San Francisco Youth Commission
-Minutes-
Monday, October 20, 2008
5:30-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Meeting was called to order at 5:37pm.
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
Commissioner Jones motioned to have unfinished business discussed before new business. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker seconded the motion. The agenda was approved with the amendment unanimously.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
Commissioner Marshall-Fricker motioned to approve the minutes and Commissioner Recinos seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
5. Staff Report
Julia Sabory, staff explained to members of the public what the mission of the Youth Commission is. She reminded commissioners to meet with their appointing officers, as it is their job to advise the supervisors on issues that impact youth.
6. New Business
A. Discussion and possible action re: Participation in a Police Focus Group, introduced by Julia Sabory, staff.
Julia Sabory, staff reminded commissioners of the opportunity to be involved with a Police Focus Group and said that there were still positions open, that commissioners could extend to other youth.
B. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution in support of the San Francisco City ID Card Program. Presentation by Rael Silva, Young Workers United; Laura Melgarejo, PODER; and Lily Wong, Community Educational Services.
The resolution was viewed for a first reading and a presentation was made, including points about what the Youth Commission can do. They requested that the commission pass the resolution, urge the SFUSD to promote and publicize the card, provide feedback about the card and uses, identify incentives for youth to use the card, commit to helping publicize the City ID Card.
Commissioner Marshall-Fricker asked whom on the Board of Supervisors did not vote in favor of the card, and Shelia Chung-Hagen of the City Administrator's office responded that it was Elsbernd, who cited fiscal reasons.
Commissioners asked about the uses of the card, and were assured by presenters that address would be on the card, but would not be recorded, as a precautionary measure, but that it would not have an impact on a youth's ability to take books out at the Library with a library card; and also that the sex of a youth would not be included on the card, out of respect to those who may be transgender, queer, or questioning. Commissioner Quesada suggested that outreach be done to establish trust with those who are from the undocumented immigrant community.
Public Comment on this item:
Veronica Ramirez said that she and members of her church support the San Francisco City ID card because it will help people to access more services, and it will encourage people to buy things locally.
Angela Du from Community Educational Services said that the City ID Card will make it easier for young people to access city services and will help youth throughout the city.
Bryan Nguyen from MYEEP said that a benefit of the City ID Card would be that it would be accepted by MYEEP, and allow for more youth to apply for jobs, and use services with out carrying around precious documents like passports.
C. Discussion and possible action re: sponsorship of Peer Health Educator Gathering and collaboration of the Youth Commission's Health and Wellness Committee with the Adolescent Health Working Group.
Commissioner Lau informed the commission that the Health and Wellness Committee is working with the AHWG to put on an event on November 19, 2008 at 5:00pm at the Women's Building to work with peer health educators on the topic of minor consent. She asked that the commission sponsor the event. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker motioned to sponsor the event and was seconded by Davidson. The motion carried with a unanimous vote.
D. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution supporting School Program to Prepare Students for Today and Tomorrow. Presentation by Jane Kim, SFUSD School Board Member.
Jane Kim, Commissioner of the School Board spoke about the Student Emergency Response Volunteer Program (SERV). She was not requesting that the Youth Commission write or pass a resolution, but simply that the commission support the effort to develop the SERV program by providing input. SERV is similar to the NERT program, which is available only to people above the age of 18. SERV would be available to 9th-12th graders in the SFUSD as an elective course.
Commissioner Marshall-Fricker moved to support the program, Tsibulskaya seconded, and the motion carried with unanimous support.
E. Presentation by Gillian Bogart, staff, about California State Proposition 4, appearing on the November ballot.
Gillian Bogart, staff delivered a powerpoint presentation about California State Proposition 4, indicating that it would take away a young woman's right to privacy when accessing abortion services and would be an amendment to the California Constitution.
Public Comment:
Alicia Waiters of the Northern California ACLU spoke to the dangers of policies outlined in Proposition 4. She cited statistics that indicated that low income, young women of color were endangered by these policies, and that most young women communicate with their families when they are going through something as difficult as abortion. Often when they don't communicate it is because the youth fears abuse by her family, or being kicked out of her home. She closed her statement by encouraging youth commissioners to vote no on prop 4, and to encourage others to do so as well.
7. Unfinished Business
A. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution Addressing New Policies Affecting Undocumented Youth in San Francisco, Commissioner Lobo.
Commissioner Bethany Lobo reviewed the content of the resolution and reiterated to fellow commissioners that it is important for the youth commission to protect youth in San Francisco, and review the policies that impact them, in this case, undocumented youth.
Public Comment on this item:
Michael Lyon of the San Francisco Gray Panthers spoke on behalf of the Gray Panthers stating that they were in support of the resolution. He was sure to make the point that ICE is making attacks on not only youth, but also elders, and families as a whole. He said that the new ICE policies are a move to gentrify San Francisco and build luxury apartments.
Angela Chan of Asian Law Caucus spoke about her perspective as an attorney and advocate, who is in juvenile hall every day. She cited the fact that the Immigrant Rights Commission is the only other commission to take a stance on the critical issue of policies affecting undocumented youth. She told stories of youth whose lives have been impacted: a young man picked up from Juvenile Hall on his eighteenth birthday and taken to Arizona, another of a probation officer interrogating a documented youth and asking questions about his family and their status. Chan urged the commissioners to adopt the resolution, and commended Commissioner Lobo for her diligence.
Christopher Punongbayan, Vice-Chair of the Immigrant Rights Commission expressed his support of the Youth Commission Resolution and said that it was a good way to combat the ICE referrals, which have been happening since July. He said that the Immigrant Rights Commission and the Youth Commission should work together to protect the rights of immigrants old and young and to combat negative media to keep the community together.
Rauhmel Fox, CEO of WhoMentors.com, Inc.was referred to speak with the Youth Commission by Tracy Brown of DCYF. His organization wants to offer representation for undocumented youth and presented a fact sheet about representation options. He suggested that the Youth Commission amend the resolution to expand the language so that qualified members of the community could provide representation to undocumented youth, in the circumstance that an attorney might not be available.
Henry Morales of CARECEN spoke about conditions that young people are living in, that lead to their migration to the US. Young people are victims of the global economy, coming from Honduras, Guatemala and other countries where they see military force used against their people. He spoke about a 17 year old young man who was deported after he came to the US to support his family, and found himself involved in the street economy, like many US born youth do. He reinforced the point that people come to the US to find opportunity, and are abused by the system. He commended Commissioner Lobo for starting a trend of awareness about this grave issue.
Francisco, an Immigration Attorney noted that he has been an attorney specializing in adult deportation defense for the last four years and that the number of forced deportation cases has risen from 20,000-30,000 in the 1980s to 270,000 cases in 2006. Seeing workplace raids and neighborhood sweeps leads to family separation, which is harmful to many parties. He stated that he sees it as very important that the resolution be passed.
Barbara Lopez thanked the youth for having the political will to create this resolution, saying that in her work she represented a young man who was expelled for pulling a knife on someone at school, and has since begun to do good work at a non-profit organization in the city. She cited the fact the US and Somalia are the only countries that deport young people, Somalia being a country which trains children soldiers.
Commissioner Lily Marshall-Fricker applauded Commissioner Bethany Lobo for the work she has done on the resolution and gave her whole-hearted support.
Commissioner Quesada motioned to adopt the resolution with the amendments recommended by Rhaumel Fox to expand the language included in the Whereas clauses. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker seconded the motion, and the amended resolution was opened up to public comment again.
Public comment on the amendments put forward by Commissioner Quesada:
Angela Chan of Asian Law Caucus said that the language written in the resolution identifies an attorney to represent an undocumented youth because immigration law is very complicated and requires expertise that an alternative to an attorney may not be able to provide.
Jesus Yanez of La Raza Centro Legal said that it is important that the Youth Commission pass this resolution today. He said that time is ticking and that passing the ideas outlined in this resolution are about policies that will effect people in the next 48 hours. He echoed the statements made by Angela Chan that the complexity of immigration law requires an attorney to support someone in this political climate.
Rhaumel Fox encouraged the youth commissioners to adopt the resolution with the amendments, because he believed it would be censorship not to include all of the options for representation for undocumented youth that are outlined in the law.
Commissioner Lobo responded to public comment by identifying herself as an attorney who dedicates a good deal of her time to immigration law and creating a screening process where people guaranteeing a person's right to an attorney.
Public Comment
Barbara Lopez spoke about her experience working with undocumented youth and said that there are barriers to providing service to undocumented youth when you are not an attorney.
The motion to approve the resolution with amendments did not carry with the following votes:
Ayes: Lau, Erlikh, Recinos, Balcazar, Davidson, Martinez, Quesada
Nays: Tsibulskaya, Marshall-Fricker, Gee, Jones, Lobo, Frierson, Oliva, Castaing, Lunsford
Commissioner Marshall-Fricker motioned to approve the resolution as proposed, and Frierson seconded it.
The resolution was approved with the following votes:
Ayes: Tsibulskaya, Marshall-Fricker, Gee, Lau, Jones, Erlikh, Lobo, Recinos, Frierson, Oliva, Castaing, Davidson, Lunsford, Martinez
Nays:Balcazar
8. Committee Reports
A. Youth Justice Committee
Commissioner Frierson told the commission that the Youth Justice Committee is working to create a survey about violence and Commissioner Lunsford apoke about her intention to work with the Redistricting of Police Districts, because it will directly impact folks in her community.
B. Health and Wellness Committee
Commissioner Lau updated the commission about her attendance to the AAADV press conference and upcoming collaboration with AHWG. Commissioner Lobo spoke about her upcoming participation with the Human Rights Commission on LGBTQ discrimination in the schools. The next meeting of the LGBTQ youth advisory board will take place on November 10, 2008 at 5:30pm at 25 Van ness.
9. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
Various Community Events were announced.
10. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05pm.
Supplemental documents for agenda items are available for review at City Hall Room 345. Minutes are also available on the Youth Commission Website at www.sfgov.org/youth_commission
ACCESSIBLE MEETING POLICY
The Youth Commission meeting will be held in City Hall Room 416 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at the United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: MUNI Metro Lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Oceanview, N-Judah, and T-Third Street at Van Ness and Civic Center Stations; 9-San Bruno, 19-Polk, 47-VanNess, and 71-Haight Noriega. For information about MUNI accessible services call 923-6142.
The Commission meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Accessible curbside parking spaces have been designated on the corners of McAllister and Polk, and Grove and Polk. There is accessible parking available within the Civic Center Underground Parking Garage at the corner of McAllister and Polk Streets, and within the Performing Arts Parking Garage at Grove and Franklin Streets.
If you require the use of an American sign language interpreter, a sound enhancement system, or a reader during the meeting, Calendars and minutes of the meeting in alternative formats; such arrangements can be made by calling Gillian Bogart at (415) 554-6446, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Late requests will be honored if possible.
Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
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 public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. The 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 Frank Darby by mail to: Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall Room 224, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102; by phone at (415) 554-7724; by fax at (415) 554-5163; or by e-mail at frank.darby@sf.gov.org
Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from Mr. Darby or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the internet, at http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine.htm