San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, November 7, 2011
5:15-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chair LaCroix called the meeting to order at 5:20 p.m.
The roll was called. Commissioners present: Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Carrion, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Persky, Shackelford, Sun, Yang. There was quorum. Commissioners absent: Brodwin. Staff present: Yedidia, Truong.
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
There was no public comment on this item.
Commissioner Ontiveros, seconded by Commissioner Holloway moved to approve the agenda. The agenda was approved unanimously by acclamation.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
A. Monday, October 17, 2011 (Document A)
There was no public comment on this item.
Commissioner Baer, seconded by Commissioner Armstrong, moved to approve the minutes to the meeting of October 17, 2011. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda (Discussion Only)
There were none.
5. Legislation Referred from the Board of Supervisors (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)
There was none.
6. Presentations (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)
A. Presentation on the Unmet Needs of Transitional Age Youth in San Francisco (TAYSF)
Presenters: Jose-Luis Mejía, Alma Ruznic, Nadiyah Shereff, Young Adult Advocates, Transitional Age Youth Initiative—San Francisco (TAYSF)
(Document B, C)
Chair LaCroix welcomed Jose-Luis Mejia, Alma Ruznic, and Nadiyah Shereff, Young Adult Advocates of Transitional Age Youth San Francisco (TAYSF), to the full Youth Commission meeting and gave a brief introduction on why it is important for the Youth Commission, with some commissioners being TAY themselves, to hear about TAY issues and priorities for fiscal year 2011-2012.
Jose-Luis Mejia, Alma Ruznic, and Nadiyah Shereff, Young Adult Advocates of Transitional Age Youth San Francisco, introduced themselves to Commissioners and gave some historical and contextual background on the Transitional Age Youth Imitative in San Francisco. Ms. Shereff shared with Commissioners that a TAY is identified as a person between the ages of 16-24, facing multiple barriers which includes, but is not limited to the following: homeless and/or runaway, parents, disabled and/or special needs, juvenile justice system, did not complete high school, and an immigrant. The Transitional Age Youth Initiative is an outgrowth of former Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Transitional Youth Task Force – an interagency planning group which met in 2006 to create recommendations to improve the lives of TAY. Ms. Ruznic also explained the roles of young adult advocates at TAY and how TAYSF’s work is directed by a collaboration of members of TAYSF’s Steering Committee and Young Adult Advisory Board, and through focus group and street outreach. Mr. Mejia then introduced Commissioners to the TAY Resource Website; a comprehensive online resource database consisting of youth programs and services, this project was prioritized by the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Young Adult Advisory Board, to increase the awareness of San Francisco’s plethora of programs, organizations, and services for young adults and community service providers. Mr. Mejia welcomed any help from Commissioners interested in the resource directory.
The Young Adult Advocates urged Commissioners to write a resolution to help make TAY a stated priority population in San Francisco. Mr. Mejia stressed to Commissioners, why out of the 16 policy recommendations from the TAY Initiative, some have moved forward and others have not progressed, was the involvement and voices of young people in San Francisco.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions regarding current TAY issues and the Young Adult Advisory Board. Commissioner Carrion shared information about the Guardian Scholars Program at City College of San Francisco and asked that TAY look into collaborating with the program, as they provide services to youth exiting the foster system.
Mr. Mejia stated that the Young Adult Advisory Board meets every on a monthly basis, with each month representing a different topic for members to discuss and go over. “Community Development” was the topic of the Board’s last meeting.
Commissioner Tu Mutch volunteered to have the Youth City Services committee work on a resolution to support TAY as a population priority.
Commissioner Bonner also invited TAY advocates to present to the Youth Commission’s Executive Committee meeting to collaborate on outreach efforts to young people in San Francisco.
Public Comment:
Youth Commission Director Mario Yedidia, received public comment in email form from Laurel Moeslein, a Case Manager at Inner City Youth and advocate for TAY. Ms. Moeslein was not able to attend the Youth Commission meeting, but requested that her public comment be read out loud for Commissioners. Director Yedidia read her public comment into the public record.
Hello,
I am unable to attend the 11/7 Youth Commission meeting dedicated to the unmet needs of San Francisco's TAY population due to a scheduling conflict, but wish to submit public comment for the record, as I am so pleased that the Youth Commission is addressing such an important issue in our city.
My name is Laurel Moeslein, and I have worked as a Case Manager and Advocate for Transitional Age Youth for five years- mostly in Lakeview and Sunnydale. The needs of almost any TAY in San Francisco are great- but in these communities some of the decisions you make from ages 18-24 can change the course of your entire life. This age group has a tremendous amount of pressure on them as they transition into adulthood. This population is most at-risk for homelessness, violence, and incarceration. If an already at-risk TAY is not housed, employed, or being educated, they are likely to engage in the illegal street economy.
Based on my experience I have some advocacy suggestions for the Youth Commission as they begin to tackle this worthy subject:
1. Increased affordable housing development for the general TAY population. There are quite a few affordable housing options in San Francisco for former Foster youth (G-House, the Salvation Army apartments, ect), but what about those kids that never made it into the system? Those that stayed with Grandmas or Aunties under the radar- but probably should have been in foster care. They have all the same risks as former foster youth- but often, they can't reap any of the same benefits. I think we should advocate for a full assessment during the housing application period- and that waitlist decisions and acceptance should be based on the totality of risk factors. There should be affordable housing options for all struggling youth- or we will continue to lose more and more lifetime SF residents to places like Hayward, Antioch, and Stockton.
2. Education campaign about FAFSA and financial aid policies for local colleges. The FAFSA will not be accepted without one of your parents full financial information (tax info, gross income, ect.). Many TAY I have known give up on receiving financial aid when they can't get this information from their parents, or they don't consistently know where they're parents are. What many TAY don't know if that you can leave the parent information on the FAFSA blank, and then work with a Financial Aid Specialist at your college to do an "Unusual Circumstances Form"- and get yourself declared an "Independent", rather than a "Dependent". Every young person I have ever worked with COULD NOT attend college without some amount of financial aid. We have to make sure the population understands that almost EVERYONE is entitled to aid. This helps people stay in school, and also builds income.
3. TAY need to know how to seal their juvenile records. TAY that offended as an adult need to know about the Clean Slate program and the expungement process. There is a segment of the TAY population that is unemployable in this economy due to their status as ex-offenders. Their ex-offender status can even limit their ability to receive financial aid or get housed. We need to work together to spread the work about the VERY EASY process of sealing juvenile records at Woodside, and the availability of the Clean Slate program through the Public Defender's Office. Maybe this information can be decimnated through Adult Probation officers, or in the Career Centers at CCSF and Skyline.
Thank you for accepting this public comment, and thank you for your steadfast leadership,
Laurel Moeslein
Inner City Youth of San Francisco (ICY)
Linda Martin-Mason, Ombudsman, San Francisco Housing Authority shared with Commissioners and members of the public that the SFHA will be starting their Annual Review process in January 2012. Under normal circumstances, the SFHA does not change the preferences on eligibility documents for affordable housing in San Francisco; however in January 2012 there will be a meeting to discuss possible changes to preferences. Ms. Martin-Mason invited members of the public to attend and for anyone interested to contact her at (415) 715-3915 or email at martinl@sfha.org Ms. Martin-Mason also shared that the SFHA waitlist has been closed for almost 10 years, with the waitlist for Section 8 housing to open up sometime in 2012.
Chair Lacroix thanked Jose-Luis Mejia, Alma Ruznic, and Nadiyah Shereff for the time and presentation, and invited them to continue their collaboration with the Youth Commission by working with the various Youth Commission committees.
B. Presentation on the San Francisco’s Affordable and Low-Income Housing Services and Policies, especially as they relate to youth
Presenters: Linda Martin-Mason, Ombudsman, San Francisco Housing Authority; Anne Romero, Project Manager, Mayor’s Office of Housing
(Documents D, E)
Chair Lacroix welcomed Linda Martin-Mason, Ombudsman, of the San Francisco Housing Authority, and gave introductory remarks on why the Executive Committee, at the suggestion of Commissioner Bonner, the Youth Commission’s Legislative Affairs officer, felt this presentation was important for Commissioners to hear.
Linda Martin-Mason, Ombudsman, of San Francisco Housing Authority, introduced herself to Commissioners and gave an overview of SFHA through a power point presentation. Ms. Martin-Mason explained the roles SFHA plays as it relates to managing different public housing properties; in a two way contract, SFHA owns the property and is the landlord for public housing tenants, in Section 8 housing, officially called the Housing Choice Voucher Program, there is a three way contract in which the SFHA administers the voucher program and has a contract between SFHA and the landlord, there is a lease agreement between the landlord and tenant, and an agreement between the tenant and the SFHA.
Ms. Martin-Mason then outlined the different public housing sites throughout San Francisco, as SFHA is one of the oldest housing authorities in California and the biggest landlord in San Francisco. Ms. Martin-Mason stated that the SFHA recently got off the public housing troubled status list and can now apply for grants, as such they will also be looking into reviving their 501c3 status to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are public housing residents. Ms. Martin-Mason will be working on this scholarship project with SFHA. Ms. Martin-Mason also shared the SFHA have been working hard on a lot of different priorities including rent policy, with rent being actively pursued this year; offering job resource fairs at different housing sites, preparation for the reopening of the Section 8 waitlist in 2012, work on revamping the SFHA website, and starting the process of the preparing for the Annual Plan.
Chair LaCroix then welcomed Anne Romero, Project Manager, of the Mayor’s Office of Housing.
Anne Romero, Project Manager of the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), introduced herself to Commissioners and gave a brief overview of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and some contextual background information on the city’s TAY housing plan. Currently, through the Community Development division, MOH is looking at multifamily developments as they affect TAY. Ms. Romero shared that there is target funding for specific populations throughout the city, which now includes TAY. The priority population of the last decade had been the chronically homeless population. Currently, there is a TAY housing work group to help implement goals of providing housing for TAY by 2015. Ms. Romero noted that San Francisco is one of the few cities in the nation to provide dedicated funding for TAY housing and it is important to keep collaborating with youth to find better models to house TAY, to continue the work of affordable housing for the TAY population.
Public Comment:
Jose-Luis Mejia is a Young Adult Advocate working at Transitional Age Youth SF. He was interested in learning more about how both the San Francisco Housing Authority and the Mayor’s Office of Housing is working to keep residents living in San Francisco, when new developments are being built in neighborhoods.
Linda Martin-Mason shared that the goal of the modernization team at San Francisco Housing Authority is not to move people out of San Francisco, for example with the current housing development project at Alice Griffith, residents will literally just have to walk across the street from the previous homes to move into the new development. Ms. Martin-Mason also noted that there is a residency hiring requirement at SFHA, where about 25% employees on contractor jobs are actual public housing residents.
Nadiyah Shereff is a Young Adult Advocate at Transitional Age Youth SF. Ms. Shereff was interested in finding out if there were any SFHA policy regarding young adults moving off of their parents lease and into their own public housing, as a way of becoming self sufficient.
Ms. Martin-Mason stated that the question is specifically related to the eligibility department and she is unable to answer on the record without the actual policy in front of her.
Chair LaCroix opened up the floor for discussion amongst her colleagues on the commission.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions on the San Francisco Housing Authority’s and the Mayor’s Office of Housing’s eligibility requirements, how population groups are prioritized, service programs to help residents transition out of public housing, and more specifically to SFHA’s placement on the troubled list.
Ms. Martin-Mason stated that the selection of residents comes down to the waitlist process and where a person is on the waitlist, the SFHA does not look at race.
Ms. Romero also shared that the goals of the MOH is to provide housing for those who are most in need, and acknowledged that the LGBTQQ population is large and also needs to be served; however for Fair Housing reasons the LGBTQQ population cannot specifically be on the selection criteria list, though there could be housing with targeted marketing outreach for specific populations.
Ms. Martin-Mason shared with Commissioners that non payment of rent was the biggest reason why SFHA was on the troubled list for so long. She even provided an example of one development having a 44% rate of non payers. This had been a culture that was created over the years due to including non communication, miscommunication, broken trust between tenants and employees, and a variety of other issues. Currently, SFHA’s main priority will be making sure that rent is collected, as well as retraining all employees on how to file things correctly, follow proper procedures, and understanding the laws. Ms. Martin-Mason also stated that there are no current policies that focuses on self sufficiency for residents, but it is a goal of SFHA.
Commissioner Ontiveros asked more specific questions on eligibility to be on the SFHA Commission and meeting times.
Ms. Martin-Mason stated that there are 7 commissioners, with 2 being residents, meeting on every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. at 440 Turk St.
Chair LaCroix thanked both Linda Martin-Mason Ombudsman of the San Francisco Housing Authority and Anne Romero, Project Manager of the Mayor’s Office of Housing, and invited commissioners to follow up with specific questions at a later date.
C. Presentation & Request for Endorsement from Out of Site Youth Arts Center for 1st Annual Youth Arts Summit
Presenter: Christian Duarte, Out of Site Youth Arts Center
Chair LaCroix welcomed Christian Duarte from the Out of Site Youth Arts Center and gave brief introductory remarks about the Center’s interest in asking for the Commission’s’ endorsement of an upcoming Arts summit they will be having.
Christian Duarte, a representative of the Out of Site Youth Arts Center’s Youth Advisory Board started his presentation by introducing himself and thanking Commissioners for their time. Mr. Duarte then gave a brief overview of the programs and services offered by the Out of Site Youth Arts Center. The center will be putting on the 1st Annual Youth Arts Summit on Sunday, December 11th, 2011 which will take place from 12:00-6:00 p.m. The Youth Arts Summit will be an opportunity to strengthen the center’s goals of support and exposing high school aged youth to the arts. The event will be free and open to anyone to attend. Mr. Duarte invited the Youth Commission to attend and present to attendees at the Arts summit.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions and commended the Out of Site Youth Arts Center’s Youth Advisory Board for their work. Commissioners Ontiveros, Holloway, and Bonner offered their help and support.
Commissioner Ontiveros, seconded by Commissioner LaCroix moved to endorse the Out of Site Youth Art Center’s 1st Annual Youth Arts Summit. The motion to endorse the Out of Site Youth Art Center’s 1st Annual Youth Arts Summit passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes (15)—Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Carrion, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Persky, Shackelford, Sun, Yang.
7. Youth Commission Business (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)
A. 2011-2012 Youth Commission Media and Public Relations Plan
Recommendation by Community Outreach Officer and Staff: Approval
Presenter: Commissioner Tu Mutch, Media and Public Relations Officer
(Document F)
Commissioner Tu Mutch gave an overview of the Media and Public Relations Plan she drafted for the Youth Commission. Commissioner Tu Mutch stated that her main goals were to help her peers on the commission become confident spokespersons for the commission and for themselves in all media formats, whether it be news, print, video, and the internet. Commissioner Tu Mutch also shared that she will be working on a Youth Commissioner Spotlight for the Facebook page. She then went on to explain the various ways the commission can help promote and make the Youth Commission a household name in San Francisco.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions on televising Youth Commission meetings and shared ideas with one another.
Commissioner Bonner stated that the commission can work with community based organizations that have media programs. Commissioner Carrion agreed and shared that he would be helping Commissioner Tu Mutch in outreaching to local news stations to ask for pro bono air time.
Commissioner Ontiveros stated to his peers on the commission that he felt it was really important for the Youth Commission’s meetings be filmed and aired on SFGOV TV, as this was a step towards making the Youth Commission a serious commission. Commissioner Ontiveros felt it would be worth the effort to find a way to have Youth Commission meetings filmed and televised by SFGOVTV, so that other youth and community entities can see that the Youth Commission is out there.
Commissioner Shackelford stated that without knowing where the possibilities of funding and without more research from Commissioner Ontiveros, she is not sure if she would be able to support. She also stated that it is important for the Youth Commission to be seen as efficient, while not costing the City a lot of money, but still getting a lot of good work done.
Chair LaCroix recommended to move forward with this item and adopt it as a living document.
Commissioner Bonner, seconded by Commissioner Carrion moved to adopt the Media and Public Relations Plan. The motion to adopt the Media and Public Relations plan passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes (14) Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Carrion, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Sun, Yang. Nos (1) – Ontiveros.
8. Staff Report (Discussion Only)
Youth Commission Director Yedidia gave commissioners an update on the progress of Free MUNI for youth, which is currently at the stage of planning for conversations with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (where Supervisors Campos and Wiener have a vote) about getting $3.5 million. Yedidia also gave a report back on the Immigrant Youth Summit that took place on Friday, October 28, 2011. 99 English Language Development and immigrant students from 7 different public high schools came together for a day of speeches, workshops, break out sessions, and more. Commissioner Yang, Ontiveros, and Bonner along with many young people on the Youth Immigration Committee worked overtime to make the day a success. Mr. Yedidia also updated the commission that the cost of televising Youth Commission meetings would be about $23,000. Mr. Yedidia shared with commissioners the news Chair LaCroix received last week via snail mail from former Commissioner Zukerman. In the letter, Zukerman explained that he had resigned from the Youth Commission, effective October 19, 2011. Youth Commission staff have been in touch with Supervisor Eric Mar about the process of finding another youth to be appointed in the District 1 Youth Commissioner seat as soon as possible and will keep all commissioners updated.
9. Committee Reports (Discussion Only)
A. Executive Committee; next meeting: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 4:00pm-6:00pm, City Hall, room 345 (Document G)
Commissioner Yang updated her colleagues on the Executive Committee work on appointing the NEN awardee. Commissioner Bonner referred commissioners to the attached Youth Commission memo to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor. Commissioner Tu Mutch thanked her peers for approving the Media and Public Relations plan.
B. Youth Justice Issues Committee; next meeting: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 4:30-6:15pm, City Hall, room 345
Commissioner Ontiveros shared with commissioners information on the committee’s upcoming site visit to the Log Cabin Ranch, the committee’s finalized policy priorities which included new collaborative efforts to work with the Community Youth Center’s Bayview Youth Advocates.
C. Youth Immigration Committee; next meeting: Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 3:30-4:30pm, City Hall, room 345
Commissioner Yang thanked everyone for supporting the Immigrant Youth Summit.
D. Youth City Services Committee (Housing, Transportation and Recreation); next meeting, Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 4:30-6:30pm, City Hall, room 345
Commissioner Baer updated his colleagues on the last committee meeting which included some work in developing policy priorities.
E. Youth Employment Committee; next meeting, Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 4:45pm, City Hall, room 345.
Commissioner Armstrong updated her colleagues on the committee’s finalized policy priorities, and Commissioner Persky read the committee’s mission statement to the record.
F. Student Support, Health and Facilities Committee; next meeting: Friday, December 2, 2011, 4:30-6:30, 555 Franklin St., 3rd Floor
Commissioner Tu Mutch recapped her visit to the Student Support, Health, and Facilities committee, where she gave a presentation on gender neutral and safe bathrooms for LGBTQ gender variant young people in the San Francisco Public High Schools.
G. School District Curriculum and Class Time Issues; next meeting: Tuesday, October 15, 5:30-7:30, 555 Franklin St., 3rd Floor
H. Youth Advisory Council; next meeting: Thursday, November 17, 2011; Dept of Children, Youth and Their Families, 1390 Market St., 9th Floor
Commissioner Shackelford asked her peers for “bring backs” - each Youth Advisory Council member is supposed to relay information of current work and policy priorities to the next YAC meeting.
10. Attendance Review (Action Item)
There was none.
11. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)
Commissioner Chan invited commissioners to an upcoming piano recital at the School of the Arts where she will be performing. The event will take place on Friday, December 2, 2011.
Chan : piano recital at SOTA, Chan will be playing, in December 2nd, Friday; first Fri of
Commissioner Tu Mutch invited commissioners to celebrate her 21st birthday and Sex Change party on November 16, 2011.
Commissioner Ontiveros announced that Mission Graduates will be having their annual dine out event, where participating restaurants will donate a portion of their profits to help fund programs and services to the organization.
Commissioner Carrion thanked his peers for their good work and encouraged everyone to keep up the positive energy.
Commissioner Armstrong announced that she would be working on a City Wide Suicide Prevention walk with St. Ignatius’ students and looked forward to getting support from her peers.
Chair LaCroix announced that she would be speaking about Youth Civic Engagement at Stanford University on Thursday, November 10, 2011.
12. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Any materials distributed to the members of the Youth Commission within 72 hours of the meeting or after the agenda packet has been delivered to the members are available for inspection—along with minutes of previous Youth Commission meetings and all supplementary information—at the Youth Commission office during regular office hours (9am to 6pm, Monday—Friday). The Youth Commission office is located at:
City Hall, Room 345
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-6446, Fax: (415) 554-6140
Email: youthcom@sfgov.org
www.sfgov.org/yc
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 decisions 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, please contact:
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) 554‐5784
E‐mail: sotf@sfgov.org
Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Ordinance
Task Force, at the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City’s website at
http://www.sfgov.org.
The ringing and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound‐producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. The Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound‐producing electronic device.
In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, 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 accommodate these individuals.
To obtain a disability‐related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact Mario Yedidia, Youth Commission Director [phone: 415-554 6254; email: mario.yedidia@sfgov.org] at least 48 hours before the meeting, except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline is 4:00 p.m. the previous Friday.