_______________________________

Meeting - 7/24/24

Total Attendees: 20? Hard to know how many are on Zoom

• Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?      Yes          On-Line:     Yes          
• Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed? Yes
• Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
• Maintained civil conduct: attentive, courteous and open to varied opinions? Yes
• Provided adequate time for public input? 3 Minutes

• Appeared members were prepared? Yes

• Report on the work of the CA Civil Rights Dept 
  https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/
  California Vs Hate Connects Hundreds of Californians with Support in Response to 1,000+ Reported Acts of Hate in first year — CA vs Hate
• Report from Education and Outreach of Civil Rights Dept
• Discussed the Business Certificate of Recognition awarded to businesses that receive education from the Civil Rights Dept on laws to be “Welcome In” compliant when hiring
• Began updates of Commission Reports
  Community Conflict Resolution Unit | CRD (ca.gov) 
• Discussion re: NY Post’s publishing of an article about the shooter of Mr. Trump being an Asian individual, erroneously, thus revealing a malpractice and an unethical dereliction of journalistic professionalism.
• Hate Crime in California 2023
• Discussed the “United Against Hate Week” set for September 21-27.  The following link offers information and resources to anyone/group wish to know and how to participate. United Against Hate (unitedagainsthateweek.org)
• Rise of hate continued over 2023 and early data says it continues in 2024.  It is important to note that the increase is only re: what is reported.  The issue is many hate crimes are still greatly under reported.
• It is important to note that upticks in hate crimes often occur after a leader/influencer speaks with hatred, or upticks following a catalytic event.  The AAPI community is an example of a community that is most underreported. 

 Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them? Yes

 ________________________________

Meeting - 5/22/24

Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them?  Yes

_______________________________

Meeting - 4/24/24

Total Attendees: approx. 15+

• Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?     On-Line:    yes
• Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed? Yes
• Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
• Maintained civil conduct: attentive, courteous and open to varied opinions? Yes
• Provided adequate time for public input? 3 min.
• Appeared members were prepared? Yes
• Appeared that an action item, not put on agenda for closed session, was discussed in closed session vs. in public session?           No             
• Took any unusual action?      No                                    
• Unacceptable behavior? No

• Deputy Director Watts of CA Civ Rights Dept.  Reviewed the new report edits added after the input of the commissioners’ comments at the last meeting.
• Presentation on Hate in Schools given by Sara Wilf, Ph.D. candidate at UCLA. Incidents of hate in high schools are up. What are/can schools do to address the issues?
• Presentation on public messaging as a tool to use as a prevention of hate.
• Another presentation on Resources and Support in the Aftermath of Mass Casualty Event.
• Accepted commissioners’ questions and comments regarding the draft report from CRD.
• Commissioners devoted quite a bit of time addressing the language in the report about the current war in Israel against Hamas in Gaza. As a consequence, the Commission moved to establish a two-member ad-hoc committee to resolve the language differences. Voted to approve the committee.  Commissioners Sinnar and Fieler will serve on the ad-hoc.
• Moved to reporting out of sub-committee reports. Some discussion about video made for police training.

(Left meeting at noon.)

Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them?  Yes

Meeting - 2/22/24

Commission on the State of Hate | CRD (ca.gov)

Total Attendees: Numbers are not available. On screen are 10.

• Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?    On-Line:    yes            
• Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed? Yes
• Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
• Maintained civil conduct: attentive, courteous and open to varied opinions? Yes
• Provided adequate time for public input? 3 min.
• Appeared members were prepared? Yes
• Appeared that an action item, not put on agenda for closed session, was discussed in closed session vs. in public session?           No               
• Discussed any controversial topic?      No                      
• Took any unusual action?      No                                        
• Unacceptable behavior? No

• Making Democracy Work: Civic Ed
• Civil Discourse
• Social Safety Net
• DEI -The CA Commission on the Status of Hate is about hate crimes in CA, collecting data, how to address the experiences of victims of a hate crime. It is also concerned with prevention and how to approach this.

• Discussed sentencing enhancements, do they work to deter individuals.  An enhancement is when and individual commits a crime but there is an addition aspect of the crime that is based on hate.
• Want evidence to help inform complicated conversations about law enforcement interventions.  Exploring other forms via education, organizations addressing injustice, etc.
• Law enforcement dealing with hate, but not sure how to handle it. There will be training coming up in Carlsbad.  Working on outreach material for the indigenous community, currently.
• Hate toward disabled, seems to be attacked because they are disabled.
• POST, Police Officer Standards and Training; Commissioners will be meeting to the training creating a video. Will it be made public?
• Commissioner Sinnar spoke of the need for review of the effectiveness of these POST trainings as highlighted in the Little Hoover Report.
• Commissioner Damsky will review this report and explore the effectiveness of the upcoming training.
• Comm. Salcedo discussed the issue of culture transformation and how can this kind of training can be integrated in law enforcement training.  Without this type of education, there will not be real change.
• Discussion re: the video will not be made public, most likely.  Comm. Sinnar mentioned that making the video public, would go a long way to build the public trust that is lacking.  She also noted that not enough voices are at the table in the making of the video: LGBTQ+, people with mobility challenges, etc.
• Activision Blizzard must settle after 2 years for violation of equal pay and fair housing against women.  Civil Rights Dept, $54 million settlement. (See: https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/paydatareporting/)
• 2 upcoming public forums:
  • March 20, 2-5 p.m., Secretary of State will speak about the increase of hate during elections.
  • May 11 at Shingle Springs Reservation, discussion about understanding the issues of hate in the Native American experience.
  • Guest Lily Harvey, CRD director of outreach against hate and harassment in businesses, prevention training.  Will be launching a “Welcome In” program.

Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them?  Yes

Any recommendations for local League action on issues (Voter Services, Community Conversations, etc.) or on behaviors observed?  No

Adjourned: 11:10 am

Meeting - 1/24/24

LWV Observer Name:  Shawn Gilbert

Notice and Agenda (PDF)

• Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?       Yes        On-Line: Yes               
• Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed? Yes
• Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
• Maintained civil conduct: attentive, courteous and open to varied opinions? Yes
• Provided adequate time for public input? 3 minutes/person
• Appeared members were prepared? Yes
• Appeared that an action item, not put on agenda for closed session, was discussed in closed session vs. in public session?          No                
• Discussed any controversial topic?  Discussed the public forum that took place and its benefits by highlighting the difficulties the local elected confront                             
• Took any unusual action?  No                                               
• Unacceptable behavior? No

• Civil Discourse
• DEI

• Department Director of CA Civil Rights Department Becky Monroe, discussed the rise in hate since Oct 7, its exceptional rise in CA and her view that it will rise even more this year. Shared new tools for libraries and museums to use to counter hate.  Also, new resources for the community in amazing number of different languages.
• Commissioner Feiler acknowledged the good fortune that CA already had the Civil Rights Dept office up and working to help people who are being discriminated against prior to everything that has unraveled since October 7, 2023
• Commissioner Levin lead overview and discussion about the report, Hate Crime in the U.S. 2023: A Year of Broken Records.  
• Levin presented numerous charts visually showing the rise in hate crimes in the US as recorded in the 2023 report from the FBI. (See photos some are composites by Comm Levin.)
• Levin also spoke about the extreme rise in hate crimes in CA.
• Commission Feiler reported on last month’s successful Public March Public Forum, Rise of Hate in Election Year.
• May, late August or early Sept for additional Public Forums all will be in different parts of the state.
• Commissioner Southers talked about the Stalking Law and how it might be one possible way to push back on uncivil behavior happening in public meetings.
• Break at 10:51
• Returned at 10:58
• Home (ca.gov) to report hate incidents or crimes, 24/7.
• Moved to elect a new chair for this year: Commissioners interested to be chair must say so: Chair Roybal, Comm. Levin and Comm. Vice-Chair Salcedo are interested.
• Comm Roybal and Levin were nominated, each was given a moment of comment before Commission vote.
• Vote: Chair Roybal will continue in his role for another year.
• Vice Chair: Those interested: Comm. Salcedo, Comm. Levin; both were nominated and gave a brief comment.
• Vote: Vice Chair Salcedo was reelected for another year.
• Law Enforcement training report, Comm Southers and Comm Damsky: Discussed creating a 15 min. training video to train law enforcement officials on what is the new law AB449, and what does it require? Difference between an incident or crime?  How to respond to act of hate that are not a crime?  Commissioners worked with Peace Officers Standard Trainings to develop a 3-day training.
• Adjourned 11:59

Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them?  Yes

Meeting - 10/25/23

Number of Members:  7                            All Present? Yes  

• Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?       Yes        On-Line: Yes              
• Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed? Yes
• Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
• Maintained civil conduct: attentive, courteous and open to varied opinions? Yes
• Provided adequate time for public input? 3 minutes/person
• Appeared members were prepared? Yes
• Appeared that an action item, not put on agenda for closed session, was discussed in closed session vs. in public session?          No                
• Discussed any controversial topic?    Rise of hate during this time of Middle East war                             

• DEI

• Commissioner Levin acknowledged the pain of all who are grieving during the war in Israel. He quoted Pres. Biden’s statement from today.
• Levin Spoke and showed charts visually showing the rise in hate crimes in the US as recorded in the 20-22 report from the FBI.
• Levin also spoke of about the rise in hate crimes in CA, particularly in the LA region.
• Today’s meeting was an emotional one as the conversation was grounded in the rise in hate around the world and that this rise will regrettably, continue because of the war, as past data demonstrates whenever there has been conflict, especially in the Middle East.

Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them?  Yes