August 24, 2011

COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
5:00 PM
25 Van Ness Avenue, 8th Floor Conference Room
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members Present Staff Present
President Kay Gulbengay Executive Director Emily Murase
Vice President Julie Soo Policy Director Ann Lehman
Commissioner Alicia Gamez Senior Gender Policy Analyst Anu Menon
Commissioner Nancy Kirshner- Grants Administrator Carol Sacco
Rodriguez Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Commissioner Stephanie Simmons UC Berkeley Graduate Intern Katherine Ray
Commissioner Andrea Shorter

Excused: Becca Prowda


I. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES
President Gulbengay called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm.
Action: To approve the meeting agenda.
m/s/c (Soo/Simmons/Unanimous)
No public comment.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
President Gulbengay asked Commissioners to review the minutes from June 22, 2011.
Action: Approve minutes from June 22, 2011.
m/s/c (Soo/Simmons/Unanimous)
No public comment.

III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

A. Executive Director's Report
Dr. Murase directed Commissioners to her written report. Dr. Murase stated that the Department is in the process of updating the 2003 Girls Report. The Steering Committee for the 5th World Conference on Women (5WCW), including Commissioner Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, is meeting monthly, and the next meeting will be held on September 7. The Committee is developing a brochure on the 5WCW to be distributed at the APEC Women and the Economy (WES) Summit to be held in San Francisco in September. The next meeting will be held on September 7. Dr. Murase also announced that Executive Director Sally Al-Daher of the Arab Cultural and Community Center will be leaving her agency in September after a very successful tenure. She will be recognized at the September Commission meeting.

B. Secure Communities Presentation
UC Berkeley Graduate Intern Katherine Ray presented her findings on the impact of the federal immigrant policy “Secure Communities.” According to this policy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement works with local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. Secure Communities has been active since 2009 in California and is expected to be active in all 50 states by 2013. It uses an already-existing federal information-sharing partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that helps to identify criminal aliens. Under Secure Communities, the FBI automatically sends the fingerprints of suspects to ICE to check against its immigration databases. If these checks reveal that an individual is unlawfully present in the United States or otherwise removable due to a criminal conviction, ICE takes enforcement action – prioritizing the removal of individuals who present the most significant threats to public safety as determined by the severity of their crime, their criminal history, and other factors – as well as those who have repeatedly violated immigration laws. There are 4 levels that ICE uses:
• Level 1: Aggravated Felonies, 2 or more felonies
• Level 2: Felony & Misdemeanors
• Level 3: Crimes Punishable by Less than a Year
• Level 4: No Prior arrest

Ms. Ray reviewed the California Deportation Removals or Returns from October 2010 to June 2011.
• 31% had Multiple Felonies
• 28% were non-criminals
• 26% had served up to 1 year of jail time
• 15% had felony or misdemeanor charges

Critiques of Secure Communities include:
? Can lead to racial profiling
? Erodes trust between immigrant communities, police
? DV survivors do not call police due to fear of deportation for themselves, their abusers, or other family members
? Squanders finite local law enforcement resources by detaining non-criminals, etc.
? Makes communities less safe.

San Francisco has written policies that declares it a sanctuary city and prohibits racial profiling. The Police Department actively works with community-based organizations to implement the U-Visas, which are available for up to 10,000 victims of specific crimes per year nation-wide who cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of the persons charged with the criminal activity. San Francisco Sheriff Hennessey has been vocal in his concern over Secure Communities which can have a chilling effect on undocumented residents reporting crimes. Assemblymember Tom Ammiano is currently sponsoring AB 1081 (the TRUST Act), which would give local governments the right to opt-out of the controversial Secure Communities program.

After reviewing this program in her presentation, Ms. Ray proposed preliminary recommendations:
• Urges local authorities to opt-out of the program to the extent that remains possible/Do not grant detentions requested by ICE.
• Creating an exception for domestic violence victims or other “carve-out” is not adequate. Advocacy is needed to repeal Secure Communities altogether at the federal level.
• Create a working group to document the impact of Secure Communities.
• Disseminate information about the U-Visa program.

Ms. Ray will complete a final written report for the Board of Supervisors. Commissioner Gamez requested that Ms. Ray consider making a presentation for the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers and the San Francisco Bar Association.

Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, is working with a coalition to have California opt-out of Secure Communities.

In completing the final report, Commissioners urged that Ms. Ray consider the following:
• Clarification on the types of infractions that are considered non-criminal.
• A list of states that are opting-out of Secure Communities.
• A list of Coalitional Partners working on the opt-out provision.
• Research the number of U-visas that are being granted nationally.


C. Women & the Economy Summit, September 13-16, San Francisco
Dr. Murase announced the various Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) events taking place between September 11 - 26, Delegates from the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum will be converging here in San Francisco for the final Senior Officials Meeting in the run-up to the Leaders’ Meeting of heads of state in Honolulu in November. As part of these proceedings, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will convene the first-ever Women and the Economy Summit, September 13 - 16, to bring together 800 APEC delegates and other luminaries to develop policy recommendations for the November APEC Leaders Meeting, hosted by President Barack Obama. The Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women will be hosting events throughout the week in partnership with the Commission and the Department..

• Monday, September 12: “Women. Create. Change: Discussion, Reception, and Film Screening,”
5 pm registration; 5:30 - 6:30 pm Panel Discussion on San Francisco’s work to advance women’s human rights; 6:30 - 7:30 pm reception with delegates of the APEC Women & the Economy Summit; 7:30 - 9 pm film screening of Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s “Miss Representation,” at 344 Pine Street.

• Friday, September 16: Live Simulcast of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Keynote Address at the APEC Women & the Economy Summit, followed by a roundtable discussion about policy recommendations on women and the economy, co-sponsored with the Friends, the Bay Area Council, and the Commonwealth Club; 8:30 registration; 9 - 9:30 am live simulcast; 9:30 - 12:30 pm roundtable discussion including breakouts and report backs., 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor.

• Other related events
The Women’s Intercultural Network and the Global Arts & Exchange are convening a Community Roundtable and Call to Action on Tuesday, September 13 at the Lorraine Hansberry Theater, 450 Post Street near Union Square from 6:30 - 9 pm to address “Women’s Economic Justice & Security.”

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 Tiela Chalmers
B. Resolution Recognizing Nadia Scipio-Del Campo
C. Resolution Recognizing Mary Anderton for Women’s Equality Day
D. Resolution Deploring “The Playboy Club” Television Series

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.
m/s/c (Gamez/Simmons/Unanimous).

Tiela Chalmers thanked her colleagues for their support over the years and thanked the Commission for the recognition.

Mary Anderton, of the League of Women Voters, was surprised and honored by the recognition by the Commission.
Ms. Anderton accepted the resolution on behalf of the board and volunteers of the League of Women Voters San Francisco.

President Gulbengay explained that the Commission is expressing its objection to the new “Playboy Club” television series as it represents a step backwards in terms of the representation of women in media. According to Gloria Steinem who has declared a boycott of the program and its advertisers, the program glamorizes what was a seedy operation.

V. NEW BUSINESS

A. Introduction of Dion Roberts, the new Executive Director of Mary Elizabeth Inn
Dion Roberts, a member of the Justice & Courage Oversight Panel and Chair of the Housing Sub-Committee has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Mary Elizabeth Inn (MEI). Ms. Roberts provided a brief history of MEI and the current programs and services provided by MEI. MEI provides safe housing and crucial services to women in need. Ms. Roberts reported the various community organizations MEI partners with, including Self Help for the Elderly which provides breakfast and lunch for clients from Monday-Friday. Ms. Roberts hopes to see her agency grow and gain more master leases to provide additional housing and services to more clients. In 2014, MEI will be celebrating its Centennial and hopes to launch the Lizzie Glide Award to honor MEI’s legendary founder. Ms. Roberts hopes to work closely and directly with the Commission.

B. Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro (invited) – Introduction of the new CEO of the Global Fund for Women
Dr. Kanyoro was unable to attend but will attend a future Commission meeting.

C. Friends of the Commission Update
Barbara Mark Ph.D., Board member of the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women, CEO and Founder of Full Circle Institute and member of the 5WCW Steering Committee, provided an overview of new Friends Board. Current members are:

• Marily Mondejar, President, Filipina Women’s Network
• Patricia M. Bovan, Director of Business Development & Contracts, Symantec Corporation
• Peg McAllister, Senior Vice President, Lee Hecht Harrison
• Diana Reyes, Manager of Corporate Public Affairs, Chevron Corporation
• Barbara Mark, Ph.D., CEO and Founder, Full Circle Institute
• Shinta Lim, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
• Cathy Campbell, Director of Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, Charles Schwab & Company
• Esther Colwill, Principal, Deloitte Consulting
• Lenore McDonald, Director of Development, Annual Giving, and Alumni Services, Golden Gate University

Dr. Mark reported that the Friends are actively working on the October 17 Luncheon Fundraiser “2011 CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards,” which will take place at the Julia Morgan Ballroom beginning at at 11:30 am. The Friends are working towards a specific fundraising goal and have reached out to various companies for sponsorship of the luncheon. The Fundraiser goes to support the various activities and projects of the Department. This year the following people will be honored as part of the CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards ceremony::

• Barbara Garcia, Director, San Francisco Department of Public Health (Health)
• Charlene Harvey, Board of Directors, Presidio Trust (Environment)
• Dorka Keehn, Journalist and Social Entrepreneur (Claire Joyce Tempongko Memorial Award)
• Drucilla Ramey, Dean, Golden Gate University School of Law (Education)
• Jamel Perkins, Past President, Partners Ending Domestic Abuse (Anti-Violence)
• Julianne Cartwright Traylor, Associate Director of International Programs, University of San Francisco School of Law (Legacy)
• Karen Kai, Arts and Cultural Education Advocate (Culture)
• Lydia Beebe, Corporate Secretary and Chief Governance Officer, Chevron (Corporate)
• Noosheen Hashemi, President and Co-Founder, The Hand Foundation (Philanthropy)
• Pam Hemann, Executive Director, Leadership California (Leadership)
• Roselyne Swig, Founder, Partners Ending Domestic Abuse (Anti-Violence)

The Friends have updated their website and welcomed people to visit at www.frindscosw.org.


VI. REPORTS
A. Women’s Human Rights
Dr. Murase reported that the Gender Equality Principles Initiative (GEP) held a successful two-day retreat. The advisory working group and partners met to discuss the best direction for the GEP to take over the next 3 years and how to revamp the website to make it more user friendly. We are now working on developing a short assessment to draw companies into the website making the self-assessment clearer and more effective.

Dr. Murase reported that she and Ms. Menon would be going before the Fire Commission to present the results of the gender analysis of the 2009 Fire Department Exam. Fire Commission President Andrea Evans, then-Vice President Steve Nakajo, and United Fire Service Women had asked the Department to help the Fire Department figure out why there was a 50% drop in the number of female applicants to the 2009 Fire Exam.

B. Family Violence Council
Commissioner Simmons reported on the most recent meeting of the Family Violence Council, held on August 17. The Council heard updates from the San Francisco Police Department, Council Co-Chair Kathy Baxter on the proposed child abuse intervention program and the new Child Advocacy Center to be located in the Bayview/Hunter’s Point neighborhood. Dr. Erica Falk reported on the elder abuse forensic center and Veronica Martinez provided an update on the City’s Violence Prevention Plan. The centerpiece of the meeting was Graduate Intern Katherine Ray’s presentation on the Secure Communities policy.

Dr. Murase reported that on July 29, Commissioner Andrea Shorter and she, together with other women leaders from the family violence community, met with Police Chief Greg Suhr to protest the sudden announcement that the Domestic Violence Response Unit was being moved outside of the Hall of Justice. The Chief was unaware that the issue of the unit’s location has been the concern of community members for several years, and has been communicated to the 3 Police Chiefs who preceded him. Chief Suhr was very open to the feedback and committed to the community that the best possible space for the unit would be identified at the Hall of Justice. Beverly Upton thanked the Commission for working closely with the Partner Agencies when discussing the planned move for the DVRU. Commissioner Shorter thanked the 15 community supporters who attended the meeting.

The next meeting of the Family Violence Council is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, 2 - 4:30 pm at 400 McAllister Street, Room 509.

D. Justice & Courage
Dr. Murase reported that Justice and Courage Oversight Panel met and discussed the status of the Panel as the Department has lost the staff person supporting that body. Panel members expressed the desire to continue to meet, and at a minimum schedule meetings with Department Heads. The next Oversight Panel meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 2, 9 am - 12 noon at City Hall, Room 408.

E. Human Trafficking
Dr. Murase reported that SFCAHT will continue organize ongoing awareness events, coordinate a data collection project on the extent of human trafficking in San Francisco, hold quarterly general meetings, and help facilitate a Wish List for victims of trafficking.

F. 5th UN World Conference on Women
Commissioner Kirshner- Rodriguez reported that the Steering Committee for the 5th World Conference on Women (5WCW), is meeting monthly. The steering committee has broken up into subcommittees to focus on the United Nations process, marketing, and capacity building. The group is working on a brochure on the 5WCW to be distributed at the APEC Women and the Economy (WES) Summit being held on San Francisco September 13-16. The APEC delegates are a great target audience to recruit to push the United Nations to hold the 5WCW. Commissioner Kirshner-Rodriguez, Ms. Menon, and Dr. Murase met with Lysa Lewin from SF Travel who is responsible for booking conventions about reserving conference space for the 5WCW which we hope to host in July 2015

G. Other Reports by Commissioners
None.

VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Beverly Upton announced that the Domestic Violence Consortium will be putting together a calendar for October as it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Paula March with March Partners, who is working with the Friends, thanked the Commission and Department for their continued support with the October 17 CEDAW Luncheon.

Marie McEver expressed her concern with the funding cuts that are being made at the San Francisco Superior Courts. Ms. McEver stated that 40% of the staff is being cut and it will have an impact on women and families here in San Francisco. It was also reported that 25 court rooms will be closing and as many as 200 staff will be laid off.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn in memory of Don Casper, Vice President of the Civil Service Commission and in honor of the 41st March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
m/s/c (Shorter/Gulbengay/Unanimous)
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm



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