September 21, 2009

^{A. Presentation on the Transitional Age Youth Initiative of San Francisco (TAY-SF) (Discussion and Possible Action)}

^{Diana Pang and Iqra Anjam, staff at TAY-SF (and former Commissioners!), gave a power point presentation on what their organization does.}

^{To summarize: TAY-SF was created after the 2005 Youth Commission passed a resolution calling for a citywide planning body that would focus on improving the outcomes of the most disconnected transitional age youth (the acronym is "TAY")—i.e., young people between the ages of 16-24 who are involved in systems like juvenile justice, foster care and public housing. After this resolution passed, Mayor Newsom created a task force on transitional youth that came up with a number of key findings and recommendations for City government and service providers that would improve the outcomes of disconnected TAY. TAY-SF works to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of this task force.}

^{Diana and Iqra said there were 3 main areas where the Youth Commission and TAY-SF could work together this year:}

^{1. Budgetary and policy advocacy: The Youth Commission and TAY-SF can work together to ensure that there is enough funding for TAY service providers, especially in the coming legislative battles over (a) the mid-year budget cuts and (b) next year’s budget (i.e., fiscal year of 2009-2010).}

^{2. Youth Commissioners could help represent "city wide youth voice" within the TAY-SF Initiative, by attending meetings and staying in contact with Iqra and Diana.}

^{3. Youth Commissioners could attend and participate in the monthly "young adult advocate trainings" that TAY-SF hosts. (The next such training will be on Thursday, October 8 at 4pm at DCYF. Commissioners Hernandez and Quesada said they would attend this training.)}

^{Young advocates from Project RIDE—Paul Escobar, Arthur, Andrew, Chris, John, Jonathan—explained their organization’s current objective of having the Board of Supervisors pass an ordinance that would prohibit non-profit organizations that receive city funding from also taking money from tobacco companies.}

^{The advocates explained that they are going to ask a Supervisor to introduce the ordinance after they get support from stakeholders and other concerned institutions like the Youth Commission!}

^{Commissioner Marshall-Fricker motioned to support sending this issue to the Health and Wellness Committee, seconded by Davidson. This motion was unanimously approved by acclamation.}

^{C. Williams vs. California and the Equity in Education Project (Discussion and Possible Action)}

^{Caitlin Camody, staff at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, will briefed the Commission on the Education Equity Project (EEP), which helps students, teachers, and parents make positive change in their schools by using the legal tools of Williams v. California. This case created minimum standards for facilities, teachers, textbooks, and restrooms, and the EEP helps people make sure those standards are met.}

^{D. Referred Legislation from Board of Supervisors: Proposed resolution File Number 091045 [Requesting suspension of conversion of natural fields to artificial surfaces - Recreation and Park Department] (Discussion and Possible Action)}

^{This resolution would stop the Rec and Park department from converting grass playing fields to artificial turf until a the state releases a report on the environmental impact of artificial turf playing fields.}

^{Commissioner Quesada and Commissioner Marshall-Fricker explained (and read aloud) the Planning, Land Use & City Services Committee’s statement concerning this proposed resolution. Basically, when this committee discussed the proposed resolution last week, the committee was itself divided about the issue.}

^{There were a lot of unanswered questions concerning this referred legislation. Commissioners wondered, among other things, How many playing fields have already been converted to artificial turf? How many playing fields would be converted to artificial turf if this resolution didn’t pass? What other kinds of artificial turf—i.e., not the "FieldTurf" brand that Rec and Park is using—are out there that are more environmentally friendly? Will Rec and Park workers lose their jobs because of this conversion?}

^{Despite these unanswered questions, Commissioner Quesada moved to have the Commission vote on supporting the proposed resolution with the following recommendations: that the Board consider (a) what other environmentally friendly turfs could be used; (b) how Rec and Park jobs will be affected by the conversion to "FieldTurf" or any other kind of artificial turf; (c) how the communities of San Francisco can be included in the decision-making process of what playing fields are going to be converted; and (d) that the Board not lose sight of the real issue at hand—whether youth athletes in San Francisco have safe fields to play on. Commissoiner LaCroix seconded this motion.}

^{The motion passed by the following 11-4 vote: Ayes: Liang, Jones, A. Chan, Hirano, Escamilla, Guerra, Quintero, LaCroix, Davidson, Quesada, Ellington; Nays: Marshall-Fricker, Carlson, Williams and Hernandez.}

^{E. Resolution of Commendation of Hidden Villa Summer Camp, Commissioner Hernandez (Discussion and Possible Action) (See attached documents D)}

^{Commissioner Hernandez explained his proposed resolution commending Hidden Villa Summer Camp for its long history of social justice programming.}

^{Commissioner Hirano motioned to support this proposed resolution, seconded by Jones. The resolution was unanimously passed on first reading by acclamation.}

^{Commissioners Ellington and Hirano said they are taking on the task of following up with Jane Kim on how to support and shape her proposed resolution.}