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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06091998 - C106 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS � Contra ­r � FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR � Costa June 2' County 1998 DATE: s? loin SUBJECT: HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE CULTURAL DIVERSITY i11 W���I���II�r I1��11 IIA•�11�1 II�IYII SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1, RECEIVE the attached report from the Human Relations Commission outlining a proposed Public Relations Campaign to promote cultural diversity in Contra Costa County. 2. REFER the attached report to the Finance Committee to review the report and request from the Human Relations Commission for funding to initiate the cultural diversity campaign. BACKGROUND: One of the items approved by the Board of Supervisors in the 1997-98 Work Plan for the Human Relations Commission is to develop a Public Relations Campaign to promote cultural diversity in Contra Costa County. The Commission has pulled together information from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and newspaper articles. Based on the information they have obtained, the Commission believes that a public relations campaign should be initiated, funded by grants from private or Federal sources. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: x YES SIGNATURE: .,�RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURES - C�, ACTION OF BOARD ON June 91 1998 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE �i UNANIMOUS{ABSENT - ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED June 9 • 1998 Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF O(;. SUPERVISORS ND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR See Page 2 BY ,DEPUTY The Commission is requesting that the Board approve one of three recommendations: • Provide $100,000 to finance the work of a public relations firm in developing a campaign and to finance the media costs. • Provide $5,000 to finance the efforts of a private grant writer in securing the required money. • Dedicate the services of a grant writer on the staff of the County Administrator's Office or another County department in securing the required money. The Commission has asked that their report and these requests be forwarded to the Finance Committee for consideration in the 1998-99 Budget. cc: County Administrator Social Service Director Tony Enea, Staff to the Finance Committee Stan Norman, Chair, Human Relations Commission 2020 N. Broadway, Suite 203A Walnut Creek, CA 94595 2 Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission .» 2020 N. Broadway street,suite 203A,Walnut Creek,CA 94596 (510)646.6160 May 1, 1998 Y MAY 13 1998 Internal operations Committee Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors , 3 651 Ririe Street = , Martinez, CA 94553 Subject; Diversity/Public Relations Campaign As indicated by the Commission's 1997,/98 work plan, one of the objectives was to develop a Public Relations Campaign to promote cultural diversity. The attached report is simply a compilation of information that is easily available to the citizens of Contra Costa County. The project was initiated in part to determine the eft that a perceived Problem existed. The information received was extremely surprising to the Commission.and it is hoped that the Board of Supervisors will seriously consider the recommendations forwarded by this document:. This .memorandum also requests that the recommendations herein be forworded to the Finance Committee and the Board of Supervisors for their consideration during their August 1998 budget deliberations, Project Summary Review and analyses of information received from the California Department of Pair Employment and Housing indicates that incidents of discrimination may exist to a much greater degree in Centra Costa County than in the other fifty severe counties of California. The.information provided indicates the existence of a social atmosphere within the County that is not conducive to interracial trust and productive interactions between the cultures. it is felt that continuation of the status quo will only result in a widening of the social and financial gap between those who control our social and financial institutions and those who do not. 1 As a remedy, the Commission proposes that the County and the Board of Supervisors actively support an effort to change public attitudes and perceptions by executing a project to educate our citizens through a diversity/public relations campaign. This support must take the form of money or man hours to acquire money and open/public/advertised support by the members of the Board of Supervisors. If the media can be used by the tobacco companies to get young people to smoke, and to sell social engineering programs such as Propositions 187 and 209, Centra Costa County should be able to use the media to influence landlords and employers. The point of contact for this project is Commissioner Dane Pascoe. He may be reached by message at the phone number on this letterhead. Chairman Copy Furnished: Supervisor Gerber Supervisor Rogers County Administrator (Mr. Van NMarter) Director, Social Services Department Each Commissioner 2 DIVERSITY PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN PROJECT BY CONTRA CMA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION May 1, 1998 CON 4ISSIONERS: Zenaida Campos, Alamo Elizabeth Gabucan, Concord Marsha.Gola.ngco, Alamo Stan Norman., Pittsburg Dane Pascoe, Orinda Marie Ries, Richmond STAFF: Barbara Morrow, Social Services __ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... _........ ....._. .. ....... .............. ........_ ......... ......... .._...... ......... . ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .... .._...... _ _ _ _ BACKGROU DMIS"TORY In October 1993, the Board of Supervisors created the Newcomer's Task Force to recommend ways the county could highlight the contributions of immigrants, address contemporary issues, and improve the provision of services to immigrants. In June 1995, a report with recommendations addressing this mandate was adopted by the Board of Supervisors. In May 1996, with the intent of insuring the continuation of the effort, the Board of Supervisors tasked the Human Relations Commission to examine three of the six recommendations of the Task Force and to make further recommendations. The three numbered Task Force recommendations that the Human Relations Commission was to address were. #1. That the Board of Supervisors affnm its commitment to the full integration of immigrant newcomers in the work of county boards, commissions, committees and departments. #4. That the Board. of Supervisors monitor immigrant-related state and federal policies and legislation that may restrict or limit operations and services. #5. That the Board of Supervisors encourage and facilitate naturalization and citizenship efforts. While developing ways to fulfill the request of the Board of Supervisors, the Commission determined that it could partially address recommendation number 5, while serving all citizens of the county. It can be expected these three recommendations will be referred to in future Commission work plans. PROBLEM Based on recent statistics for Contra Costa County from the California department of Pair Employment and Housing and information from media sources; it is concluded that the problem of 1 ......................I ............................................................................................................................................................ . .......................-....................................... bias and discrimination exists in Contra Costa County to a greater extent then it exists in the other fifty seven counties of California. DISCUSSION 1. The following sources and references were used for this project. Statistics and information is presented in order of perceived reliability. a. A report of cases filed by county from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (CDFEH). The information is presented using all data without regard to race, gender, or sexual preference. b. Extracts from selected articles published in The Contra Costa Times (newspaper) c. toIlReport: Winter 1998, a publication by the Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center of Montgomery, Alabama. The incidents that were listed in this publication are drawn primarily from media sources and initial police reports, not all of which have been verified by the Intelligence Project. Because hate crimes often are not reported, this listing may understate the true level of bias incidents. 2. Summary of supporting information a. From the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing: 1) The department (CDFEH) experienced a 20% increase in complaints over the period 1994 (16,382) through 1997 (19,611). 2) The bay area counties experienced a 27% increase in complaints over the period 1994 (3,032) through 1997 (3,856). This is 7 percentage points greater than the rate for the state. 3) Contra Costa County experienced a 49%increase in complaints over the period 1994 (301) through 1997 (448). This is 29 percentage points greater than the rate for the state and 22 percentage points greater that the bay area. 2 __ __ 4) The department (CDFEH) experienced a 4%increase in housing complaints over the period 1994 (762) through 1997 (796). 5) The bay area counties experienced a 20% increase in housing complaints over the period 1994 (187) through 1997 (224). This is 16 percentage points greater than the rate for the state. 6) Contra Costa County experienced a 150% increase in complaints over the period 1994 (12) through 1997 (30) This is 146 percentage points greater than the rate for the state, and 130 percentage points greater than the rate for the bay area. b. Extracts from the Contra Costa Times Newspaper. 1) Dated 9/21/97, article entified. "Women, minorities fear void in contracting" 'By ditching the program (NME/WBE), minority business groups say, Contra Costa is selling short its minority and women business people and perpetuating a long tradition of favoring white male contractors.' As confirmed by a chart in the same article, Contra Costa County did not reach its goals for minority participation in purchasing and professional services contracts." 2) Dated 6/8197, article entitled "NAACP claims county bias." 'Contra Costa County's hiring of minority and women in positions of authority is dismal,' says a letter from the Pittsburg chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.... 'The county says it is doing a good job attracting and promoting minorities, but officials say some areas need improvement.' 'Where the county falls short is in meeting its goals for individual job classifications. But that is changing, officials said.' 3) Dated 1015/97, article entitled "Walnut Creek Police probe verified some claims." 'Charges of harassment and sexual discrimination in the Police Department that the city says are unfounded were partially substantiated by the city's own investigator.' 4) Dated 10/31/97, article entitled "Discrimination cases increase in state courts" stated '...there was a 279 percent increase in race- and ancestry-based cases from 2,318 in 1985-86 to 6,467 in 1995-96.' '...in 1981-82, only 555 people who had filed complaints with the department (California Department of Fair Employment and 3 ......... ......... ......... ............._.. _. ..... ............. ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... _....... _...... ._....... ......... ........ ......... . . . .............. Housing) turned to the courts. A decade later 3,756 did spa. And. by 1995-96, the most recent year for which there is data, 8,944 people initiated court actions.' 5) bated 3/14/98, article entitled "Prop. 269 backers call dismantling premature" stated '... the governor has vetoed every attempt to study why women and minorities are getting very little of the contracting dollar.' '...Wilson has consistently vetoed bills that would require state departments to compile data to prove or disprove race- and or gender-based discrimination, most recently in 1994.' 6) gated 3/26/98, article entitled "Study: Fewer bucks on juries" stated 'This backs up what we have been saying all along, that the way we select jurors in this county is keeping blacks out of the process,' said Deputy Public Defender Oscar Bobrow. The survey found that only 4.8 percent of potential Superior Court jurors are black, and about half the number expected in a county with a black population of 8.1 percent, according to the 1990 census. `Defendants ought to be tried by people in their own communities, not 20 .miles away who don't understand what they are all about,' Bobrow said. c. From the IntelUgence a ort: Minter 1998: 1) For the year 1997, there were approximately 143 hate crimes Basted it this issue of the "Intelligence Report" as having occurred in California. 2) For the year 1997, there were five hate crimes listed as having occurred in Contra Costa County. a) Antioch - April 16, 1997. A swastika was painted at a .middle school. b) Brentwood - September 3, 1997. The letters "KKK" and "White Power" were painted at a Hispanic family's residence. c) Martinez - September 25, 1997. Ricky Holmberg, 30, pleaded not guilty to charges of battery with a hate crime enhancement for allegedly beating a gay man in .May. d) Orinda - September 30, 1997. Racist notes were alleged left in a Hispanic student's locker. 4 ......... ......_.. ......... ......._. .... ........_. ................ ......... ......... ......... ._....... ......... ......... ......... _ _.._... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ... ...__........._... e) Pleasant Hill - March 1997. Anti-Semitic graffiti and a swastika were drawn at Diablo Valley College. 3. Conclusions. Based on the information presented, it is concluded that there is a resistance to the concept of diversity within the county to a much greater extent than in the other fifty seven counties of this state and that there is a need to promote and support that concept among the institutions, employees, and citizens of Contra Costa County. The information also indicates that there may be a social atmosphere within the County that is not conducive to interracial trust and productive interactions between the cultures. It is felt that continuation of the status quo will only result in a widening of the social and financial gap between those that control our social and financial institutions and those that do not. RECOMMENDATION The Commission proposes that the County and the Board of Supervisors actively support an effort to change public attitudes and perceptions by conducting an effort to educate our citizens through the mass communications agencies that service Contra.Costa.County. The Commission recommends that the county conduct a program to adjust the attitudes of its citizens in order to decrease the occurrences of acts that could be construed as discriminatory. This effort should take the form of a low key, unobtrusive public relations campaign designed to promote cultural diversity. The effectiveness of the campaign will be measured by monitoring the rateof complaints from Contra Costa County as reported by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for three years at regular intervals after the start of the campaign. It is felt that such a campaign would cost $75,000 to $100,000, and that these monies should be obtained with grants from private and/or federal sources. 5 ......... ....... .... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ....111.1.. _........ ......... ......... ........ ......... . . ............................................ This proposed sum is to pay the fees of an advertising firm to develop the campaign and to pay for the media support. The Commission would oversee the development and implementation of the campaign with the final product approved by the Internal Operations Committee of the Board of Supervisors. In order to finance this effort the Commission recommends that Contra Costa County implement one of three options. 1. Provide $100,000 to mance the work of a public relations firm in developing a campaign and to finance the media costs. 2. Provide $5000 to finance the efforts of a private grunt writer in securing the rewired money. This money will finance the effort notedin recommendation number one. 3. Dedicate the services of a grant writer on the staff of the county administrator's office or another county department in securing the required money. ATTACHMENTS: 1. STATISTICS: 94-97 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING for selected counties. 2. California Department of Fair Employment& Housing Cases Filed by County for years 1994 through 1997. 6 _. ......... ......... .............. _. _ ..... .......... ................ ......... ......... ._....... ......... ......... ......_.. __ _ ......... ......... ......... ......... ................... .............................. igig rn m m m > rn m m m m rn m y CA -Vr irr in. to N tEr � !A 4'+ N ur 0 rA ttr D Nw 00 -r m -+ j »+ t/s iD at Dow M + w - as ....t �4 Nam N en c.n crs cr. .t+ � w tD w to : a-4 � a, w 0 N00 ,�► ,,,� A � LA t"tpp'" w m #ti -4 �r, � � ,p r twjR y .1 � rrp OY7s � .pChtnwVt © OQtli 06D0ymJ40to � CS .i Y r d1 00 (N ry SR -r V "� N �i J V N N J6 0 r 170 N �:� �} rvn> � tc ww y to wC V wO. z i > tA m Y J J td1 V ill to {/4 4m OD Vi by V� to 4m ru 1^ 0 m inNrv � "J' a 00 L'I 4M tot�nC7W � vtCrf P V a+ ^rcotwn � � r Cl m hs V r. nt us v w w way tm OD iD <a w !•tet 00 Oiu, wv -� cnn� orC9 /o wt^ac�rsm � i7 �► mra to x V tri , .A '+! tri V -GO 'V CJ's z �► to A ur d w T tD L�O v � N N w V 6 v V tT tJt ++ N V w w 'V APR-10-9a 09< 3 k F'k'UHt=0hir-1 FAIR EMPLY is 3lUti�3 1v1: 1 U= 1 n c s r.11 LI r i+tat e; . Callfr,-rnia Depatftnent of Fair Employment R Housing 4,Sr98 Cases Filed by County Calendar Year: 1997 OGl m Of Cts LAW i county UN Rights E meet Roumni Grand Tow AEari+eda 1455 59 1126 AnUWW 1 19, 4 20 Bute 4 71. 172 Calms 0 _.. .. t ., .w 0 . .^ .. Colin 0' 1 1 COMM costa 1: 417! 34 448 Dei Node 0: 11. 0 11 G Clorado 0 26. 1 27 Fresno 18i '745. 15 738 Glenn 0 20= 0 20 Nuf 0 361 3 lel tr3yo_. 4i 6 0 6 1 Kern 5: 495; 5' 546 s 0; W1 4 ¢4 tAkke 0; 1$• 0 18 LAM 1 141 14 Ltd 42'. 4639 186 4867 0 571 3 60 Marin 4 136" 16 1972 WOO" 1' & 0 .... 9 Mendocino 0.1 2#- 1 26 Merned 0: 89; i 90 Modoe 1 mom 0i 6 ' Q 129, 5 134 N _ _.. 0, 61 4 68 Nr3vada __ 25i 2 28 t3ran _ r. 11' 1582' 52 1846 C3ulit-S1e + 1: 338 7 346 a1 177! e 193 Munas 0 s, 0 6 River " 2`• 589 _ _ _ 31 6= r«&MO 91 1263; 35 1307 San sealto Of, 15i 0 15 ' Wilino 101 r ..16 $71 San Diegoi$ 1577, w71 16$4 San ncis= 7! 7�� 37 7 San�n 01...� ...,�.._ .. ..._._ 318 _.._ 20 ...__. 338 Sin Luis Obispo 1 91 7 99 San Maiteo 1 Ri— 23 386 Santa Barbare 1179 9 189 Santa Clara 4! 901: 49 . t464 Sorge Cruz 3 53' — 7 63 Shasta � _ 1 98; r� 115 Pen mwmt Tables Pale 1 of 2 A.2-1 ......... ......... ......... .........._._.. .. ......_ .. _ .......... .._....... ......... ......... ._....... ......... ......... .............._. _ _ _. ._.. .... ......... ......... . ....... ......... . ............................................. AFF"-10 °:3ti 0y= !.2 FWUN UL-Y[' FAIN. L:t9bLY & NUUL;INU lid:.-.+tt—,.e rMUC California Departmtent of Fair Employment& Housing 4/ Gases Filed by County Calendar Year: 1997 Counti CWH fthts ,EMPIOY"*nt Housing - Grsrtd Total Stski ou d. 13,* o 13 Sotano 01, I80; 14 194 Somme d. 1694 25 1 tatttlsus 9 2331 5 2+47 Su ter s0, 0 30 T*mn .. . ._. ... _ 01, 5; 1 6 TUUM 0j 176; 4 ISO Tuaivame 0` 11. 1 12 Ventura 359 9 372 YOlo 0; 108, 8 116 Yuba 0l 211 0 21 Gtww't`out 164; it 1; 796 19611 Pemnament Tabtes Page 2 of 2 A.2-2 sj t i T'n! h• we, A 4 -� mm NOW MNOW "c , MINIUM NOW. ommr y� Doptrunent Of F*E"OoMent & Housing • Cases Red by County CahmAw Year: 1996 2 7 7# �oao�a o V za JO 2 33 35 14 4 172 al 10 2 3 14 wr I S 1341 TOWo tis I A.2-4 _....... ......._. ......... ......... ......... ......... _ . .... ................_..._... ......... ......... ......... .._...... ......... ......... ......... ......... ........__.. _. .... ......... ......... . ........DepaftmeM of %.A 1A & N+ateing Cos" MW by Cocmty Cskmdw Yew:I 23 Id 1 o 61 4 - 4ut 30 20 0 44 46 0 i3 Sol is 53' t 4 13 2M 470411 461 126 2 $ 6 311 3 3 _3 8 3 # 6 102 46 4 #7 2 t3 i ' i 3 337 2low 0� 7 4" ?63 1W4 is low 7 31 '33# 143SI 24 If 354 26 i71 M cbm i3 1yp 3 ni 6 A.z-5 Depwanent of €air Emptarnent & Houdng Cases Red by County Cakwidw Year. -1$$6 i Q 1if t 1 rt# 24 113 91 t 0 44 � 0 132t 0 1231 own oia i W Al � il A :A #4i f a.2-s MWtrof Asir Employment Howft Cam mad by CCouW Calendar Year: 1994 LOW chs Rift Ma 752 t 4 o s 49 _a is o pwo P22 s 14 o e ----- 4MI st 1 ♦i a 24 251 v 2 xt 4d 1 4 t 1461 271 m o 4 ii is said* I4 21 23 4 W7 o 3 o 52 Ptrp t dtd A.2-7 �rptnvun# of Fair Employment Housing cuss FHod by Caunitt CaIwWw Year; 1854 t- 0 o 40 2 soebaea 113 14 1 IMI 12 mer25 i 0 24 8 241 M*a t 323 f6 3401 y vw $ i 1 1 ' POP 29f4 A..2-8