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WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24TH, 2024 TO ORDER AT EIGHT FORTY FIVE.
VICE PRESIDENT GORDON PETERSON.
UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY BRANDON HAM.
YOU STAND, PLEASE FACE THE FLAG, WHICH IS ON OUR LAPTOP.
UH, RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
BEGIN CONGRAT FLAG THE UNITED STATES, UNITED AMERICA IN WITH LIBERTY JUSTICE.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM OF BUSINESS FOR TODAY'S SPECIAL MEETING.
UH, DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDED ACTION IN RESPONSE TO PROPOSED BALLOT INITIATIVE.
CHRISTINA? OH, ACTUALLY, IF I COULD TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO HEAR A REPORT OR RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT FROM CHRISTINA.
I HAVE GORDON PETERSON AND UNA CHRISTINA.
UH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND ALL OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THIS MORNING.
UM, AT THE STATE OF THE CITY ON JANUARY 9TH, THE MAY ARE ANNOUNCED HIS PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT THROUGH A CONSOLIDATION WITH HUMAN RESOURCES WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT, I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR TO DISCUSS THIS PROPOSAL AND DIS AND TO DISPUTE THE RATIONALE BEING PUT FORTH.
I MUST ADMIT I FELT CONFIDENT.
I WAS DISPUTING THE RATIONALE WITH MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
ALL THE WHILE I'VE BEEN KEEPING THE COMMISSION INFORMED OF MY CONVERSATIONS.
LAST THURSDAY AFTERNOON, THE CITY MANAGER LET ME KNOW THAT HE WOULD BE DISTRIBUTING AN EMAIL TO THE ORGANIZATION TO ANNOUNCE THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT THE MAYOR HAD ANNOUNCED AT THE STATE OF THE CITY.
FORTUNATELY, I HAD SCHEDULED A STAFF MEETING THAT AFTERNOON AND WAS ABLE TO LET STAFF KNOW THERE WOULD BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT COMING FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
WE EXITED OUR MEETING TO FIND THE EMAIL HAD BEEN SENT DURING OUR MEETING.
SAME INFORMATION WAS ALSO SENT TO THE COMMISSION.
I HAVE, I HAVE ADVISED STAFF THAT WE STILL HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE PLAN PROVIDING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO HIRING MANAGERS THAT ULTIMATELY MAKE UP THE STAFF WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WE'LL, NOT LABOR IN THE COMMITMENT TO THIS EFFORT WHILE CONVERSATIONS GO ON IN THE CITY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO CARRY OUT THIS ELIMINATION OF CIVIL SERVICE, MY STAFF AND I STAND COMMITTED AND STEADFAST TO CONTINUE DOING THE BUSINESS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMISSION TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, WHICH I WILL SAY IS MUCH BETTER THAN IS BEING PORTRAYED IN THE CONVERSATION DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A VERY TALENTED AND COMMITTED STAFF.
TYPICALLY, I WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO OPENING, UH, DISCUSSION, BUT WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU KNOW, I, I WORK AT A PUBLIC COLLEGE DISTRICT, RIGHT? WE HAVE THE SAME LABOR PROTECTIONS AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS THAT EXIST HERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
WHEN I WENT FOR MY INTERVIEW, I DRESSED IN A NICE HETERONORMATIVE MEN SUIT.
MY NAILS WERE CUT SHORT AND KEPT PLAIN, AND I DIDN'T WEAR MAKEUP.
I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO AVOID PRONOUNS AND OR TALKING ABOUT MY PERSONAL LIFE.
AND I TRIED HARD TO SUPPRESS MY QUEER ACCENT AND EXPRESSIONS.
BUT THE THING ABOUT HIDING WHO YOU ARE IS YOU CAN'T DO IT FOR FOREVER.
BIT BY BIT, I WAS REVEALED FOR THE QUEER PERSON THAT I AM ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
THIS WAS AN ISSUE FOR SOME PEOPLE I WORKED WITH, INCLUDING SOMEONE WHO WAS ON MY HIRING COMMITTEE.
MY STAFF AND I HAVE BEEN HARASSED.
I BELIEVE I WAS DENIED A PROMOTION BECAUSE OF MY QUEER IDENTITY, AND I HAVE BEEN THREATENED BY MY BOSS WITH RETALIATION FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS BEHAVIOR.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION EXISTS TO STOP EXACTLY WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
WE TRY OUR BEST TO OBJECTIVELY MEASURE PEOPLE'S QUALIFICATIONS.
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THE CITY MANAGER, DON'T LIKE THAT.WE REQUIRE THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO BE INTERVIEWED FIRST.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING.
JOANNE OFTEN REMINDS US THAT WE'RE THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSION.
WE ARE THAT WE'RE ALSO THE EMPLOYEE'S COMMISSION.
WE'RE YOUR CHECK AGAINST UNFAIR PRACTICES AND HIRING, PROMOTION, DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL WHEN NEEDED, WE TELL MANAGERS NO.
SOMETIMES WE EVEN NEED TO TELL THE CITY MANAGER, NO, THIS CITY MANAGER TOM DOESN'T LIKE THAT.
HE'S TOLD ME AS MUCH DIRECTLY.
HE WANTS TO HAVE THE LAST WORD ON YOUR EMPLOYEE RIGHTS.
THAT IS THE POWER HE'S SEEKING TO REMOVE FROM THIS INDEPENDENT CHARTER COMMISSION.
I ASK THE MAYOR WHO DEFENDS EMPLOYEES AFTER THIS PROPOSAL.
HE SAID, THE CITY COUNCIL KNOW THAT I ADORE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEIR PROGRESSIVE VALUES.
MY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE MY FRIENDS, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE ON COUNCIL FOREVER.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT ARE INDEPENDENT BECAUSE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON WHO SITS ON THE COUNCIL.
AND FRANKLY, THE COUNCIL WILL NEVER HAVE THE TIME TO EXPLORE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE ISSUES TO THE LEVEL WE DO IN A SICK WAY.
I AM LUCKY THAT I CAN HIDE MY IDENTITY IN MY RESUME AND FOR THE DURATION OF AN HOUR LONG INTERVIEW.
THAT CAN'T BE SAID FOR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HERE, OR IF CHRISTINA OR GARY OR FOR MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE.
THERE ARE MANY MANAGERS IN THIS WORLD WHO HATE US JUST BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE.
MANY MORE ALLOW THEIR BIASES TO INFLUENCE DECISIONS.
I DON'T EXPECT TOM TO UNDERSTAND THAT EXPERIENCE, BUT I WILL MAKE DAMN SURE HE HEARS FROM US.
FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS WHERE I INTENDED TO END MY REMARKS.
UM, BUT I RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY FROM THE MAYOR IN AN EMAIL FROM TOM.
UM, THEY ARE OFFERING CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSION ON A PARALLEL TRACK WITH UNION MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.
THIS IS NOT IDEAL, BUT IT IS PROGRESS.
UH, AND I'M NOT ONE TO REFUSE AN HONEST OFFER TO TALK, UM, BECAUSE THE COMMISSION AND UNIONS ARE ENTERING DISCUSSIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, I DO HAVE A WORD OF ADVICE OR PERHAPS HOPE FOR OUR CIVIL SERVICE TEAM.
DEMAND THAT ALL PROMISES ARE PUT IN WRITING.
ENCOURAGE YOUR UNIONS TO GET SIGNED.
MOUS STATING HOW EVERY POSITION IN THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE KEPT WHOLE.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WORKING CONDITIONS ARE NOT JUST YOUR TITLE AND SALARIES.
IT'S YOUR TEAM, YOUR BOSS, AND YOUR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE DECISIONS.
SAD TO SAY, BUT YOU NEED TO ASSUME BAD FAITH.
THESE ARE YOUR CAREERS AND LIVELIHOODS ON THE LINE.
IN THE END, THIS PART OF YOUR LIFE AFFECTS SO MUCH OF YOUR WELLNESS AND HAPPINESS, AND IT AFFECTS ALL THOSE WHO RELY ON YOU.
YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BELIEVE EMPTY PROMISES.
WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN THE DISCUSSION TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
UM, AS A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE MYSELF, I SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
'CAUSE I HAVE SEEN OVER MY OVER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY HOW THINGS AND RULES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IN STONE BEEN CHANGED WORKERS CONDITIONS.
AND AN EMPLOYEE HAS NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.
SOMETIMES THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IS YOUR LAST CHANCE AND YOUR ONLY DEFENSE AGAINST WHAT MANAGEMENT WANTS TO DO.
AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT BAD MOUTHING ANYBODY.
UH, COMMISSIONER FROST HOLLAND SAID, I AGREE WITH WHAT HE SAID I DO.
UM, AS A BLACK WOMAN, UM, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THINGS THAT ARE NOT PLEASANT.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GUYS ARE TAKING THIS, THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE CITIZENS HERE, THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU ON YOUR JOBS OR YOUR COWORKERS.
SOMETIMES CIVIL SERVICE IS THE LAST BEST CHANCE YOU HAVE.
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I'M EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS.FIRST OF ALL, I SUPPORT MY MAYOR.
SO THIS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT HE'S GOING TO LEAD US IN THE DIRECTION THAT I ENTRUSTED HIM TO.
I HAD THAT IDEA BEFORE I JOINED THIS COMMISSION, AND I CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS IDEA IN MY HEAD.
AND SO I'VE GONE THROUGH, UM, MANY EMOTIONS SINCE I RECEIVED THE PHONE CALLS AND THEN THE EMAILS.
UNLESS YOU HAVE SUFFERED DISCRIMINATION, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
AND WHILE MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED A COMMISSION THAT YOU CAN COME TO IF YOU'RE HAVING ISSUES, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR FOOT GETTING THROUGH THE DOOR.
YOU SEE? 'CAUSE THAT REALLY IS THE ISSUE.
IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET YOUR FOOT THROUGH THE DOOR.
THAT'S WHAT AN IMPARTIAL HIRING COMMISSION DOES.
IT'S IMPARTIAL THAN NOT LOOKING AT THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.
I HAVE BEEN DENIED OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE I AM A BLACK WOMAN.
I SHARED THIS STORY WITH SOMEONE I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT I WAS STILL TRIGGERED BY IT UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I SAID.
THEY USED TO DO PHONE INTERVIEWS.
I'M AN OLD DOG, AND THEY WOULD CALL US ON THE PHONE AND DO A PRELIMINARY INTERVIEW.
I PASSED THREE PRELIMINARY INTERVIEWS AND WAS CALLED IN FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE THE HIRING INTERVIEW FOR THEM TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT ME.
AND THE PERSON THAT WAS ON THE PHONE AND TELLING ME THAT, YES, YOU'RE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WHEN I GOT THERE, THEY DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE MY BLACK FACE.
WHY? I COME FROM THE EAST COAST AND I'VE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
VERY RARELY CAN YOU TELL WHERE I COME FROM AND I DON'T SPEAK BLACK.
SO THEY EXPECTED A WHITE WOMAN TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
AND WHEN I SHOWED UP, I WAS NO LONGER THE ACCEPTED CANDIDATE ON MY FOURTH CALL, THE CALL CAME FROM FOUR, THIS IS HOW FAR BACK.
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT THEY DID.
DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU WHAT I SAID? I SAID, I'M NOT COMING UNLESS YOU GO BACK AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WILL HIRE A BLACK WOMAN.
AND THEY WERE SHOCKED THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE THE GALL TO SAY THAT.
GO AND ASK THEM BECAUSE I'M NOT WASTING ANY MORE OF MY TIME.
AND THEY CALLED ME BACK AND THEY SAID, WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN BEFORE.
BUT YES, THEY SAID THEY WILL INTERVIEW YOU.
AND IF YOU ARE THE QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, THEY DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE BLACK.
THAT MAN'S NAME WAS WILLIAM G RESNER.
I'M GONNA SHARE IT WITH YOU BECAUSE I KEEP RECEIPTS.
AND WHEN HE FINALLY MET ME, HE SAID, I HIRE PEOPLE BASED ON THE WORK THAT THEY'RE GONNA GIVE ME.
I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR YOU ARE, NOT GET TO WORK.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
SO I'M SHARING IT WITH YOU TODAY.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SERVES THE COMMUNITY, AND IT SHOULD REFLECT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HIRING AT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BUT IT'S NOT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
THAT IS NOT WHERE YOUR PROBLEM IS.
AND SO MY EXPECTATION IS THAT YOU'LL REVIEW THE PROBLEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE MAYOR IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET HIRED, BUT IT ISN'T FROM HERE.
I EXPECT THIS DEPARTMENT TO PRODUCE THE RECEIPTS.
I EXPECT YOU TO PROVE WHAT I AM SAYING.
IF THEIR HR DEPARTMENT IS CIRCUMVENTING YOU BY PUTTING NON CAREERS, AND THEY'RE NOT COMING FROM THE ELIGIBILITY LIST, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
IF YOU'VE GIVEN THE DEPARTMENT AN ELIGIBILITY LIST AND THEY'VE NEVER INTERVIEWED OR HIRED FROM THAT LIST, LET'S TALK ABOUT
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IT.IF YOU HAVE A REQUISITION THAT HAS LANGUISHED AND LANGUISHED THE LANGUAGE, AND NOW YOU WANNA HIRE FROM IT, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE REAL ISSUES ARE AND THEN LET'S FIX THEM.
BUT THROWING THE BATH WATER OUT WITH THE BABY AIN'T GOING TO DO IT.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD, I SUPPORT MY MAYOR.
I RESPECT HIM, I VALUE HIM, AND I SUPPORT HIM.
BUT I HAVE AN EXPECTATION FOR THIS COMMISSION TO COME FORWARD WITH THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH.
YOU HEARD WHAT MAXINE WATER SAID.
WELL, THEN, GOSH DARN IT, BRING 'EM OUT.
LET'S PROVE THAT WE'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN HIRED TO DO.
AND WHEN THEY SAY THAT, IT'S THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
WHEN THEY TELL YOU THAT THIS IS THE REASON WHY PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING HIRED, SHOW THEM OUT.
PRODUCE THE FACTS, GET OUT THE INFORMATION.
BECAUSE IN THE ABSENCE OF THE TRUTH, A FALSE NARRATIVE HAS EMERGED.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION CAN'T GET ANYONE HIRED.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE MAKING THESE STATEMENTS.
HOW CAN THEY MAKE THESE STATEMENTS? THEY BELIEVE THAT THE NARRATIVE IS TRUE.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? HAVE YOU PRODUCED THE RECEIPTS? HAVE YOU SHOWN STOP HIDING? BECAUSE THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IS DEPENDENT ON FACTS AND TRUTH.
AND I HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT WE DO CORRECT THE ISSUES SO WE CAN GIVE OUR COMMUNITY WHAT THEY NEED.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A JOB FILLED BY NON-CAREER PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON AN ELIGIBILITY LIST THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK.
SO LET'S GET TO WHAT THE FACTS ARE.
LET'S MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE THE ISSUES ARE SO WE CAN FIX THEM BECAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
THERE IS A PROBLEM AND LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.
LET'S SHOW WHERE THE PROBLEM IS SO WE CAN FIX IT.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.
WE MAY FIND DIFFERENT AVENUES, DIFFERENT ROADS TO GET THERE, BUT I KNOW WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING.
AND THAT IS TO BE OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE IN TRUSTING OUR MAYOR, BUT IT IS OUR JOB, NOT HIS, OUR JOB TO SHOW HIM EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME LOOKING FOR IT.
WE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY GIVEN HIM THE INFORMATION.
MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE SO ELOQUENTLY STATED, UH, VERY SIMILAR, IF NOT THE SAME FEELINGS, UH, OF MY, OF MY OWN.
HAVING HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS ASIDE FROM WHAT, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY SAID.
I ASKED ABOUT HEARING EMPLOYEES CONCERNS OR REQUESTS FOR SECOND OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
THEY SAID THAT IT'LL STILL BE THERE, BUT WITH WHO AND WHERE AND HOW.
AND ALTHOUGH MANY OF THOSE REQUESTS THAT COME BEFORE US COME WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, WE CAN'T DIRECTLY ADDRESS.
WE CERTAINLY ASK STAFF TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND FOLLOW UP.
THOSE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
THIS IS A COMMISSION WITH VARIED PERSPECTIVES, VARIED OPINIONS, VARIED, UM, EXPERIENCES IN LIFE.
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME IN HANDY.
AND ALTHOUGH WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE NECESSARILY BEHIND THE SCENES, WE AGREE A LOT.
AND WE DEFINITELY AGREE WITH PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST.
MY CONCERN WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS THAT THEY HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED TO THE PEOPLE BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, THIS BALLOT MEASURE.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE DIFFICULT ON THIS
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TEAM SOMETIMES AND ASK REALLY HARD QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE HOLD YOU TO A HIGH STANDARD.AND WE, WE HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, OF LONG BEACH, THE EMPLOYEES TO OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND YOU GUYS COME THROUGH WITH THOSE TOUGH, TOUGH QUESTIONS THAT WE ASK.
AND WE DO THAT TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS.
NOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR OWN PROCESS HERE AT CIVIL SERVICE.
BUT NO ONE HAS ASKED OR BOTHERED THROUGH TO LOOK THROUGH THE DATA AS TO WHERE THE PROBLEM AND THE ISSUES LIE WITH HIRING.
WE KNOW CIVIL SERVICE KNOWS VERY CLEARLY THAT IT DOESN'T REST HERE WITH CIVIL SERVICE.
NOW THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, OF COURSE, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER PROCESSES THAT FOLLOW WHEN SOMEONE IS BEING HIRED.
AND WITHOUT A CONVERSATION, WITHOUT DIVING INTO THE INFORMATION AS TO HOW THINGS HAPPENED, WHY THEY HAPPENED, SOMEONE'S DECIDED THAT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA TO PUT THIS BALLOT MEASURE IDEA OUT.
NOW, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN WITHOUT TALKING TO CIVIL SERVICE? AT THE VERY MINIMUM, REQUESTING INFORMATION.
SO YOU'RE MAKING AN EDUCATED DECISION AS TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT EFFECTIVE.
I NOW, IS THIS ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS? IT LOOKS GOOD.
WE'RE CHANGING, WE'RE DOING THINGS.
I MEAN, I, I TRULY BELIEVE PEOPLE WANT TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION AND TRULY HOLDING THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE.
NOW, A A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT ANSWERING REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS AS TO WHY THERE WAS FIVE LISTS DATING BACK TO OCTOBER OF 2022.
I APPLAUD THEM FOR COMING IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION,
BUT THAT TYPE OF DUE DILIGENCE IS WHAT I EXPECT OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR MAYOR TO DO.
AND MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION AS TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE A PROCESS TO IMPROVE IT.
WE ASK THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS, NOT TO PUT PEOPLE ON THE SPOT, NOT TO POINT THE FINGER, BUT TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR PROCESS AND HOW TO SHARE WITH THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT THEY SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HIRING AND HIRING QUICKLY, EFFECTIVELY, EFFICIENTLY.
SO, ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
AND I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, BUT I JUST REALLY WANNA PUT IT ON RECORD THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE AN INFORMED AND EDUCATED DECISION ON HOW TO IMPROVE SOMETHING IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE DATA.
IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
NOW, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO FIX? YOU DON'T.
AND SO, ASIDE FROM THE VERY IMPORTANT TASK OF HEARING THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND THEIR REQUEST, THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR QUESTIONS, THEY'RE ASKED FOR SECOND OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK THE VERY NEXT THING FOR ME, ASIDE FROM WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY SAID, IS JUST THAT LOOKING AT THE PROCESS, IT HASN'T BEEN DONE.
WILL IT BE DONE BEFORE SOMETHING IS, UH, PUT ON THE BALLOT? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK REALLY QUICKLY.
AND SO I DOUBT THAT A THOROUGH LOOK WILL BE TAKEN INTO ALL OF THE BUCKETS AND ALL OF THE STEPS THAT IT TAKES TO HIRE SOMEONE WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND JUST KNOW, MY FINAL WORDS ON THIS ISSUE TODAY IS THAT AS A CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT,
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I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION STANDS BEHIND YOU, STANDS BESIDE YOU, AND BELIEVES IN YOU.AND I KNOW ALL THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN PROBABLY REALLY HARD TO HEAR.
'CAUSE YOU'RE, YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS IN YOUR MIND.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, RIGHT? WE FIGHT REALLY HARD FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND WHATEVER IT MAY MEAN WE ARE WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT GO ROUND.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND ALL THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
IT IS NOT LOST ON US HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE IN THIS PROCESS.
AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR BACK.
I KEEP IT SHORT BECAUSE I'M GET OTHER BUSINESS.
UM, I WANT TO START OFF BY TELLING Y'ALL ABOUT THE FIRST TIME I EVER HEARD ABOUT ANYTHING, CIVIL SERVICE, RIGHT? UM, I WAS WORKING AT AN ORGANIZATION OUT IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES CALLED HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES.
AND, UM, I WAS WORKING AS THEIR DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
RIGHT? AND BASICALLY THAT TRANSLATED TO GETTING HOMIES JOBS, RIGHT? OBVIOUSLY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES, UM, THAT HAPPEN WHEN FOLKS WITH A BUNCH OF TATTOOS AND EVENTUALLY, IF THAT COMES UP WITH ANY TYPE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, UM, A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE EXCLUDED FROM, FROM OPPORTUNITIES UP FRONT, RIGHT? SO OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S WHO HOMEBOY INDUSTRY SERVES.
UM, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LIKE THE WORLD'S LARGEST GANG AND, AND REENTRY WE HAVE.
UM, AND I WORKED THERE FOR 10 YEARS.
SO IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT TIME.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I GOT TO DO WAS FIGHT TO CHANGE THAT RIGHT FIGHT TO, TO, TO CHANGE THE PRACTICE OF EXCLUDING PEOPLE ON THE FRONT END BECAUSE OF A DECISION, A CHOICE.
IF SOMETIMES WE CAN CALL IT A CHOICE, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT, UM, FOR A CHOICE.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE THEM ANY OPPORTUNITY.
WE WANT THEM TO REHABILITATE THEMSELVES, NOT RE-OFFEND, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE THEM ANY OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT? SO OBVIOUSLY I NEEDED TO CHANGE THAT POLICY, RIGHT? AND I STARTED OFF WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, AND, UM, THEY SAID, WELL, IF THE CITY'S GONNA CHANGE, ITS HIRING PRACTICES, IT'S GOTTA GO THROUGH CIVIL SERVICE.
I WAS LIKE, WHAT THE HELL'S THAT? YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT WE JUST GOTTA TALK TO THE MAYOR.
THIS IS LIKE DECADES AGO, MAYBE NOW, I THINK MAYBE TWO DECADES AGO NOW, RIGHT? THE MAYOR GOTTA WAVE HIS HAND AND MAGIC WILL HAPPEN, RIGHT? MAYBE IT SHOULD BE THAT EASY, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT SHOULDN'T BE.
RIGHT? THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
BUT I, I LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE, RIGHT? I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE DISCIPLINE PART.
SEE, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE, I RESEARCHED THE RECRUITMENT AND THE HIRING PRACTICES FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY OF LA.
RIGHT? AND I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A SPACE THAT I COULD GO AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, RIGHT? AS AN IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I COULD GO, THERE WAS A PLACE I COULD GO BECAUSE THEY HAD A BUSINESS WE RIGHT? AND I DIDN'T WANT, I DIDN'T, I NEED TO GO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ABOUT DISCIPLINE OR ANYTHING.
I NEEDED TO GO TALK ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT AND HIRING PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND HOW I FELT THAT THAT WAS UNFAIR TO PEOPLE LIKE ME, RIGHT? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF I WANTED THE MAYOR, ULTIMATELY THE LA CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE ON, CHANGING THEIR WHOLE PROCESS, RIGHT? AND ACTUALLY CREATING THE, WE WERE AFTER CREATING AN ACTUAL ORDINANCE, RIGHT? AN ACTUAL CITY LAW, RIGHT? THAT MAY MAY SAY
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IT'S ILLEGAL IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.I DON'T, IT'S KIND OF ILLEGAL HERE.
THERE'S ACTUAL, LIKE, THERE'S A WHOLE DEPARTMENT WAS CREATED AS A RESULT OF THIS.
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
THEY CREATED A DEPARTMENT THAT DEALT WITH DISCRIMINATION IN RECRUITMENT AND HIRING.
THEY CREATE, THAT DEPARTMENT DEALS WITH WAGE THEFT.
SO IT'S A PLACE PEOPLE CAN GO TO, RIGHT? BUT THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR COMMISSION HAD TO SUPPORT THIS CHANGE.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY EXISTED.
AND THEY HAD A PLACE WHERE WE COULD GO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
RIGHT? I ALSO BELIEVE IN HEARING EVERYTHING, RIGHT? I WANT TO HEAR EVERYTHING.
THE MAYOR CALLED ME THIS MORNING.
THEY WANT TO COME IN FEBRUARY.
I WANT 'EM TO COME IN FEBRUARY.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, A LOT OF HARD QUESTIONS.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW 'EM OUT IN THE AIR.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE GET TO DO TODAY, RIGHT? WE GET THROW A BUNCH OF STUFF OUT IN THE AIR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME, RIGHT? 'CAUSE THE ONE THING THAT I AM GONNA RESPECT, AND I WANT THIS DEPARTMENT TO KNOW, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO KNOW THAT I TAKE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE OPINION OF THE VOTERS VERY SERIOUSLY.
THIS IS, THIS IS A TRAIN THAT HAS LEFT THE STATION.
THE, THE MAYOR AND, AND THE CITY MANAGER ARE GONNA, AND, AND I'M, I'M SURE SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN ON THIS ALREADY TOO.
OKAY? THEY, THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW, RIGHT? IT'S REALLY ENDS UP BEING ON THE VOTERS.
BUT THAT THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO GET SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT.
HOW DO WE GET TO SOMETHING THAT IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE, RIGHT? I'M GONNA TELL YOU EXACTLY THE THINGS I TOLD THE MAYOR SO THAT HE CAN'T COME AND SAY, I, YOU SAID THIS TO ME, AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING THIS TO THE DEPARTMENT.
I TOLD IF, IF, IF THIS HAPPENS, RIGHT? 'CAUSE I'D ALSO LIKE TO PREPARE FOR EVERYTHING, RIGHT? IF THIS HAPPENS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A TRANSITION, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A FAIR AND EQUITABLE AND JUST TRANSITION FOR ANY STAFF THAT NEED TO MAKE A TRANSITION? BECAUSE I LIKE TO PREPARE FOR EVERYTHING, RIGHT? ARE WE HAVING THOSE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS, RIGHT? WHERE IS THE COMMUNITY GONNA COME TALK ABOUT IF THEY FEEL THERE ARE UNFAIR RECRUITMENT PRACTICES WHERE THEY CAN'T JUST SHOW UP AT HR, HR DOESN'T HAVE A SCHEDULED MEETING TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THEY'RE GONNA GO, THEY'RE GONNA RUN FROM THAT MUCH ENOUGH TO HR DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER.
BUT I'VE DEALT WITH MANY HR DEPARTMENTS.
THEY WANNA DEAL WITH THE COMMUNITY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY? THEY DON'T WANNA SAY SOMETHING IN A PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S GONNA PUT THE CITY AT RISK OR MAKE THEM LIABLE FOR SOMETHING.
SO WHERE WOULD THE COMMUNITY COME AND SAY, YOUR POSTING IS? UN IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S UNFAIR.
YOUR JOB POSTING, WHERE ARE THEY GONNA, WE CAN, COMMUNITY CAN SHOW UP.
NOW WHETHER THEY MAKE THAT CHOICE TOO OR NOT, THAT'S ON THE COMMUNITY ALSO, RIGHT? BUT THERE IS A SPACE HERE WHERE IF SOMEBODY SAYS, YOU'RE CHANGING THIS JOB POSTING, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT, OR YOU SHOULD MAKE THESE CHANGES IN ADDITION TO THOSE CHANGES, WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO TO? THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS, RIGHT? THOSE ARE THE LEGITIMATE, VALID QUESTIONS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT, ABOUT, I LIKE THIS SIDE AND I DON'T LIKE THIS SIDE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, THESE ARE VERY VALID QUESTIONS TO ME.
I WANT TO KNOW WHEN I'M NOT A COMMISSIONER ANYMORE.
'CAUSE THIS AIN'T FRED EITHER WHEN I'M NOT A COMMISSIONER ANYMORE AND I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA APPLY FOR HER JOB OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? AND I FEEL THAT I'M TREATED UNFAIRLY IN THAT PROCESS.
WHO AM I GONNA GO TO? HR GONNA SHUT THE DOOR ON ME, BE LIKE, WE DID EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK, BY, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE.
I, I'VE GONE THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT TRANSITIONS, RIGHT? I'M GOING THROUGH A BIG TRANSITION RIGHT NOW AND IN, IN, IN, IN TRYING TO GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF LIKE LA COUNTY PROBATION STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE NOT NEEDED ANYMORE.
HOW DO WE MAKE THEM JUST AN EQUITABLE TRANSITION FOR THOSE FOLKS? IF THESE THINGS HAPPEN, THEY HAPPEN.
RIGHT? I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE.
I WANT THE MAYOR TO COME AND, AND TALK TO US.
I WANT THE CITY MANAGER TO COME AND TALK TO US.
I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGES ARE GONNA HAPPEN WITHIN THE COMMISSION.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA BE OVERSEE OR NOT OVERSEE? I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THAT FROM ANYBODY YET, RIGHT? NOT OFFICIALLY.
I GET A LOT OF THIS, A LOT OF THAT.
THE FIRST THING I EVER HEARD ABOUT THIS THING WAS THEY'RE GONNA DO AWAY WITH CIVIL SERVICE, PERIOD.
RIGHT? SO, OF COURSE I WAS LIKE, IT'S CRAZY.
[00:35:01]
SO I I, I, I WANT US TO REALLY TAKE THE, THE MAYOR UP ON THIS OFFER.COME AND, AND, AND THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD, I WOULD, I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF STAFF IN HERE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR ANYBODY THAT'S A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING STAFF.
SO IF YOU FEEL SOME KIND OF WAY I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT, I WANNA KNOW HOW STAFF FEELS ABOUT THIS.
DO YOU TALK TO AMONGST EACH OTHER? TALK TO YOUR BOSSES.
I DON'T WANT IT TO JUST BE A ONE WAY CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.
OKAY? 'CAUSE I, ONE OF 1, 2, 3, 4, Y'ALL MIGHT BE LIKE, I'M WITH THAT.
AND, AND IF THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL, THAT'S OKAY.
LIKE, I WANT, THAT'S WHAT I'M ABOUT.
I WANT TO KNOW EVERY POINT OF VIEW BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE AND IT'S NOT THE, IT'S NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IN THIS SITUATION AT ALL.
I CAN FEEL HOWEVER I WANT TO FEEL ABOUT THIS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL STILL BE A COMMISSIONER.
I'LL TURN OUT AND THAT'S THAT WHO THIS IS GONNA IMPACT THE MOST IS STAFF SECONDARY COMMUNITY.
OKAY? THAT'S WHO'S IMPACTED THE MOST IN THIS DYNAMIC.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM AS WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? FROM ALL OF Y'ALL, I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY TO COME TALK ABOUT THIS, WHATEVER, HOWEVER THEY FEEL.
I DON'T, I'M NOT GONNA ONLY PICK PEOPLE THAT SAY I WANT, I WANT, IM, I WANT TO GO TALK ON THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER.
I WANT TO HEAR EVERY PERSPECTIVE AND, AND, AND, AND, AND THEN GIVE A VERY INFORMED AND VERY PERSONAL OPINION, RIGHT? I HAVE MY OWN MY VERY OWN PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? SO I WANTED Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT, I'M GONNA STAND WITH THE DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? WHATEVER THE POWERS THAT WE DECIDE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS JUST, THAT IT'S EQUITABLE, THAT WE HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, IF SOMETHING ENDS UP ON THE BALLOT, THE VOTERS DECIDE.
ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT, RIGHT? UM, I'VE HAD TO RESPECT A LOT OF, A LOT OF DECISIONS MY FELLOW VOTERS MADE THAT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH FROM THE VERY HIGHEST DECISION MADE ABOUT WHO RUNS THE ENTIRE JOINT, RIGHT?
WELL, I'LL SAY, AND, AND YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT, MOST OF US HAVE VERY STRONG CONNECTIONS TO THE MAYOR OR THE COUNCIL, SORT OF THE NATURE OF HOW YOU END UP IN ONE OF THESE ROLES.
UM, AND I DO CARE DEEPLY FOR THE MAYOR AND, AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I DON'T THINK THEY REALIZED HOW MUCH TIME WE SPEND TOGETHER.
WE ARE TOGETHER UP TO EIGHT HOURS EVERY WEDNESDAY.
WE'RE TOGETHER AT SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE'RE TOGETHER AT CITY ACTIVITIES.
WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER AND WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH YOU.
I MEAN, THIS, THE, THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A SECOND, ALMOST A SECOND CAREER FOR ALL OF US.
IT'S WHAT WE'RE INVESTING THAT PART OF OUR TIME IN.
UM, AND I THINK AS MO DEEPLY AS I CARE ABOUT THE MAYOR AND I CARE ABOUT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I CARE ABOUT THIS TEAM FIRST.
UM, YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION TO ME AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE READY TO TAKE A POSITION ON THE PROPOSAL.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UH, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION IF PERHAPS COMMISSIONER GORDON OR VICE PRESIDENT GORDON PETERSON AND COMMISSIONER ASUNA WILL ALLOW, UM, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO EXPRESS OUR DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE LACK OF CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO SENDING THIS PROPOSAL OUT TO ALL 7,000 CITY EMPLOYEES.
AND, UM, AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE INVITATION TO CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR AND THE, AND THE CITY MANAGER IN OPEN SESSION.
[00:40:01]
I'M IN AGREEMENT.SO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OONA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? OKAY, WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY, UH, ANY ABSTENTIONS? THIS MOTION CARRIES.
UH, I THINK THERE'S A SECOND MOTION, UH, I WOULD ASK FOR, AND THAT IS TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE A MORE RESPECTFUL TONE TOWARDS THE DEPARTMENT AND FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS WITH CITY EMPLOYEES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT MOTION CARRIES.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER MOTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON THE TABLE WITH THAT? I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR ITEM OF BUSINESS.
UM, THAT LEADS US INTO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANYTHING MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO
UM, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. YES, CAPRIS? YEAH.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK, UH, THE COMMISSION FOR CALLING THIS SPECIAL MEETING, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IN CLOSE.
UM, BECAUSE YOUR, YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS IN THE POSITION THAT YOU TAKE ON THIS MATTERS AS WELL.
UM, FROM BEING A MEMBER OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND BEING ABLE TO BE IN EVERY ROLE OF THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH THIS, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 33 YEARS.
I'VE ONLY BEEN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR 23.
UM, I WAS IN VICKY'S, UH, COMMISSIONER LOVE'S POSITION WHERE I CAME IN THE CITY.
I WAS ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT BENEFIT FROM A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AT BOL.
I HAD THE QUALIFICATIONS, I HAD COME IN, BUT I HAD TO COME IN AND TAKE EVERY SINGLE STEP.
I WASN'T ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SKIP OVER STEPS, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I WAS ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST AND SCORED HIGH ENOUGH IN BAND.
I WAS, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY DEPARTMENTS WERE FORCED TO GIVE ME THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, DEMONSTRATE MY, UH, ABILITIES, QUALIFICATIONS.
AND OFTENTIMES IT TOOK TWO OR THREE, UM, INTERVIEWS, UM, THAT AFTER THEY HIRED ONE OR TWO OR THREE PEOPLE, AND THEN IT FINALLY GOT TO ME AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, YOU KNOW, UM, AND I PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD AND I'VE ONLY DONE GIVEN MY A HUNDRED PERCENT IN EVERY ROLE.
WHEN I WAS A CLERK TITUS, I SAID I WAS THE BEST PERSON IN THE CITY WHEN I WAS A BUREAU SECRETARY.
I SAID I WAS THE BEST BUREAU SECRETARY IN THE CITY, AND I THOUGHT I WAS REALLY DOING IT.
I WAS A TRIPLE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST ONE AND ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST.
ONE PERSONNEL ANALYST TWO, PERSONNEL ANALYST.
THREE BEFORE SPECIAL PROJECTS.
SO YOU SEE, I I HAD, IT WAS A JOURNEY FOR ME.
SO I'VE BEEN IN ALL ROLES AND COMMISSIONER GORDON PETERSON, I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
I, I'M VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND EVEN FROM WHERE I SIT IN CIVIL SERVICE TO SEE THINGS BEING DONE TO OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES AND NOT IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, I, THERE'S BEEN SO MANY TIMES I WAS LIKE, I WISH I COULD CALL THIS EMPLOYEE UP.
I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT'S DOING TO, BUT I KEPT IT.
I STAYED IN MY LANE, I KEPT MY POSITION AND I UNDERSTOOD WHAT MY ROLE WAS.
IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, LET'S FIX THE PROBLEM.
LET'S TRY TO EDUCATE THE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE SAW THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING THAT WAS UNFAIR.
AND WE'RE LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO TO REMOVE THIS UNFAIRNESS? AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WE'RE HERE, UM, FOR FAIRNESS AND EQUITY FIRST SPEED COMES AFTERWARDS.
BUT I, THERE'S BEEN ISSUES WHERE, UM, THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WANNA HAVE THIS FASTER, BUT LET'S FIX THIS PROBLEM FIRST.
IT, IT IS SO MUCH WE CAN, WE CAN HIRE SOMEONE QUICKLY BY SKIPPING OVER FAIRNESS AND EQUITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY TAKES FIVE MINUTES TO HIRE SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, BUT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE EVERYONE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY, IT, IT, IT'S GONNA TAKE A SOME TIME.
AND, AND I AGREE WITH, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, AIR PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, I, I THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, IT'S DISCRIMINATION.
[00:45:01]
THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.I CAN PULL UP JOB BULLETINS FROM YEARS AGO WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WEREN'T FEMALE, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AND DATA IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE DO NEED TO COLLECT THAT DATA BECAUSE I'M SEEING KEYWORDS THAT'S BEING PUT OUT THERE THAT IT TAKES SEVEN MONTHS TO HIRE.
WELL, YEAH, PROBABLY TAKES SEVEN MONTHS HIGHER, BUT, UM, HOW LONG DID THE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE IS FIVE MONTHS.
YOU KNOW? SO IT'S LIKE PART OF THE TRUTH IS OUT, BUT NOT THE ENTIRE STORY.
OKAY? AND I WAS GETTING FRUSTRATED OVER THE WEEKEND.
I'M LIKE, LET ME LOOK AND SEE WHAT I CAN PULL TOGETHER FOR TIME TO HIRE.
I WAS GETTING FRUSTRATED SEEING THAT I'VE TOLD DEPARTMENTS, YOUR, YOUR, UM, REQUISITION IS EXPIRED.
YOU USED IT FOR TWO RECRUITMENTS, BUT YOU DIDN'T HIRE, AND NOW YOU WANT TO USE THE SAME REQUISITION FOR A NEW RECRUITMENT.
WELL, AND YOU FINALLY FILL IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT TOOK YOU TWO YEARS TO FILL THAT VACANCY.
OKAY, WELL LET'S, LET'S GET THAT STORY OUT.
UM, AND AS FAR AS SECOND CHANCE, YOU KNOW, EVEN SOMETHING, A SITUATION HAPPENED, I'M GLAD THE CITY IS TAKING A STANCE ON SECOND CHANCE.
'CAUSE SECOND CHANCE IS NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S FOR EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS, THAT DOESN'T WANT TO HIRE FROM ELIGIBLE.
AND I'M HEARING THE WORD AS WELL.
THERE'S PEOPLE THAT'S NOT HIREABLE.
HOW IS SOMEONE NOT HIREABLE? ARE YOU JUDGING THEM BASED ON A MISTAKE THEY MADE THREE YEARS AGO? YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CANNOT RECOVER IN A CAREER.
AND THAT'S WHY I CREATED A ELECTRONIC TRANSFER LIST, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND THE CITY, NOT BY RUMORS, NOT BY UM, REPUTATION, BUT LET THEM BE ABLE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND DEMONSTRATE, THIS IS HOW I GROWN.
OKAY? BECAUSE WE HAD A TRANSFER PROCESS BEFORE WHERE IT WAS JUST A NAME LISTED ON A REQUISITION.
AND HOW DO DEPARTMENTS, UH, THEY PICK UP AND CALL AND THEY SAY, OH, YOU HEAR RUNWAY, OH, THIS PERSON HERE AND A PERSON WAS BLACKBALL.
BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE OUTGROW A RELATIONSHIP AND THEY FLOURISH SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO SECOND CHANCES ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, AND, AND I BELIEVE IN THE, THE VOTE.
I'M GONNA, UM, GO OUT AND MAKE CAST MY VOTE.
AND I, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE A DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE.
NOT SO MUCH TO PERSUADE PEOPLE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION SO THEY CAN KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE FOLKS THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO KNOCK ON A HEARING AND SAY, HEY, I, I DISAGREE.
YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEARING.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
YOU'RE ONLY GONNA BE HEARING DISCIPLINE HEARINGS.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO, SOMEONE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SAY, I WAS, I, I NEED TO PROTEST THIS TEST.
IT WAS DONE IN THE BARELY WHERE, WHERE'S THEIR PLATFORM, YOU KNOW? AND FROM EXPERIENCE, UM, HUMAN RESOURCES, IT'S THE CITY FIRST.
AND ABSOLUTELY THAT'S THE POSITION YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE.
UM, IT'S THE CITY FIRST AND WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY, NOT WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OR FAIRNESS OF THE PERSON.
UM, AND I TAKE OFFENSE THAT THIS ORGANIZATION WOULD EVEN THINK THAT DISCRIMINATION NO LONGER EXISTS.
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HIRED SOME BLACK PEOPLE.
WELL, I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT BECAUSE IT HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND AND I'VE BEEN AFFECTED.
IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER? RIGHT? UH, THERE BEING NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND NO ADDITIONAL, UH, BUSINESS BEFORE, UH, THIS COMMISSION.
WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 9:34 AM THANK YOU.