CITY OF LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

Transcription

1 COMMISSIONERS President: Jessica Postigo Vice President: Erma J. Bernard Gibson Delegate: Ceri Zamora Members: Pamela Bakewell Araceli Campos Jackie Filla Nancy Perlman CITY OF LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA Housing + Community Investment Department Commission on the Status of Women 1200 West 7 th St., 9 th Floor Los Angeles, CA (213) ERIC GARCETTI MAYOR MINUTES HOUSING AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN COMMISSIONERS PRESENT Friday, November 18, :00 AM 12:00 PM Los Angeles City Hall, Room North Spring Street Los Angeles, CA Erma Bernard-Gibson Araceli Campos Pamela Bakewell Jackie Filla Jessica Postigo Nancy Perlman Ceri Zamora I. Call to Order Commissioner Postigo called the meeting to order. II. III. Approval of Minutes Motion to approve the September 2016 minutes passed unanimously. Public Comment for Items Not Listed on the Agenda 1. Genvieve Clavreul In the last few months, LA City and the Board of Supervisors have evaded the Brown Act and prohibited members of the public from speaking. The public should not have to decide what they want to say before the meeting begins. There are no copies of the minutes available. Ms. Buckman assured Ms. Clavreul that she got a copy of the minutes. 2. Lia Renee Ms. Renee is a property owner in the Pacific Palisades. Four years ago, she found systemic fraud and violations of altering public records for tax and building applications in the coastal bluff area; people are excavating without the

2 appropriate permits. When she spoke up, there was retaliation. The police are now are denying her ability to makea complaint and will not give her the complaint number of the complaint she already filed. Commissioner Perlman recommended she approach the Neighborhood Council on this issue. Ms. Renee responded that the Neighborhood Council is not effective on the issue and that she is being threatened by the builders. She has already filed a complaint with the Building & Safety Department, but they have obfuscated the records. Ms. Renee would like the Commission s help to file the complaint. Abigail Marquez at HCID assured Ms. Renee that she would assist and follow up. 3. Anu Bhardwan, Women Investing in Women Digital Women Investing in Women will globally launch on March 8, International Women s Day, in Los Angeles. The audience is 1 million followers on Facebook. There will be celebrities involved and 400 people are expected. The State of Women Radio Network is a radio network produced and broadcast by year old women and girls. All content is focused on innovation, tech leadership, and entrepreneurship. There are 100 shows on itunes. Can find it on 4. Sanghong Lintakoon Writing PhD on inclusion of women in US foreign policy through Peking University. Her work involves increasing educational opportunities in rural areas for girls and boys. She would like to contribute on a local level on these issues. She would like to know whether women s commissions in California coordinate. The commissioners recommended that Ms. Lintakoon research online the various commissions in Los Angeles and around the state. 5. David Robert Howell Mr. Howell is a PhD candidate who mentioned his commitment to women s issues. He recommended that the Commission coordinate with Secretary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation on piloting international initiatives for empowerment of women and girls in Los Angeles to raise LA as the archetype for being the model to other cities in the world. Mr. Howell recommended coordination of governmental and non-governmental orgs to ensure that women and girls have access to programs, such as mock government and mock commission initiatives for girls in schools so that they have the same opportunities as students who participate in the model UN. This will serve as an empowerment model and, ultimately, equal participation and representation of women in all levels of government. Commissioner Bernard-Gibson recommended that Mr. Howell connect with MOSTe on this effort.commissioner Filla suggested that Mr. Howell reach out to GirlsBuild LA. Commissioner Campos responded that the Mayor s Office does

3 on-going local CEDAW implementation and that Mr. Howell connect with Ms. Pineda from the Mayor s Office. IV. Presentation by Tanya Pineda, Office of the Mayor The Mayor s Gender Equity Coordinator, Tanya Pineda, updated commissioners on the status of the scorecard.it is being currently reviewed; the goal is to have it finalized and published at the beginning of The Mayor s Office is developing a women s assembly for youths to discuss topics like professional development and education, with the goal of having a key takeaway to support their civic engagement. Outreach is being done through LAUSD and across community colleges; there will be an application process for participants. V. Presentation by Cindy Lopez (Motivating Our Students Through Education) MOSTe is a college-access organization that focuses on girls. It works with 6 LAUSD middle schools: 3 of them are in South Los Angeles and all of them are Title I. Most of these girls are the first in their families to go to college. MOSTe is looking for men and women mentors and speakers, as well as internship opportunities. They could also use buses to transport their students. The commissioners recommended asking Council Members for buses. MOSTe asked the commissioners to invite students to participate in commission- and City-sponsored events. Commissioner Campos suggested that students can be volunteers at these events. Commissioner Perlman suggested MOSTe collaborating with the Elevate Project for mentorship opportunities in tech. VI. Presentation by Becca Channell, Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST) CAST co-coordinates the LA County Regional Human Trafficking Task Force with the Sheriff s Department. CAST provides comprehensive services (including shelter) and resources for survivors of sex and labor trafficking and works to change its work on the ground into policies and legislation that will create systemic change. There are relatively few resources for victims of human trafficking, in relation to other victim populations. There are myriad gaps in services. There are no evidence-based practices for the specialized mental health needs of victims of human trafficking. There is no in-patient substance abuse care specifically tailored to victims of human trafficking.there is a need for culturally competent service providers. Nonetheless, without stable housing, it s difficult to stabilize mental health needs. Domestic violence and homeless shelters sometimes will not provide housing to survivors of human trafficking. Sometimes group homes deny youth victims of human trafficking because of recruitment concerns. Options for males are almost non-existent and there are no specialized survivors. The existing data is inconsistent and the data is difficult to collect. However, data is needed to address survivors needs.much of the data is coming from law enforcement, but that is an incomplete picture because the arrests are for prostitution or pimping.

4 HUD has been a leader in data collection and has begun collecting trafficking data; however, the data is only being collected for runaway youths, not adults. They also are required to declare that individuals fleeing a human trafficking situation is homeless. HUD has also did a pilot program providing permanent housing vouchers to victims of human trafficking; this is the first program of its kind. Commissioner Campos asked how the passage of Measure HHH will affect human trafficking victims. Ms. Channell responded that human trafficking survivors should be considered in the allocation of that funding. Adult sex and human trafficking survivors should also be considered in funding allocations as the homeless strategy plan is being implemented. Ms. Marquez responded that HCID is working on forging relationships between human trafficking and domestic violence service providers and developing affordable housing options for all populations who will need resource assistance through Measure HHH. VII. Discussion and Action Items 1. Update on Pioneer Women Awards Planning Committee Commissioners Bernard-Gibson and Filla participated in the first Committee meeting. There will be a mentorship component involved in the Pioneer Women Awards event this year, and instead of having a breakfast before the City Council celebration, the goal is to have a lunch where students from the Youth Ambassadors program can be paired up for mentorship opportunities with the honorees. Ms. Buckman will send out the information for the next meeting to all commissioners. Commissioner Bernard-Gibson encouraged more commissioners to participate on the planning committee. 2. Update on STEAM Job Fair Planning Committee The Commission wanted to provide women and girls of color specifically in South Los Angeles an opportunity to participate in this job fair.the target date and venue is Friday, March 24, 2016 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, which is convenient, has good parking, and is close to Expo Line. The stores at the mall will put our fliers out. The event will kick off with City Council Members doing a panel explaining to employers the importance of including women in STEAM industries. Commissioner Bakewell will reach out to the Chamber of Commerce to get their employers involved as well. 3. City Hall X Leadership Training There has been a request at City Hall X to create a forum for financial education. CSW is working on creating a workshop for the participants. 4. Discussion and Vote on Having CSW Meetings at Night

5 Ms. Buckman has been getting calls from constituents requesting CSW meetings be held at nights. Ms. Marquez responded that it will be a challenge because of Personnel rules and staffing concerns. The Commission could consider having a community meeting once a year where the Commission could take the meetings to the community. Commissioner Bernard-Gibson suggested that night meetings are difficult because there is no security in the building in the evenings, which may pose a problem to members of the public attempting to get into the building. Because CSW cannot absorb overtime costs for staff and security, the Commission voted that CSW meetings cannot be conducted at night. The motion passed, with one abstention. Commissioner Perlman suggested that if people are not able to make the meetings, they can their comment to Ms. Buckman, who can then share it at the Commission meeting for the record. 5. Discussion and Vote on Rally Commissioner Filla shared that there was going to be a women s rights rally the day after the presidential inaugural in January 2017, for which 30,000 people in LA have signed up to attend. There will be a rally in LA and DC. As the Commission on the Status of Women, we should consider how to participate, speak, increase visibility,and partner with these event organizers, and sharing with women in other parts of the country the efforts undertaken in LA. The Commission should consider how to participate and lead some of these efforts. This will not be a partisan or political stance; it will strictly focus on women s rights. This will be agendized for the next meeting. Commissioner Filla will take the lead on this and consult with the Mayor s Office on this rally. VIII. Commission Discussion 1. Financial Report The financial report has not changed since August except for interest accrued. Commissioner Postigo would like to follow up with Council Members who pledged a contribution last year. 2. Staff Updates Ms. Buckman followed up with Lynn Haro in Personnel who is the FMLA Coordinator in regards to the City s maternity leave policies. Women are allocated 720 hours for pregnancy leave, but it is paid through sick and vacation time. Once that runs out, FMLA is unpaid. If there is no time on the books, the employee can apply for standard insurance, which is 50% of pay. There is an

6 additional 720 hours of maternity and paternity bonding, which is also paid through vacation and sick. Personnel gives training and orientations in regards to FMLA. Ms. Buckman will invite Ms. Haro to the meeting to describe FMLA policies. Commissioner Bernard-Gibson also recommended inviting Liz Skrzat to that meeting. Ms. Buckman also followed up with Melissa Diner in regards to herrecommendation to the Commission to amend the LA Municipal Code to decriminalize topless sunbathing. Commissioner Bernard-Gibson suggested coordination of talking points when Commissioners speak publicly on a topic. Ms. Buckman responded that there is a folder on Google Drive to which all commissioners have access and include their talking points. 3. Commissioner Updates a. Commissioner Postigo Created talking points for all that CSW is doing on human trafficking. Downtown Women s Center is working with CSW to include trauma-informed care (victim-centered approach) training in LAPD trainings. b. Commissioner Bernard-Gibson Commissioner Bernard-Gibson is working with a group of women to pack a suitcase for a woman with everything she needs (toiletries, underwear, a couple outfits, shoes, etc). c. Commissioner Zamora Commissioner Zamora is working with a civil rights law firm to do an ongoing series of legal clinics for Transgender women on criminal justice and immigration issues. d. Commissioner Filla Commissioner Filla is working with Fire Commissioner Ninburg to train LAFD personnel, including dispatch centers, on domestic violence. The first training was last week and the second training will be next week. e. Commissioner Bakewell Commissioner Bakewell is working with Mothers in Action at Ward AME to feed seniors on Thanksgiving. All volunteers are welcome. f. Commissioner Perlman

7 The Elevate Project got a grant from the Sacramento Mayor s Innovation Fund. The Elevate Project can work with organizations in the Silicon Valley and the start-up community in Sacramento, which does not have the gender equity infrastructure that Los Angeles does. g. Commissioner Campos Commissioner Campos requested a discussion on Women s History Month events for the CSW meeting next month, which Ms. Buckman said she would agendized. Commissioner Campos also requested a discussion on a strategic planning meeting in January. IX. Announcements No announcements were made. X. Adjournment Commissioner Bakewell made a motion to adjourn.