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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-14 HRC MINUTESMeeting Minutes RelationsWednesday, August 14, 2002, 5:30 P.M. Commission Public Services Building, Conf. Room 1 • 1. Roll Call The meeting was called to order at 1740 hours by Chair Pina with the following Commission members present: Samuel Avalos, Michael Palomo, Anthony Jemison, Edna Concepcion and Virgil Pina. Staff present: Joyce Sculark and Capt. Miranda. Guests: Congressman Bob Filner, John Achuff and Sgt. Joe Cline, CVPD 2. Declaration of excused/unexcused absences None 3. Approval of minutes The commission voted to approve minutes from 06/12/02 meeting. 4. Public Remarks Special guest speaker Congressman Bob Filner spoke to the commission on a project he is currently working on; The Immigration Law of 1996. Congressman Filner feels this law has created enormous problems for the legal immigrant in the United States. This law states that any immigrant who has ever committed a crime is subject to deportation immediately. Congressman Filner is in disagreement with this law. Congressman Filner stated he would like to see the City Council endorse a resolution to fix the law; he would like the Mayor get other cities' Mayors to support the issue and have the Commission write to other cities' commissions regarding the issue. All these efforts could help resolve the issue. • Commissioner Jemison asked the question, "Is there anything that can be done from the National perspective on the issues of alternative transportation and affordable housing for the South Bay area." Congressman Filner stated there has been some visionary concept to MTDB about a new way to approach transit issues to get people out of their cars, however the system needs to be reliable, timely and regular. Congressman Filner would like to create an "Above way". An "Above way" means there are buses that operate like subways. A bus would come to a platform, have several doors that passengers go in and out like a subway, and moves on a dedicated right away. So there is rapid entrance and exits from stops; dedicated right away; equipped to make sure there is always green lights as it approach the traffic lights. This is a system that could work. This system would have stops that are convenient, and parking attached to it. Congressman Filner would like to get money from the budget to start a Demonstration Project in Chula Vista. Congress Filner feels that on the issue of affordable housing, it is more difficult to deal with. The Federal Government has to get involved. Unfortunately government dollars for affordable housing has been reduced. People want to have affordable housing, but getting around the issue of density. This issue has to be a community discussion. By working in a diverse district, Congressman Filner sees various ethnic groups generally work on issues of their own. There is no coalition. There has to be a way to bring people together. We have to find ways for each group to help the other groups, and that create the alliances that is needed to help fight various issues. Guest Speaker CVPD Sgt. Cline spoke to the commission on the upcoming training for all CVPD officers on the subject of racial profiling. One portion of the training session will consist of a panel • discussion with community members and different representatives of the community that will actually engage in a discussion with the officers about racial profiling; what does it means, how is it defined, ask questions and create a dialog with the panel. The members of the Commission were invited to participate as panel members. 5. Old Business A. Building A Community Symposium Update Chair Pina distributed a pamphlet for the P Annual South Bay Leadership Symposium to give the commissioners ideas to brainstorm for the Building A Community Symposium. It was unanimously decided by the commission to get permission from City Council to utilize the north library's auditorium to invite the public for input on the symposium at the commission's October meeting. B. San Diego Human Relations Commission's Meeting San Diego HRC meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. It was unanimously decided to schedule a tentative date to attend their October meeting. C. Civic Award Update The letter for City Council to approve the criteria of the award will go before City Council on 09/10/02. 6. New Business A. Commendation Letter to MAAC Project of San Diego The Commission voted to make recommendations for the City Council to accept and approve a letter of commendation to the MAAC Project of San Diego on behalf of the Commission for their services in Chula Vista: helped home renters pay one time rent payments; finding job placements for teenagers and young adults; and expanded its senior high school center for at risk teenagers. 7. Other Business A. Written Correspondence Oceanside HRC July 2002 meeting minutes was distributed. B. Commissioners' Comments ❖ Chair Pina will resign in December as a member of the commission. ❖ Commissioner Jemison would like to know the protocol of naming a street after Caesar • Chavez. C. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 1934 hours, until the next scheduled meeting on September 11, 2002. LILL Joyce Sculark HRC Secretary 0 Irl