explanatory documents: For copies of explanatory documents listed in this agenda, and other related materials received by COSW, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at 25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 130, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575. Also, to the extent possible, documents will be available on the COSW website at http://www.sfgov.org/cosw.
Know Your Rights under the Sunshine Ordinance(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 the 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. 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.
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 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-3100, fax: 415-252-3112; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
