MARIJUANA OFFENSES
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
February 28, 2008, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place, Rm. 278
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting of the Marijuana Offenses Oversight Committee was called to order at 10:15 a.m. Camilla Field, Committee Co-Chair
Present:
Camilla Norman Field, Committee Co-Chair
Michael Goldstein, Committee Co-Chair
Mira Ingram
Aleem Raja
Absent:
Patt Denning
Richard Rendon
Catherine Smith
2. DISCUSS AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 1, DECEMBER 18, AND JANUARY 31 MEETINGS
We are still waiting for the November 1 minutes. The December 18 and January 31 minutes were discussed. Mr. Goldstein moved to approve, Ms. Ingram seconded, and all were in favor of approving the minutes
3. COMMITTEE UPDATES
SFPD/Commission: Mr. Goldstein reported he is still trying to meet with the Police Commission President, but she has been ill. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit the Commission's support for our process and help us get information we need from the San Francisco Police Department. Also, Mr. Goldstein reported that Alternative Herbal Health Services a Medical Cannabis Dispensary at 442 Haight is being met with opposition. It is an MCD permitted by the planning commission and almost permitted by the Department of Public Health. How will the police respond and act? Maybe we want people from the MCD to visit. Mr. Goldstein said that he would continue his efforts to meet with the commission. Ms. Ingram reports that her calls to the SFPD have gone unanswered. Her plan is to visit Chief Fong in person.
Office of the DA: Ms. Field noted that Assistant Deputy Attorney Woo will be a good source of information and Ms. Field plans to follow up with ADA Woo soon.
Office of the Public Defender: No update.
Community:
* Ms. Field unveiled the Community Incident Report Form. It was discussed later in the meeting.
* Ms. Ingram reported that she faced some skepticism from the community when she said she was on this commission. She asked whether she could get business cards. Ms. Field suggested that Ms. Ingram talk to Zach Tuller (Supervisor Ammiano's Legislative Aide) about how to deal with questions by community that we are not members.
Board of Supervisors: No update.
Public Comment:
* It may not be possible to get business cards.
* As to the MCD mentioned above, concern was that it was a racial issue. There were very few neighbors there.
* There was a news report where the police department was standing up for MCD and maybe just one individual trying to shut it down.
4. REVIEW AND APPROVE COMMUNITY INCIDENT REPORT FORM
* Ms. Denning provided the interview consent form.
* Ms. Field emailed the form to our contact at the City Attorney's office for her comments. She will get back to us about confidentiality issues.
* Edits were discussed.
* The committee needs to figure out what to do about a mailing address and contact information.
* The committee will make sure it is visually and language accessible.
* The committee will figure out who will be the point person for this form.
Public Comment:
* The form should include a question about whether or not the person has been harassed by the same police officer before or after the incident. The form should also include a question about whether a person was discriminated against based on race/sex/etc.
* It was clarified that a person does not need to be interviewed. They can fill the form out themselves.
* The form should include a question about whether or not the person was a victim of police violence during the incident.
* Isn't it dangerous to have a person put their name on a form like this, basically confessing to a federal crime?
* The form could be put on weedtracker.com for accessibility to an online community.
* There should be more space to write on the form. Also, the form should ask if the person has a lawyer.
* The people who will be helped most by this will pick it up, not use it online.
* One model for information is the GAAP project out of Hastings law school.
5. DISCUSS DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITY INCIDENT REPORT FORM
Tabled.
6. DISCUSS FUTURE MEETING DATES
The future meeting dates were confirmed.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
350 Divisadero closes tomorrow. We are in need of community center. No safe place to medicate.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 11:35 am. Mr. Goldstein moved to adjourn, Ms. Ingram seconded.
