Southeast Community Facility Commission - July 27, 2011 - Meeting Minutes
ADOPTED MINUTES
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY FACILITY COMMISSION
Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 6:00 PM
1800 Oakdale Avenue, Alex Pitcher Community Room
San Francisco, CA 94124
1.0 CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND CONSENT CALENDAR
Commission President Willie B. Kennedy called the Wednesday, July 27, 2011 meeting to order at 6:14 pm in the Alex Pitcher Community Room at 1800 Oakdale Avenue.
1.1 Call to Order and Announcements from President
Commission President Kennedy announced the Sunshine Ordinance.
1.2 Roll Call
6:15 pm roll was called by Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary.
Commissioners Present: Willie B. Kennedy/ Bobbrie Brown/ Karen Chung/ Theo Ellington/ Brigette LeBlanc/ Al Norman
Commissioner Excused: Armina Brown
Staff Present: Toye Moses, Executive Director/ Frances Starr, Senior Management Assistant/ Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary
1.3 Consent Calendar
Commission President Willie Kennedy read the Consent Calendar.
1.4 Proposed Action
Accept the Consent Calendar and move forward for adoption at the next meeting the Thursday, June 9, 2011 minutes, Tuesday, June 28, 2011 minutes, and Thursday, July 14, 2011 minutes.
Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary announced the Thursday, July 14, 2011 minutes were not yet available.
It was moved by Commissioner LeBlanc and seconded by Commissioner Bobbrie Brown to accept the Thursday, June 9, 2011 minutes and the Tuesday, June 28, 2011 minutes.
The motion was carried.
2.0 PUBLIC COMMENT & ANNOUNCEMENT OF TIME ALLOTMENT
Espanola Jackson, Community Activist, introduced the following issues to the Commission.
1. Homeowners residing near Van Dyke and Underwood have received notifications from the City regarding their homes sinking. On a yearly basis these homeowners contact the City when their basements flood and DPW is sent to flush them out. The walls are cracking and the homes appear to be sinking. They do not know who to talk to because they were told to “Build another wall”. This is a waste of money if the homes are sinking. Can the Commission advise the homeowners regarding whom they should direct their questions to?
2. There was a meeting last week at the Bayview Opera House after the last neighborhood shooting. However, the notification to the public did not address the incident so there was complete chaos at the meeting. Nothing was done. The items on the notification were Social Economic Blight, Jobs Opportunity, Affordable Housing, etc. These items deal with other Commissions and the City itself, not the Police Department.
3. Please provide an invitation to the new Director of the Municipal Transit Authority (MTA). He should address the Commission regarding the rising fares for the public and our youth. The $4 fare for the cable car is ridiculous and not affordable for a family of five. The fares continue to increase and there has been no community input.
Commissioner Kennedy asked if the homeowner’s were in attendance.
Ms. Jackson responded she would advise them she had attended the meeting.
3.0 COMMUNICATION
Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary announced the following:
Statement: Mayor Lee’s Statement On Board Of Supervisors’ Unanimous Approval Of Consensus Pension Proposal
Press Release: Mayor Lee Introduces New Municipal Green Building Standards Ordinance
Press Release: Mayor Lee Announces Pfizer To Establish Premiere Research Center In San Francisco
Statement: Mayor Lee’s Statement On The 21st Anniversary Of The Americans With Disabilities Act
Press Release: Mayor Lee Signs San Francisco’s Balanced Budget For 2011-12 That Keeps City Safe, Solvent And Successful
3.1 Correspondence
Letter: Letter of Invitation to Marsha Pendergast to provide a report on health issues affecting the Southeast sector.
Letter: Letter of Invitation to Lena Miller, Director, Hunter’s Point Family, to introduce to the Commission the services Hunter’s Point Family provides to the Community and Green College.
Letter: Letter of Invitation to Lowe’s Gina Meachan, Store Manager, requesting an update on the hiring of employees from the 94124 community, update on community organizations that have benefited from Lowe’s being a community partner, projections on community involvement for the next 5 years, and a 5 year retention plan.
Letter: Letter of Invitation to Fresh and Easy, information regarding staffing of new store, and community benefits/partnership.
Letter: Letter of Invitation to Walgreens, update on community outreach and involvement from 2007 to present, and what is the five year plan for this store?
Letter: Letter of Invitation to Foods Co, update on employment for residents in the 94124, 94134, and 94107 communities.
4.0 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Kennedy announced the following:
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Southeast Community Facility Commission will be Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 6 pm, 1800 Oakdale Avenue in the Alex Pitcher Community Room.
Mr. Torrance Bynum, newly appointed Coordinator of City College/Southeast Campus provided an update on an agreement that we made and a proposal we had on the table and so we have the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor have kept their part of the agreement and we are bringing additional classes in and they have been approved. We will in the fall offer 6 additional classes based on the surveys of the community. Those classes are Intro to Probation and Parole, again I will be the professor of that class; Intro to Fire Science; Intro to Early Childhood Development; English as a second language; we are bringing in a sewing and fashion class; we’re also bringing back the sewing club and we are hoping to bring in one additional class the Administration of Justice. We have kept our agreement in negotiations with the Hunters Point Family Resource Development. We were asked to provide space for them in the building due to their eviction per se which is based on a building issue. So we hope to have them in the building by August 15th. The Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and myself have agreed that we do want to provide space and we do want to reach out to the community. So they should be moving in within the next two weeks. The Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor have agreed to hire two outreach coordinators so we can make ourselves known and rekindle our relationship with the community
Chair Kennedy thanked Mr. Bynum for moving ahead so quickly.
Ms. Espanola Jackson, community activist, said she was glad to hear the report, however she recently heard about rebuilding, and that classes may be leaving. She asked what type of rebuilding would be done and where would the classes go. Ms. Jackson noted that whenever classes are moved they never come back. Also, she wanted to know why the Commissioners were not informed of these plans. She felt the Commission was overlooked and wanted to know whose idea it was to rebuild, and who would be paying for it.
Mr. Bynum said the project was being funded via the SFPUC and the entire building will be remodeled. Schedules, classes, and current tenants will not be disrupted. No one will be asked to move out. Following are two proposals:
1. During the construction we stay in the building and temporarily relocate in the building, or
2. We move close to the building, set up temporary sites around the building and remain near the Southeast grounds.
Negotiation started a long time ago. City College, SFPUC, and the community got together and discussed these plans. Juliet Ellis did surveys and got feedback from members of the community. The Commissioners are invited to come to the table for the planning process. We have opened our doors to the community and the Commissioners. There are long tedious hours. We invite anyone who would like to be a part of the planning stage to join us and share their thoughts and ideas. They can contact me and I will have my assistant make sure they get the agenda for the meetings and location and times. The meetings are in the Alex Pitcher Community Room.
Ms. Jackson requested the Commission make the decision on whether or not City College stays or goes. She then made a motion that no classes leave the building. Ms. Jackson used the nursing program as an example of a good program that started at the Southeast campus and was then taken away. Ms. Jackson said the Commission should be making these decisions, not the SFPUC. She expressed frustration with SFPUC making decisions and not the Commission.
Ms. Jackson requested a letter to SFPUC asking them to cease and desist in making decisions with regard to issues that are the responsibility of the SECFC.
Commissioner Kennedy suggested the Facilities Ad-Hoc Committee would meet with the SFPUC to address these issues.
Mr. Bynum said no classes would be discontinued.
5.0 PRESENTER
Commission President Kennedy introduced Captain Paul Chignell of the Bayview Station.
Captain Chignell introduced four of his officers and said a few words regarding policing in the Bayview. Officer Fabian Fowler and Officer John Normant walk Third Street along with Officer Monty Singleton and Officer Michael Robinson. Officer Robinson is part of a group of officers who work in public housing here in the Bayview. They work directly in the housing developments working with the tenants and the housing authority. They do a tremendous job, particularly Officer Robinson.
Captain Chignell has been here a couple of months and his predecessor is now the Chief of Police. Captain Chignell stated there is a lot of work to do here in the Bayview. There are 164 officers that are housed on Williams Street and we believe that is a sufficient number of officers and resources to do the tasks that are before us. The number one goal as always is to do what we can to stop the violent crime that is occurring in this district and to get guns off the street.
No matter what your perspective may be on the criminal justice system I’m sure you all agree that we cannot abide the violent crime that does occur in this district and we need to do everything that we can in terms of working with the community and other agencies to send violent criminals into the criminal justice system and to get guns off the street. Captain Chignell said over the last 57 days 24 guns have been taken off the street. Twenty-three with arrest, and twenty-two of those weapons were automatic weapons. That is our most important task. The more guns we get off the street the more we can make a dent in terms of the robberies, shootings, and homicides that we have. Thus far this year there have been 7 homicides in the district which is lower than in previous years.
Captain Chignell said he believes in communication with the community therefore the department’s crime newsletter is being sent 3 days a week instead of once a week, and soon it will be 5 days a week. We are building up our email newsletter list. Everyday 20 – 25 people are added to the list. This gives the community an up to date view on every single crime and arrest that occur on the streets of the Bayview. We are not holding monthly meetings at the police station anymore. They are being held in the community. The August 3rd meeting will be in Portreo Hill at St Teresa’s church. In September it will be in the Portola District and in October it will be in another area of the community. We believe it is important to go where the people live and work. We are decentralizing our community policing. This is not about the Police Captain or the Police Chief. The rank and file officers need to engage the community and solve problems within the community. Captain Chignell said there are approximately 60 community organizations within the Bayview, some new and some that have been around for decades. There are merchant groups, neighborhood groups, and institutions in the Bayview that his Sergeants have been assigned to. They will be obligated to problem solve for 4 or 5 of these community organizations and will be the point of contact when issues are brought forward by the groups. This model was used previously at the Ingleside and Taraval stations by Captain Chignell and was successful. The officers of the rank and file will be the ambassadors for the station.
Regarding enforcement work at the Bayview Captain Chignell stated he saw tremendous police work.
The officers also have an obligation to the community to do other things, particularly with the youth that transcends traditional law enforcement work. We have 30 programs that have nothing to do with putting handcuffs on people, or taking people to jail. With these programs there is interaction with youth. Wilderness programs, fishing programs, having Officer Fitzpatrick at Jolie Gym, the officer that is up at the Willie Mays Boys and Girls Club on a daily basis, the work that is done at the YMCA, the housing officers working with tenants and their problems, these are just a few of the programs that engage the community and work with community based organizations and city agencies to prevent crime and to get much more respect between the youth and the police and vice versa. The relationship between the African-American community and the police sometimes is strained. We want to do all we can to ameliorate that. There are many, many people in this community that do not speak the English language. There are demographic changes occurring in the Bayview.
Many of our community meetings in the future will be held in other languages so that some of the immigrant community and people that do not have English as their first language, can be brought into the crime prevention model that we want to talk about with members of the community.
In closing, Captain Chignell said he was pleased to be here and in the winter of his career with the Police Department is honored that Chief Suhr asked him to command this station. There are a lot of challenges here due to recent events but working with Bayview Renaissance, the Bayview Merchants Association and other groups we have a great National Night Out on August 2nd at Mendell Plaza. Captain Chignell invited the Commissioners and the public to attend. In closing, Captain Chignell said he looked forward to working with the Commission.
Commission Chair Kennedy thanked Captain Chignell for his presentation and welcomed the Officers.
Following are questions from the Commissioners:
Commissioner LeBlanc: When there is an incident on Third and Oakdale, or Third and Palou we have beat cops, bicycle cops, and police officers that are deployed out. In any given incident we may have roughly 15 – 20 police per incident. Is that necessary?
Captain Chignell: All incidents are different. You may have one incident that requires a number of officers and another may not. When you have a shooting or homicide, and we have had a number of shootings in the environs of Third and Palou, and Third and Oakdale over the last couple of months, it takes a lot of officers, not occupying the block or keeping the peace, but just doing the rigors of police work, such as crime scene management, interviewing witnesses, taking care of victims, getting additional resources to come out and do the kind of things you need to do to get evidence and to protect the crime scene. When you see 12, 15, 18 officers you are absolutely correct to say “What is going on here, why do we need all of these people?” It is because of the different tasks that need to be done.
Commissioner LeBlanc: What is the Police Department doing about people that are selling drugs and hanging out and loitering?
Captain Chignell: Selling and using drugs are a tremendous blight in the community. Scores of arrest are made. There are two squads of plain clothes officers that are making narcotics arrests constantly. Our newsletter shows the number of narcotics arrests made. We are also working with the Third Street Corridor Project with James Moore and others from the Bayview Merchants Association. They are providing ideas about the types of environmental things that need to be done. We do get the plaintive cry, “Get these people off the street, they are loitering”. This is a democracy and people do have a right to assemble, people have a right to be on the sidewalk. Unless someone is blocking a doorway or blocking a sidewalk and we can articulate that. People have a right to be out and to hang on the street. It is a balancing act in a free society as to what you do.
I am open to changes we can make in terms of the sidewalks and some of the infrastructure that would stop it. When it comes to narcotics trafficking and narcotics use there are a lot of social issues there as well. This City has drug court, diversion programs and it is not just the police department that is trying to attack the problem of drug use. We will continue to arrest drug dealers.
Commissioner LeBlanc: As a court adjudicator for the Bayview neighborhood court we hear about fare evasions every week. What expenditures is the police department paying for police officers to actually ride transit to verify fares, and is there a way that something else can be created so the police can do something else that will not cost as much money?
Captain Chignell: Fare evasion is just one part of what the officers do. When the officers go aboard the T-Line they are not just checking for fares. Also, the Mayor and the Chief have directed the officers to ride the buses a certain number of times during their shift because people have requested uniform presence on the buses so we do that throughout the City. We do not spend a lot of time on fare evasion. We have had a number of strong armed robberies on the T-Line. The officers go on the buses and on the platform to try to abate that. We have made some outstanding robbery arrests where people have been victimized, some of them brutally. That is why the officers are there. They are not there to make mundane fare evasion arrest although that is a part of their job.
Commissioner LeBlanc: In 1968 there was a Police Community Relations Unit. Is that unit still around?
Captain Chignell: There is a Community Relations Unit that works out of the Chief’s office. Captain Charley Orks was head of that Unit until recently. Now Captain Sherman Ferigno is head of that Unit. I would be happy to send information regarding what that unit does. It is not like the unit of the 1960’s but it still engages in community relations work. Having a stand alone community relations unit was good but that also meant that the rank and file officer could just say “Well the Community Relations Unit does community relations. Every single San Francisco police officer should be engaged in community relations work.
Director Moses congratulated Captain Chignell and asked about diversity within the police department reflecting the diversity of the neighborhood.
Captain Chignell promised to provide the statistics. He said the workforce at the Bayview Station was diverse. Although not directly reflecting the community it is a diverse group.
Director Moses said the crime rate is high in this area for students and city workers. He asked if officers could be directed to patrol the facility frequently.
Captain Chignell responded yes it could be done. There are a lot of officers on the corridor but there is 24/7 coverage of every single sector in this particular police district.
If there is a specific request for officers to be in a specific area we certainly have the resources to deploy them.
Commissioner Norman: After certain demonstrations downtown statistics were provided that showed how many of those individuals were from San Francisco and how many were from the Bayview. Can you provide a report that shows the amount of crimes and arrests in the Bayview and how many of those crimes are actually committed by Bayview residents?
Captain Chignell: Yes. Most of the people that we arrest in the Bayview are from the Bayview. There are outsiders that come in. In terms of those other demonstrations a vast majority of those folk were from the East Bay, or other areas, but not even from San Francisco, and only one or two were from the Bayview.
Commissioner Norman: We would like to have that along with all the other statistical information.
Captain Chignell: In terms of crime the robberies, shootings and homicides are down. The rates of crime are still absolutely unacceptable. We have more guns taken off the streets and we have more violent crime in the Bayview than many other police districts so even though it is down it is still unacceptable.
Chair Kennedy: The purchasing of guns needs to be curbed.
Captain Chignell: Each gun is traced, however most of them are black-market guns and are being sold or conveyed back and forth between individuals. We have plenty of gun laws but the criminal justice system tends to work when it comes to gun arrests because the District Attorney and the police department take that very seriously and a lot of evidence gathering is done as well. Many individuals arrested with guns over the last 51 days are on probation or parole. They have prior felony convictions so the sanctions for them are much higher.
Commissioner Kennedy: Several years ago a lot of officers of color applied for the police department and were denied on small things found in their background. There was a hearing and these same officers were hired in surrounding areas. I could not understand why it was so difficult for them to pass the background check in San Francisco.
Captain Chignell: Many of the standards are state standards. This department has gone through a metamorphosis within the last 25 years mainly because of the federal consent decree which you were involved in as a member of the Board of Supervisors. Funding was provided and a much more diverse department was created.
Commissioner Kennedy: It seems unreal to me that these officers could be cast out because when they were in high school they experimented with marijuana or something. Stuff like that showed up and they were kicked out.
Captain Chignell: That is not the case anymore but we do want police officers that have good character and great backgrounds because the community expects ethical law enforcement.
Commissioner LeBlanc: You mentioned monthly meetings would begin in August. When will one be held in Visitation alley and in Bayview?
Captain Chignell: Visitation Valley is in the Ingleside District but we are waiting for a location in the Bayview for October.
Commissioner LeBlanc: What is the telephone number at the Bayview Station?
Captain Chignell: 671-2300
Commissioner LeBlanc: Can you provide your email address to the Commission Secretary so she can provide it to those present who might be interested in receiving the newsletter.
Following are questions from the public:
Espanola Jackson: In 1995 Mr. Sam Murray and I sponsored an event, “Guns For Computers”, which provided the largest collection of guns ever collected in San Francisco. Can this be done again? Commissioner LeBlanc suggested a gun exchange which would allow participants to receive free books, classes, and training to become a firefighter or other career oriented positions.
Captain Chignell: We would be interested in any gun exchange if the funding was available.
Gwen Sacco expressed anxiety regarding her experience at the hands of the Bayview Police.
Mrs. Sacco described in detail being brutalized in front of her home and said she had not trust in the police. She said she was targeted because she filed a complaint against an officer who mistreated her son.
Mr. Abrahms asked if any information would be released to the family regarding the incident of July 16.
Captain Chignell said the investigation is on-going and the Chief of Police plans to release all the information when the investigation is completed.
Mr. Abrahms said all of the information currently released smeared the character of the victim and he requested the name of the individual in charge of the investigation.
Captain Chignell referred Mr. Abrahms to Lieutenant Sainez of the Homicide Unit at 553-1145.
Mr. Lance Burton asked how police policy would be handled regarding Back On Track and the truancy that happens in the community. Also, there is an issue with parking for students who receive tickets while attending classes due to the street sweeping.
Captain Chignell referred Mr. Burton to the Department of Parking and Traffic regarding the issue of street sweeping during the time classes are being held. Regarding the truancy issue Captain Chignell said School Resource Officers work directly out of the Bayview Station. Officer Leon Jackson and Officer J.R. Richards deal with school authorities and the District Attorney has a program in concert with the youth services bureau and the point people are the school resource officers.
Commission Karen Chung asked how soon officers were deployed once a call came in.
Captain Chignell said it would depend on the nature of the call and 911 calls take precedence.
Commissioner LeBlanc referenced an incident at the shipyard where an individual was assaulted and the police never responded.
Captain Chignell urged Commissioner LeBlanc to forward more information directly to him regarding the assault at the shipyard and he would look up the dispatch report and find out what time the call came in and what time an officer was dispatched.
Mr. Abrahms had more questions regarding the July 16th incident.
Captain Chignell said he looked forward to providing more information once the investigation was concluded.
Commission Chair Willie Kennedy thanked Captain Chignell for his presentation.
6.0 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Chair Kennedy advised the Commission retreat was a success and more information would be available after the report was provided by the facilitators.
7.0 AD-HOC COMMITTEES REPORTS & UPDATES
Facility Committee, (Chair, Willie Kennedy, Members Al Norman & Bobbrie Brown, Alternate Armina Brown)
Commissioner Kennedy requested a meeting with the SFPUC to discuss issues raised by Ms. Jackson regarding decisions being made by the SFPUC that should be made by the SECFC.
Community Advisory Group, (Chair Bobbrie Brown, Co-Chair Shirley Jones former Commissioner, Members Al Norman & Willie Kennedy)
Health & Housing Committee, (Chair Bobbrie Brown, Co-Chair Harrison Parker, former Commissioner, Member Theo Ellington, Alternate Willie Kennedy)
Commissioner Bobbrie Brown provided a brief summary of the July 26th Health & Housing Committee meeting as they continue to plan for the 2011 Health Fair.
The Health & Housing Ad-hoc Committee will meet next on the following Tuesdays, August 2 & August 9, 2011 and every consecutive Tuesday at 1 pm in the SECFC conference room until September 24, 2011 the date of the 2011 Health Fair.
Chair Kennedy announced the American Red Cross would participate in the Health Fair.
Director Moses commented regarding the participation of various organizations in the health Fair and invited anyone who wanted to contribute to please attend the upcoming meetings.
Community Outreach & Public Safety Committee (Chair Al Norman, Co-Chair Brigette LeBlanc, Member Karen Chung, Alternate Theo Ellington)
Economic Development Committee, (Chair Karen Chung, Co-Chair Theo Ellington, Member Brigette LeBlanc, Alternate Al Norman)
8.0 STAFF/DIRECTOR REPORT
Director Moses reported a lot of time was spent preparing for the retreat and the Health Fair. He commented on the positive outcome of the retreat and the restructuring of the Ad-Hoc Committees.
Francis Starr reported the Commission was selected to be one of the pilot Commissions involved in the “Meetings on Demand”. The Commission will be advised prior to the first recorded meeting being placed on the internet.
Director Moses attended a press conference with District Attorney Gascòn who is starting a program in the Mission District. Channel 2 News will air the segment at 11 o’clock.
Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary announced the following future presenters:
August – Chief Suhr/Dr. Patricia Gray
September – Ben Chan
October – Torrance Bynum
Commissioner LeBlanc: Ms. Kim-Shree Maufas of the San Francisco School Board was invited to provide a presentation along with Dr. Patricia Gray. If Ms. Maufas is not available please invite someone else from the School Board.
Director Moses requested anyone with contact information for the requested speakers please feel free to provide the information.
Commissioners LeBlanc and Chung requested clarification on the date listed as the next Commission meeting. The Commission Secretary confirmed the next Commission date is August 24th.
9.0 SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT AND UPDATES
10.0 ONGOING BUSINESS
Commissioner Kennedy announced the retreat outcome and recommendations would be provided to the public as soon as they are available. The Health Fair is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, 2011.
11.0 NEW BUSINESS REQUESTS
Director Moses noted the request of Ms. Espanola Jackson to have the Commission invite the new Director of the Municipal Transit Agency.
Chair Kennedy directed staff to provide the requested invitation to the Director of the Municipal Transit Agency.
Chair Kennedy commented regarding the treatment of Mrs. Sacco and assured her the Commission cared about the treatment of the citizens of the Bayview.
12.0 PUBLIC COMMENT
13.0 ADJOURNMENT
Commission President Kennedy adjourned the meeting at 7:26 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________
Carla Vaughn
Southeast Community Facility
Commission Secretary
