THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 23, 1999
>> GOOD EVENING. ON BEHALF OF THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE FIRST VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL FORUM ON CIVIL RIGHTS. I'M CHAIR OF THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
WHILE THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IS HOSTING THIS EVENT, WE DO SO WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ARLINGTON, FAIRFAX AND PRINCE WILLIAMS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS, THE GENTLEMEN AT THIS END OF THE TABLE.
>> TONIGHT, WE WELCOME MEMBERS.
THE COUNCIL IS LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS, FAIR HOUSING, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT, OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATION, CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION, CRIME OR OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES.
THE RESULTS OF THIS MEETING WILL BE REPORTED TO GOVERNOR GILMORE. WE COMMEND THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL FOR ITS EFFORTS TO LEARN FIRSTHAND ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA BY TRAVELING AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH. THIS IS THE THIRD HEARING. BY HEARING TESTIMONY FROM INDIVIDUALS AND CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, THE COUNCIL CANNOT HELP BUT GAIN A TRUE UNDERSTANDING ON THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING IN VIRGINIA. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT TONIGHT'S GOAL OF IDENTIFYING IMPLEMENTABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE VIRGINIA'S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS WILL BE MET.
WE ALSO WANT TO WELCOME THE SPEAKERS, THE AUDIENCE WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE A LIVELY DISCUSSION OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES IN VIRGINIA. YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS FORUM AND WE ASK THAT YOU DIRECT YOUR QUESTIONS TO TONIGHT'S MODERATOR, MR. ART MOSLEY. MR. MOSLEY IS A MEMBER OF THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
BEFORE I GO ON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. HOWEVER, HE DID SEND THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council. "DEAR MR. MAX GUGGENHEIMER, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN WELCOMING THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL TO OUR CITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING A PUBLIC FORUM ON CIVIL RIGHTS. WE ARE PROUD TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE WORK AND THAT THE LOCAL VIRGINIA COUNCIL ARE DOING TO FURTHER THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
I TRUST THAT THE FORUM WILL BE FORTHRIGHT, HELPFUL IN STRENGTHENING THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA IN ALL AREAS OF CIVIL RIGHTS."
ART?
>> MR. MOSLEY: WELCOME. AS RICHARD INDICATED, I SERVE ON BOTH THE LOCAL ALEXANDRIA COMMISSION AND ON THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS. WE'RE HAPPY TO SERVE THEM BOTH AND MY GOAL OF SERVING THEM BOTH IS TO GET A BETTER CONNECTION BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATION AND WE DECIDED TO HAVE A FORUM HERE SO WE CAN HEAR ISSUES OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. WE HAVE HAD OTHER ONES ON EASTERN SHORE AND SO FORTH.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO TAKE TIME OUT OF YOUR LIFE TO COME HERE. WE USE THIS INFORMATION TO FOR TO GOVERNOR TO INFORM HIM OF OUR REPORTS AND ALS TO DEVELOP OUR AGENDA FOR THE COMING YEAR.
SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS SO DON'T BE SHY.
I WILL START OFF BY INTRODUCING OUR CHAIRMAN, MAX GUGGENHEIMER. HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL, VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
>> MR. GUGGENHEIMER: THANKS, ART.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ALL FOR A FEW MINUTES TO TELL YOU ALL WHAT WE ARE ABOUT.
AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE HOPE IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE TONIGHT.
FIRST, LET ME INTRODUCE -- I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND THEN EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE. WE ARE IN TRANSITION IN THE COUNCIL. THERE ARE REGULARLY, NINE MEMBERS. WE ARE IN TRANSITION WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE GOING OFF. THEY HAVE SERVED EITHER ONE FOUR YEAR TERM OR TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REAPPOINTED.
LET ME -- WHAT I WILL DO IS JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF, THEN ASK WILL TAYLOR ON MY RIGHT AND ART AND STANLEY AND THEN THE TWO STAFF MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MAX GUGGENHEIMER. I'M FROM LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA. I AM EMPLOYED BY ENGLISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WITH OUR HEADQUARTERS IS IN LYNCHBURG. IT IS A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS THAT DOES WORK IN VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA. SOUTH CAROLINA. I'M ALSO RETIRED MILITARY.
>> MR. TAYLOR:GOOD EVENING. AND I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE. I'M WILL TAYLOR FROM THE CITY OF HAMPTON.
EMPLOYED BY THIS GREAT COMMONWEALTH, A CIRCUIT JUDGE.
I'M KEENLY INTERESTED IN YOUR CONCERNS TONIGHT AND YOUR INTERESTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS.
I'M PROBABLY THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU WILL HAVE TO SAY TONIGHT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THANK YOU.
>> AGAIN,I'M ART MOSLEY. I CAME HERE TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA IN 1987 WITH THE MILITARY, LIVED IN ALEXANDRIA SINCE '91. THIS IS A GREAT CITY. BUT OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE ISSUES AND WE HAVE A LOT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS CITY.
HAVING SERVED ON DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS, THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS CITY AND I LOOK FORWARD THE HEARING EVERYTHING FROM YOU ALL HERE. WE HAVE BOTH EARS OPEN AND WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY AS A TEAM, MAKE A CHANGE, POSITIVE CHANGE.
>> I'M STANLEY COOK. I'M IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, WORK FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND HAVE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT AND OR RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR SOME TIME AND BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.
THIS IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS BODY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR COMMENTS IN THAT ARENA.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M ROXIE RAY-CORNIGEY. GOOD EVENING. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL ON HUMAN RESOURCES. I'M AN APPOINTEE OF THE GOVERNOR'S. THIS IS MY SECOND APPOINTMENT. THEREFORE, I SERVED -- I HAVE SERVED UNDER TWO GOVERNORS. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL IS DOING AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE MOVING. BUT THAT'S ENOUGH FROM ME. NOW FROM SANDY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SANDRA NORMAN, DIRECTOR CORNIGAY'S ASSISTANT. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE COUNCIL FOR 11 YEARS. MY NICKNAME IS HISTORIC RESOURCE. I DON'T MAKE THE JOB BUT I MAKE THEIR JOBS BETTER. SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU ALL, JUST LET ME KNOW.
>> ENOUGH HEARING FROM US, I GUESS.
>> I'M VICTOR DUNBAR, CHAIR OF THE FAIRFAX HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
I'M THE SAFETY DIRECTOR OF THE ARLINGTON COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
>> I'M HANK, COMMISSIONER FOR PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
>> MAX GUGGENHEIMER. WE ARE GOING TO DIVIDE TONIGHT INTO TWO PARTS. FIRST OF ALL, WE WILL ASK EACH OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEES TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DISCUSS.
THEN, IN APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR, WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. AND YOU ALL -- WHAT WE WILL DO, WE WILL GO BACK OVER THIS TO BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND, BUT WHAT WE WILL ASK YOU TO DO IS TAKE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES FOR EACH ONE OF YOU SO WE CAN GET THROUGH HERE AROUND 10 O'CLOCK. NOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO CUT ANYBODY OFF AT FIVE MINUTES AND TELL YOU YOU GOT TO STOP. WE ARE GOING TO ASK YOU TO TRY TO DO THAT SO WE CAN GET EVERYBODY TO HAVE A CHANCE.
AND ALSO, AT 10 O'CLOCK, WE WILL STOP -- WE WILL TELL TO YOU START TRYING TO WRAP IT UP.
WHAT OUR VISION IS ON THE COUNCIL THAT -- WE JUST STARTED THIS THIS YEAR. WE FELT THAT WE COULD BE AN ASSET TO THE GOVERNOR, IF WE COULD GET OUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. WE WOULD LISTEN, AND THEN WE WOULD TAKE THAT MESSAGE BACK TO THE GOVERNOR. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR TONIGHT. WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
WE WILL TAKE THAT AND WE WILL ASSURE YOU THAT THAT INFORMATION WILL GET BACK TO THE GOVERNOR. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU OR ART. AND RIGHT NOW, WE WILL LISTEN TO THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
>> ART: FIRST, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP, CARLTON, BRING HIM IN HERE REAL QUICK.
HE HAS TO GO TO ANOTHER MEETING SO HE WILL BE OUR FIRST SPEAKER AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE CHAIRPERSONS OF VARIOUS COMMISSIONS.
>> THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN, MADAM CORNIGAY, JUDGE, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MR. DUNBAR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE VIRGINIA STATE NAACP AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
LET ME SAY WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO CONTINUE TO BE A STRATEGIC PARTNER. WE UNDERSTAND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO INCREASE STAFF AND REDUCE THAT BACKLOG THAT YOU BEEN FACING. WE THINK THAT'S GREAT.
WE WILL BE YOUR ADVOCATES IN THE ASSEMBLY THIS JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING THIS COUNCIL TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AS IT SHOULD BE. CIVIL RIGHTS LAW ENFORCEMENT OUGHT TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR EVERYBODY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE THESE BRIEF COMMENTS AND HOPE YOU CAN KEEP THIS RECORD OPEN TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS LATER.
IF I MAY BRIEFLY INTRODUCE THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ALEXANDRIA NAACP, ATTORNEY HOWARD WOODSON WHO ALSO WILL MAKE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M HOWARD WOODSON, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP HERE IN ALEXANDRIA.
WE WELCOME YOU TONIGHT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING SOME OF THE COMMENTS AS WELL. WE ONLY GOT NOTICE OF YOUR MEETING JUST RECENTLY, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO PREPARE FORMAL STATEMENTS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE RECORD OPEN SO THAT IT CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR.
THE LOCAL BRANCH DOES HAVE CONCERNS CONCERNING HOUSING, EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND ALSO THE BACKLOG THAT CONFRONTS SOME OF THE LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS AGENCIES. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THAT IN OUR FORMAL STATEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> ART: NOW, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE PART OF THE PROGRAM WHERE WE HEAR FROM THE VARIOUS CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS. FIRST, RICHARD RENO, CHAIRPERSON OF THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
>> MR. RENO. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council COMMISSION AND GUESTS.
IN MARCH 2,000, ALEXANDRIA WILL CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE. OUR CITY IS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY OF VIRGINIA AND THE 39TH MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF ITS CIVIL RIGHTS RECORD AND THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNCIL, MANAGERS AND RESIDENTS WHO SO STRONGLY SUPPORT IT, OUR COMMUNITY EXAMPLE THE LAWS THAT PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION. THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS WAS CREATED AS PART OF THE CITY'S ORDINANCE IN MARCH OF 1975, LONG BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council IN 1987.
THE COMMISSION'S 14 MEMBERS INCLUDING NINE CITIZENS APPOINTED AT LARGE TO SERVE 3 YEAR TERMS.
AND FIVE COMMISSIONERS WHO SERVE ON OTHER CITY COMMISSIONS AND ACT AS LIAISON TO THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, THAT'S THE COMMISSION ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITY, COMMISSION ON AGING, LANDLORD TENANT RELATIONS BOARD, COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. THESE FIVE WERE APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL BY THEIR RESPECTIVE BOARDS. AND THEY ENSURE THAT THE COMMON ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND SISTER ORGANIZATIONS.
OVER THE YEARS, THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER HAVE TAKEN NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO RESTATE THEIR COMMITMENT AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CITY'S OFFICE ON HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ORDINANCE ITSELF HAS BEEN AMENDED OVER THE YEARS TO BROADEN ITS SCOPE.
NEVERTHELESS, WE ARE NOT NAIVE. WE REALIZE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISM'S, RACISM, SEXISM CONTINUES TO EXIST IN ALEXANDRIA AND INDEED THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. WE HAVE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE TONIGHT TO THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL. AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE HAVE BRIEFLY LISTED THEM IN PRIORITY ORDER. THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION DEALS WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER RELIEF OR THE AWARD OF ATTORNEY FEES AND BACKPAY.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE COMMONWEALTH'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF AWARDING A MAXIMUM OF 12 MONTHS BACKPAY AND ATTORNEY FEES NOT TO EXCEED 25% OF THE COUNSEL'S POWER OF DUTY SHOULD EXPAND TO ORDER AWARD OF DAMAGES OR GRANTING OF INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.
CURRENTLY, THE COUNCIL HAS NO AUTHORITY TO INDEPENDENTLY ISSUE SUBPOENAS, ENTER ORDERS, OR DEMAND MONETARY RELIEF ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION.
THE NEW YORK CITY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS FOR EXAMPLE, IS GRANTING AUTHORITY IN CASES WHERE IT HAS FOUND DISCRIMINATION TO REQUIRE RESPONDENT TO COMPENSATE COMPLAINANT FOR LOST WAGES AND TO COMPENSATE EMPLOYEES FOR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.
IN ADDITION, THE COMMISSION HAS THE POWER, TO ORDER THE RESPONDENT TO ENTER CERTAIN DISCRIMINATION POLICIES OR PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING.
FINALLY, THE COMMISSION MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY OF UP TO $50,000 IN ORDER TO VINDICATE THE PUBLIC INTEREST, WHICH CAN BE DOUBLED TO A FINE OF $100,000 IF THE COMMISSION FINDS THE DISCRIMINATION WAS THE RESULT OF A WILLFUL OR MALICIOUS ACT.
WE BELIEVE THOSE THAT ENGAGE IN THOSE ACTS SHOULD BE FORCED TO FACE A HIGH PRICE.
AS IT STANDS NOW, SOME COMPLAINANTS ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN COMPETENT LEGAL COUNSEL DUE TO THE LIMITS ON DAMAGE FEES.
OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION INVOLVES MENDING THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT. WE BELIEVE THAT THE EXISTING COMMONWEALTH'S ACT IS INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE.
IT RESTRICT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FROM ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS SINCE THE DYLAN RULE THEIR -- OR LIMIT LOCAL EFFORTS.
THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council NEEDS GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND AUTHORITY IF IT IS TO FULFILL ITS MISSION WITHOUT CONCERN OR POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL SHOULD SERVE AS A MODEL ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, NOT ONLY TO CITIZENS OF THIS STATE, BUT ALSO AS OTHER MODELS WOULD SEEK TO EMULATE.
WE SUGGEST IT THAT THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL BE MADE INTO AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY FROM POLITICAL AND BUDGETARY INFLUENCE AND ITS BUDGET STAFFING MEMBER APPOINTMENT.
FURTHER, THE ACT SHOULD BE REWRITTEN TO BRING HUMAN RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT IN VIRGINIA UNDER ONE AGENCY RATHER THAN S CURRENTLY ENFORCED WITH MULTIPLE ENTITIES. MANY OF WHICH FOLLOW DIFFERENT PROCEDURES AND OPERATE UNDER LAWS NOT SPECIFIC TO CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTION. THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION IS NOW SCATTERED ACROSS MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND IT SHOULD NOT BE.
OUR THIRD RECOMMENDATION DEALS WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL COMMISSIONS. AS CALLED FOR IN THE VIRGINIA ACT ON THE COUNCIL'S POWERS OF DUTIES, WE BELIEVE THAT THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council SHOULD MAKE A KEY PRIORITY IN INITIATING AND CREATING IN LOCAL COMMISSIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCES IN AREAS OF THE STATES NOT CURRENTLY SERVED.
WE FEEL THAT THE LOCAL ORDINANCE AND COMMISSIONS ARE THE BEST MEANS OF ENFORCING SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS.
OUR FOURTH RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES SEXUAL ORIENTATION. SINCE GAY MEN, LESBIANS ARE FREQUENTLY THE VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION, OR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATION, WE ENCOURAGE THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council TO WORK TOWARD INCLUDING SEXUALLY ORIENTATION AS A CATEGORY.
THE AMENDED ORDINANCE WOULD APPLY TO ALL PEOPLE SO THAT NO ONE IS DENIED EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, CREDIT, EDUCATION OR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS BASED UPON THEIR ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND ARLINGTON COUNTY HAVE ALREADY AMENDED THEIR ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND CAN BE USED IN DRAFTING APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION.
OUR FIFTH DEALS WITH FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT CONCERNS.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT DECISION REGARDING THE FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.
AT ISSUE IS THE COURT'S INTERPRETATION OF WHAT CONSTITUTION REMEDIES UNDER TITLE 7 WHEN FILING COMPLAINTS. WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL FILES WITH THE APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCY, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE EEOC, IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT ADDITIONAL STEPS, IF ANY, HE OR SHE MUST TAKE TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER "STATE OR LOCAL LAW."
WE ENCOURAGE YOU IN THE STRONGEST TERMS TO SUPPORT MEASURES SO THAT PROCEDURAL OR CURRENT AND FUTURE ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF ADVERSE ACTION BY THE COURT.
IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE ORDINANCE IS AT FAULT, THE ORDINANCE MUST BE AMENDED SO THAT JUSTICE IS DENIED.
IN CLOSING, WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH SOME CHALLENGING RECOMMENDATIONS. AND WE DO SO IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS GUARANTEED FOR ALL. ALTHOUGH TONIGHT'S MEETING WILL LIKELY RESULT IN MANY ADDITIONAL STUDIES, DISCUSSION AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION, OUR GOAL IS ALSO FOR THE FOLLOWING 3: PROVIDING VIRGINIA Human Rights Council WITH THE TOOLS AND LEGISLATION NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY APPLY EQUITABLE AND COMPREHENSIVE HUMAN RIGHT LAWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
SECOND: EMPOWERING LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS WITH THE TOOLS AND AUTHORITY TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY APPLY EQUITABLE AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS IN THE LOCAL JURISDICTION. AND LAST, IN SHORT, VIRGINIA REMAINS IN THE FOREFRONT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENDANCE.
>> NOW, WE HAVE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE THE ARLINGTON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION -- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
>> LET ME JUST START BY EXCUSING THE CHAIR OF THE ARLINGTON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WHO BECAUSE OF WORK RELATED CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND HIS CONTROL COULD NOT BE HERE. WE DID TALK AND WE DISCUSSED SOME CONCERNS THAT WE DO HAVE ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS PARTICULARLY WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT ARLINGTON WAS THE MOST DIVERSE LOCALITY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. THE NUMBER OF LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKEN IN ARLINGTON COUNTY SCHOOLS, THE NUMBER F DIFFERENT RACES THAT WE HAVE IN ARLINGTON IN THAT COMMUNITY, MAKES US REFLECT ABOUT THE NEW FORUMS OF DISCRIMINATION PROBABLY NOT KNOWN 50 YEARS AGO WHEN DISCRIMINATION WAS ALMOST SYNONYMOUS OF WHY PEOPLE DISCRIMINATE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE.
LATER ON, WOMEN BEING DISCRIMINATED BY MEN IN GENERAL. BUT NOW, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISCRIMINATION, SO MANY GROUPS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF RELIGION, A GREAT NUMBER OF RELIGIONS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND ARLINGTON, MUSLIMS, AND SO FORTH. THE LANGUAGES, DISCRIMINATION BASED ON LANGUAGE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ALSO.
SO DISCRIMINATION RATHER THAN BEING ERADICATED IS TAKING NEW FORMS AND SUBTLE FORMS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND MAYBE THIS IS NOT VERY WELL-KNOWN IN PLACES OF THE STATE WHERE THERE ARE NO SUCH DIVERSITY AND THERE SEEMS TO BE FOREIGN TO THAT EXTENT. BUT FOR US, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND WE SEE HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IS PERFORMED NO ONLY EMPLOYMENT BUT IN THE HOUSING AND SO MANY OTHER AREAS.
AT LEAST WE WANT TO RAISE CONCERNS WITH THE COUNCIL, OF THINGS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA THAT YOU DON'T EVEN THINK WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER PARTS ARE NOT AS DIVERSE AS WE ARE IN ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, FAIRFAX AND EVEN PRINCE WILLIAMS COUNTY TO THAT EXTENT.
EVEN WITH THIS CONCERN, ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF ARLINGTON COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR MOST COMMISSIONS IN THE AREA, IS THE AREA OF HOUSING AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TESTING DONE, TESTING BEING A WAY OF MEASURING POSSIBLE DISCRIMINATION IN COUNCIL AND PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD THAT EXISTS AND MOST ORGANIZATIONS, EXCEPT ARLINGTON, WILL BE START PROBABLY THIS SPRING HAVE BEEN DOING TESTING AND THE RESULT OF HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING BASED ON RACE, BASED ON ETHNICITY, BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION. AND THIS IS A TREMENDOUS CONCERN, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA WHERE THERE IS SO LITTLE HOUSING REALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS.
SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS BEING PRIORITIZED BY MOST HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSIONS AND MADE ITS BEST EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH. SO THIS IS A CONCERN THAT WE ARE EXPRESSING TO YOU RATHER THAN RECOMMENDING BUT AT LEAST YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS PART OF THE STATE.
ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING IS THIS POLICY INFORMATION, AND I JUST REFER TO THAT BECAUSE SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND SO MANY DIFFERENT RACES AND CULTURES, IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO OUTREACH PEOPLE WITH ONLY ONE LANGUAGE AND ONLY ONE WAY. IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT BUT VERY NECESSARY THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, HOW WE ARE GOING TO OUTREACH, HOW WE ARE GOING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO AND WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THEM. IT IS A DIFFICULT TEST.
RIGHT NOW, AND IN MANY AREAS, HOW PEOPLE THAT WOULD NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE WOULD BE ABLE TO CONVEY CERTAIN MESSAGES OR RECEIVE THE INFORMATION, THEY ARE SUBSEQUENT DISCRIMINATION, DAY IN AND OUT.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN, HOW CAN WE GET THE MESSAGE TO THOSE THAT DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE?
THAT'S ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US. AND TO BE VERY BRIEF, I TALKED TO MR. FISHER AND HE ALREADY TALKED TO MR. DAVID MALLORY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I'M GOING TO RELAY IT FOR ME TO EXPRESS IT TO YOU. THAT IS THAT HE FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT THE STATUTE MUST BE AMENDED TO GET PROTECTION OF THE STATURE OF LIMITATIONS HE DOES BELIEVE THAT AS WE ALL DO IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS, BASICALLY BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE A MINORITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GREAT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE SOCIETY AND TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE SHOWN THAT OVER THE YEARS.
AND THERE IS NO QUESTIONS THAT THEY ARE OVERTLY AND COVERTLY SUBJECTS OF DISCRIMINATION ACTS AND THEY DESERVE THE PROTECTION REGARDLESS OF THE PEOPLE THAT PROTECT THEM BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE IN THEIR OWN LIFESTYLES OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION THEMSELVES.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THE MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR THAT SEXUAL ORIENTATION WILL BE PROTECTED THE SAME WAY IN LYNCHBURG AS IN ARLINGTON, THAT THAT IS A CLASS THAT HAS TO BE PROTECTED AND IT SHOULD BE FULLY PROTECTED.
IN CLOSING, WE IN ARLINGTON COUNTY ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ELIMINATION -- WE WANT TO FORM PARTNERS WITH THE COUNCIL, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND ONE THING, THAT AS WE ARE A LOCAL JURISDICTION, WE HAVE LIMITS AND AS LONG AS WE CAN FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHERS, WE ARE STRONGER AND WE CAN DO A LOT MORE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID THROUGH THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION, IS THAT WE HAVE A REGIONAL CONTRACT FOR TESTING.
ALL JURISDICTIONS GET TOGETHER MOSTLY IN THE AREA. AND NOW, THROUGH THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THIS REGIONAL AGENCY THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND EACH CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THAT PRODUCES, EACH SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE THE ECONOMY OF THAT KIND OF WORKING TOGETHER.
THERE MIGHT BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO WITH THE COUNCIL, A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO WITH OTHER IDEAS AND THAT IS THE RIGHT APPROACH BECAUSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW, WE HAVE THE CHAIRPERSON FROM THE FAIRFAX COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.
>> GOOD EVENING MR. CHAIR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL STAFF.
I'M VICTOR DUNBAR.
WE HAVE A COMMISSION OF COURSE THAT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR APPROXIMATELY, 25 YEARS AND OPERATE UNDER A COUNTY ORDINANCE OF CHAPTER 7 0F THE CODE OF FAIRFAX COUNTY. IN BRIEF, WE HAVE A STATEMENT OF POLICY TO CONTINUE RELATIONS ALONG ALL PEOPLE, I DECLARE IT ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFETY OF FAIRFAX COUNTY.
IT'S CONTRARY TO PUBLIC POLICY CONTINUES UNABATED WHICH INDEED THE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE OF ALL PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THREATEN PEACE AND GOOD OFFER AND ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PHYSICAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS.
IT IS THE DUTY OF THIS GOVERNMENT TO EXERCISE ALL AVAILABLE MEANS AND EVERY POWER AT ITS COMMAND TO PREVENT THE SAME SO AS TO PROTECT ITS RESIDENTS FROM SUCH PERIL. FAIRFAX COUNTY HAS GONE ON SINCE IT CLAIM TO BE THE LARGEST JURISDICTION IN THE STATE. PUTS A LOT OF MONEY INTO BACKING UP THE WORD OF THE PURPOSE OF STATEMENT IN THAT ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A COMMISSION OF CITY COMMISSIONERS, 12 OF WHICH THERE ARE A NUMBER HERE TONIGHT.
WE ALSO HAVE A COMMISSION STAFF THAT INCLUDE 12 INVESTIGATORS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AND SUPPORT ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
I WANT TO REFER TO ANECDOTAL REFERENCES TO MATTERS OF ISSUES OF DISCRIMINATION IN FAIRFAX COUNTY.
WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THAT.
TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS TO FOCUS ON CONCERNS ABOUT THE ISSUES OF POLICIES, PROGRAMS LEGISLATION, TO EFFECT HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
TO THAT END, I EXTEND A SINCERE THANKS TO THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR HAVING THE WISDOM AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONVENE THIS PUBLIC FORUM. FIRST OF ALL, I SUGGEST THAT EACH MEMBER PLEDGE TO FASHION ITSELF INTO A BODY OF COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO RECONFIGURE THE COUNCIL IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CONVEY TO THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH THAT IT HAS THE AUTHORITY, PURPOSE AND THE COMMITMENT TO ADJUST OCCASIONAL ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION THAT OCCUR IN ANY JURISDICTION WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. THAT THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNCIL TAKE THE LEAD TO AUGMENT LEGISLATION AND PROCEDURES TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
FIRST, BY INCREASING THE FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS DIRECTOR IN ORDER TO HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFF, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO TIMELY ADJUDICATE ALL.
NEXT, THAT YOU PRESS FOR APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THE HANDLING OF MATTERS THAT ARE PROHIBITED BY ALL STATE AND FEDERAL JURISDICTION. THIS IS TOUCHED ON BRIEFLY RICHARD RENO. WE HAVE NOT COORDINATED OUR PRESENTATION. NEXT, THAT THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS EXPAND TO ALLOW FOR ADJUDICATION OF HATE CRIMES DIRECTED AT AN INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE OF RACE, RELIGION, GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGINS, AGE, DISABILITY, COLOR OR ORIENTATION. THAT THE COUNCIL ALSO INITIATE ACTION TO GAIN THE AUTHORITY TO SUBPOENA CENTRAL DOCUMENTS AND WITNESSES NECESSARY TO FULL ADJUDICATION OF ANY CHARGES FILED IN THE STATE.
THAT IN CASES WHERE THE EMPLOYEE PREVAILS, THE VIRGINIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT SHOULD BE ORDERED TO PROVIDE FOR THE FULL RECOVERY OF ALL EMPLOYEE RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND AMENDMENTS THAT WERE LOST AS A RESULT OF THE PROVED DISCRIMINATION. THAT ATTORNEY FEES THEN BE CALCULATED IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE EMPLOYEE WHOLE.
AND FINALLY, CONSISTENT WITH SUBPART 2.1-720, ITEM 5, OF THE CURRENT DO VIRGINIA RIGHTS ACT SHOULD ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE CREATION OF LOCAL COMMISSIONS, TO AID IN THE EFFECT POLICIES OF THE ACT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> NOW, WE HAVE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
>> VICE CHAIR.
>> MISSED IT AGAIN.
>> MY NAME IS HANK AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AS A COMMISSIONER AND I DO EXTEND MY APOLOGIES FOR OUR CHAIR, FOR OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BECAUSE OUR CHAIR HAD TO LEAVE TOWN.
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HAD AN EMERGENCY AT HOME AND BEING THAT I BEEN ON THE COMMISSION SINCE THE BEGINNING, I'M SITTING HERE.
WE WERE FORMED IN 1993. WE HAVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CURRENTLY, WITH 3 INVESTIGATORS TWO STAFF AND WE HAVE 8 COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING THROUGH THESE YEARS SINCE OUR INCEPTION BECAUSE WE'RE NEW. WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT AND GONE THROUGH OUR MISTAKES AND WE WENT AHEAD FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE POPULATION IN OUR COUNTY.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY WE HAVE NOT BEEN THERE FOR 25 YEARS AS I JUST MENTIONED BUT WE DO HAVE A GOOD COMMISSION AND AS THIS AREA GROWS, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE KEEP MOVING OUT TO PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY AND MAKING OUR METRO AREA MUCH LARGER.
THE DIVERSITY WE HAVE OUT THERE IS TREMENDOUS.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE HERE.
WE REALIZE IT AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.
HOW DO WE GET TO THESE PEOPLE WITH THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES?
I'M FROM LOS ANGELES AND FOR ME, I GREW UP IN EAST LOS ANGELES. MY PARENTS CAME FROM MEXICO AND I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH -- I'M SORRY, I COULD NOT SPEAK SPANISH. AND AS A LOT OF MY PEERS SAID, THEY BEAT THE SPANISH OUT OF ME BECAUSE, THE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AND EVEN HOMES, WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK SPANISH AND THEY WANTED US TO SPEAK ENGLISH.
BUT LOOKING AT THIS SITUATION, TODAY IS MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE ROOM FOR THEM, TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE GOOD AND THEY ARE NOT LIKE INCIDENTS THAT THEY EXPERIENCED IN THEIR COUNTRY, THE CULTURE.
THEY BRING WITH THEM ARE QUITE DIFFERENT. WE HAVE A POINT OF BRINGING PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES INTO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO ISSUE ANY COMPLAINTS BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID TO.
THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT THEM UP AGAINST THE WALL AND SHOOT THEM.
WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM. WE WILL INVESTIGATE.
AND WE WILL DO IT TO ALL OF THE AREAS THAT WE COVER WITHIN OUR COUNTY. WE HAVE IN OUR COMMISSIONER REPRESENTATIVES THAT ATTEND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCIES, IT'S A YEARLY MEETING, WE HAVE MEMBERS THAT GO TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS AND WE GO TO LEARN OURSELVES MORE. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT GO, THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ARE REPRESENTED THERE.
THESE ARE WEEK LONG MEETINGS BUT WE LEARN MORE WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR COUNTRY AND BRING IT BACK AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR US.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WE ARE TAKING TO HEART RIGHT NOW IS THE HATE CRIMES. IT IS OUT OF HAND. AND YES, WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH BUT WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHERE DOES THIS ABUSE START OF OUR RIGHTS? HOW CAN WE CONTROL IT LIKE ON THE INTERNET?
WE CAN GO ON THE INTERNET AND FIND ANYTHING WE WANT, RIGHT OR WRONG, AGAINST THE LAW, WITHIN THE LAW. IT'S'S TO ME, IT'S CRAZY. I HAVE -- WE ALSO HAVE THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY, OUR COMMISSIONERS AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT LATER.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS KIND OF BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER AS HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS WITHIN OUR STATE AND I LIKE THE IDEA NOW OF HAVING -- OF THIS OFFICE ESTABLISHING ITSELF TO ACT AS OUR VOICE. AND I REALLY FEEL THAT IN AREAS THAT I BEEN EXPOSED TO, WE NEED HELP, OUR STATES NEED HELP IN ESTABLISHING OF -- FOR THE CREATION OF NEW HUMAN RIGHTS, THE AREAS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THEM AND IT SEEMS TO ME IN SOME OF THE AREAS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO START THESE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS AND I THINK HERE WITH THE -- YOU CAN MAKE THIS STUFF A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND HOPEFULLY IT GETS SOME SUPPORT FROM OUR POLITICIANS TO GET THESE THINGS ESTABLISHED.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DEDICATED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMISSION AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CASES AND IT KEEPS GROWING AS THE PEOPLE IN OUR JURISDICTION TO LEARN ABOUT THIS AND TO LEARN THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SOLVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS OUT THERE. I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE IMPORTANT PART OF ANY COMMISSION IN ANY OF THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE -- THE PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN US. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE CHURCHES, THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE AND THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE WILL BE THERE TO HELP THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ART: THANK YOU TO ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS HERE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
TAKE ABOUT 30 SECONDS HERE.
THEN, WE WILL MOVE TO INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
>> BEFORE WE LEAVE, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY BE ABLE TO TALK. OUR PURPOSE IS TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONCERNS AND THESE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY GOOD CONCERNS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH AND I LEARNED FROM ART, MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBER, THAT YOU ARE VERY WELL ORGANIZED HERE IN THIS REGION AND IT COMES OUT LOUD AND CLEAR WITH WHAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT.
MY QUESTION, I GUESS TO ANY ONE OF YOU IS AS WE GO AROUND TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATES AND I KNOW OUR DIRECTOR HAS A GOOD PLAN FOR US TO TRY TO REACH OUT AND DEVELOP MORE LOCAL COUNCILS, BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THIS STRONG ORGANIZATION AND THIS NETWORK?
I MEAN, WHAT IS IT THAT IF I WERE TO GO TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION AND THEY WERE TO ASK US HOW CAN WE GET ORGANIZED AND MAINTAIN A VIABLE ORGANIZATION, WHAT ADVISE OR SUGGESTION COULD YOU GIVE US TO PASS ON?
>> DUNBAR: THE EXISTING COMMISSIONS ARE WOULD BE A SOURCE OF SUPPORT AND TO ASSIST WITH THAT.
I THINK HERE TONIGHT, WE HAVE JOHN WHO IS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND WILL PROBABLY SPEAK MORE DIRECTLY TO THAT END BUT THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
AND THE RISK OF NOT STEPPING ON JOHN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS COMMENTS WILL BE BUT, WE HAD OUR MEETING IN VIRGINIA BEACH, ANNUAL MEETING, WE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT HOW THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS CAN AID IN ESTABLISHING OTHER COMMISSIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THAT LOCALE. SO THAT WILL BE MY RESPONSE RIGHT NOW.
>> I WILL ONLY TELL YOU THAT IT IS GOOD COMMUNITY-BASED-INFORMATION. YOU CAN COME FROM THE COMMUNITY UP IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GO TO PLACES WHERE THERE IS NO LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND GET FROM THEM, THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY, HAVE THEM INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT, IN THE WAY AND THE TYPE OF ORGANIZATION THAT THEY NEED SO THAT WILL BE A WORKING ORGANIZATION.
>> MAX GUGGENHEIMER: LET ME SAY SOMETHING JUST BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THIS NEXT SESSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. WE WANT YOU TO COME UP AND SAY WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO SAY INSIDE THAT MAYBE YOU THINK THAT THE STATE OR THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT KNOW.
THIS IS IMPORTANT. AND REMEMBER WE ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO BUT ALSO, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO IS TO LISTEN TO YOU AND BE REAL CAREFUL THAT MAYBE IF SOMEONE IN HERE DISAGREES WITH WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS SAYING, DON'T -- PLEASE DO THE SAME THING WE ARE GOING TO DO, JUST LISTEN TO THEM, LET THEM BE HEARD.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT HERE TO GET INTO CONTROVERSY OR TO DISPUTE WHAT SOMEBODY IS THINKING OR SAYING. WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU WANT TO TELL US AND WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE. LET ME SAY ONE OTHER THING THAT WILL SAID BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.
WE ARE REALLY JUST BEGINNING THIS AND HOPEFULLY, AS WE MOVE ON, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO COME AND I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL SAID IS TO DISSIMILATE THE INFORMATION.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO YOU ALL SOONER, QUICKER SO THAT YOU CAN BE EVEN BETTER PREPARED THAN WHAT YOU ARE TONIGHT. WE WILL TAKE THAT ON.
ANOTHER THING THAT -- TO KIND OF RESPOND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT, AT LEAST WHAT I THINK I HEARD YOU ALL SAY IS THAT WE REALLY NEED A BETTER ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, FROM ROXIE, FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION DOWN TO THE LOCAL COMMISSIONS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO REALIZE IS THAT AS WE MOVE, AS WE START TO DEVELOP THIS COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WE NEED TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONS AND WE CAN'T JUST JUMP INTO THIS AND CREATE THEM RIGHT AWAY. BUT WE DO WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PART OF OUR VISION TO DO THIS.
>> ART: ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.
>> HANK. I WOULD LIKE YOU IN THE STRONGEST TERMS TO SUPPORT MEASURES CURRENT AND FUTURE ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF ACTION. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE ORDINANCE IS AT FAULT, THE ORDINANCE MUST BE AMENDED SO THAT JUSTICE IS DENIED.
IN CLOSING, WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH SOME CHALLENGING RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE DO SO IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS GUARANTEED FOR ALL.
ALTHOUGH REQUIRING FURTHER STUDY, DISCUSSION AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION, OUR GOAL IS ALSO FOR THE FOLLOWING 3: PROVIDING VIRGINIA Human Rights Council WITH THE TOOLS AND LEGISLATION NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY APPLY EQUITABLE AND COMPREHENSIVE LAWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH, SECOND: EMPOWERING LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WITH THE TOOLS AND AUTHORITY TO EFFECTIVELY EQUITABLE AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS IN THE LOCAL JURISDICTION AND LAST, IN SHORT, VIRGINIA REMAINS IN THE FOREFRONT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU RICHARD.
>> NOW, WE HAVE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE ARLINGTON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
>> LET ME START BY EXCUSING THE CHAIR BECAUSE OF WORK RELATED CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND HIS CONTROL COULD NOT BE HERE.
WE DID TALK AND WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS PARTICULARLY WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT ARLINGTON WAS THE MOST DIVERSE LOCALITY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
THE NUMBER OF LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKEN IN ARLINGTON COUNTY SCHOOLS, RACES, THAT WE HAVE IN ARLINGTON IN THAT COMMUNITY, MAKES US REFLECT UPON THE NEW FORUMS OF DISCRIMINATION PROBABLY NOT KNOWN 50 YEARS AGO WHEN DISCRIMINATION WAS ALMOST SIN MOM NOW OF WHY PEOPLE ARE DISCRIMINATED.
LATER ON, WOMEN DISCRIMINATED BY MEN IN GENERAL.
BUT NOW, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS, SO MANY GROUPS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF RELIGION, A GREAT NUMBER OF RELIGIONS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND ARLINGTON MUSLIMS, AND SO MUSLIMS AND SO FOR THE.
DISCRIMINATION BASED ON LANGUAGE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ALSO. SO DISCRIMINATION RATHER THAN BEING ERADICATED IS TAKING NEW FORMS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND MAYBE THIS IS NOT VERY WELL-KNOWN IN PLACES OF THE STATE WHERE THERE ARE NO SUCH DIVERSITY AND THERE SEEMS TO BE FOREIGN TO THAT EXTENT, BUT FOR US, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WE SEE HOUSING DISCRIMINATION NOT ONLY EMPLOYMENT BUT IN THE HOUSING AND SO MANY OTHER AREAS.
AT LEAST, WE WANT TO RAISE CONCERNS WITH THE COUNCIL, THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA THAT YOU DON'T EVEN THINK HAPPENS BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER PARTS ARE ARE NOT AS DIVERSE AS WE ARE IN ARLINGTON, ALEXANDRIA, FAIRFAX,
AND PRINCE WILLIAMS COUNTY TO THAT EXTENT.
EVEN WITH THIS CONCERN, ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF ARLINGTON COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR MOST COMMISSIONS IN THE AREA IS THE AREA OF HOUSING AND DISCRIMINATION.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TESTING DONE BEING A WAY OF MEASURING POSSIBLE DISCRIMINATION IN COUNCIL AND PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD THAT EXIST. AND MOST ORGANIZATIONS EXCEPT ARLINGTON WILL GET STARTED PROBABLY THIS SPRING HAVE BEEN GETTING THE RESULT SHOWN THAT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING BASED ON RACE, BASED ON ETHNICITY, BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND THIS IS A TREMENDOUS CONCERN, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA WHERE THERE IS SO LITTLE HOUSING REALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS.
SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE PRIORITIZE THAT MOST MADE ITS BEST EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH.
SO, THIS IS A CONCERN THAT WE ARE EXPRESSING TO YOU BUT AT LEAST YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS PART OF
OF THE STATE.
ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE ARE HAVING IS THIS INFORMATION, AND I JUST REFER TO THAT BECAUSE SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND SO MANY DIFFERENT RACES AND SO MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES, IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO OUT REACH PEOPLE, THERE IS ONLY ONE LANGUAGE AND ONE WAY.
IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT BUT VERY NECESSARY THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. THAT HAPPENED TO ME IN RICHMOND ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE THAT I BELONG TO AND I THINK THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL COULD DO US WELL TO LET THESE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS MEETING WILL -- WHAT HAD HAPPEN, IS SEEING AND ALL I HEAR ABOUT MINORITIES AND BLACK AND WHITE, BLACK AND WHITE.
AND I GOT -- WHITE AND I GOT GOT KIND OF TIRED OF HEARING THAT. I RAISED MY HANDS AND SAID WHAT DO THE REDS AND YELLOWS SAY HERE. WE HAVE MORE COLORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THE PEOPLE STARTED THINKING IN TERMS OF BLACK AND WHITE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A GROWING YELLOW COMMUNITY AND RED COMMUNITY, THEY BEEN THERE BEFORE US. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
AND MAYBE WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TYPE OF PHILOSOPHY IN OTHER AREAS.
>> GOOD POINT.
>> ART: AGAIN, WE JUST DON'T REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS. WE ALSO REPRESENT BUSINESSES AND SO FORTH.
OKAY: NOW, TO THE OTHER SPEAKERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND CITIZENS. WE START OFF WITH DAVID MALLORY, PRESIDENT OF THE GAY AND LESBIAN FOLLOWED BY BARBARA.
FOLLOWED BY DONALD BUSH AND BRENDA ESTES.
>> MR MALLORY? IS DAVID HERE?
SOMEONE WENT TO LOOK FOR HIM. YOU CAN MOVE ON.
>> BARBARA GILLY (PHONETIC) HERE?
AND AFTER YOU SPEAK, IF YOU COULD SIGN THE SHEET.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council AND GUESTS.
AGAIN, I'M BARBARA GILLY, I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE ALEXANDRIA COMMISSION ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
I APOLOGIZE THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING BECAUSE OF ILLNESS AND OUR LIAISON TO THE LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WAS ALSO UNAVAILABLE THIS WEEK. SO IT FELL TO ME TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND I HOPE I CAN DO THE COMMISSION JUSTICE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR VIEWS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS MATTERS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN OUR OPINION IS THE INADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THOSE LAWS.
I HATE TO BRING IT UP BUT A GOOD EXAMPLE IS ACCESS TO THIS FACILITY. I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE WONDERING SHOULD I SPEND MY TIME THINKING ABOUT MY REMARKS OR SHOULD I CONTINUE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO GET BACK DOWN THE RAMP TO GET OFF OF THIS FLOOR. I'VE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
OTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES INCLUDE OUR NEEDS WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION AND HEALTHCARE. I'LL TOUCH ON SEVERAL OF THESE VERY BRIEFLY.
HOUSING WHICH IS ONE OF MY AREAS OF PRIMARY INTEREST. I SERVE ALSO AS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE ON THE COMMISSION. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FACE AN EXTREME CRISIS IN THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE HOUSING. FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIVE IN SERIOUS SUBSTANDARD HOUSING CONDITIONS, PAY ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO 75 TO EVEN 90% OF THEIR LIMITED INCOME FOR RENT OR LIVE AT HOME WITH ELDERLY PARENTS WITH NO PLACE TO GO ONCE THOSE ELDERLY PARENTS PASS AWAY. ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS IN MANY INSTANTS OR REMAIN IN INAPPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SUITABLE HOUSING ALTERNATIVES AND IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, IT IS IT PARTICULARY DIFFICULT.
THESE ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH POLICY AND ACTIVITIES THAT EMPHASIZE BOTH CIVIL RIGHTS AND HOUSING RIGHTS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND EXISTING LAWS AS LONG AS AS THOSE LAWS ARE ENFORCED.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING, BOTH IN THE RENTAL AND HOMEOWNERSHIP MARKETS AND IN LOCAL ZONING AND LAND USE POLICIES.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE A RIGHT TO NOT BE STIGMATIZED BUT SAFE, DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING MUST FIRST EXIST IN ORDER FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO EXERCISE THOSE RIGHTS. FAIR HOUSING ACTIVITIES MUST BE EXPANDED TO AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESS HOUSING DISCRIMINATION WHEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SEEK ACCESS TO COMMUNITY-BASED HOUSING.
TRANSPORTATION: ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, IF THEY ELECT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ARE VERY FORTUNATE. OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE SHOWN STRONG LEADERSHIP AND A RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY HAS NOT OVERLOOKED THEIR NEEDS.
WE ENCOURAGE OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT OUR MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, HAVE ALL DONE TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
EDUCATION: WITH REGARD TO EDUCATION, WE EMPHASIZE THAT ACCEPTANCE, MAINSTREAM CURRICULUM, AND ACCOMMODATIONS ARE CRITICAL ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN OUR LOCALITIES AND OTHER LOCALITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND THE STATE.
IT SURPRISES ME. I'VE BEEN DISABLED FOR --I'M NOW 50 YEARS OLD -- I'VE BEEN DISABLED FOR 45 YEARS AND HEAR MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FROM PARENTS WITH DISABLED CHILDREN WHO ARE SAYING THE VERY SAME THINGS MY PARENTS ARE SAYING BACK WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
I WAS NOT ALLOWED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL UNTIL I WAS IN THE 6TH GRADE AND THEN, ONLY WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE TEACHERS. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE RESTROOMS FOR FEAR THAT MY WHEELCHAIR WOULD MAR THE WALLS. SO WHEN I HEAR THAT WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. FORTUNATELY, THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF MU PARENTS, I DID GET AN EDUCATION.
I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING IN PSYCHOLOGY, I'VE WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO ANY TIME THAT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY IS DENIED A PUBLIC EDUCATION, IT'S A BIG MISTAKE. I MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE MAINSTREAM EDUCATION, MAINSTREAM CURRICULUM AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, ACCESSIBLE SCHOOL FACILITIES. WHEN WE DENY CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EDUCATION, WE ARE TEACHING ALL OF THE NONDISABLED STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL THAT IT'S OKAY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE PERSON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. I'M ALSO ACTING AS A TIMEKEEPER.
SO TRY TO STAY WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, IF POSSIBLE.
NEXT, WE HAVE DONALD BUSH FOLLOWED BY BRENDA ESTES, FOLLOWED BY BETH MALLORY WITH EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
DONALD BUSH?
>> GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND VARIOUS COMMISSIONS, STAFF MEMBERS, CITIZENS OF ALEXANDRIA AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
MY NAME IS DONALD WILSON BUSH AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE COALITION FOR FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION.
I WAS RAISED AND EDUCATED WHERE I LEFT THE ATTEND COMMUNITY IN ABINGTON. I MARRIED A BEAUTIFUL NATIVE OF HAMPTON. AT THE SAME TIME, MY PARENTS WERE CELEBRATING THEIR 50 YEARS SO OVER MY ENTIRE LIFE TYPE, I CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE GRASPED AN ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN THE COMMONWEALTH BUT I CAN SAY THAT I KNOW SOMETHING OF THE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES.
AS A WISE MAN ONCE SAID LONG AGO, BEFORE ONE CAN ADEQUATELY APPLY A SHORT REMEDY TO CURE AN ILL, ONE MUST FIRST STUDY THE ILL AND I ASSUME THAT TOMORROW'S NEWSPAPER WILL REPORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE JUST THAT.
YOU HAVE COME TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA TO STUDY HER ILLS. BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOU AND YOUR BUSY LIVES AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT YOU PLAY AS OUR COMMISSIONERS, I MUST STILL BE QUITE HONEST THAT A PUBLIC FORUM OF FIVE MINUTE SOUNDBITES LIKE THIS IS HIGHLY INADEQUATE TO GIVE YOU A SOLID PICTURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN ALEXANDRIA AND THE COMMONWEALTH TO LIMIT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF VIRGINIA CITIZENS WHO'S ONLY FAULT LIES IN THEIR FINANCIAL INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AS WE NOW KNOW IT.
FOR THE MOST PART, SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE AT HOME TONIGHT AND THEY ARE NOT HERE WITH US BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF FORUM SIMPLY INTIMIDATES THEM.
SO I WILL BEGIN MY COMMENTS, WITH A REQUEST FOR ALL OF YOU, PLEASE COME BACK AND IF YOU COULD, GIVE US A DIFFERENT KIND OF FORUM THAT WILL SERVE TO EASE THE ANXIETY EXPERIENCED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF CITIZENS THAT YOU ALL SERVE.
ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A SOCIAL SCIENTIST BY TRAINING, I AM A CURIOUS FELLOW AND I CAN REMEMBER TIMES GROWING UP WHEN I JUST KNEW THAT SOME THINGS WERE WRONG IN THE WAY WE TREATED CERTAIN PEOPLE, CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE US OR TALK LIKE US. PEOPLE WHO FOR THE MOST PART WERE LESS FORTUNATE THAN US. AS A TEENAGER AND THEN AS A YOUNG MAN, I SAW THE SAME PATTERNS REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
ALMOST 7 YEARS AGO THIS FALL, I BEGAN IN EARNEST TO FOCUS MY ATTENTION ON THE PROBLEMS FACED BY MAJORITY OF VIRGINIANS WHO ACCORDING TO THE 1996 STATISTICAL ABSTRACTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE PERSONAL CAPITAL OF $21,940 PER ANNUM. THEN, LAST YEAR, I STARTED FOLLOWING DEBATE ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM AND BEGIN TO SEE THE PROBLEM.
I AM NO STATISTICAL GENIUS BUT I HAVE SOME FRIENDS WHO ARE AND THEY IT WILL ME THAT IF I APPLY THE 880 RULE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF VERY, IF I APPLY THE SIMPLE FORMULA LIKE ROSS PEROT, THEN ON A NATIONAL SCALE 8 PERCENT OF AMERICAN POPULATION OWNS 80% OF THE WEALTH, THEN, THAT IS NOT HARD TO FIGURE OUT THAT A LOT MORE OF US MAKE LESS THAN $22,000 A YEAR THAN THOSE MAKING MORE THAN THAT.
AND IF YOU ADD TO THAT, THE FACT THAT MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF ALL THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN VIRGINIA ARE MADE BY WHITE MALES MAKING $100,000 OR MORE, THINGS START TO GET A LITTLE FISHY AND THOSE MEN MAKING SIZABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF VOTING AGE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, THE PROBLEMS START TO EMERGE AND THE PROBLEM IS THIS: SINCE THE EMERGENCE OF HIGH PRICED TELEVISION, POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING, POLITICIANS HAVE SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY AND EVER SO SUDDENLY, FALLEN PREY TO THE CRAFTY INTENTIONS AND MOUNTING INFLUENCE OF LESS THAN 5% OF THE VOTING PUBLIC SIMPLY BECAUSE TO RUN EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGNS. THE PROBLEM IS WE WHERE AN ELITE FEW WITH BOUNDLESS RESOURCES HAVE LITERALLY PURCHASED THE RIGHT TO INFLUENCE OUR LEADERS.
AND AS A RESULT, SMALL VOTERS FROM A VAST NUMBER OF DISENFRANCHISED PEOPLE WHO DO NOT VOTE WHICH YOU ALREADY KNOW ARE EASILY INTIMIDATED ARE BEING IGNORED BY POLITICIANS OUTSIDE OF MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO FINANCE EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGNS.
IN THE REAL WORLD OF PUBLIC FINANCE EDUCATION, PUBLIC FINANCE HEALTH SERVICES AND PUBLIC FINANCE SAFETY NETS PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN $22,000 A YEAR, THIS TYPE OF POLITICAL SITUATION DIRECTLY PITS THE NEEDS OF THE LESS FORTUNATE AGAINST THE NATURAL AND SELF SERVING INCLINATION OF THE RICH WHO OBVIOUSLY WOULD LIKE TO HOLD ON TO THEIR MONEY.
WHEN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, FAR FROM RICHMOND, IT IS NOT HARD TO GUESS WHICH WAY THEY USUALLY VOTE.
>> YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
>> THEY NATURALLY VOTE FOR PROGRAMS AND ISSUES SUPPORTED BY FOLK WHO IS GIVE THEM AND THEIR POLITICAL COLLEAGUES THE MOST MONEY TO WIN.
IN CLOSING IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IN ALEXANDRIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS REVOLVING DOOR CYCLE TAKING US BACK TO THE RICH WHITE DOMINATED 50'S OF LIVING IN VIRGINIA. WHAT I PRAY FOR YOU ALL THIS EVENING IS SIMPLY THIS: PLEASE LISTEN HARD AND STRANGE TO HEAR THE SILENT VOICES WHO ARE CALLING UP FROM THE DARKNESS WHO ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT CALLING FOR LIVABLE WAGES, FOR FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION, ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TIME HONORED DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT MAKES THE COMMONWEALTH AND OUR UNITED STATES SO GREAT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE BRENDA ESTES AND I AM REPRESENTING THE (LATE DEAFENED ADULTS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO, PRESS MY DEEP CONCERNS ON TWO ISSUES.
THE FIRST IS ON GOING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AMONG THE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING AND LATE DEAFENED POPULATION.
THE SECOND IS REGARDING LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY IN PUBLIC AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.
FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FOUR YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO FILE A TITLE ONE EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT AGAINST THEM.
PART OF THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY NEVER FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IMPLEMENT A 60 OR 90 DAY POST FED TO ENSURE THAT THAT THE RESOLUTION AGREEMENT IS BEING FOLLOWED.
IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THERE'S A ECONOMIC HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT ALONG PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS WHO CAN AND WANT TO WORK IF EMPLOYERS WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY.
IF WE LIST A TTY OR LIST IT ON A JOB APPLICATION OR RESUME, THAT IMMEDIATELY ALERTS THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYER THAT WE HAVE A HEARING LOSS AND IN MOST CASES, WE WILL NEVER BE CALLED FOR THAT INITIAL INTERVIEW. DISCRIMINATION AT THIS LEVEL NEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN THE HUMAN RIGHTS DO ABOUT THIS?
(READING FROM PREPARED REMARKS) (REPORTER TAKING A BREAK) (PLEASE SEE HER WRITTEN REPORT)
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE BETH O'MARY WITH THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST AND TWO SPEAKERS TOGETHER.
>> WELL CAN ACTUALLY, I'M BUSY, AN ATTORNEY WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
AFTER WE SPEAK, WE ARE JOIN WITH THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
AND PAT.
>> I AM JOINED BY PAT AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS WHICH HAS 11 REGIONAL OFFICES NATIONWIDE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING A VARIETY OF CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS THAT LIMIT DISCRIMINATION AND EDUCATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGINS, SEX, DISABILITY OR AGE IN PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THE D.C. OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS HAS JURISDICTION OVER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
THE LAWS THAT WE ENFORCE INCLUDE SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT, TITLE TWO OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
OF 1990 ACT, TITLE 6 OF 64, 1972 AGE DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1975. SINCE THE D.C. OFFICES INCEPTION IN 1996, WE RECEIVED 353 COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN VIRGINIA.
APPROXIMATELY, 86 OF THOSE COMPLAINTS WERE FILED AGAINST NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS AREA POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS.
SOME OF THE RECURRING ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THOSE COMPLAINTS DEAL WITH ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION BADE ON DISABILITY AND RACE.
SOME DISABILITY RELATED COMPLAINTS INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF STUDENTS WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT, HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AND OR STUDENTS WITH DIABETES BEING DENIED SERVICES THEY NEED TO RECEIVE THE SAME EDUCATION AS STUDENTS WITHOUT DISABILITIES. SOME OF THE REMEDIES SOUGHT IN THOSE TYPE OF COMPLAINTS INCLUDE TRAINING FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS, IN THE AREAS OF ADHD AND DIABETES IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THE STUDENT AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED TO THOSE STUDENTS.
ANOTHER DISABILITY-RELATED ALLEGATION THAT WE RECEIVED INVOLVES TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. AS A RESULT OF ONE PARTICULAR COMPLAINT, THE PARENT AND SCHOOL DIVISION AGREED THAT A PARENT WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES WHEN THEY TRANSPORTED THEIR CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. AND THAT THE SCHOOL WOULD COVER TRANSPORTATION IN THE FUTURE.
ON A POST-SECONDARY, A COMMON ALLEGATION IS THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, BE IT A PHYSICAL OR LEARNING DISABILITY OR OTHER DISABILITY.
SEVERAL OF THE RACE-RELATED COMPLAINTS INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF DIFFERENT TREATMENT, FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS SOME OF THE REMEDIES FOUND INCLUDE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S REVIEW OF DISCIPLINARY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS WELL AS SENSITIVITY TRAINING FOR SCHOOL, STAFF IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AMONG STAFF, STUDENTS AND PARENT, PARTICULARLY THE LARGER. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED ALLEGATIONS ALLEGING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT AT ELEMENTARY AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION LEVELS.
IN ADDITION TO INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS, WE ALSO INITIATE TARGETED COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY ACUTE, NATIONAL IN SCOPE OR NEWLY EMERGING. THESE ARE CHOSEN BED ON A VARIETY OF INFORMATION SOURCES INCLUDING SURVEY DATA AND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PARENTS, EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, MEDIA, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PUBLIC INCLUDING MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS LIKE THIS ONE.
ONE OF OUR CURRENT COMPLIANT ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON ACCESS TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR ALL MINORITY STUDENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
UPON REQUEST, WE ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, REGARDING THE SCOPE TO SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, PARENTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND TO OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION A PARTNERSHIP THAT IS FORMING BETWEEN DC OFFICE OF OCR AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ELIMINATING HARASSMENT AND HATE CRIMES TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS IN VIRGINIA HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING.
AS PART OF THIS ENDEAVOR, OCR STAFF WILL BE MEETING WITH SCHOOL STAFF TO EXPLORE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES. WE BROUGHT ALONG SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR OFFICE AND FILING COMPLAINTS WITH OUR OFFICE AS WELL AS A SUMMARY AS OUR PROCESS FOR RESOLVING COMPLAINTS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN CERTAINLY FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND TO LISTEN TO THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THANK YOU.
>> ART: THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN TEXT, WE WOULD LIKE THAT INCLUDED IN OUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS. PLEASE PROVIDE IT TO US.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE JOHN STRUTHERS.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I WELCOME YOU ON YOUR RETURN VISIT TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE ALEXANDRIA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR HOSTING THIS FORUM TONIGHT. I'M JOHN STROTHER, CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSIONERS AND A MEMBER OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
JIM MCCLELLAN, THE ASSOCIATION'S PRESIDENT COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT AND ASKED ME TO FILL IN FOR HIM.
THE ASSOCIATION IS AN ORGANIZATION COMPRISED OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF PERSONNEL FROM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS ACROSS VIRGINIA.
>> IT IS A NON- PARTISAN ORGANIZATION BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT EW CAN ACCOMPLISH MUCH MORE AS AN ASSOCIATION, ACTING IN UNISON, THAN WE CAN AS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMISSIONS ACTING IDEPENDENTLY. THE ASSOCIATION IS A NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON INTEREST IN PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE COMMITMENT OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIRGINIA. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO VIEWS ITSELF AS COMPLEMENTARY OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIRGINIA. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO VIEWS ITSELF AS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE Human Rights Council AND CAPABLE OF BEING A VEHICLE FOR HELPING THE COUNCIL TO ACHIEVE OUR COMMON GOALS AND AS A RESOURCE THAT CAN BE TAPPED BY THE COUNCIL TO EXPLOIT OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE ON ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN.
AS OTHERS PRESENT HERE TONIGHT CAN ATTEST, THE COUNCIL HAD A LONG AND PAINFUL BIRTH. SINCE THE COUNCIL'S CREATION IN 1987, WE HAVE SEEN THE COUNCIL SUFFER POLITICAL, LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE ATTACKS
TO WEAKEN IT AND ITS ABILITY TO CARRY OUT ITS LEGISLATIVE MANDATES. THE ASSOCIATION HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN REPULSING SOME OF THOSE ATTACKS.
WE HAVE SEEN CONSISTENT UNDERFUNDING AND UNDERSTAFFING OF THE COUNCIL AND WHAT MIGHT BE TERMED "BENIGN NEGLECT" BY THE VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS SINCE 1987.
IT HAS BEEN VERY DISCOURAGING FOR ALL OF US IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS BUSINESS IN VIRGINIA WHEN WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE STATE LEVEL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SHOULD BE AND COULD BE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN THE BEST INTEREST THE BEST INTERESTS OF RESPONDENTS AND COMPLAINANTS, TO HAVE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS RESOLVED MORE QUICKLY, AND LESS EXPENSIVELY AT THE LOCAL OR STATE LEVEL THAN HAVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IMPOSE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT ARISE IN VIRGINIA.
NOW, WE MAY HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE BEEN STREWN IN THE COUNCIL'S PATHWAY. THE CURRENT COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP IS THE FIRST TO REACH OUT IN A CONSISTENT MATTER TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
WHATEVER ELSE HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE COUNCIL, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE APPLAUD THIS EFFORT, LOOK FORWARD TO CHANGES IN THE POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE PICTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTIONS IN VIRGINIA.
WE ALSO EXPECT THAT THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE TO THE GOVERNOR WILL BE DELIVERED FORTHRIGHTLY. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT ONCE SAID, SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.
SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK THE POWER TO TRUTH ON OUR BEHALF.
FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES OF INTEREST TO THE ASSOCIATION: FIRST, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING THE COUNCIL WAS TO CREATE ONE CENTRAL POINT WHERE VIRGINIANS COULD GO TO HAVE THEIR DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS RESOLVED, WHETHER IT DEALT WITH EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, EDUCATION, OR CREDIT. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. VIRGINIANS ARE BEING SHUNTED ABOUT BETWEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO SEEK RESOLUTION. THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH A VARIETY OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PROCEDURES IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
THEY ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO UNNECESSARY LITIGATION AND LEGAL EXPENSES. THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF VIRGINIANS AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
SECOND: THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE FUNDED AND STAFFED TO A A LEVEL THAT ALLOW US TO FUNCTION AS A STATE LEVEL AGENCY TO RESOLVE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS INCLUDING ENFORCEMENT, NEGOTIATION, ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, LITIGATION AND ANY OTHER METHOD THAT RESOLVES A COMPLAINT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF VIRGINIANS OF VIRGINIA.
THIRD: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO PASS A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND CLEARLY DRAFTED HUMAN RIGHTS ACT AND PROVIDE FUNDING THAT WILL ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO ENFORCE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS OF VIRGINIA FAIRLY AND AGGRESSIVELY. THE PROBABILITY OF PASSAGE OF SUCH LEGISLATION CAN BE ENHANCED TO A NEAR CERTAINTY BY FIRM, CLEAR AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
FOURTH: VIRGINIA NEEDS TO TAKE A MORE FIRM STAND AGAINST HATE VIOLENCE. IN THE RECENT PAST WE HAVE SEEN EVIDENCE OF VIRGINIANS WHO TARGET OTHER VIRGIANS FOR VIOLENCE SOLEY BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMUTABLE CHARACTERISTICS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO HOME FOR MANY PEOPLE AND IN MY CASE, IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE. AT VARIOUS TIMES AND PLACES, I HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO INTIMIDATION, HARASSMENT, ASSAULT, THREATENED WITH DEATH AND SHOT AT. I HAVE BEEN FACE-TO-FACE WITH HATE VIOLENCE AND IT IS VERY REAL, EVIL AND EVER PRESENT POSSIBILITY THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED AS WE MOVE ABOUT IN PUBLIC.
LIKE OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION, YOU UNDERSTAND IT BETTER AFTER IT HAPPENS TO YOU. THE OPEN RESISTANCE TO HATE VIOLENCE LEGISLATION SENDS A MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO WOULD CONSIDER SUCH VIOLENCE. THAT MESSAGE IS WRONG-HEADED IN THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE IT CLEAR THAT SUCH CONDUCT IS UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR SOCIETY.
THE PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IS INTOLERABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE POTENTIAL TARGETS OF THIS VIOLENCE AND WE DESERVE TO HAVE THE STATE NOT IGNORE US BUT PROTECT US:
FIVE: THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE THE LEAD ENTITY IN VIRGINIA WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION WHEREVER AND WHENEVER IT OCCURS IN THE STATE.
FINALLY, IN HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH, OUR GOVERNOR MADE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE THINGS HE WANTS FOR VIRGINIA, THAT IF PROVEN TO BE TRUE, WILL PROVIDE MUCH COMFORT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY TARGETED FOR ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION IN VIRGINIA.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT CITIZENS FEELING FORGOTTEN AND ISOLATED AND NOT BEING FULLY CONSIDERED IN THE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT.
HE TALKED ABOUT HIS INTENSE DETERMINATION TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK FOR PEOPLE AND IMPROVE GOVERNMENT SERVICES BY ENSURING THAT STATE EMPLOYEES HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS. WELL, THE NEED IS CLEAR.
AS AN EXAMPLE, AND LOOKING ONLY AT EMPLOYMENT CASES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, VIRGINIANS HAVE FILED OVER 4,900 DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS WITH THE EEOC.
OF THAT NUMBER, ONLY ABOUT 1200 ARE BEING HANDLE BY THE LOCAL COMMISSIONS. THAT LEAVES OVER 3,700 CASES CURRENTLY BEING HANDLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT SHOULD BE HANDLE BY VIRGINIA.
THESE CASES REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FEELING FORGOTTEN IN THE HALLS OF VIRGINIA GOVERNMENT. SIMPLY PUT, WE ARE ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE HIS DESIRE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE TRUE FOR THE COUNCIL AND THOSE VIRGINIANS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS. IF HE WANTS TO DO THAT, WE ARE HERE TO HELP.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I HOPE THAT YOU AND WE CAN VIEW THIS AS A FIRST STEP TOWARD ESTABLISHING A LONG AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ART: THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MELLISA LUPE (PHONETIC) I'M A MEMBER OF THE COALITION OF FOR EDUCATION AND I'M A COMMISSIONER FOR THE ALEXANDRIA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
THIS IS MY FRIEND, LYNETTE HART.
>> PIGGY BACKING ON HER INVITATION HERE.
>> SHE IS A COMMISSIONER IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND SHE IS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOO SO WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO YOU:
THE VERY SAME ALEXANDRIA CITY CHILDREN WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION BECAUSE OF SEGREGATION IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE ALSO US FACING DISCRIMINATION IN CITY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA PLANS TO REPLACE ITS CURRENT RECREATION DEPARTMENT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM BY PRIVATIZING THE SERVICE TO BE RUN BY NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCY, CHARGING FEES NOT AFFORDABLE FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. PRIVATIZATION OF THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM WILL EXCLUDE 50% OF SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF EDUCATIONAL FAILURE FROM PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES AFTER SCHOOL HOURS.
I WANT TO STRONGLY EMPHASIZE THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK DURING THE SCHOOL DAY ARE ALSO AT RISK AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS. ADDITIONALLY, CHILDREN WHO HAVE EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL DISORDERS WILL ALSO BE PROHIBITED FROM RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AFTER SCHOOL.
SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES MAKES SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS.
AS MORE AND MORE PARENTS ENTER THE WORK FORCE AT ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS, THE NEED FOR SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE AFTER CARE BECOMES GREATER AND GREATER.
FAMILIES SHOULD BE SUPPORTED AS THEY BECOME ECONOMICALLY RESPONSIBLE.
PRIVITIZING THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM WILL MAKE IT MUCH HARD HARDER FOR FAMILIES DRIVING TO JOIN MIDDLE-CLASS AND YET AS THE CITY DISCRIMINATES AGAINST LOW INCOME FAMILIES IS PROVIDING SOME SERVICES AT FAR BELOW COSTS TO OTHER INCOME FAMILIES. THE YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAM IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THIS PRACTICE. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HEAD START IN PRESCHOOL YEARS DO NOT MAGICALLY CHANGE INTO FAMILIES WHO WHO CAN AFFORD DAYCARE WHEN THEIR CHILDREN REACH KINDERGARTEN.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA DOES NOT PRIVATIZE AFTER SCHOOL RECREATION PROGRAMS. PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WORK AND LEAVING CHILDREN UNSUPERVISED IN AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. LYNETTE?
>> I STRONGLY SUPPORT MELLISA'S POSITION ON THIS ISSUE HERE IN ALEXANDRIA BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE. AFTER COMING HERE AND BEING HERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST SAY THAT QUESTION I QUESTION THE SINCERITY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN ALEXANDRIA WHEN I DID NOT RECEIVE AN INVITATION FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. I'M AN EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF UNITED WAY, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF MOUNT VERNON.
I DID NOT RECEIVE AN INVITATION UNTIL I GOT IT FROM THE VICE MAYOR UHLLE.
THERE IS PROBABLY A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN MY POSITION. SECONDLY, I WILL LIKE TO KNOW HOW COULD CHAIRMAN RENO SAY THAT ALEXANDRIA HAS A FAIR RECORD OF CIVIL RIGHTS, WHEN MINORITIES HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS ARE BEING SEGREGATED, THERE IS AN OBVIOUS LACK OF MINORITIES IN KEY POSITIONS IN OUR CITY ADMINISTRATION.
AND REPRESENTATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE BLATANT DISCRIMINATION IN OUR CITY ARE PUBLICLY REPRIMANDED. ONLY COMMISSIONERS WHO HONESTLY ADDRESS ISSUES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WERE THE COMMISSIONERS FROM ARLINGTON AND PRINCE WILLIAMS COUNTY, FAIR FAIRFAX COUNTY HAS KNOWN AND ALEXANDRIA CITY WISHES IT DIDN'T.
THANK YOU.
>> I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE SOME CITY OFFICIALS HERE. WE HAVE DEPUTY CHIEF EARLY COOK.
COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY, RANDY, DR. BURKE WHERE SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR HUMAN RELATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE MICHELLE EVANS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE, VICE MAYOR.
>> VICE MAYOR, BILL. THERE HE GOES GOES. CITY ATTORNEY.
>> PHILLIP SUTHERLAND, CITY ATTORNEY AND DAVID SUDA, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL SERVICE AND JIM MCINTYRE, CHAIR OF THE AFFAIRS. AM I MISSING ONE?
OUR NEXT, WE HAVE PAT FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
>> I DON'T KNOW SIX LIMIT LETTERS ALWAYS CAUSE SUCH A PROBLEM.
MY MADAM NAME -- WE WILL NOT GO THERE BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS INTERESTING HOW MANY OFFICIALS BECAUSE SOME FOUND OUT ON THURSDAY THROUGH INTERNET AND YOU'RE LUCKY THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN.
I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUES BEING THE PARENT OF A SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILD AND HAVING SERVED 8 YEARS ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAIG PEN CALLED IN TO WORK WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENTS ON ADVOCACY POSITIONS WHEN THEY HAVE GONE FOR APPEALS IN FAIRFAX ARLINGTON ON THIS AND PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY. SHE IS HANDLED ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOU SOME MEETINGS.
BUT I THINK, GENTLEMEN, YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF, WHY THE CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH EITHER PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, LEARNING OR MENTAL DISABILITIES, FIND THE NEED TO CROSS THE POTOMAC FOR ASSISTANCE. BECAUSE THERE IS NONE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. WHEN SCHOOL OFFICIALS CAN TAKE CHILDREN AND RATHER THAN CONFORM TO THE TERMS OF BOTH PUBLIC LAW 94 142 AND ADA AND 504 AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS BEEN CITED, AND RATHER THAN MAINSTREAM, RATHER THAN PROVIDE INTEGRATION IN THE MOST MEANINGFUL WAY SO THAT CHILDREN CAN LEARN, AND YOU CREATE LEARNING CENTERS, OR YOU TAKE TWO BUILDINGS IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND YOU MAKE THEM HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE, 2 OUT OF 11 OR 12 OR IN SOME CASES, MORE THAN A HUNDRED, THEN, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
WHEN YOU TAB A PARENT, COME INTO A MEETING AND THE PARENT IS GIVEN DELIBERATELY, FALSE INFORMATION WHICH IN MANY CASES IS BACKED UP BY THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM'S ATTORNEY, AND TOLD THAT THEY MUST SIGN FORMS FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR THEY MUST HAVE THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY LIVE IN HYBRID VALLEY AND THE ONLY SCHOOL WHO CAN HANDLE THEIR DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED CHILD HAPPENS TO BE BASED OUTSIDE OF MCLEAN, ASK YOURSELF HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE A CHILD TO BE ON A SCHOOL BUS TO GO FROM SOUTH OF THE BELTWAY WHERE OBVIOUSLY, YOU GENTLEMEN CAME OFF, 18.6 MILES DOWN THE ROAD TO MCLEAN, PICKED UP AT A QUARTER TO 7:00 IN THE MORNING AND NOT GETTING HOME UNTIL AFTER 7 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. THE MOST HELPLESS AND THE MOST IGNORED RESIDENTS OF YOUR COMMONWEALTH ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO NEED THE BEST EDUCATION THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM, AND YET, WE HAVE A SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO SAYS EVEN THOUGH THE LAW SAYS TEST DO NOT HAVE TO BE TIMED, CHILDREN IN SPECIAL EDUCATIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE STANDARDIZED TESTS, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THESE SOL'S AND COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE A DIPLOMA.
YOU'RE CHANGING THE RULES, GENTLEMEN. EVERY OTHER OFFICE IN VIRGINIA IS CHANGING THE RULES AND HALF THE TIME, YOU DON'T KNOW, NO ONE TELLS YOU AND NO ONE RESPONDS. IF YOU WANT AS I SAY TO MY SON, THANK GOD, HE'S MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE. BUT AS I SAY TO MY SON, YOU DAMNED WELL BETTER WORK BECAUSE YOU ARE MY SOCIAL SECURITY.
YOU MAY WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT BUT I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THIS ECONOMY GOING, GOVERNMENT WILL COME TO A HALT.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE PRIMARY CONCERN YOU ADDRESS AND YOU LOOK AT NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO IN VIRGINIA, IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, NOT JUST OUR BLACK SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS OR OUR CHILDREN OF COLOR, ALL OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS; NOT JUST OUR PHYSICALLY DISABLED, BUT OUR DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED, WHERE SOMEONE CAN TELL A PARENT OF A CHILD WHO'S BEEN DIAGNOSISED BY A PSYCHOLOGIST AS BEING DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED AND A SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEE CAN SAY YOUR CHILD IS, AUTISTIC, I'M PUTTING HIM IN THIS CLASS AND THE PARENT ENDS UP CALLING THE NICE LADY IN WASHINGTON, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE.
RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE THE BEST HOPE OF THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AND THAT DOES NOT GIVE ME TOO MUCH CALM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. HELP ME PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
WOODSON.
>> MY WHOLE NAME, (SPEAKING SPANISH).
>> I AM MORE THAN ANYTHING, A CITIZEN OF ALEXANDRIA AND I LOVE THIS TOWN.
I WORK FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, T.C. WILLIAMS. I SERVE ON SEVERAL COMMISSIONS AND I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE MORE PREFERABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I DO HAVE TO TELL YOU ONE THING, VERY CLEARLY: I CAN'T EXPRESS AS MUCH CONCERN AS MR. TOREZ, ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE, IMAGINE ALL THE DISABILITY, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION, EVERYTHING IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
MY MOTHER ONCE TOLD ME WHEN I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, I'M FROM MEXICO -- AND SHE SAID, LOOK, THIS GREAT MAN, JOHN F. KENNEDY DIED AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FIGHTS BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES.
YOU ARE GOING TO GO THERE AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT I TAUGHT YOU, RESPECT. AND SHE TOLD ME SOMETHING ALSO THAT THIS PRESIDENT SAID A LONG TIME AGO, PRESIDENT FROM MEXICO, THAT SAID, THE RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS IS A PEACE. AND I LIVE BY THAT AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
IN ALEXANDRIA, AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO BE FRIENDLY, OR NOT, AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO THINK THAT WE'RE EQUAL, WE'RE NOT. I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY BECAUSE I LIVED IN CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES AND EAST L.A., I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE PUSHED AND SHOVED AND YOU GO AHEAD AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. AND I LOVE PEOPLE, ALL KINDS PEOPLE AND MY FAMILY WERE INTERNATIONAL, WE LOVE EVERYBODY -- SO I DON'T SEE BARRIERS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND SUING COMPANIES AND THEY GET VERY WORRIED BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE WAVES. ESPECIALLY LATINOS. THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE WAVES.
THEY SAID, NO, I DON'T WANT TO BE MEAN BUT THAT'S THE WAY THEY TAUGHT US IN OUR COUNTRY. BE POLITE, DON'T MAKE WAVES, NO, NO, NO, IT'S TOO ROUGH, IT'S TOO RUDE AND YOU CAN'T SAY THAT.
AND AS I MOVED TO ALEXANDRIA AND GETTING TO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, I ALSO GO BACK HOME AND THINK, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS -- MAY BE POLITICALLY CORRECT WOULD BE THIS OTHER WORD. MAYBE IF I PUT IT THIS WAY, WELL, I'M REALLY TIRED OF DOING THAT. I WANT TO CONTINUE WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME AND THEY TAUGHT ME WELL.
I WANT TO RECEIVE THE RESPECT, THE RECOGNITION AND GOOD EDUCATION, SENSIBILITY TO MEET MY NEEDS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE PROBLEM. WE ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION. IF YOU JUST EDUCATION AS WELL, GET PEOPLE AND SAY, CAREGIVERS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. I HAVE A MOTHER WITH ALZHEIMERS. DO YOU KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO SPEAKS SPANISH AND TAKES CARE OF ALZHEIMER'S'?
IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE TO SAY DITO, DITO, DITO. EVERYBODY THAT SPOKE HERE, I SALUTE THEM AND HOPE AND PRAY BY STARTING THIS, YOU START A NEW BEGINNING AND PRETTY SOON, WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE LIKE MR. TOREZ COME HERE AND SAY, THE REALITY WE'RE HERE, WE'RE NOT GOING ANY WHERE.
I'M NOT MOVING ALTHOUGH HOUSING HAS TRIED VERY HARD TO GET ME PLACES -- GET THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND USUALLY PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. SO, I'LL BE AN ADVOCATE AND I'LL BE HERE. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, LET US KNOW, PLEASE, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, AND NOT THE PROBLEM.
EXCUSE ME, I HAVE MY PROGRAM DIRECTOR WHO WANTS TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING.
THANK YOU.
>> I THOUGHT I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS (SPANISH) SOME DAY, YOU WILL KNOW AND LEARN HOW TO SAY (SPEAKING SPANISH) IT IS EASIER THAN TO SAY JOHN F. KENNEDY. ANY WAY, I AM HERE BECAUSE I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT IT IS DEMOCRACY WORKING BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO US TONIGHT, PLEASE CONVEY THE MESSAGE THAT SHE SAID, WE ARE HERE TO STAY AND YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF US THERE ARE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA, ONE FIFTH OF THE POPULATION OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THERE ARE 3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE AREA, WE ARE OVER 600,000.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, LOT OF WEIGHT. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IF WE HAVE SOME FUTURE POWER, GIVE US MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP KEEP BUILDING AMERICA.
THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE WHERE WE WOULD GLADLY DO ANY SACRIFICE TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY MORE POWERFUL, MORE GENEROUS. TO ME, YOU ARE BOTH OF THE SAME LEVEL.
POWERFUL AND GENERALS FOR EXCELLENT. PLEASE HELP ALL THESE PEOPLE. TELL THE GOVERNOR, WE ARE AMERICANS TOO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE NEXT, DAVID WITH THE EQUAL RIGHTS CENTER FOLLOWED BY JOYCE WOODSON. AND LINDA CHEATHAM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS EQUAL RIGHTS CENTER'S APPRECIATION TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO LETTING US BE HERE THIS EVENING.
OUR AGENCY IS PROBABLY MUCH BETTER KNOWN AS THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON.
JUST LAST WEEK, WE MERGED WITH THE FAIR EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON AND WE HOPE IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO BE IMPLEMENTING NOT ONLY CONTINUING FAIR HOUSING TESTING BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION TESTING TO ADDRESS THE WIDESPREAD DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AND DISABILITY AS BEEN ADDRESSED THIS EVENING.
IN MY FIVE MINUTES, I HOPE TO BE QUITE BLUNT, REPUTATION OF THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL IS TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE.
WE HAVE FILED NUMEROUS CASES IN FEDERAL COURT ADDRESSING RACE DISCRIMINATION, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF NATIONAL ORIGIN AND WE ARE CHALLENGING DISCRIMINATION IN EVERY FAUCET IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. ONE OF THE SECRETS OF THE SUCCESS WITH REGARD TO THE FAIR HOUSING HAS BEEN THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT FROM OUR LOCALITIES WITH REGARD TO FAIR HOUSING PLANNING.
THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL HAS RELEASED SEVERAL REPORTS WHICH I WILL SUBMIT INTO THE RECORD THIS EVENING, DOCUMENTING THE EXTENT OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
AS A CITIZEN OF FAIRFAX RESIDENT, I FIND IT INTOLERABLE THAT 43 PERCENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS ENCOUNTER DISCRIMINATION IN OUR RENTAL HOUSING MARKET PLACE.
AS A NORTHERN VIRGINIA RESIDENT, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS COME FROM THIS AREA, WHO ARE CLERGY, FROM THIS AREA ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT 42% OF THE TIME, LATINOS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE QUALIFIED AND ENCOUNTER RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.
NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE RELEASING A REPORT ON INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION. THESE REPORTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS. BUT FRANKLY, WILL HAVE BEEN BENIGN NEGLECT.
WE WILL CALL FOR UNITED STATES, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN FACT WOULD REVOKE THE STATE SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY WITH THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT. WE ARE DISGUSTED BY THE REAL ESTATE BOARD LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM AND INABILITY TO COMPLY WITH HUD REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS. I'M SADDENED THAT THIS STATE IS ONE OF TWO IN THE NATION WHERE REALTORS ARE ACTING AS FOXES GUARDING THE CHICKEN COUP AND IN FACT, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. NO MORE.
WITH REGARD TO CONSOLIDATED PLANNING, EVERY STATE THAT RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDS IN THIS NATION WAS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE AN ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING CHOICE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FAIR HOUSING PLAN ON HOW THE STATE, HOW THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA WOULD OVERCOME THOSE OBSTACLES, IN THIS JURISDICTION, IN MARYLAND, IN D.C., WE WERE CONTACTED, WE ASKED ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THESE SURVEYS, ABOUT DOCUMENTED CASES. WAS THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL CONTACTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, WHEN THEY REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MANDATES TO PRODUCE THIS DOCUMENT. WERE ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA BOARD THAT INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THIS AREA CONTACTED? NOT ONCE? THE STATE OF VIRGINIA FEDERAL FUNDING IS ENTIRELY AT RISK IF THE GROUP WERE TO SUBMIT A HUD COMPLAINT TODAY.
THE COMMONWEALTH IS DIVERSE AND EXCITING WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE BUT WE HAVE REAL ISSUES ON THE STATE LEVEL. AND IF THERE IS A MESSAGE TO BE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, IF THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT DO IT, THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL, NEW CREATION WILL BE FILING COMPLAINTS AND ACTING AS THE COMMUNITY'S ADVOCATE. THANK YOU.
>> ART: JOYCE WOODSON FOLLOWED BY LINDA CHEATHMAN.
>> GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN, LADIES FRIENDS, GUESTS HERE THIS EVENING. I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE COME. I HAVE SET THE TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST TIME BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE LISTENING.
I HAVE A BRIEF STATEMENT WHICH OF COURSE I LEFT AND WILL READ BUT I HAVE TWO STATEMENTS THAT I DID NOT INCLUDE IN THIS TYPED VERSION ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. MAX GUGGENHEIMER AND I THINK I SAID THAT RIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT YOU WERE GOING TO LISTEN AND THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE WHICH IS TO LISTEN WE HAVE TOO OFTEN COME TO FORUMS WHERE THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO SPEAK BUT THEN, WE HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, WE HAVE TO STAND THERE AND BE TOLD WELL, YOU WERE INCORRECT IN YOUR OPINION OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT IF WITH CHOOSE NOT TO STAND THERE, THEN, WE ARE PUBLICLY RIDICULED. AND I THINK THAT'S NOT THE IDEA OF PUBLIC FORUM. I THINK IT IS SIMPLY TO LISTEN.
I RESPECT THAT YOU SAID THAT AND YOU ARE CLEARLY LISTENING WHETHER YOU'RE ABLE TO AFFECT ANY CHANGES REMAIN TO SEEN BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I SERVE AS -- I READ ON MANY COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS AND THINGS LONG TIME RESIDENT AND I WAS REALLY DISTURBED TO FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN ALEXANDRIA KNOWLEDGE SINCE THE DATE I RECALL IS THE 23RD OF AUGUST THAT I RECALL.
I FOUND OUT THROUGH AN E MAIL AND I ALSO FOUND OUT THROUGH A VICE MAYOR SENT OUT A NOTICE WHICH I RECEIVED YESTERDAY.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF I SERVE AS A COMMISSIONER HERE IN ALEXANDRIA, THE LETTER WAS SENT TO INCLUDE COMMISSIONERS AND AGENCIES AND CITIZENS, JUST GENERAL CITIZENS AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT AND SO I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS ANY MALICIOUS INTENT, MAYBE IT WAS JUST A HAPPENSTANCE BUT YOU DON'T KNOW.
I LEAVE IT TO YOU TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
AND MY COMMENTS: AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS YOU THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS JOYCE WOODSON. I LIVE AT 1407 WAYNE STREET IN ALEXANDRIA. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ALEXANDRIA SINCE 1975, A REGISTER VOTER SINCE 1976 AND HOMEOWNER SINCE 1978.
I CURRENTLY SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF PROJECT DISCOVERY, AS A COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND MEMBER OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE AND AS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE COALITION FOR FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION, PAST CHAIR OF THE NAACP HOUSING COMMITTEE AND SERVE AS A TASK FORCE.
TONIGHT, HOWEVER, I'M ADDRESSING YOU ONLY AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE SEVERAL TIMELY CONCERNS, QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL STATUS, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND HEALTHCARE, MY MOST PRESSING CONCERN TODAY IS HOUSING. WE CAN ALL APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF HOUSING AND ITS CONNECTION TO PERSONAL AND FAMILY SECURITY.
HISTORICALLY, WE CAN RECOUNT MANY EXPERIENCES WHERE HOUSING PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. IN FACT, FAIRNESS IS HOUSING IS NOW LEGISLATED FEDERALLY AND STATEWIDE. BUT HOW IS IT PRACTICED IN THE REAL WORLD? MY FUNDAMENTAL CONCERN THIS EVENING IS THE AVAILABILITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
HOUSING IS A COMMODITY WHOSE VALUE IS MEASURED BY SUPPLY AND DEMAND. AS ALEXANDRIA HAS DEVELOPED, IT HAS BECOME LAND LOCKED WITH PRECIOUS FEW LAND RESOURCES AVAILABLE. OBVIOUSLY, IN A CITY WITH LITTLE AVAILABLE AND BUILDABLE LAND, THE COST OF HOUSING HAS SKYROCKETED. AS AN OWNER, I LOVE THE EFFECT THIS HAS HAD ON MY NETWORTH. AS A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN, I AM CONCERNED FOR THE ILL EFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR POOR AND DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE. IN ALEXANDRIA, MINORITIES CONSTITUTE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS GROUP.
CONSIDER THESE FACTS: ALEXANDRIA HAS LEGISLATED A MORATORIUM ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF RENTAL UNITS. STATISTICALLY, WE HAVE GREATER RENTAL UNITS THAN NEIGHBORING, FAIRFAX COUNTY. THAT'S RATIO, NOT AN ACTUAL NUMBER. WE HAVE A RATIONALIZED THIS POLICY TO BRING US MORE IN LINE WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, HOWEVER, STATICICALLY, WE ARE MORE LIKE NEIGHBORING WASHINGTON, D.C. OR ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
WE SHOULD BE COMPARED TO LIKE-KIND CITIES WHERE THERE IS HIGHER RENTAL HOUSING, HIGHER DENSITY AND GREATER AMENITIES PER SQUARE MILE. ALEXANDRIA IS A VERY CONVENIENT CITY.
BASIC CONVENIENCE IS LIKE SHOPPING AND HEALTHCARE BRINGS PEOPLE HERE AND IS VERY IMPORTANT TO POOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
THE WORKING POOR ARE LESS LIKELY TO OWN A CAR CAN MORE LIKELY TO WORK TWO JOBS PROXIMITY TO THE BASIC CONVENIENCES WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AS A REAL ESTATE BROKER FOR OVER TEN YEARS, I KNOW IT IS FREQUENTLY BEGIN BY WEALTHY PEOPLE. I'M CONCERNED THAT OUR EFFORTS TO RESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH OUR LEGISLATION.
CLEARLY, THE LACK OF NEW RENTAL UNITS WILL LIMIT THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED. CLEARLY, RENTAL UNITS ARE NOT AS LIKELY TO RAISE PROPERTY VALUES HOMEOWNERSHIP IS PREFERRED BUT NOT A REALISTIC OPTION FOR MANY. CLEARLY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
ADDITIONALLY, ALEXANDRIA, IS IN THE MIDST OF A PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX. WHEN COMPLETED, IT WILL PROVIDE MIXED INCOME ENVIRONMENT WITH 52 UNITS IN PUBLIC HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL TEAR DOWN 102 UNITS OF PUBLIC HOUSING AT THAT SITE.
ALEXANDRIA HAS A REPLACEMENT POLICY THAT GUARANTEES THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL UNITS. UNFORTUNATELY, IN A CITY WITH REPLACEMENT UNITS WILL BE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE. IF RELATING IT TAKES THE FORM OF VOUCHER, OUR POOR WILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE ALEXANDRIA.
EACH VOUCHER SERVES TO POTENTIALLY REDUCE RATIO AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY IN ALEXANDRIA WHICH I CONSIDER A BAD THING. WITH "NIMBY" WHICH FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HOME THAT NOT ACRONYM IS NOT IN MY BACKYARD, I FEAR THE FIGHT TO FIND REPLACEMENT HOUSING WILL BE A DECISIVE ONE, REFLECTIVE OF A MOOD THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR LIVES, IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND EMPLOYMENT. MANY OF US WORKING IN THE TRENCHES OF CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN RIGHTLY ACCUSED OF BEING PARANOID. WHEN WE SPEAK OF CONSPIRACY, WE ARE LABELED "LUNATIC FRINGE."
I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES ARE CONNECTED AND WE ARE ONLY CRAZY IF WE FAIL TO SEE THE CONNECTION AND FAIL TO RAISE OUR VOICES AGAINST SOCIAL RECIDIVISM. I FEAR WE ARE WITNESSING -- RECIDIVISM AND RESPECT EARNED THE HARD WORK OF OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS. WHEN WE RAIL AGAINST RECIDIVISM, WE FOUND OURSELVES RIDICULED AND OSTRACIZED. I HAVE GREAT FEAR FOR THE FUTURE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES OF THE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AGAIN, MOST OF WHOM ARE RACIAL MINORITIES. I HAVE GREAT FEAR FOR THE POOR, PERIOD. IT TAKES COURAGE TO STAND AGAINST A TORRENT OF ABUSE, ACTUAL OR PENDING.
IN CLOSING, I ASK THIS EVENING THAT YOU CAREFULLY WATCH THE IMPACT OF ALEXANDRIA'S ECONOMIC REALITY WITH AN EYE TOWARD FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY IN HOUSING. AND SHOULD INTERVENTION PROVE NECESSARY, TO BE READY AND WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO ASSURE FAIRNESS IN HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A PART OF VIRGINIA'S HERITAGE. THANK YOU.
>> LINDA CHEATHAM.
>> GOOD EVENING. BY NAME IS A LINDA CHEATHAM. I'M AN ALEXANDRIA RESIDENT AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COALITION FOR FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION ALTHOUGH I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A CITIZEN. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS THAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS EVENING. FIRST RELATES TO STANDARD THEY HAVE CREATED IN EDUCATION POLICY AND DIRECTION AND POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACT ON CERTAIN CHILDREN. RECENTLY, I ATTENDED BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AT MY CHILD'S SCHOOL.
WITHOUT FAIL, EVERY TEACHER WAS TEACHING A CLASS TALKED ABOUT CHANGES IN CURRICULUM AND TEACHING APPROACH TOWARD SOL. GONE WERE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS AND MATH AND PROJECTS GONE WERE RESEARCH PAPERS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT AUGMENTED THE SUBJECT MATTER. INSTEAD, IT WAS WE MUST PASS THE SOL'S. WE MUST BECOME ACCREDITED.
MY QUESTION, FOR WHAT? CERTAINLY, WE HAVE HEARD THERE WILL BE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH SOL IN THE FUTURE. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT ACCREDITED? WE DO KNOW THE POTENTIAL IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON CHILDREN. AND IT WILL BE NEGATIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT -- I APPLAUD THE CREATION OF LEARNING STANDARDS. THE DIFFICULTY THAT MANY CHILDREN WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCIES WILL HAVE AS THEY TRY TO MASTER ENGLISH AND THE SUBJECT MATTER.
AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE FAILURE TO PASS THESE TESTS COULD HAVE ON CHILDREN INCLUDING POTENTIAL INCREASE IN DROPOUTS AS CHILDREN FAIL TO PASS THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF COURSES. WILL TEACHERS BEGIN TO TEACH TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE MOST STATISTICALLY, LIKELY TO GET IT AND LEAVE THE OTHERS BEHIND? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I AM CONCERNED.
YOU MIGHT SAY ACCREDITATION WILL APPLY TO THE ENTIRE SCHOOL, SO WHY THE CONCERN? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU.
THIS YEAR, IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE THE SMALL PORTION OF THE WHITE MIDDLE CLASS IN ALEXANDRIA RETAINS ITS MODEST COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE ALEXANDRIA SCHOOL BOARD PASSED A REDISTRICTING PLAN THAT WILL RE SEGREGATE 3 ALEXANDRIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MOUNT VERNON, AND JEFFERSON HOUSTON.
DESPITE PRODUCTIVE, THE SCHOOL BOARD CONCERNS ITSELF ONLY WILL WITH THE LEGALITY OF THEIR ACTIONS RATHER THAN THE MORALITY OF THEIR ACTION AND POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT OF RE-SEGREGATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S OVERWHELMING NONWHITE MIDDLE-CLASS SCHOOL CHILDREN. THEY RELIED ON RECENT COURT RULES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT SIGNALED A REVERSAL IN PAST DESEGREGATION INITIATIVES TO JUSTIFY THEIR ACTIONS WHILE IGNORING THE HARM THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY, BEFALL THE SCHOOLS, THE CHILDREN. THEY HAVE CREATED 3 SEGREGATED SCHOOLS, EACH WITH SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT WHITE, NOT PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH OR LEARNING, COPING WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND HAVE FAILED TO ASSURE THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FAIR AND ADEQUATE PUBLIC EDUCATION. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE TWO THINGS, THE STATE'S ACCREDITATION SYSTEM IN WHICH EACH SCHOOL RATHER THAN EACH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ALSO ACCREDITED, HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT HEREBY A SCHOOL BOARD SUCH AS THE ONE IN ALEXANDRIA CAN ABANDON ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO ALL OF ITS STUDENTS, CAN RESEGREGATE SOME OF ITS SCHOOLS AND DO HARM TO CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT WHITE, NOT PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH OR ARE COPING WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IN VARIOUS FORMS AND BY FAILING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH EQUAL AND FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED, THE STATE MUST NOT ONLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESTABLISHING SOL'S, IT MUST MAKE SURE THAT NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND IN THE MOVEMENT TO MEET THE STATE'S NEW STANDARDS. THANK YOU.
>> ART: THANK YOU. NEXT KEN WINSTON, PRESIDENT OF THE ALEXANDRIA GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOLLOWED BY CHARLES COX, THE ALEXANDRIA COMMISSION ON AGING AND THEN, EARL.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council STAFF.
MY NAME IS A KEM WINSTON, PRESIDENT OF ALEXANDRIA GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
THE ASSOCIATION HAS ABOUT 300 MEMBERS, MOSTLY THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND FAIRFAX COUNTY. ITS MISSION IS TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR GAY MEN AND LESBIANS BY ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY AT-LARGE ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN AMENDING THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE SO IT INCLUDES SEXUAL ORIENTATION, COVERING GAY MEN, PERSONS AND EVEN HETEROSEXUALS. WE BELIEVE THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, CREDIT, EDUCATION, OR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION BASED UPON THEIR ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND ARLINGTON HAS ADDED PROTECTION FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION TO THEIR LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE FOR ACTIVITIES OCCURRING WITHIN THE CITY OR COUNTY.
THE CITIES OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA BEACH AND FALLS CHURCH HAVE ADDED PROTECTION FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS AGAINST EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION BUT ONLY FOR EMPLOYEES OF THOSE CITIES. HOWEVER, NO STATEWIDE PROTECTION EXIST AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF CITIZENS DO NOT HAVE PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HARRASSMENT BASED UPON SEXUAL ORIENTATION. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAYS IS SO PERVASIVE, THAT SOME HETEROSEXUAL PERSONS ARE DENIED EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE PERCEIVED TO BE GAY OR LESBIAN.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE VIRGINIA HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MODIFIED ITS REGULATIONS TO SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT THE VHDA FROM AWARDING HOME MORTGAGE LOANS TO PERSONS NOT RELATED BY BLOOD,
MARRIAGE OR ADOPTION WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS.
THIS WAS DONE IN LARGE PART TO PROHIBIT GAYS AND LESBIANS FROM SECURING STATE FUNDING FOR HOUSING.
ADDITIONALLY, EXISTING STATE LAWS DISCOURAGE OR PROHIBIT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FROM PROVIDING BENEFITS TO ITS CITIZENS.
THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF THE EFFECT THAT SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATION HAS ON THE SEXUAL MINORITY. IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT ACCEPTS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SEXUAL MINORITIES, VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE REMOVAL OF THE BIOLOGICAL CHILD OF A LESBIAN. THE COURT ALLOWED THE PARENT'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION TO BE USED AS EVIDENCE AGAINST HER WHEN SHE SOUGHT CUSTODY OF HER CHILD EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER DID NOT CONTEST THE MOTHER'S REQUEST.
ALTHOUGH THE COURT CLAIMED TO BE JUDGING THE CASE BASED ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF VIRGINIANS OF THE CHILD, THEIR WRITTEN DECISION WAS ANTI-LESBIAN AND REFERRED TO BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THE MOTHER.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO AMEND THE COMMONWEALTH'S HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE, NOT ONLY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY FOR SEXUAL MINORITY BUT THERE ARE STRONG ECONOMIC REASONS AS WELL.
AS VIRGINIA CONTINUES TO GROW AS A HIGH-TECH, EMPLOYMENT CENTER, MANY OF THE CORPORATIONS MOVING INTO THE STATE HAVE NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES PROTECTING GAYS AND LESBIANS. HOWEVER, IF POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS PERCEIVE THAT VIRGINIA IS HOSTILE TO GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS, THEN, THOSE COMPANIES WILL BE UNABLE TO HIRE THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST AND MAY DECIDE TO RELOCATE TO STATES MORE HOSPITABLE TO DIVERSITY. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ALEXANDRIA GAY AND LESBIAN STRONGLY ENCOURAGES YOU TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GAY MEN, LESBIANS, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENDERED PERSONS. THE ASSOCIATION IS AT YOUR BECK AND CALL FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO ASSIST US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RON FEE, STATE DELEGATE.
>> NEXT CHARLES. CORRECTION.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council. I AM CHARLES COX, CHAIRPERSON OF THE ALEXANDRIA COMMISSION ON AGING. IN MY CAPACITY AS CHAIRPERSON FOR THE COMMISSION ON AGING, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU, SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THOSE OF ALEXANDRIA'S SENIOR POPULATION.
THOSE AREAS OF CONCERN INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND HEALTHCARE. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON AGE IS THE SINGLE GREATEST ISSUE CONFRONTED BY OLDER WORKERS. THE CONTINUED BIAS AGAINST OLDER WORKERS IS DEVASTATING NOT ONLY FOR OUR SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN SOME OF OUR MOST PRODUCTIVE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS. OLDER WORKERS MUST STRUGGLE AGAINST A WIDESPREAD DESIGN ON THE PART OF EMPLOYERS TO CUT OPERATING COSTS BY ELIMINATING POSITIONS HELD BY OLDER, HIGHER SALARIED EMPLOYEES AND REPLACING THEM WITH NEWLY CREATED POSITIONS HELD BY YOUNGER, LOW SALARIED INDIVIDUALS.
IN THIS EFFORT TO CUT OR REDUCE COSTS, EMPLOYERS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN CREATING INCENTIVES TO RETIRE OLDER WORKERS RATHER THAN IN DEVELOPING THEIR FUTURE -- DEVELOPING THEM AS A RESOURCE FOR THE FUTURE. AGE DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT IS OFTEN SUBTLE AND DIFFICULT TO PROVE LEGALLY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROVE BECAUSE EMPLOYERS ARE OFTEN -- MAY OFTEN CLAIM SEEMINGLY, LEGITIMATE REASONS FOR FAILING TO HIRE, PROMOTE, TRAIN OR INCREASE THE WAGES OF AN OLDER EMPLOYEE. AGE DISCRIMINATION REFLECTS OUR SOCIETY'S AMBIVALENT FEELINGS ABOUT OLDER WORKERS.
AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT PASSED IN 1967 AND AMENDED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THEN, PROHIBITS THE USE OF AGE IN HIRING, FIRING AND PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR WORKERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 40 AND 70.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF AGE DISCRIMINATION REPORTED TO THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION HAVE INCREASED BUT THE NUMBER OF AGE DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT ACT CASES PROSECUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT HAS DROPPED.
THIS TYPE OF DATA SHOULD BE COLLECTED AND ANALYZED FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND A CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THE ENFORCEMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS AS WELL AS THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT.
ANOTHER ISSUE CONFRONTING OLDER INDIVIDUALS LIES IN THE PROBLEM OF EMPLOYMENT OR ACADEMIC TESTING OF OLDER ADULTS.
RESEARCH ON THE AGING MIND -- EXCUSE ME -- HAS SHOWN THAT THE SPEED OF INFORMATION PROCESSING SLOWS WITH AGE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT OLDER ADULTS CANNOT LEARN AS MUCH AS YOUNGER ADULTS. IT JUST MEANS THAT AS THE BRAIN AGES THE RATE AT WHICH IT CAN RECEIVE AND PROCESS INFORMATION SLOWS. THE REASONS FOR THIS MENTAL CHANGE ARE NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD.
BUT THIS SLOWING OF INFORMATION PROCESSING IS A DISTINCT DISADVANTAGE TO ANY SENIORS TAKING A TEST THAT ARE TIME SENSITIVE.
AS THE BABY BOOMERS START LOOKING TO CHANGE CAREERS, OR GO BACK TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE FACED WITH TIME SENSITIVE EXAMINATIONS SUCH AS GRADUATE RECORD EXAMS. DUE TO THE VERY STRICT LIMITATIONS ON TIME TO COMPLETE THESE TESTS, THERE IS A BUILT-IN ADVANTAGE TO YOUNGER ADULTS AND IS DISCRIMINATORY TO OTHER AGE GROUPS LEAVING THEM AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN THOSE TEST SCORES ARE USED TOWARD THE FURTHERANCE OF ONE GROUP OVER THE OTHER.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA WILL BE WISE TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, NOW TO IDENTIFY THOSE INSTANCES WHERE TIME SENSITIVE TESTING IS BEING USED TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF OLDER ADULTS.
WITH REGARD TO HOUSING: THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN SPOKEN OF VERY CLEARLY THIS EVENING. IT AFFECTS EVERYONE IN OUR SOCIETY AND OUR COMMUNITY. BUT FOR OLDER WOMEN AND MEN, THIS CAN BE AND HAS BECOME AN ACUTE PROBLEM. OLDER WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES ARE FORCED TO CONFRONT THE QUESTION OF WHERE TO LIVE. IF THEY FALL BENEATH THE POVERTY LINE, THERE ARE PROGRAMS FOR ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, IF THEY ARE JUST ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE, THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS.
MANY SENIORS IN A EFFORT TO CONTAIN THEIR HOUSING AND LIVING COSTS HAVE TRIED TO LIVE TOGETHER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, CURRENT HOUSING LAW PREVENTS TWO OR MORE UNRELATED INDIVIDUALS FROM SHARING A SINGLE RESIDENCE. MANY ARE UNMARRIED OR UNRELATED SENIORS CURRENTLY SHARING A SINGLE LIVING SPACE BUT ONLY ONE NAME APPEARS ON THE LEASE OR MORTGAGE.
SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN THE PERSON NAMED ON THE SPACE OR MORTGAGE EITHER DIES OR MUST GO TO SOME SORT OF ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, THE PARTNER OR HOUSEMATE HAS THE RIGHT OF SUCCESSION.
THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF HOUSING LAW AS IT AFFECTS SENIORS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE VIRGINIA Human Rights Council MAKE THIS A PART OF ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR.
WITH REGARD TO HEALTHCARE: WHILE THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH REGARD TO HEALTHCARE THAT AFFECT SENIORS, THE ONE ISSUE THAT IS PARAMOUNT IS THAT OF ACCESS. TOO MANY SENIORS ARE UNABLE TO GET THE PROPER HEALTHCARE THAT THEY NEED THROUGH MANAGED CARE. ALL TOO OFTEN, SENIORS MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN THE COST OF THEIR HEALTHCARE WHETHER IT BE PRESCRIPTIONS OR PROCEDURES AND LIVING.
IN RECENT YEARS, MANY SENIORS WERE ENCOURAGED TO TRY MANAGED CARE ASSURED THEY WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AND THEIR HEALTH NEEDS MET. NOW, MANY HAVE FOUND THE SAME MANAGED CARE COMPANIES THAT SOLICITED THEIR BUSINESSES HAVE CUT SERVICES BECAUSE OF COST ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMERS.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING ONE LAST ISSUE TO YOUR ATTENTION: THAT OF GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDERED SENIORS: AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DOES NOT INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN LAWS CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING OR HATE CRIMES. THIS OMISSION NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND RECTIFIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO CAME OUT IN THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING STONEWALL DURING THE EARLY 70'S ARE NOW IN THEIR 50'S AND 60'S.
THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS THAT OLDER GAY MEN, LESBIANS, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDERED PERSONS ARE SUBJECT TO DISCRIMINATION ON TWO COUNTS. FIRST, FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND SECOND FOR THEIR AGE.
WHILE THEY MAY HAVE SOME PROTECTIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE, THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE MEANINGLESS WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE REALITY THAT THEIR RIGHTS TO FAIR HOUSING, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT, AND HEALTHCARE MAY BE FORFEITED BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
I URGE YOU TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE GOVERNOR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE EARL NEWSOME.
FOLLOWED BY DORIS SPENCER AND MARION BACKNER.
EARL IS NOT HERE. OKAY, GOOD.
>> MY NAME IS EARL NEWSOME FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. I WAS EMPLOYED BY THE CITY FOR A PERIOD OF 21 YEARS.
I WAS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL NUMBER 278. IN 1997, I WROTE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR AND IT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE ALEXANDRIA JOURNAL. WHETHER I HAD WROTE ABOUT WAS WHAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY MEANT TO ME. AND I SPOKE ABOUT GROWING UP AS A CHILD AND GOING TO THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON AND THINKING ABOUT HOW FORTUNATE I WAS TO HAVE BEEN THERE ON THAT DAY AND TO EXPERIENCE THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE COMMITTED TO RACISM.
AND I ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA'S GOVERNMENT. AND I SPOKE ABOUT THE LACK OF MINORITIES IN MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AND SUPERVISORY POSITIONS. AND I ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. THE CHAIRMAN SAID THAT HE IS PROUD THAT THE DIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE, I AM NOT PROUD OF THE DIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. I AM ASHAMED. I'M ASHAMED THAT THERE IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE. I AM STILL WAITING AFTER ONE YEAR, TO GET A RESPONSE FROM MR. RAMSON (PHONETIC) WITH REGARD TO A COMPLAINT THAT I LODGED AGAINST HIS DIRECTOR WHO IS NOW THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
IN MY COMPLAINT, I HAD NAMED ROLLING LAWSON, THE CITY MANAGER AS PART OF THE DISCRIMINATING, AS ONE OF THE PERSONS WHO WAS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ME IN NOT ALLOWING ME THE RIGHTS OF A WHITE -- AS OTHER WHITE EMPLOYEES.
I WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND THIS WAS ON AN ALEXANDRIA POLICE OFFICER, WHO, SHE AND I WERE IN THE PROPERTY ROOM AND I WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, NOT TO HER, AND I MADE A COMMENT THAT THIS POLICE OFFICER INTERPRETED AS SEXUAL HARASSMENT. THE EMPLOYEE SAID NOTHING TO ME AND THE STATEMENT WAS NOT SEXUAL AT ALL REGARDING TO THAT EMPLOYEE. EXCUSE ME, I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL BUT THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL SITUATION. I ASKED THAT -- I WAS ALSO CHARGED BY THIS FEMALE POLICE OFFICER WITH STALKING HER.
THIS FEMALE POLICE OFFICER, SHE WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE, SAID THAT I WAS STALKING HER BECAUSE SHE HAD SEEN ME 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, TWO TIMES WE WERE AT THE GAS PUMPS AND ONCE WAS OUT IN THE FIELD. I ASKED THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERNAL AFFAIRS TO LOOK INTO THIS, TO INVESTIGATE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING ANY INVESTIGATION. THIS IS TYPICAL OF WHAT HAPPENS TO SOME EMPLOYEES WHEN YOU SPEAK OUT AGAINST RACISM.
I THINK I CAN SPEAK OUT AGAINST RACISM AND THE REASONS WHY BECAUSE I WAS CALLED "BOY" TWICE IN THE OFFICE IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT HEAD WAS AWARE OF THAT. MY SUPERVISOR PUNCHED ME IN BACK OF THE HEAD, AND ALSO, THE CITY ATTORNEY. I WAS THEN LATER ON ASSAULTED AND BEATEN BY THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, FORMERLY WORKING PLANNING AND ZONING. NOW, I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST ONE. NOW, THIS, MY FORMER DEPARTMENT HEAD IS STILL WORKING WITH THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND I'M FIRED FOR FAILING TO REMOVE TWO SIGNS OFF OF A LIGHT POLE, FOR ASKING A QUESTION OF MY DEPARTMENT HEAD, OF MY SUPERVISOR AND I WAS FIRED BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT I HAD FOUR BAD EVALUATIONS.
I'M NOT A DUMMY. MY JOB IS AS A ZONING INSPECTOR.
I COULD DO THAT WITH MY EYES CLOSED BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. THE EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA HAVE NO CONFIDENCE TO GET THEIR ISSUES RESOLVED.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT IT IS TRUE.
IF I WAS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA WHO RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT MONEY RELINQUISH CONTROL AND MAKE IT A SEPARATE ENTITY, THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE.
IT HAS BECOME A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AND IS NOT EFFECTIVE AT ALL. I BEG OF YOU TO BEGINNING IN THE YEAR 2000 AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, I'M STILL IN BONDAGE AND THE ANSWER IS WHY?
PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICES AND BOARDS, REMOVE THE POLITICAL AWAY FROM THEM AND LET THEM BE INDEPENDENT.
EVERYONE WOULD BENEFIT AND WE CAN BE ABOUT A NATION OF PEOPLE WHO CARE.
THANK YOU.
>> COALITION FOR FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION FOLLOWED BY MARIAN.
>> MUCH OF WHAT I PLANNED TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS. BY WAY, YOU KNOW, I SERVED THIS CITY WELL AS A VOLUNTEER AND I STILL DO. AND I TOO, WORK FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE INSTITUTE OF EXCELLENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WITH THE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.
AS I HAVE SAT HERE THIS EVENING AND WATCHED, SEVERAL OF YOU AROUND THE TABLE, I KNOW. AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN SAID HERE TONIGHT INCLUDING WHAT WAS JUST SAID. YOU ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME NAMES IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I WON'T REPEAT WHAT'S BEEN SAID FOR THE SAKE OF TIME BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE, EDUCATION, FOR ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS EDUCATION. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ALL CHILDREN IN EDUCATION BUT I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH.
BEING THAT WE LIVE IN A STATE THAT IS TRULY REAPING THE BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY, ONE DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE COME BEFORE A MIKE AND TELL YOU WHAT IS HAPPENING. YOU CAN DO IT USING TECHNOLOGY.
I WOULD ASK THAT THE GOVERNOR LOOK AT HOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH ARE MAINTAINING INFORMATION RELATED TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICANS. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ASK THE GOVERNOR TO CHANGE SYSTEMS THAT WOULD RECORD INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT WOULD SHOW YOU INSTANTLY AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON THAT IS HAPPENING. THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE BUT THE SYSTEMS HAVE TO BE CHANGED.
WE ARE CONSISTENTLY TOLD WHEN WE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION BECAUSE WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THAT INFORMATION BY THE STATE. I AM ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO REQUIRE THAT IT BE KEPT IN A MANNER IN WHICH IT CAN BE CHECKED BOTH IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AS WELL AS OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT IS TAKEN.
NOW, AGAIN, I'M IN THE TECHNOLOGY FIELD AND I'M VERY KIND AND CONCERNED ABOUT SOCIAL ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION. BUT SOCIAL ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION IS HAPPENING NOW. AND IT IS DEVASTATING A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF THIS COMMONWEALTH WHICH I LOVE TOO.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT IS CALLED A DIGITAL REVOLUTION TECHNOLOGY.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND MINORITIES, BUT AGAIN, I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ARE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS BEHIND THE CURVE AND UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS ARE EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY CAN COMPETE IN THIS TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BRIDGE WHAT IS THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVELS AND THEN, WHO A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH SEE AS THE "PROBLEM".
AGAIN, I ASK OF YOU, PLEASE, ASK THE GOVERNOR, REQUIRE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO KEEP BETTER RECORDS THAT CAN BE CHECKED THROUGH COMPUTERS. REQUIRE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO KEEP BETTER RECORDS SO WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR CHILDREN, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE LISTED IS MARIAN.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M MARIAN, BACKENNER (PHONETIC)FROM FAIRFAX BUT I DID FIND MY WAY HERE. I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF FACE, THE FAIRFAX FOR CITIZEN EQUALITY. THREE YEARS AGO, MY CHURCH ASKED ME TO BE BE A MENTOR FOR ONE OF OUR TEENS. AARON WAS FIFTEEN AT TIME, BRIGHT. AS WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER, I LEARNED OF THE HORRIFYING AND DEHUMANIZING EXPERIENCE SHE WAS HAVING IN ONE OF OUR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.
STUDENTS SCREAMED HATEFUL NAMES AT HER. THEY THREW THINGS AT HER AND THEY SHOVED HER IN THE HALLWAYS, OFTEN WITH TEACHERS OBSERVING AND YET DOING NOTHING TO TOP THE HARASSMENT. WHY? BECAUSE AARON DARED TO COME OUT AS A LESBIAN.
HER FAMILY WAS INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE, YET, HER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT. GAY TEACHERS COULD NOT TALK WITH HER FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. AARON LEFT HIGH SCHOOL A YEAR EARLY EARLY BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT WAS TOO DAMAGING.
IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, IT IS LEGAL TO REFUSE SOMEONE SERVICE IN A RESTAURANT BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THE PERSON AND GAY. IN FAIRFAX, IT IS LEGAL TO REFUSE TO RENT AN APARTMENT TO THAT LESBIAN.
IN FAIRFAX, IT IS LEGAL TO NOT CREDIT TO A GAY PERSON AND IN FAIRFAX, IT IS LEGAL TO FIRE SOMEONE FROM A JOB BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE HE IS GAY. FACE IS A COALITION OF FAIRFAX COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS DRIVING TO END DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WHO ARE OR ARE PERCEIVED TO BE GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, OR TRANSGENDERED, THEIR FAMILIES AND PERSON WHO ADVOCATE FOR THEM. SPECIFICALLY, OUR GOAL IS TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, EDUCATION AND CREDIT. AND TO EXPAND PROTECTION TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTERS.
NOW, WHEN WE IN FACE TALKED WITH OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS, WE HEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE DYLAN RULE, FAIRFAX COUNTY CANNOT AMEND ITS HUMAN RIGHTS CODE TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION. WE NEED YOUR HELP.
I ASK YOU TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PROTECTING STATE EMPLOYEES FROM DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION. IN ADDITION, THIS COUNCIL CAN FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE HERE TONIGHT BY LOCAL COMMISSIONERS TO SEEK TO AMEND STATE LAW, TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST THIS DISCRIMINATION ON THIS STATEWIDE THEREFORE, THUS ALLOWING LOCAL AGENCY.
THE COUNCIL CAN SEEK LEGISLATION, ALLOWING THE COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD SHOULD STATEWIDE PROTECTIONS NOT YET BE IN THE OFFERING.
THE COMMONWEALTH CANNOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW DISCRIMINATION ON THIS BASIS.
>> MY NAME IS DORIS RAY, LAST NAME RAY AND I LIVE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. I WORK AT THE INDEPENDENT CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ONE OF THE FIFTEEN CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE COMMUNITY AT-LARGE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF I TOLD YOU THAT CHILDREN ARE BUSSED FOR AN HOUR OR TWO TO SCHOOL EACH WAY EVERY DAY? BUT THERE'S A LAW, RIGHT? BUT NOT FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF I TOLD YOU THAT CHILDREN ARE PUT IN CLASSES SEPARATE FROM OTHER CHILDREN? BUT SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL SAYS THE LAW. BUT NOT FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AT LEAST IN VIRGINIA.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF I TOLD YOU THAT 20% OF THE POPULATION GOES OUT TO LOOK FOR HOUSING AND THEY EITHER FACE LANDLORDS WHO DON'T WANT THEM OR THEY JUST SIMPLY CAN'T GET IN THE BUILDING OR MAYBE NOT EVEN INTO THE LANDLORD'S OFFICE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF I TOLD YOU THAT 20% OF THE POPULATION CAN'T GO TO THE POLLING MACE AND VOTE IN PRIVACY? ISN'T THAT THE BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY? PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE LAW, RIGHT. I'M A THIRD GENERATION BLIND WOMAN.
I KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR MY GRANDMOTHER AND MOTHER TO BE AND IS IN A SEPARATE CLASS MYSELF.
SO I CHEERED WHEN THE ADA WAS PASSED.
I CHEERED WHEN THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT WAS PASSED.
I CHEERED IN '82 WHEN FAIRFAX COUNTY PASSED AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THAT PROTECTED MY RIGHTS AND WHEN THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT WAS PASSED, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. BUT THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT.
WE NEED ENFORCEMENT. I'M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER SPEAKERS HERE TONIGHT THAT STUDIES NOW BY THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL, BY THE FAIRFAX DISABILITY SERVICES BOARD TOGETHER WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN FAIRFAX COUNTY HAVE FOUND NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AMENDMENTS IN TERM WILLING OF BUILDERS NOT BUILDING ACCESSIBLE HOUSING. WE NEED TO PUT ENFORCEMENT OF DISABILITY RIGHTS INCLUDING THE VIRGINIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WHICH IS UP FRONT. WE NEED THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO LOOK AT AND PROVIDE DATA ABOUT DISCRIMINATION WITH AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND I BELIEVE WE NEED A STRONGER VIRGINIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
WE NEED A PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEM FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THAT IS SEPARATE FROM TATE GOVERNMENT. WE NEED PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION THAT WE CAN USE. WHY IS IT ALL RIGHT THAT A PERSON WHO HAS A DISABILITY CAN'T CALL UP THE CAB COMPANY AND GET A CAB AT ALL IN SOME JURISDICTIONS OR HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR OR MORE FOR A VEHICLE IN OTHERS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHY POLLING PLACES MANY POLLING PLACES ARE ACCESSIBLE BUT MANY THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE NOT AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME IN AND POLL.
THEY HAVE TO SIT OUT ON THE CURVE OR VOTE BY ABSENTEE. AND THE BALLOT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU SIR. THE BALLOT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND AND VISIBLY IMPAIRED LIKE MYSELF.
I CANNOT GO INTO THOSE NEW POLLING MACHINES AND USE THEM ON MY OWN. AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT. THESE ARE PRIORITY ISSUES AND I THINK THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SHOULD MAKE THEM PRIORITY ISSUES AND THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN THE VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS SHOULD BE BE PERHAPS STRONGER ENFORCEMENT IS FOR SURE, NECESSARY.
LAST THING I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU DO, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF YOU KNEW THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE WHO WERE INCARCERATED AGAINST THEIR WILL, WHO HAVE TO SUFFER ABUSE AND WHO CAN'T EVEN NEED THE FACILITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE BY THEMSELVES TO GO THE MOVIES OR THE GROCERY STORE.
WHO AM I TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO IN THE HOSPITALS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NURSING HOMES, WHETHER THEY ARE YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES OR PEOPLE WHO ARE SENIORS.
AND CAN'T EVEN SIGN THEMSELVES OUT AND WHY ARE THEY THERE, BECAUSE THEY NEED ACCESSIBLE HOUSING AND BECAUSE THEY NEED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE.
MAY I JUST SAID THAT THE HOMESTEAD SUPREME COURT CASE HOMESTEAD VERSES L.C. HAS SAID TO EACH STATE, YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF INSTITUTIONS. I THINK THIS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SHOULD BE PUSHING FOR THIS STATE, GET PEOPLE OUT OF INSTITUTIONS AND LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY SHOULD BE SO I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I HOPE THERE WILL BE BECAUSE I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS HEARING UNTIL VERY LATE YESTERDAY. I HOPE THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY.
>> YES, YOU CAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JESSIE AND I'M A NATIVE HERE TO MAKE ONE BRIEF RECOMMENDATION TO YOU: I ECHO ALL THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED HERE TONIGHT BUT MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE AT THE OUTSET ABOUT THE NEED TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, THE THICK THAT WILL ENHANCE YOUR CONNECTION WITH THE ALEXANDRIA IS TO PUBLICIZE YOUR REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE GIVE YOU NAME.
>> MY NAME IS CINDY, A RESIDENT OF ALEXANDRIA ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COALITION FOR FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION.
MY CONCERN TONIGHT IS NOT A REAL CONCRETE ONE, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS BUT THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW AND I FEEL LIKE THE CITY OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE HAS TO DO MORE WITH ATMOSPHERE AND ATTITUDE AND I'M CONCERNED THAT ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AROUND THE CITY, THAT PEOPLE HALF FORGOTTEN HOW TO AGREE TO DISAGREE CIVILLY AND I'M AFRAID THAT DISSENTING VOICES ARE NOT SUPPORTED, NOT ENCOURAGED TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS.
THE HIGH BOARD THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE VOICES SPEAKING OUT FOR MINORITIES ARE DISCOURAGED, SOMETIMES RIDICULED AND REPRIMANDED AS WELL AS BOOKING OUT AS COMMISSION MEMBERS.
THIS IS VERY WORRISOME, SEEMS TO BE A TREND AND I HOPE THAT SOMEHOW, WE CAN STOP THIS, SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT MINORITIES, WHATEVER THAT MINORITY POSITION IS. IN A DEMOCRACY, THE MAJORITY RULES BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE BEEN SO GOOD AT IN THIS COUNTRY IS PROTECTING THE MINORITY REPORT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE BEGINNING TO LOSE SIGHT OF IN ALEXANDRIA. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AND, DISCUSSION IS VERY IMPORTANT ASKING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS IS VERY IMPORTANT. TO KEEP US HONEST.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM AND WE HAVE TO LISTEN AND TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS FAIRLY AND NOT JUST IN A WAY IN WHICH WILL KEEP OUR CITY OF TOURISM BRIGHT AND SHINY.
WE HAVE TO FACE THE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS AND DEAL WITH THEM IN PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
WHATEVER HELP YOU CAN OFFER, WE APPRECIATE.
>> MY NAME IS JAMES BROWN, A NEW RESIDENT OF VIRGINIA AND I LIVE IN ARLINGTON VIRGINIA.
I HAVE HEARD AN AWFUL LOT AND WANTED AN AWFUL LOT TONIGHT. I AM A BRAIN INJURY SURVIVOR, I AM DISABLED 3 YEARS AGO I GOT HIT IN THE HEAD VIOLENCE, WHATEVER, FELL DOWN THE STAIRS, I DON'T KNOW. IT'S HAPPENING TO ROUGHLY, 800,000 A YEAR. THESE ARE GOVERNMENT FIGURE, 55.3 ACROSS THE COUNTRY, $48 MILLION, 2% OF THE POPULATION HAS BRAIN INJURY AND I'M THINKING ABOUT BRAIN INJURY, STROKE, THINKING ABOUT GRANDCHILDREN, THINKING ABOUT AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS HERE. THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD HERE MAY NOT BE REAL TO SOME OF YOU, I DON'T KNOW.
THEY ARE REAL TO THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKEN, THOUGH, VERY REAL. THERE IS NO HOUSING FOR THE DISABLED IN THIS COUNTRY -- IN THIS AREA OR THIS COUNTRY. THERE IS SO MUCH THAT IS MISSING AND LACKING.
I TELL YOU, I LOOK AT YOU NOW AND I HOPE YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR JOBS, A LOT OF YOU BECAUSE -- YOU WILL NOT GET WORK. MANY OF YOU WILL BE DISABLED BECAUSE OF AGE AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN BE POINTED THROUGH AGE CAN BE A BRAIN INJURY DISABILITY AS WELL.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND -- I HAVE WATCHED YOU ALL VERY CAREFULLY, SOME OF YOU LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY, I APPLAUD AND SOME HAVE NOT.
BUT, IT'S IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THERE'S GOING TO BE TEN MILLION BRAIN INJURY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY IF ONE INCLUDE TRAUMATIC, THAT'S EVERY YEAR, ONE EVERY FIFTEEN SECONDS.
RIGHT NOW, WE COST THE GOVERNMENT $48 BILLION A YEAR. SOMETHING OUGHT TO BE DONE ABOUT. VIRGINIA IS GETTING GRANTS. THE FACT IS, IF YOU ARE DISABLED AND YOU MAY BE THERE VERY EASILY, I TRAVELLED THE COUNTRY, VERY GOOD TAX PAY, VERY WELL EDUCATED.
AND I HAD TO LIVE ON $339 A MONTH AND FOOD STAMPS AND NO HOUSING AND SOMEBODY WANTS TO THINK THAT MAYBE THEY WILL BE BETTER, GOOD LUCK.
I HATE TO TELL YOU HOW MANY DISABLED PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAS BEEN REFUSED DISABILITY AND THEIR HEALTHCARE PLAN AND WORKING FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS, WHEN THEY GET A BAD INJURY -- DON'T ON YOUR HEALTHCARE PLANS. DO NOT. IT JUST IS NOT GOING TO WORK AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AUTOMATIC DISABILITY, GOOD LUCK GETTING IT.
IT TO ME TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND SOME PEOPLE CANNOT LAST THAT LONG.
REALITY HERE IS THAT SOME OF YOU WILL BECOME DISABLED SOME WAY, SOMEHOW. IF NOT, MAYBE FAMILY MEMBERS, CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS BUT THIS IS REALITY.
REALITY IS YOU'RE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUR PROBLEMS NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> ART: ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS?
>> MY NAME IS A KAREN SOLON, LIVING IN FAIRFAX COUNTY SINCE 1973. I WANTED TO SPEAK TO TWO ISSUES VERY QUICKLY. ONE IS I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT DAVE MALLORY WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE. HE WAS SCHEDULED AS YOUR FIRST SPEAKER FROM ARLINGTON, GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE. DAVE ALSO SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF AN ORGANIZATION I BELONGED TO CALLED THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA GAY AND LESBIAN COALITION.
IT IS A COALITION OF MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA REGIONS. THAT INCLUDES ANOTHER GROUP I BELONG TO WHICH INCLUDE PARENTS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS.
I WAS A FRIEND OF -- I CONSIDER MYSELF A FRIEND BUT I ALSO PROVIDED A HOME FOR MANY YEARS FOR A YOUNG LESBIAN WHO WAS ESTRANGED FROM HER FAMILY, HAD A SCHOLARSHIP TO GO TO COLLEGE AND BUT THAT SPRING, HER FRESHMAN YEAR, SHE CAME OUT AS LESBIAN.
THE SCHOLARSHIP WAS ROTC WHICH MEANS SHE FIRST LOST FAMILY AND WHETHER TO LIE ABOUT WHO SHE IS OR TAKE A CHANCE. SO THE ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT HOME TO ME IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. I'VE BEEN A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST MOST OF MY LIFE, STARTEDS AS A SOCIAL WORKER WORKING IN HOSPITALS WHERE I SAW RACISM AND DISABILITY AND MANY OF THE ISSUES YOU HEARD ADDRESSED TONIGHT. SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION IS NO DIFFERENT, STILL TAKING AND HAVING SOMEBODY TELL THEM, YOU'RE NOT QUITE HUMAN.
WHEN I HEAR HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES DISCUSSED AND I HEAR SOMEONE QUESTION THE GAY, LESBIAN RIGHTS OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED, I SIMPLY ASK, ARE THEY NOT HUMANS?
IT IS JUST PURE LOGIC FOR ME. I WANT TO SHARE ONE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT THAT -- WHEN FAIRFAX COUNTY WAS CREATING ITS LIBRARY ISSUE ABOUT WHERE THE IT WILLS OUGHT TO BE HOUSED, I WAS PROVIDING CHILDCARE FOR A NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL AFTER SCHOOL. I WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER SCHOOL CARE ONE.
MY HUSBAND DID. I HAD A SCHOOL -- I HAD A LIBRARY MEETING AND SHE ASKED ME HOW COME AND I TOLD HER I'M GOING TO THIS MEETING ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND SHE ASKED ME WHAT ITS ABOUT AND I TOLD HER PEOPLE FROM GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE KEPT HIDDEN.
SHE PONDERED AND SHE WAS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRL AND SAID TO ME: IF IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, WHY WOULD THEY CALL IT PUBLIC?
THE ISSUE OF LEGISLATION IS ONE ISSUE THAT'S OFTEN MET WITH THE QUESTION, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE BUT I THINK THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS TO DO THAT AND ONE IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT I WANT TO MAKE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
I WISH I COULD TELL EVERYBODY WHAT I EXPERIENCED BUT I'M NOT DOING THAT TONIGHT.
ON OCTOBER -- IN THE MONTH DURING THE WHOLE MONTH OF OCTOBER, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE PEOPLE BY CHALLENGING THE STEREOTYPES THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ABOUT WHO GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE ARE.
PHOTO EXHIBIT WITH TEXT CALLED LOVE MAKES A FAMILY, A EXHIBIT CELEBRATING DIVERSITY OF GAY LESBIAN AND HER FAMILIES IT'S GOING TO BE ON DISPLAY IN ARLINGTON CENTRAL LIBRARY ON QUINCY STREET AND I URGE ANY OF YOU DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER TO BE SURE TO STOP IN. IT DOES PUT A REAL FACE ON GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE.
WHEN I WENT TO A MONTGOMERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WITH A VERY CONTENTIOUS DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER TO ADD SEXUAL ORIENTATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, ONE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WHO COMMENTED THAT HE REMEMBERED VERY WELL WHEN HE WAS IN SEGREGATED MONTGOMERY, THAT HE WOULD SEE SIGNS THAT SAYS "OPEN TO THE PUBLIC."
AND HE KNEW THAT DID NOT APPLY TO HIM. AND HE TOLD THAT SPECIFICALLY AS A WAY OF ILLUSTRATING WHY HE THOUGHT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO PUT THE WORDS "SEXUAL ORIENTATION" ON PEOPLE TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WHEN WE SAY -- DUNBAR SAID THAT ALL CITIZENS SHOULD BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT FEAR OF DISCRIMINATION, WHY ON EARTH DOES THAT NOT INCLUDE GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE? SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> I THINK I'M LAST. MY NAME IS ROB WEITH. I'M A SPANISH SPEAKING CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND CHAIR A CLINIC HERE IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA BUT BEEN ACTIVE AS A VOLUNTEER AND SOMEONE WORKING DEVELOPING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AMONG LATINOS WHO ARE HERE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
WHILE THERE ARE LAWS RIGHT NOW TO PROTECT THE GROUP, I WANT TO MENTION, BUT A GROUP WHO IS VERY HIGH RISK MY SO -- A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LATINOS IN YOUR MIX, 20 TO 40% PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE LEGAL PAPERS FOR RESIDENCY. DURING OUR YEARS OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE AWARE THAT PROBABLY VERY FEW GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE GROSSLY EXPLOITED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CITIZENS AND THEY ARE NOT AS I UNDERSTAND IN SO MANY CASES, PROTECTED BY THE LAWS.
THE STORY THAT WE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST YEARS MOST COME TO ME WHILE A VOLUNTEER AT A MINISTRY.
THE RANGE OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ARE WORKERS WHO ARE NOT GIVEN PAY OR PAYCHECK ARBITRARILY WITH WILL, WORKERS REQUIRING TO WORK IN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WHICH ARE CLEARLY FORBIDDEN UNDER OSHA OR OTHER RULES THAT WE HAVE.
ARBITRARY TREATMENT IN HOUSING MARKET.
E