NOTE: No annual report is available for 2002 or 2003

 

                                              

 

 

Date:   November 8, 2004

 

To: Humboldt County Board of Supervisors

From: Maura Eastman, Humboldt County Human Rights Commission (HRC)

 

Subject:  Annual Report July 2003  June 2004

 

The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission has continued to meet on a monthly basis.  In addition, one special community forum was held in Garberville and several legislative committee meetings were held.

 

Public Contact:

 

The voice mail system continues to be the primary method for public contact with the commission.  Calls received during the year ranged from inquiries about participation on the commission to problems dealing with child custody, discrimination in the workplace and housing, issues of homelessness and concern with behavior of law enforcement personnel.  The Commission has concerns that the category reports may not be complete, and currently is refining the method of reporting complaints.  Based on information available, calls were broken down as follows:

 

Major complaint:                                Number of calls         Percentage

        

Complaints against law enforcement          16                     18

Housing/Landlord-tenant                          11                     10

Mental Health issues                                      7                       8

Human Rights Comm info                           7                       8

Victim Issues                                            5                       6

Issues of the Homeless                           6                       6

Patriot Act                                              4                       5

Hate crimes                                              3                       4

Domestic Violence/family issues                 4                        4

Undocumented workers                             4                       4

Workplace issues                                         3                       3

Issues of persons w/disabilities                  2                       3

Issues relating to incarceration                      3                       3

General concern/no actions/publicity         15                     17

 

Most calls involved referrals to other agencies.  In two instances calls resulted in major complaints against law enforcement personnel.

                                

In addition to phone line contacts, members of the public frequently attended the meetings.  The primary topics they brought forward were issues relating to homelessness, the Patriot Act, mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners, use of medical marijuana and concern about consideration for parole.

 

Outreach and Education:

 

The members of the commission traveled to Garberville to provide a town hall forum for members of the Southern Humboldt community.  Though the attendance was small, the discussion, which centered around homelessness, was spirited and beneficial to commissioners.

 

Our Speakers Bureau has been updated and is ready to provide speakers on a range of issues.  Topics include:

 

        The Human Rights Commission  what it can provide

        Hate Crimes and Incidents

        Anti-Semitism

        Muslims in Humboldt County

        Commonalities among Abrahamic religions

        Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues

        Law enforcement issues and citizen concerns

        Communication, Tolerance and Personal Relations

        NAACP and its role in the Community

        Community race relations

        Latinos in Humboldt County

        Environmental Ethics

        War and Peace

        Youth Recruitment       

        Rights of the Mentally Ill

 

The HRC again promoted Human Rights Awareness Month, which resulted in proclamations by city councils, the Board of Supervisors, and tribal councils.  The resulting publicity emphasized greater sensitivity to these issues.

 

We also had a representative address a College of the Redwoods class on HRC activities, for the second year in a row.

 

Patriot Act: 

 

Community concern about the Patriot Act was expressed through the voice mail and attendance at the meetings.  A committee was formed to study the Act, and to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, requesting a response limiting infringement on individual privacy wherever possible.  The Board unanimously passed a resolution to that effect.

 

Networking:

 

Over the last year the Human Rights Commission continued to network and collaborate with community groups, including the ACLU.

 

Homelessness:

 

Many of us have become increasingly aware of the number of people who are homeless in our community.  Short-term resource card were developed.  The resource card is designed to let people know what resources exist and how best to contact them.  Immediate food, shelter and medical care resources are listed.  The information was also translated into Spanish, and has been widely circulated throughout the County.  Our thanks to the Humboldt County Bar Association and St. Joseph Hospital for their support in printing the cards.

 

Law Enforcement:

 

Commissioners continue to serve as liaisons between local law enforcement agencies and the community members.  While available to citizens on request, each liaison meets with departmental Chiefs  throughout the year to express citizen concerns and reinforce good working relationships.