September 14, 2020 IRC meeting

Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. She welcomed Commissioners and guest speakers to the meeting, and thanked OCEIA staff for launching the immigrant-led cooperative Radiate Bay Area in partnership with the Democracy at Work Institute. 

Present: Chair Kennelly, Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Fujii, Gaime (5:35 p.m.), Khojasteh (5:45 p.m.), Monge, Radwan, Rahimi, Ruiz, Wang. 

Not Present: Commissioners Enssani (excused), Ricarte. 

OCEIA Staff Present: Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Administrative Programs Coordinator Alvarez, Office Manager Chan, Deputy Director Whipple.

There was no public comment.

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Approval of August 10, 2020 Full Commission Meeting Minutes

Commissioner Rahimi motioned to approve the minutes from the August 10, 2020 Commission meeting. Commissioner Monge seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Office of Racial Equity (Shakirah Simley, Director- Office of Racial Equity; Sheryl Davis, Executive Director- Human Rights Commission, invited) 

Chair Kennelly welcomed Office of Racial Equity Director Simley and Human Rights Commission Director Davis. Director Davis and Director Simley provided overviews of the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Racial Equity, and answered questions from Commissioners. In response to a question from Vice Chair Paz, Director Simley discussed ways the Immigrant Rights Commission can support the work of her office. These include the racial equity template her office has created for Boards and Commissions; help publicizing two upcoming job announcements; participation in the Community Advisory Working Group; and assistance on the citywide racial equity framework. She expressed the importance of making the citywide race and equity data standard more inclusive in order to more accurately reflect how people identify, including adding a category for Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

In response to a question from Commissioner Gaime, Director Simley provided more information on the job openings in the Office of Racial Equity. In response to a question from Commissioner Monge, she discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the City’s racial equity efforts and the racial equity tool her office has created for the Economic Recovery Task Force. 

Chair Kennelly proposed the establishment of a working group to work with the Office of Racial Equity and continue to ensure that immigrant communities are included in the City’s equity efforts. She asked Commissioners to volunteer to join the working group. Vice Chair Paz and Commissioners Gaime, Khojasteh, Monge and Rahimi volunteered. The working group will coordinate efforts with OCEIA.

Director Simley invited Commissioners to the Human Rights Commission’s Friday community roundtable meetings. Director Davis discussed the Human Rights Commission’s Friday meetings, Tuesday Spanish-language webinars, and conversations with organizations including the African Advocacy Network, CARECEN, and the API Council.

b. Housing Concerns of Day Laborers (Laura Valdéz, Executive Director- Dolores Street Community Services, invited) 

Director Valdéz was not present. 

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Motion to authorize Executive Committee to determine and execute follow-up actions on today’s testimony (Director Pon) 

Commissioner Rahimi motioned to authorize the Executive Committee to determine and execute follow-up actions on today’s testimony. Commissioner Wang seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Director Pon asked Chair Kennelly if she would like to appoint a committee chair for the racial equity working group. Commissioner Khojasteh volunteered to chair the committee. Chair Kennelly appointed Commissioner Khojasteh as chair, and Vice Chair Paz and Commissioners Gaime, Monge, and Rahimi as members of the racial equity working grou

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Director’s Updates 

Chair Kennelly thanked OCEIA staff for their work on the 2020 census amid multiple challenges. Director Pon provided an update on OCEIA’s work on the 2020 census, including organizing in-person assistance events in Civic Center, Chinatown, Bayview, and the Mission. She also provided an update on policy, including the latest ruling on the census and a new proposal expanding the collection of biometric data from immigrants. OCEIA staff can submit a public comment approved by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Commission. Vice Chair Paz discussed the Ninth Circuit Court decision allowing the federal administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Sudan. Commissioner Gaime discussed the scope of the biometrics proposal. Director Pon invited Commissioners to join the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative event on September 15, 2020.

Commissioner Rahimi motioned to authorize the Executive Committee to take follow-up actions on the biometrics proposal and the TPS ruling. Vice Chair Paz seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

Director Pon asked Chair Kennelly if she would like to reschedule the October Commission meeting due to the holiday. Chair Kennelly proposed that the meeting be rescheduled from October 12, 2020 to October 19, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. The rescheduling was unanimously approved in a roll-call vote.

Chair Kennelly asked how the Commission can support voter registration efforts. Director Pon said the Commission can support voter registration in a nonpartisan way, along with encouraging people to participate in the 2020 census through a statement or social media post. Commissioner Rahimi asked if OCEIA staff could create a social media post encouraging people to do the census and register to vote. Director Pon agreed. Chair Kennelly offered to work with Director Pon. 

There was no new business. 

Chair Kennelly thanked the racial equity working group, and encouraged Commissioners to join the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative event. She adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m.