January 23, 2013
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
5:00 PM
City Hall, Room 421
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members Present Staff Present
President Julie Soo Executive Director Emily M. Murase, PhD
Vice President Nancy Kirshner- Media & Community Affairs Director Aimee Allison
Rodriguez Outreach and Development Manager Stacey Hoang
Commissioner Alicia Gamez Policy Director Ann Lehman
Commissioner Kay Gulbengay Grants Administrator Carol Sacco
Commissioner Becca Prowda Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Commissioner Andrea Shorter Public Policy Fellow Elizabeth Laferriere
Department Fellow Lina Malova
Department Fellow Nancy Rock
Department Fellow Johanna Saenz
Department Volunteer Jane Bernard Powers
I. Welcome
President Julie Soo called the meeting to order at 5:10 pm. President Soo requested amending the agenda to have public comment after the Consent Agenda.
Action: Approve amended agenda.
m/s/c (Shorter/Prowda/Unanimous)
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action: Approve minutes from December 5, 2012.
m/s/c (Shorter/Prowda/Unanimous)
Vice President Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez stated that the joint meeting with the Police Commission was an important way to highlight collaborative work in public safety for women. She hopes that future joint meetings can be organized with the Small Business Commission and the Health Commission. President Julie Soo echoed the statement.
No public comment.
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
A. Executive Director's Report
Dr. Emily Murase directed Commissioners to her written report. She reported that staff briefed Partner Agencies on the proposed budget on January 18. She highlighted the winners of the 2013 Anti-Human Trafficking Teen Poster Contest:
First Place: Jennifer Chan, Kimberly Ho, Erika Lam, Ally Li, Adriana Nguyen, Diana Nguyen, Amy Ung, all of the Community Youth Center of San Francisco’s Young Asian Women Against Violence Program.
Second Place: Tiffany Cheung, 12th Grade Student, Abraham Lincoln High School.
Third Place: Shelly Liu and Stella Li, both 8th Grade Students, James Denman Middle School.
The 2013 Modern Day Abolitionist Honorees Jaida Im and Cindy Liou would be recognized later in the agenda.
Dr. Murase announced the following events:
The Department is working with the Mayor’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the Filipina Women’s Network, and V-Day to bring One Billion Rising to San Francisco on Thursday, February 14. Headlining the event will be Mayor Edwin Lee, District Attorney George Gascon, V-Day Executive Director Susan Celia Swan, Filipina Women's Network President Marily Mondejar, and Commission President Julie Soo. The event on the Polk Street steps of City Hall will kick-off at 4 pm with a Youth Hour of live entertainment. At 5 pm, the headliners will begin a formal program, including the leading of an anti-violence pledge followed by dancing by the thousands who are expected to gather at Civic Center. Dr. Murase recognized Marily Mondejar and Susan Celia Swan who are being recognized by the Commission for their leadership and efforts related to this great event. The event is part of a global campaign to end violence against women, and will involve over 190countries.
The Trust Women Silver Campaign and their partner organizations are organizing week long activities to focus on the 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion consistently across the country and will include a Celebration of Women, Life, and Liberty on Saturday, January 26, 10 am – 12 noon, at Justin Herman Plaza.
The Commission and Department, in partnership with the Mayor and Board of Supervisors, celebrate this month with a public ceremony to recognize the contributions of women in the community who show exceptional vision, dedication, and leadership day in and day out. Please join us on Tuesday, March 19, at 3:30 pm at the Board of Supervisors Chambers and for a reception following at the Public Utilities Commission Sustainable Headquarters, 525 Golden Gate Avenue. The 2013 theme is “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.”
1. Billion Women Rising Presentation
V-Day Executive Director Susan Celia Swan and Filipina Women’s Network President Marily Mondejar presented an overview of the One Billion Rising global campaign to end violence against women. The campaign will culminate in events planned for Valentine's Day, February 14, 2013, beginning in Sydney, Australia, to travel to major cities in Arica, Asia, Europe, and the United States. The event at San Francisco City Hall, 4 - 6 pm, will cap the day's activities. This free and public event is designed to raise awareness of all forms of violence against women. Mayor Lee, District Attorney Gascon, President Soo, and others will be the focus of the stage program. They and others will lead a pledge to end violence against women. President Soo encouraged the public to attend the event with their loved ones.
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.
Action: Approve consent agenda.
m/s/c (Kirshner-Rodriguez/Gamez/Unanimous)
A. Resolution Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision
B. Resolution Recognizing the Courageous Dollar Store Strikers
C. Resolution Recognizing Modern Day Abolitionist Jaida Im
D. Resolution Recognizing Modern Day Abolitionist Cindy Liou
E. Resolution Recognizing the One Billion Rising Campaign
Freedom House Executive Director Jaida Im thanked the Commission for the recognition. She recounted her own personal battle with pain, which kept her mentally imprisoned for 12 years. She thanked the Commission and the Human Rights Commission for organizing the 2009 Community Convening on Human Trafficking where she was inspired to take action against human trafficking. She and her husband used their personal savings to purchase a house to provide a residential facility for survivors of human trafficking. Freedom House has now cared for dozens of survivors. President Soo added that, nationally, there are only 650 or so beds for survivors of human trafficking.
Attorney Cindy Liou of Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach spoke about success stories with her clients who survived human trafficking. In particular, one survivor of labor trafficking and another of sex trafficking both graduated from nursing programs and are well on their way to new careers in the medical field. In 2000, the Asian Anti-Trafficking Collaborative was formed by APILO, Asian Women's Shelter, Cameron House, and Narika. Ms. Liou explained that all of the work is based on close collaborations. She reported that the federal Violence Against Women Act and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act were re-introduced in Congress today. She asked for community support to contact members of Congress to urge adoption of these keystone pieces of legislation.
President Soo will be presenting the Dollar Store Strikers resolution at the Fred Korematsu Commemoration on January 27 where the son of the last surviving striker will accept the recognition.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
Larry Bradshaw, Vice President of SEIU 1021, stated that SEIU includes 15,000 union members. He recounted the comparable worth/pay equity movement, including the adoption of Proposition H by the votes in 1986. At the time, wages were raised, on average, 20%. Mr. Bradshaw reported that the Department of Human Resources has introduced an effort termed "market recalibration" to rollback gains in wages. Mr. Bradshaw urged the Commission to support the equal pay for the classifications being effected.
Karen Jobst of Laguna Honda Hospital spoke about her colleagues who dedicate themselves to a clean, safe, welcoming environment at Laguna Honda. She thanked the Commission for its leadership on pay equity in the past.
Martha Hawthorne, a registered nurse in the Maternal/Home Visiting Unit of the Department of Public Health for 25 years, explained that even though she is not among the classifications under review, she stands in support of her colleagues and pay equity. She objected to the proposal to roll back the pay for positions held by mostly minorities and women.
Jamila Din explained that pay equity is a civil right. Language in the contract allows the union to negotiate wages when a disparity exists. She highlighted an article in the SingTao Chinese language newspaper that reports on the challenges of city workers to make ends meet.
Brenda Barrows, a 30-year employee of the City & County of San Francisco, expressed her outrage at continuing discrimination in city hiring.
Former Supervisor Chris Daly, Political Director of SEIU 1021, thanked the Commission for its work. In 1978, the Commission published a comparable worth study that jumpstarted a 20-year effort to implement pay equity.
Former Commissioner on the Status of Women Shirley Breyer Black stated that she played an instrumental role in realizing pay equity. She was dismayed with the effort being made to take steps back in pay equity. She thanked the Commission for its work and hoped that the Commission can support pay equity.
Department of Human Resources official Mary Hao explained that the review of classifications has come in the context of a Recruitment and Retention Committee, composed of union representatives and human resources officials. The union submitted a list of classifications for review in pay disparities to address by wage improvements. The Department of Human Resources submitted a list of classifications for review in cases of wages that are higher than comparable markets. Should there not be an agreement, there is a provision in the contract for impasse procedures. When asked if the City takes into account the high cost of living in San Francisco, Ms. Hao explained that the City looks at the consumer price index and at similar populations.
Dr. Murase agreed to have the Department provide some policy research on comparable work at the next Commission meeting.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Adult Probation Department Gender Analysis Update
Chief Wendy Still reported on gender specific programming at the Adult Probation Department. APD supervises 5,705 adults each day. The numbers reflect the re-alignment of probationers from state custody to local custody. She reviewed staffing data disaggregated by gender and by race. There has been a doubling in the number of women employees: from 43 in 2009 to 86 today. She discussed a sea change in the approach probation officers take with their clients where client needs drive services and resources. Chief Still provided demographic data about female clients. Chief Still has been a pioneer in gender responsive strategies such as transportation by female staff; if arrested, determination of care for any children; and, family-informed case management plan. Under her leadership, San Francisco became the first jurisdiction to introduce family impact statements to the probation process. Chief Still reported on her department's audit of batterer’s intervention programs, conducted in partnership with Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium. APD has partnered with the Department of Public Health on the Open Arms program to provide services to women recently released from prison. The Department opened a satellite office in the Bayview district.
Vice President Kirshner-Rodriguez congratulated Chief Still on the many of achievements in better serving women probationers. She asked if Chief Still would be presenting to the Board of Supervisors and other Commissions. Chief Still stated that she will likely go before the Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee soon.
President Soo asked about services to children. Chief Still responded by saying that the Department has partnered with Child Protective Services of the Human Services Agency which has jurisdiction over these children.
Commissioner Gamez inquired about whether the department is sufficiently staffed to meet the increased number of probationers as a result of realignment. Chief Still stated that she has been given the resources to maintain a ratio of 1 probation officer for every 50 probationers.
Commissioner Shorter asked what the Commission could do to support the Department. Chief Still said she would let Dr. Murase know as the need arises.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. FY2013-2014 Proposed Budget
Dr. Murase presented an overview of the FY2013-2014 and FY2014-2015 budget projections city-wide. The Department was required to propose $51,000 in cuts in each of these 2 years. Fiscal Manager Stacey Hoang presented details of the department budget. The proposed cuts amount to 1.97% across the board reductions to the Violence Against Women Prevention & Intervention Grant Program in each of the next 2 years.
Action: To reject the proposed budget for FY13-14.
m/s/c (Prowda/Kirshner-Rodriguez/Unanimous)
Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, thanked the Commission for standing with the direct service agencies.
Denny David of LYRIC expressed gratitude to the Commission for its vote against budget cuts.
Elizabeth Curtin of the Asian Women's Shelter thanked the Commission for saving women's lives. She reported that Department funding enables shelter staff to engage with clients in over 40 languages.
Kemi Mustafa of Bay Area Legal Aid thanked the Commission for supporting direct services to vulnerable populations, particularly minority women.
Yulanda Kwong, Interim Executive Director of Cameron House, thanked the Commission for supporting the work of the 138 year old agency.
Kathy Black, Executive Director of La Casa de las Madres, explained that every$1.00 from the Department is leveraged with $7.50 in funding from other sources. The proposed cut would have resulted in a $5,000 cut to the emergency shelter.
Mari Makeever, Managing Attorney of the Volunteer Legal Services Program, stated that the rejection of cuts means better protecting domestic violence survivors
VII. Reports
A. Health & Safety
President Julie Soo is still attending the Healthy San Francisco Taskforce meetings. Data has shown that both women and men are accessing services equally.
B. Association of California Commissions for Women(ACCW)
Vice President Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez attended the quarterly meeting of the ACCW in Sacramento at the new California Commission’s Office. Initiatives being pursued by the California Commission were reviewed and discussed. The upcoming National Association of Commissions for Women will be held in Santa Clara from July 24-27.
C. Human Trafficking
Vice President Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez explained that there is a pamphlet of the various activities for Human Trafficking Awareness Month that are taking place in the City, including a Human Trafficking Brown Bag series taking place throughout the month. Please view www.endhumantrafficking.org for events.
D. Justice & Courage
Commissioner Andrea Shorter will chair the meeting on February 6 at 9 am at City Hall in Room 408.
E. Gender Equality Principles Initiative (GEP)
Commissioner Kay Gulbengay reported that, on March 14, the New York City Women’s Business Initiative, modeled after the GEP, will be launching and Policy Director Ann Lehman will be a guest speaker.
Vice President Kirshner-Rodriguez suggested partnering with New York to make a presentation at the Mayor’s Forum on the GEP and the ground breaking work being done.
F. Family Violence Council
Executive Director Emily M. Murase reported that the next meeting is scheduled for February 20, 3-5 pm, at 400 McAllister Street, Room 617.
G. Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention Programs
Commissioner Prowda reported that the Request for Proposal for the next 3-year grant cycle, FY2014-15 - FY2017-18 will be released at the end of the calendar year. She invited Commissioners to provide input into the next grant cycle.
President Soo and Commissioner Gamez reported on the listening sessions with the VAW Partner Agencies that were hosted by Mujeres Unidas y Activas, Donaldina Cameron House, and at our office. The sessions were designed to give Commissioners the opportunity to hear directly from Partner Agencies on the trends they are seeing and how the Commission can better support their work.
IX. CLOSED SESSION
A. Public comment on all matters pertaining to the Closed Session.
B. Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b) and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b):
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Executive Director, Emily Murase.
C. Open Session
Action: Motion not to publicly disclose any or all of the information discussed in the closed session under San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a).
m/s/c (Kirshner-Rodriguez/Shorter/Unanimous)
X. ADJOURNMENT
Adjourn the meeting in memory of Vivian Brown.
m/s/c (Kirshner-Rodriguez/Shorter/Unanimous)
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