March 14, 2022 IRC meeting

Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m.

Present: Chair Kennelly, Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Enssani, Fujii, Khojasteh, Latt, Ricarte, Ruiz (left at 7:09 p.m.), Souza, Wang.

Not present: Commissioners Gaime, Obregon (excused), Rahimi (excused).

OCEIA staff present: Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Operations and Grants Administrator Chan, Spanish Language Specialist Cosenza, Chinese Language Specialist Li, Policy and Civic Engagement Officer Noonan, Deputy Director Whipple.

Chair Kennelly read the land acknowledgment statement.

(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Adoption of resolution making findings to allow teleconferenced meetings under California Government Code Section 54953(e)
Commissioner Enssani motioned to adopt the resolution, seconded by Commissioner Ricarte. The resolution was approved unanimously and adopted.

a. Recognition of Commissioner Camila Andrea Mena
Director Pon and Chair Kennelly recognized Commissioner Mena for her service to the Immigrant Rights Commission and San Francisco’s immigrant communities. She has resigned from the Commission and will join the Office of the City Administrator as the Racial Equity and Inclusion Lead. Commissioner Mena thanked the Commission and OCEIA staff, and said she looks forward to continuing to work together in her new role.

b. Meeting announcements
OCEIA staff provided announcements in Cantonese and Spanish about how to access interpretation services during the meeting.

Chair Kennelly introduced the hearing and invited City Administrator Chu and City Attorney Chiu to provide opening remarks. In May 2021, the Immigrant Rights Commission held a special hearing with community-based organizations and community members on ending anti-Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate. Today’s hearing includes updates from City departments on their work.

a. Opening remarks (City Administrator Chu)
City Administrator Chu joined the Commission for its special hearing last May, and thanked the Commission for holding this follow-up hearing. In the last year, one in five AAPI community members said they had experienced a hate incident. City Administrator Chu thanked the Commission for the recommendations it sent to City departments to strengthen services and connections points. She thanked City Administrator departments, including OCEIA, 311, Digital Services, and the Mayor’s Office on Disability.

b. Opening remarks (City Attorney Chiu)
City Attorney Chiu thanked the Commission and discussed his support of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Equity budget. The API Equity Budget, sponsored by the API Legislative Caucus, includes funding to address historic inequities and anti-AAPI hate. As president of the Board of Supervisors, he authored amendments to what is now the Language Access Ordinance and stated that his office is happy to partner with the Commission. He also authored several versions of the 2016 ballot measure on immigrant parent voting. His office is now working with the District Attorney’s Office and the San Francisco Police Department on what City government can do to support victims of hate incidents.

Chair Kennelly thanked the speakers for their leadership and said she looks forward to working with them.

 

Director Pon thanked City Administrator Chu, City Attorney Chiu, and Commissioner Khojasteh and provided a brief overview of the hearing and speakers.

a. Supervisor Gordon Mar, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Supervisor Mar noted that any efforts to improve community safety must focus on root causes such as poverty and inequity. He discussed City funding for the Community Coalition for Safety and Justice, OCEIA’s Community Ambassadors Program expansion to new neighborhoods, expanded funding for victims’ services, and the establishment of a new victims’ services advocate in the Mayor’s Office. In 2021, Supervisor Mar held a Public Safety Committee hearing on anti-AAPI violence and the Board of Supervisors adopted his resolution denouncing anti-Asian violence. The Human Rights Commission will issue a report and recommendations on violence prevention and support for victims, and Supervisor Mar expressed his commitment to implement the recommendations.

b. Captain Christopher Del Gandio, San Francisco Police Department, Community Engagement Division
Captain Del Gandio discussed the work his office has led to address anti-AAPI hate incidents, including the establishment of the Community Liaison Unit to connect crime victims to services. The Asian Peace Officers Association has volunteered to increase safety in AAPI areas of San Francisco, and new foot beats have been added in Chinatown. The department provides multilingual safety information and operates a multilingual tip line in nine languages.

c. Assistant District Attorney Kasie Lee, Chief, Victim Services Division
Assistant District Attorney Kasie Lee discussed the need to address anti-AAPI hate through various entry points, including the legal system, education, and public health. As chief of the Victim Services Division, she discussed her office’s work over the past year. The division currently has 30 advocates and six claims specialists, and served more than 8,600 victims in 2021. In the past, crime victims were provided with interpreters when they were testifying in court. As of October 2021, any Limited English Proficient individual who wants to observe a court proceeding is provided with an interpreter. Assistant District Attorney Lee also discussed the AAPI Elder Abuse Steering Committee, which provides case coordination, in-court support, education of court partners, and outreach including mental health support.

d. Commissioner Irene Yee Riley, Human Rights Commission
Human Rights Commissioner Irene Yee Riley provided an overview of the Human Rights Commission’s work addressing anti-AAPI hate incidents. In 2020 the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Office of Racial Equity launched Stand Together SF, hosting a series of public events, workshops and meetings. In 2021, the Mayor’s Office, Human Rights Commission, and City departments launched a Campaign for Solidarity to unite the City against hate, bias, and violence. The San Francisco Human Rights Commission has worked in collaboration with District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar’s office and various City departments to draft a public safety document.

Chair Kennelly thanked the speakers and invited Commissioners to ask questions. The speakers answered questions from Vice Chair Paz and Commissioners Khojasteh, Souza, Ricarte, and Wang. Director Pon discussed language, technology, literacy and other barriers that prevent Limited English Proficient (LEP) community members from accessing help, information, and mental health resources.

Chair Kennelly invited members of the public to provide public comment on anti-AAPI hate. OCEIA staff provided instructions for making public comment in English, Cantonese and Spanish.

Janice Li
Janice Li, director of the Coalition for Community Safety and Justice, discussed the coalition’s work addressing anti-AAPI violence and racial inequity through strengthening public safety systems, developing a citywide network of victim services, and building cross-racial solidarity. Since early 2021, CCSJ has launched a multilingual street outreach team, served 77 victims, and reached over 17,000 members of the public through community events. She discussed the importance of addressing the root causes of harm. She thanked the Commission for its work and looks forward to continuing to work with OCEIA and the IRC.

Craig Scott
Craig Scott expressed his thanks to the Commission for the hearing. He noted that many AAPI people are perceived as immigrants, yet most have been in the United States longer than his family. He acknowledged the relationship between anti-AAPI hate and antiimmigrant sentiment. Chair Kennelly thanked the members of the public, invited speakers, and Commissioner Khojasteh for his leadership on holding special hearings on anti-AAPI hate.

 

Chair Kennelly invited members of the public to make comment on other issues that fall under the purview of the Commission. OCEIA staff provided instructions for making public comment in English, Cantonese and Spanish.

Carl Larsen Santos
Carl Larsen Santos, legal director of La Raza Community Resource Center, expressed his solidarity with the AAPI community and discussed staff protests at La Raza Community Resource Center.

Sergio
Sergio expressed his solidarity with AAPI community members and noted that La Raza Community Resource Center staff had sent letters to their Board, and in early February, two staff members quit.

Petra Cardozo
Petra Cardozo expressed her solidarity with AAPI community members and discussed a threatening phone call she received from a Board member of La Raza Community Resource Center regarding staff protests.

This item was heard out of order, after item 6.

(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Approval of February 14, 2022 Full Commission meeting minutes
Commissioner Khojasteh motioned to approve the February 14, 2022 Full Commission meeting minutes, seconded by Vice Chair Paz. The motion was approved.

 

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Executive Committee (Chair Kennelly)
Chair Kennelly provided an update on the Executive Committee’s last meeting. The Executive Committee is planning a hearing on housing in September as a follow-up to the letter drafted by Commissioner Souza. In response to a request from Commissioner Khojasteh, OCEIA staff invited the Department of Public Health to present on multicultural COVID-19 communications. They were unable to attend today’s hearing but can attend at a later date. The Executive Committee voted to send a letter to City College regarding its Cantonese program, and looks forward to receiving Commissioner Wang’s draft letter. The Immigrant Leadership Awards is scheduled for June 13, 2022 and as a public meeting, it will be accessible to members of the public. Chair Kennelly welcomed Commissioners Fujii and Ricarte to chair the Immigrant Leadership Awards Committee.

b. Language Access (OCEIA Staff, Language Access Committee, Executive Committee)
Director Pon did not have any additional updates on language access at this time.

c. Newcomer Working Group (Commissioner Obregon)
This item was deferred to a future meeting when Commissioner Obregon is present.

(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Director’s Updates
Director Pon announced that the next San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship workshop will be held April 9, 2022 at City College of San Francisco.

b. Mandatory Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700)
Director Pon reminded Commissioners to provide their Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700) to OCEIA staff by March 18, 2022. All City officials are required to file by April 1 of each year.

c. Quarterly LAO Complaint Report (Policy Officer Noonan)
Director Pon submitted quarterly Language Access Ordinance Complaint Report prepared by Civic Engagement & Policy Officer Chloe Noonan. No complaints were filed during this quarter.

 

(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. IRC Annual Strategic Planning Retreat and Officer Elections (Director Pon)
The IRC annual strategic planning retreat and officer elections is scheduled for April 11, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. and will be a virtual meeting. OCEIA staff will send elections instructions, a pre-retreat survey, and meeting materials. Director Pon provided information on voting and nominations.

b. Immigrant Leadership Awards Committee (Chair Kennelly, Director Pon)
This item was heard out of order as part of item 10.

 

Commissioner Khojasteh thanked OCEIA staff for organizing the hearing and expressed his disappointment over the City departments that did not attend. He said he hoped that the Commission could follow up to ask for written responses from departments that did not attend. Chair Kennelly asked Commissioner Khojasteh to send OCEIA staff the list of departments he would like to contact. The Commission can reach out to the Departments that did not present.

Chair Kennelly asked Director Pon about the process for a member of the public to make a comment on new business. The public comment period is now closed. Chair Kennelly stated that she opened public comment for comments related to the special hearing, and then for general public comments for items under the purview of the IRC. Members of the public may send their public comment to OCEIA staff. Director Pon stated that items introduced under new business can be calendared for future discussion with proper public notice.

Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 7:59 p.m.