Oct 28, 2026 Commission for Women and Girls

UM, COULD WE PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? MOTION CARRIES.

IN, BASED IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM TWO IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FOR THE HUMAN TRA TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, PROVIDING UPDATES ON ITS PROGRESS AND DRAFTING REPORT ON THE STATUS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN LONG BEACH.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND FOR THIS ITEM.

IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ELLEN HARPER AND SECONDED BY, UH, VICE CHAIR MOSQUERA.

CAN WE, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS TERESAS GOMEZ.

I AM THE HUMAN DIGNITY PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

I'M

[2. 26-56512 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Human Trafficking Task Force providing updates on its progress in drafting a report on the status of human trafficking in Long Beach. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

I AM PART OF THE LONG BEACH HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE.

AND WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU A REPORT BACK ON THE STATUS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR CITY.

IT'S A REPORT THAT WAS DONE BY THE, UM, SOCIAL WORK DIVISION

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OF CAL STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH THIS PAST YEAR.

WELL, THIS PA WITHIN THIS PAST YEAR.

UM, SO WITH THAT, I'LL INTRODUCE MARYANNE SYLVESTRI.

SHE'S GONNA RUN THROUGH THE REPORT.

THIS IS THE CLICKER, RIGHT? OH, OKAY.

YOU'LL BE MY CLICKER PERSON.

THING BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY BE TRAFFICKED AND THEY THEMSELVES DON'T KNOW IT.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TONIGHT.

UH, THIS REPORT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.

IT WAS LONG OVERDUE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE.

WE WERE GLAD THAT TASK FORCE WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT ON WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF THIS COMMISSION.

AND IT WAS COMPLETED EARLY IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR.

AND BASICALLY THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF IT WAS TO GET FINDINGS ABOUT WHAT IS THE LANDSCAPE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UM, WHAT, WHO IS THE POPULATION SERVED? WHAT IS THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA? WHAT ARE THE SCREENING CAPACITIES? CAPACITIES, AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT THE CITY FACES AS CONVEYED THROUGH THE FINDINGS AND DATA COLLECTED BY THESE STUDENTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE? SO, FIRST OF ALL, THE SURVEY WAS SENT OUT ELECTRONICALLY TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY OVER A HUNDRED MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE.

THEY ARE, UH, NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE, ALL KINDS OF AGENCIES.

18 RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY.

SO THEY WERE SERVICE PROVIDERS, MEMBERS OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS.

SO WITH THAT, UM, 18 ORGANIZATIONS IS NOT THE FULL MEMBER.

SO THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS THAT I DO WANNA POINT OUT.

FIRST OF ALL, OBVIOUSLY THAT NOT ALL ENTITIES RESPONDED, AND THAT THIS REPORT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE FULL SCOPE OF THE ACTIVITIES, SERVICES OR EVEN THE TRAFFICKING SITUATION IN LONG BEACH IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

IT IS A SNAPSHOT COMPRISED FROM WHAT WE HEARD BACK FROM THESE 18 ORGANIZATIONS.

SO FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WERE THE SERVICES MOST FREQUENTLY PROVIDED? UH, CASE MANAGEMENT, BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

OF THE 18 ORGANIZATIONS, THESE ARE THE SERVICES MOST OFTEN PROVIDED.

SO THESE SERVICES BASICALLY ARE ORIENTED TOWARD ONGOING SERVICE SUPPORT AND STABILIZATION.

THE NEXT ISSUE WAS WHAT WAS THE POPULATION SERVED.

ALL AGES ACROSS THE BOARD FROM MINORS TO OVER 65 ARE SERVICED BY ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO, AND THEY WERE SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING, LABOR TRAFFICKING, CSEC, WHICH IS THE YOUTH, AND THEY SPAN ALL THE WAY FROM YOUTH TO OLDER ADULTS.

SO THIS COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF CARE SHOWS THAT IT IS THE ENTIRE LIFESPAN OF PEOPLE THAT IS BEING AFFECTED BY HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND EACH OF THESE AGE GROUPS HAS THEIR OWN ELIGIBILITY AND SERVICES THAT APPLY TO THEM.

SO THERE ISN'T A CONTINUUM.

OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE TO GO FROM THE UNDER 18, THEN THE 18 TO 24, THEN THE OVER 24.

AND THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A CONTINUUM THAT TAKES YOU THROUGH THAT.

DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS DEAL WITH DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.

UM, THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT PEOPLE WERE IN TRAFFICKING, THE LARGEST NUMBER WAS ONE TO FIVE YEARS.

SO AGAIN, THAT JUST SHOWS THAT IT IS A HISTORY OF TRAFFICKING.

SO AGAIN, POINTING TO THE FACT THAT THERE HAS TO BE A LONG-TERM CONTINUUM OF CARE, NOT JUST A SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF VICTIM SURVIVORS IN THE LONG BEACH AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

UH, THESE NUMBERS ARE AVERAGES.

AND AGAIN, SOME OF THEM MAY BE DUPLICATIVE IN THE SENSE THAT SOME ORGANIZATIONS MIGHT BE DEALING WITH THE SAME PERSON, BUT IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.

MENTAL HEALTH MAY BE ONE PERSON, A CASE MANAGER FOR OUTREACH MAY BE ANOTHER, BUT THEY DID GIVE US A REASONABLE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED WAS 4,781, IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR ALONE, 1,413.

AND AS OF APRIL, 2020 SIXTH, WHEN THE SURVEY WAS TAKEN, CURRENTLY BEING SERVED 947.

SO THAT GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS IN LONG BEACH IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

AND THE MOST COMMON WAY FOR PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS BEING TRAFFICKED ARE EITHER REFERRED FROM A PARTNER OR SELF-IDENTIFIED THROUGH A DISCLOSURE, UM, OR DURING OUTREACH.

AND AGAIN, THIS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT ALSO IS IMPORTANT FOR SOMEONE TO SELF-IDENTIFY.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT

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SO THEY MAY NOT IDENTIFY AS BEING TRAFFICKED.

SO THIS NUMBER COULD BE LARGER AND IT MAY NOT BE AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM EITHER.

UM, THE AREAS OF CONCERN IN LONG BEACH PRIMARILY ARE LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.

IT IS NORTH LONG BEACH.

UM, ADDITIONAL AREAS OF CONCERN IN LA AND ORANGE COUNTY, BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE ARE NO REAL GEOGRAPHIC BORDERS.

PEOPLE ARE MOVED OVER, UP AND DOWN.

I WAS JUST A FORGOTTEN CHILDREN YESTERDAY IN LINWOOD, AND THEY WERE TELLING ME THAT, UH, THEY WERE, LINWOOD WAS TRYING TO PUSH EVERYBODY TO COMPTON, WHICH IS LITERALLY TWO BLOCKS FROM FORGOTTEN CHILDREN.

IT'S ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.

AND TO PUSH 'EM TWO BLOCKS DOWN GETS THEM INTO COMPTON.

AND IF YOU PUSH 'EM DOWN FROM COMPTON, THEY GET INTO LONG BEACH.

SO THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING MOVED UP AND DOWN ALONG THESE CORRIDORS.

UM, BEACH BOULEVARD IN ANAHEIM, FIGUEROA CORRIDOR, HARBOR BOULEVARD, SEPULVEDA BOULEVARD, THESE ARE ALL HOT SPOTS.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE RECURRENCE OF THESE SITUATIONS ON THESE CORRIDORS MEANS THAT THE FOCUS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR PREVENTION, FOR OUTREACH, ALL HAS TO BE FOCUSED ON THOSE AREAS.

AND THE CITIES HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THAT IS WHERE THEY NEED TO PUT THEIR RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO TARGET WHERE MOST OF THE TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY.

UM, THE SYSTEM CHALLENGES WHAT WE WERE GOT IDENTIFIED FROM THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED WERE HOUSING SHORTAGES, LIMITED, FLEXIBLE FUNDING, STAFFING CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS, AND BUILDING TRUST AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURVIVORS.

AND THESE CHALLENGES ALIGN, WHICH WITH WHAT WE ARE HEARING NATIONALLY, IT IS THE SAME THING.

IT IS THE FACT THAT, UM, MORE HOUSING IS NEEDED, MORE FLEXIBLE FUNDING BY THESE ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORT FOR THE WORKFORCE.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE BURNOUT FACTOR BECAUSE WHEN, UH, A SURVIVOR IS CONTACTED OR STARTS TO BE REACHED OUT TO, THEY OFTEN DO NOT CONTINUE A PROGRAM.

THEY, IT, THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THEM AGAIN, IS 20 TIMES ON AVERAGE.

EVEN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR IS FIVE.

AND OFTENTIMES, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE BEING TRAFFICKED.

SO THAT ADDS TO THE DIFFICULTY OF THE LONG-TERM INTERVENTION AND ULTIMATE RESOLUTION OF MAKING THESE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE.

SO, THE KEY IMPLICATIONS FROM THIS REPORT ARE THAT LONG BEACH HAS A STRONG CAPACITY IN TERMS OF CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, AND BASIC NEED SUPPORT.

BUT HOUSING REMAINS A CRI, UH, CRITICAL BOTTLENECK ACROSS ALL THE SERVICE PROVIDERS.

SO WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCE COORDINATION.

AGAIN, FLEXIBLE FUNDING, LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR CARE.

WE ALSO NEED TO IDENTIFY, UM, BETTER WAYS FOR REFERRALS AS OPPOSED TO JUST SELF-DISCLOSURE AND REFERRALS.

SO WE NEED TO ENHANCE THESE REFERRAL PATHWAYS ACROSS AGENCY LINES.

AND A LOT OF THAT COMES WITH HOW THE DATA IS ACCUMULATED, HOW IT'S SHARED, AND HOW IT'S STORED.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IS THAT A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY RETAIN DATA FOR DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF TIMES.

THEY COLLECT IT DIFFERENTLY.

AND WITHOUT THERE BEING A COMMON DATABASE, YOU'RE OFTENTIMES COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING COLLECTED IN THE SAME WAY.

SO IF THE CITY OR SOME ORGANIZATION, OR MAYBE THE TASK FORCE TAKES IT UPON THEMSELVES TO SAY, WE NEED TO STANDARDIZE DATA FOR REPORTING PURPOSES, THEN WE WILL GET A MORE ACCURATE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS AREA.

ALSO, AGAIN, THE FACT THAT THESE ARE REOCCURRING, UH, REOCCURRING GEOGRAPHIC CORRIDOR CONCERNS SHOULD MAKE THIS HOTSPOT INFORMATION VALUABLE FOR PURPOSES OF GUIDING OUTREACH AND PREVENTION EFFORTS IN THOSE AREAS.

IF THERE'S A FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS, THEN THAT CAN GO A LONG WAY IN PREVENTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE CITY.

SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WERE REVEALED THROUGH THE REPORT, AND I THINK THAT THIS KIND OF INFORMATION IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE FOR US AS A TASK FORCE TO KNOW HOW BEST TO PROCEED, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO THE CITY AND TO THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION TO CREATE THE LARGER POLICY DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE OUR SHORTFALLS, LIKE THE FLEXIBLE SPENDING, THE LONG-TERM CONTINUUM OF CARE AND HOUSING OPTIONS, WHICH SEEM TO BE THE THREE PRIMARY AREAS WHERE WE ARE BASICALLY NOT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THROUGH ON WHAT WE CAN DO FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS AT THIS

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TIME.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO THERESA AND SHE CAN TALK ABOUT THE RECENT COLLABORATION.

I'M NOT, UH, SURE IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE REACT, UH, STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AND THAT HAS ACTUALLY MOVED A LOT OF THE ISSUES FORWARD ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

THERE HAS BEEN EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE NORTH LONG BEACH, LONG BEACH BOULEVARD TO BRING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BRING EXTRA LIGHTING TO THE CORRIDOR TO REACH OUT TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND INFORM THEM OF THE ISSUES.

UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO BRING LIGHT TO THIS AND TO BRING TRAINING.

THERE'S A LOT OF, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CERTAIN THINGS ARE PUBLIC YET, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE COMING.

FIRST OF ALL, ONE THING THAT I THINK IS A HUGE WIN AND THAT I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOR THE LONGEST, UM, IS A HUMAN TRAFFICKING COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WHICH WAS FUNDED.

AND FINALLY WE WILL HAVE THAT, WE'RE WORKING ON PUTTING OUT THE JOB BULLETIN, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A HUGE WIN FOR US.

AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY 27 YEARS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR THE LAST 15.

AND UP UNTIL THEN, I WAS THE ONLY ONE AS A CITY EMPLOYEE HELPING ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

SO I THINK THAT'S A HUGE WIN FOR OUR CITY.

AND HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE MORE.

WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY OF COMPTON AND LINWOOD BECAUSE THESE ARE THE THREE CITIES THAT LINED UP TOWARD EACH OTHER BECAUSE HISTORICALLY THE ISSUE IS IN LONG BEACH AND TRAVELS UP NORTH TO COMPTON, AND COMPTON PUSHES IT TO LINWOOD, LINWOOD PUSHES IT BACK DOWN TO COMPTON AND BACK TO LONG BEACH.

SO THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS FOR US AS A CITY, AS THE THREE CITIES TO BETTER COMMUNICATE ON WHAT WE DO ON OUR EFFORTS AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S EFFORTS.

THAT'S THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

AND THE OTHER THING ABOUT HOUSING, I DO WANNA SAY IS THAT HOUSING IS AN ISSUE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S SO LIMITED HOUSING FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

IT'S ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WOMEN'S SHELTERS WILL NOT TAKE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL JUST GO TO A WOMEN'S SHELTER.

SO IT'S GOTTA, THAT'S WHY IT'S GOTTA BE SPECIFIC TO SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING.

THE, THE, UM, HOUSING.

UM, RECENTLY WE DID MEET WITH THE, UH, CITY PLANNER WHO, AGAIN, THE CITY, CITY PLANNER, THEY CAME TO THE TASK FORCE TO GET THEIR INPUT ON THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A NO LOITERING ORDINANCE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT COME WITH THAT.

SO THEY ARE DOING THEIR RESEARCH TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND, UM, WE PROVIDED STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK REGARDING SURVIVOR-CENTERED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES TO PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

DID I HAVE ANOTHER ONE? LEMME SEE.

AND THE CONTINUED COMMUNICATION WITH OUR LONG BEACH PD, UM, IN EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

LET ME GO BACK.

WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO THE COMMISSION TWO YEARS AGO, APPROXIMATELY, THAT KIND OF REALLY, I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO YOU AS A COMMISSION THAT KIND OF GOT THE WHEELS TURNING ON THIS ISSUE.

YOU HELPED US ELEVATE THE ISSUE.

UH, WE DID GET SOME RESPONSE, UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE KIND OF BACK TO WHERE IT WAS WHERE WE'RE NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT, UH, BECAUSE THERE IS, I UNDERSTAND, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, STAFFING RESTRICTIONS AND CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A COMMITTED OFFICER AT THE TASK FORCE MEETINGS EVERY MONTH JUST TO SHARE ON A LOCAL LEVEL THE STATUS OF THEIR OPERATIONS.

NO, NEVER PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION THAT'S NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT JUST WHAT IS GOING ON FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT.

UH, WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS LAST MONTH I HAD A, UH, FBI AGENT CALL ME, AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED.

HE CALLED ME AND SAID, MY NAME IS, UH, AGENT V ANO, I'M ASSIGNED TO LONG BEACH TO SPECIFICALLY WORK ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND I'M LIKE, WOW, THAT'S GREAT.

HE'S LIKE, YEAH, LET ME KNOW.

TELL ME WHO TO GET IN TOUCH WITH.

I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH LONG BEACH PD.

HE GOES, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STAFFING LIMITATIONS, BUT I WANNA BE INVOLVED WITH THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK.

SO I IMMEDIATELY

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CONNECTED HIM WITH THE TASK FORCE.

HE MET WITH THE BOARD AND IT, IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE SOMEBODY REACH OUT TO US AT THAT LEVEL.

SO HE'S GONNA BE PART OF OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS.

HE'S GONNA PRESENT AT THE NEXT, I THINK THE JANUARY MEETING.

BUT IT WAS, IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE HIM STEP IN AND EXCITED TO WORK WITH US AS IN PARTNERSHIP.

AND LOOKING AHEAD, THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO DO AND STRENGTH IS STRENGTHENING OUR COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.

EXPAND COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EFFORTS, PROMOTE SURVIVOR-CENTERED TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSES, AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING COORDINATED STRATEGIES IN COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVORS IN LONG BEACH.

SO THOSE ARE THE, AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE WORKING ON AS A CITY, I DUNNO IF IT'S BEEN SHARED, UM, IS A CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS.

WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS, I THINK, I DUNNO IF IT'S PUBLIC YET TOO, BUT I'M, I'M DROPPING A LOT OF , BUT WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP, GONNA BE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, IT'S A PENALTY IF YOU EVER LOOK 'EM UP.

THEY ARE A NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS SPECIFICALLY ON HUMAN TRA ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGNS, ESPECIALLY AT SPORTING EVENTS.

AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH LA 28 AS WELL.

SO ALL THIS WORK TO SAY IS THAT WE'RE GEARING UP AND GETTING READY FOR THE GAMES THAT ARE COMING TO OUR CITY AND ANY SUPPORT THAT WE CAN GET ALONG THE WAY, YOU KNOW, ANY TRACTION WE'RE GETTING IT, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT ANY SUPPORT THAT THE COMMISSION CAN GIVE THE TASK FORCE, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT WAS EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE.

UM, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTERS? OKAY.

UM, COMMISSIONER LEVI.

HI.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REPORT.

UM, I'M WONDERING, UM, HOW THE FOLKS THAT ARE TRAFFICKED ARE GETTING HERE AND IF THERE'S ANY FOCUS ON, LIKE, WE DROVE BY THE PORT AND I LOOKED AT ALL THOSE CARGO CONTAINERS THAT ARE UP THERE AND ALL THE TRUCKS THAT GO BY.

AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY FOCUS ON HOW TRAFFIC VICTIMS ARE, ARE BEING HMM.

BROUGHT IN THAT YOU, THAT'S KIND OF A MYTH THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING BROUGHT IN HERE IN CONTAINERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

YOU'RE, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THINK THE SAME WAY AND THIS, AND THIS IS PART OF THE EDUCATION PIECE THAT IT'S, IT'S NOT ALWAYS OUR IMMIGRANTS, UM, WHO ARE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.

IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS, RIGHT? US CITIZEN GIRLS PRIMARILY WHO ARE BORN IN THIS COUNTRY WHO LIVE IN OUR CITIES.

YOU KNOW, THE FACT IT IS MUCH MORE PROMINENT IN BORDER CITIES AS WELL, HONESTLY, TOO.

BUT IT COULD BE ANYBODY.

FOSTER YOUTH ARE PRIMARILY, PRIMARILY, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. AND MANY FAMILIES WILL SELL THEIR OWN CHILDREN INTO TRAFFICKING, AND THEY CAN BE COMING OUT OF ABUSIVE FAMILIES.

UH, THEY CAN BE IN GANG RELATED NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE, UH, GANGS ARE INDUCING THEM TO DO IT.

UM, AGAIN, NOT TO HARP BACK ON FORGOTTEN CHILDREN, BUT YESTERDAY, UM, MY MINISTRY WENT TO GO DROP OFF SOME HUMANITARIAN BACKPACKS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO, LINWOOD HAS A WOMAN'S PRISON, AND THEY GO THERE WHEN THE WOMEN COME OUT OF THE JAIL AND THEY COME OUT IN JUST BASICALLY PAPER CLOTHES.

AND THE PIMPS ARE WAITING FOR THEM RIGHT THERE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

AND SO THEY'LL JUST TAKE 'EM RIGHT BACK AND PUT 'EM BACK ON THE TRACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WELCOME BACK HOME.

SO THESE OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS TRY TO INTERVENE AND SAY, YOU HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.

YOU CAN COME WITH US OR WE WILL AT LEAST GET YOU RESOURCES.

SO, UM, IT IS MUCH MORE INSIDIOUS THAN THEM COMING IN ON CARGO SHIPS.

IT IS REALLY, AS THERESA SAID, IN OUR BACKYARD.

AND THERE ARE CERTAIN POPULATIONS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE.

DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF YOU OR ANY OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN A REALLY IN DEPTH TRAINING ON TRAFFICKING, BUT ONCE YOU DO GET ONE, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY START TO SEE IT EVERYWHERE.

AND YOU REALLY DON'T SEE IT UNTIL YOU LEARN ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I AM VERY VIGILANT ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, I'LL BE, MY OFFICE IS IN NORTH LONG BEACH AND I'M OUT IN THE COURTYARD AND I SEE PEOPLE IN THE PARKING LOT.

I'M LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE? I SEE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SEE IT, THE SIGNS OF IT, ONCE YOU REALLY LEARN IT, AND I

[00:30:01]

NOT EVERYWHERE, BUT, AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAD A COUPLE THAT CAME TO US FROM COTO DE CAZA IN NEWPORT BEACH, WHOSE THEIR DAUGHTER WAS BEING TRAFFICKED.

SO IT IT'S THE, THE SCALE IS WIDE AS TO WHO COULD BE A VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING.

COMMISSIONER DELAU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT WAS VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE.

UM, THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, HOW ARE THE VICTIMS CONNECTED WITH THE TASK FORCE TO RECEIVE THE SERVICES WITH THE TASK FORCE? LIKE, HOW DOES A VICTIM KNOW WHERE TO GO AND HOW DO THEY ACCESS THE SERVICES THAT ARE FOR THEM? LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A YOUNG LADY THAT JUST WANT TO ESCAPE THE SITUATION AND SHE WANTS TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE SO SHE CAN HAVE A SAFE HOUSING OR SHE CAN JUST BE TAKING IN AND UNTIL THERE IS, UM, A JURY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, A LOT OF THEM COME THROUGH PUBLIC AGENCIES, WHETHER IT'S LONG BEACH PD, WHETHER IT'S THE, UM, COURTHOUSE, THE PROBATION OFFICERS, NO AGENCIES TO CONTACT.

UM, I GET CALLS DIRECTLY FROM SURVIVORS LOOKING, AND A LOT OF 'EM FROM HOSPITALS AS WELL.

HOSPITALS CALL US OR CALL ME TO CONNECT VICTIMS. AND A LOT OF 'EM JUST WALK INTO OUR OFFICES AT HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY MAY KNOW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED LIKE FRIENDS, AND THEY SAY, CALL THIS AGENCY.

THEY'LL CALL THE AGENCIES DIRECTLY.

BUT TO THE TASK FORCE ITSELF, THERE ISN'T LIKE A NUMBER CALLED THE TASK FORCE.

THEY'RE A, UM, MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE THAT GET CALLS INDIVIDUALLY.

AND THERE ARE OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE, LIKE GEMS UNCOVERED, FORGOTTEN CHILDREN, SAVING INNOCENCE, JOURNEY OUT.

THESE ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY WILL WALK, UH, THE CORRIDOR, THE BLADE, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT NAMES, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT ON THE STREET APPROACHING, UM, PRIMARILY THE WOMEN AND EITHER GIVING THEM CARDS OR LITTLE, UH, PACKETS THAT MIGHT HAVE LIP GLOSS IN IT WITH A PHONE NUMBER THAT THEY CAN CALL.

UM, AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN REACH OUT FOR HELP AND THERE'S A SOMEONE YOU CAN CONTACT.

SO IT'S THE AGENCIES AND THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE MM-HMM .

THAT ARE DOING THE WORK IN THE DIRECT ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT WITH THE WOMEN WHO ARE BEING TRAFFICKED.

COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA.

A LOT OF IT IS, THEY CALL IT THE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME YEAH.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORT.

AND, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, NO, I WOULD LOVE TO REALLY HAVE, UH, IN-DEPTH TRAINING ONTO HOW TO IDENTIFY.

'CAUSE I FRANKLY, UM, I THINK TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE SEX TRAFFICKING, I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN ABOUT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, VOLUME OF SEX, SEX TRAFFICKING OF YOUNG GIRLS HERE IN OUR CITY.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND HOW TO IDENTIFY IT, HOW TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM ONE FROM THE OTHER.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, AND AND YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HOW THE, UM, DO YOU KNOW THE, THE SELF, UH, HELP THAT IS GOING ON IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THESE WOMEN DON'T SEE THEMSELVES AS, YOU KNOW, BEING TRAFFICKED.

WHY IS THAT? WHAT, WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT FROM ONE, I GUESS A, A A APPARENTLY THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEX TRAFFICKING.

SO WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO, TO SEE THEMSELVES AS, AS US, YOU KNOW, BEING TRAFFICKED? THERE'S, THERE'S MANY, UM, FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT PRIMARILY BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE, ARE SO USED TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM THAT THAT'S ALL THEY KNOW SOMETIMES.

AND SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA GO HOME BECAUSE IT COULD BE WORSE AT HOME, SITUATIONS AT HOME ARE WORSE.

AND THEY'RE IN THE BELIEF ALSO THAT THE PERSON THAT IS TRAFFICKING THEM ACTUALLY CARES FOR THEM OR LOVES THEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT THEM TO BELIEVE.

YOU KNOW, I'M DOING THIS FOR YOU.

THIS IS FOR US.

I'M TAKING CARE OF YOU, I'M PROVIDING FOR YOU TO THEM, THAT'S NOT TRAFFICKING.

THAT WOMEN SEE THE YEAH.

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AS WELL.

WELL, YOU, YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU, HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.

UM, YOU ARE THE EXPERTS.

YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

AND HOPEFULLY IF YOU BRING THAT TO US, THEN, THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN SUPPORT YOU IN, IN THOSE ENDEAVORS.

'CAUSE THIS IS, IS SO IMPORTANT, SO CRITICAL TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL THESE WOMEN.

I THINK, UH, THE POSITION THAT THERESA TALKED ABOUT, THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A DESIGNATED PERSON NOW IN THE CITY THAT IS GOING TO BE LIAISONING BETWEEN THE REACT FRAMEWORK AND THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, FOR ALL OF US TO GET OUR INPUT BEFORE THEM.

AND I THINK THAT IF THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT OUR TASK FORCE MIGHT HAVE THAT WE CAN SAY ARE ENDORSED BY THE COMMISSION OR THAT WE PRESENT IT TO THE COMMISSION AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, I THINK AGAIN, ANYTIME WE CAN HAVE MORE CLOUT IN TERMS OF BACKING A POSITION, UM, WE HAVE TWO COUNCIL WOMEN WHO ARE INCREDIBLY ACTIVE.

SO MUCH HAS BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THESE TWO WOMEN IN DISTRICTS EIGHT AND NINE MM-HMM .

UH, THAT, THAT SUPPORT HAS JUST MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO OUR TASK FORCE AND TO NORTH LONG BEACH.

SO I THINK ANYTIME YOU HAVE A BODY LIKE YOUR, THE COMMISSION OR THE COUNCILWOMEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TASK FORCE, AND WE CAN COLLECTIVELY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, UM, I THINK THAT THAT JUST CARRIES SO MUCH MORE WEIGHT.

AND IF THE CITY ACTUALLY HAS SOMEONE THAT WE CAN PRESENT IT TO AND THEY HAVE TO NOW TAKE THAT INFORMATION BACK, I THINK IF WE CAN GET 'EM FROM EVERY ANGLE , IT'LL BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE.

AND, AND THAT'S A GOOD BEGINNING.

TO HAVE ONE POSITION.

BUT SOMETIMES AS, AS A FORMER EXECUTIVE MANAGER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT A LOT OF TIMES ONE POSITION IS REALLY LIMITED AS TO YOU, YOU ACTUALLY NEED A WHOLE DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST ONE POSITION, BECAUSE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR ONE PERSON IS, IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.

SO I HOPE THAT IT'S, IT'S, THIS IS A GOOD BEGINNING, BUT IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SO THAT THEY EXPAND MORE RESOURCES IN THIS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT, WHAT IS NEEDED.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A BIG STEP FORWARD TO HAVE ONE, BUT IF WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR MORE STRUCTURAL FUNDING TOWARDS THIS, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT TO HAVE AN OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING BECAUSE IT IS, IT'S A LARGER PROBLEM THAN OUR CITY REALLY REALIZES.

AND IT'S GONNA BE A LOT FOR ONE PERSON.

EXACTLY.

SO ADVOCACY FOR THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

UM, I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS.

ONE IS, HAVE YOU BEEN IN TOUCH WITH RDA KHAN? DO YOU KNOW RDA? SHE'S IN SAN DIEGO NOW.

SHE'S IN SAN DIEGO.

'CAUSE SHE'S DID INCREDIBLE WORK IN LONG BEACH.

SHE DID.

SHE WAS ONE OF OUR FOUNDING MEMBERS.

AND THE NEW ROHIT KHAN IS SHERRY HARRIS.

UH, SHE HAS TAKEN ROHIT'S JOB HERE AND, UH, SHE IS THE VICTIM SERVICES PERSON FOR THE HOMELAND SECURITY.

AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES HOMELAND SECURITY GETS A BAD RAP BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT GET, UM, UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.

BUT VICTIM SERVICES, THAT POSITION IS SPECIFICALLY TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE TRAFFICKED.

RDA KHAN HAD THAT POSITION AND NOW SHERRY HAS THAT POSITION AND SHE IS A CORE TEAM MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE.

AND WHEN I WORKED AT, UH, WOMEN'S SHELTER, WE HAD WOMEN THAT WERE PIMPED OUT BY THEIR, SO I'M WONDERING IF THERE THAT OVERLAP GETS, GETS UH, SOMEBODY INTO A BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER.

AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, WHAT FOR YOU IS THE DIFFERENCE, UH, AND HOW DO YOU DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN, I MEAN, BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE BEEN PIMPED OUT FOR DECADES, ARE YOU DIFFERENTIATING TRAFFICKING FROM WOMEN WHO ARE PIMPED OUT? BECAUSE I THINK WOMEN WHO ARE PIMPED OUT ARE, THEY'RE CONTROLLED.

ALL OF THAT STUFF IS HAPPENING.

ARE YOU DIFFERENTIATING THAT FROM TRAFFICKING? THAT IS TRAFFICKING? WELL, OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT, OF COURSE.

I, I JUST WANTED TO GET MM-HMM .

CLEAR ON THAT ONE.

THE VERNACULAR CHANGED WHEN WOMEN WERE PROSTITUTES.

AND I THINK THERE, I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE EDUCATION THAT'S REQUIRED IS, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES

[00:40:01]

THEY WERE VIEWED AS CRIMINALS.

AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THEM TO BE VIEWED AS VICTIMS. AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR NOW PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT COERCION AND FORCE ARE INVOLVED IN IT AND THAT THE WOMAN MAY NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND IT.

AND SO, AGAIN, I THINK THIS EDUCATION PROCESS IS NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WORKING TOGETHER WITH, WITH, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES, BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COERCIVE CONTROL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, A LOT OF THE, I MEAN THE SAME KINDS OF ISSUES.

UM, CERTAINLY THE PRECURSORS AND THE HOSTAGE SYNDROME PRECURSORS TO THE HOSTAGE SYNDROME AND, AND ALL OF THAT.

SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A THERE IS CROSSOVER BETWEEN THOSE TWO AREAS.

DEFINITELY.

AND THE WOMEN'S SHELTER IS ACTUALLY ALSO A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE FOR THAT VERY REASON.

COMMISSIONER MELLINGER, THANK YOU.

UM, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU ALL WITH OUR AD HOC ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

I KNOW WHEN WE STARTED THE COMMISSION, THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ISSUES THAT WE TOOK UP AND YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST GROUPS THAT CAME AND PRESENTED TO US.

AND WE HEARD FROM POLICE AND WE HEARD FROM THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND WE REALIZED LIKE THE, WHAT WE WERE HEARING DIDN'T NECESSARILY LINE UP, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE IMPETUS BEHIND THIS REPORTING.

AND SO I KNOW THERE WAS SOME HESITANCY TO SHARE DATA AMONG THE GROUPS.

AND I THINK WE SEE THAT FROM MAYBE THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS.

BUT I THINK THE DATA THAT YOU'VE COLLECTED IS REALLY VALUABLE, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THE VOLUME THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

IF THAT'S JUST COMING FROM 18 GROUPS, THAT'S REALLY TELLING 1400 PEOPLE IN A YEAR FROM THOSE 18 ADVOCACY GROUPS, UM, IS CERTAINLY NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM, FROM POLICE AND FROM CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

SO I THINK THERE'S REALLY STRONG VALUE IN THAT DATA WHEN IT COMES TO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE'RE FUNDING ONE POSITION, BUT MAYBE THE NEED IS GREATER THAN THAT.

UM, LOOKING AT THIS PRESENTATION IN ADVANCE, I WAS SORT OF WONDERING WHAT THE DATA WAS.

'CAUSE YOU GAVE A BROAD OVERVIEW.

SO I DO THINK, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE GET TO THE AD HOC DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK MAYBE THERE'S STILL A LITTLE MORE WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS REPORT AND PUBLISHING THIS REPORT AND GETTING IT FOR THIS, THE COUNCIL MAYBE WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ATTACHED TO IT.

BECAUSE JUST HEARING LIKE THAT PERCENTAGE OF, OF WHO YOU'RE WORKING WITH, REPORTING THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS, I THINK IS REALLY, UM, REALLY TELLING.

AND LET'S SEE.

I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU, , AND I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS, BUT I GUESS, OH, I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

DID YOU HAVE PLANS TO PUBLISH THIS REPORT OR WOULD YOU LIKE OUR ASSISTANCE IN, IN DOING SO OR MAKING IT PUBLIC? UM, WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE GOT APPROVAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY TO PUBLISH IT OR, YEAH.

I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WAS, UH, THE MEETING WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AGAIN MM-HMM .

THAT THIS WAS A PRESENTATION TO THE ENTIRE GROUP AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FINE TUNE IT AND DECIDE HOW WE WANNA PACKAGE IT FOR PRESENT PRESENTING IN MORE OF AN THAT OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

SO I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MORE WORK TO FOLLOW UP ON IT.

I AGREE.

I THINK THAT'D BE IMPORTANT.

SO MM-HMM .

THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND PRESENTING THE RESULTS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

OH, ONE MORE .

ONE MORE .

UM, I'M WONDERING IF, IF WE CAN BE HELPFUL, UM, 'CAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING SINCE SAFETY WAS THE SECOND ISSUE THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS TALKED ABOUT BEING AN ISSUE IN LONG BEACH.

UM, IF WE COULDN'T HELP PUT TOGETHER SOME OF THE TRAININGS THAT YOU WANNA DO, UM, THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING MAYBE WE COULD DO DISTRICT BY DISTRICT OR THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER ON.

AND JUST WONDERING IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU GUYS.

THE AWARENESS TRAININGS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE, OKAY.

WANT TO ECHO THE GRATITUDE THAT, UM, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE EXPRESSED.

WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THIS PENALTY TO COORDINATE SOME OF THOSE TRAININGS AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT OR CO-SPONSOR THOSE.

YEAH, FOR SURE.

THE OTHER THING I DID WANNA, UM, INFORM YOU OF IS, UH, FORGOTTEN CHILDREN IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL GALA NOVEMBER 7TH.

AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE LEADING ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL IN THIS LA COUNTY THAT SERVE SURVIVORS.

AND THAT WILL BE AT THE GRAND AND WE CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO SUPPORT THEM.

THESE AGENCIES ARE REALLY THE ONES OUT THERE DOING THE WORK AND THEY REALLY NEED ALL THE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM.

AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE.

[00:45:01]

AND I HAD A QUESTION.

YOU MENTIONED FLEXIBLE FUNDING A FEW TIMES.

AND JUST BECAUSE, UM, SINCE WE ARE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN ADVISE ANY OTHER ENTITY ON, I'M WONDERING HOW YOU CURRENTLY OR HOW THE, HOW THE FLEXIBLE FUNDING TYPICALLY COMES IN AND LIKE WHAT AND WHAT THAT MEANS EXACTLY HOW WE USE IT OR HOW WE OBTAIN IT? HOW YOU AB I YES, I GUESS HOW YOU OBTAIN IT, HOW HAVE YOU OBTAINED IT IN THE PAST GRANTS? YOU KNOW, THERE, THE PORT DOES, UH, GRANT THE TASK FORCE COMMITTEE, THERE'S SMALL GRANTS, UH, THERE'S LIKE, UH, OPUS CLUBS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT NOTHING MAJOR.

I THINK THE FLEXIBLE FUNDING FOR PURPOSES OF THE AGENCIES THAT DO THE WORK IS THAT, UM, FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE CREATIVE IN HOW THEY USE THE MONEY FOR THAT'S GRANTED TO THEM AS OPPOSED TO IT BEING TIED TO CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO, UM, SPECIFICALLY REQUEST.

AND ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES, I KNOW FOR A LOT OF THE SMALLER SERVICE AGENCIES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRANTORS OF THE WORLD OUT THERE, MOST OF THEM ARE GIVING GRANTS ON AN UNSOLICITED BASIS.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO THE BIG KIDS IN THE PARK AND THEY'RE SOLICITING THEM TO GIVE THEM A GRANT.

THE SMALL KIDS IN THE PARK, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THOSE GRANT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND THEY'RE NOT BEING APPROACHED TO EVEN GET ANY MONEY.

SO A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THEY'RE IN A WORSE POSITION TO GET FUNDING BECAUSE THEY ARE NEVER APPROACHED BY THESE BIG GRANTORS.

AND THAT HAS CREATED KIND OF A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE TASK FORCE IS MAYBE COME UP WITH A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH FOR GRANTS SO THAT YOU HAVE A LEAD AGENCY WHO MIGHT BE THE FISCAL AGENT WHO MANAGES THE MONEY SO THAT YOU CAN SECURE TO THE GRANTOR, DON'T WORRY, YOUR MONEY IS SAFE WITH US.

THIS IS A BIG ORGANIZATION.

THEY CAN MANAGE THE MONEY, BUT THEN THEY CAN DOLE OUT THE SERVICES PORTION TO THESE SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS WHO MIGHT DO MENTAL HEALTH, MIGHT DO OUTREACH, MIGHT DO A DIVERSION PROGRAM, MIGHT DO OTHER THINGS THAT INDIVIDUALLY MAY NEVER HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THAT KIND OF A GRANT.

UH, BUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS LARGE PER ENTITY AT THE TOP, THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S REALLY COMING UP WITH MORE FLEXIBLE WAYS TO GET MONEY TO GET IT DOWN TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN USE THAT MONEY.

AND SO IT'S COMING UP WITH IDEAS ON HOW TO BE CREATIVE IN THAT REGARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE ONE REALLY QUICK QUESTION.

SORRY.

IT'S OKAY.

WE DON'T WORRY.

UM, I WAS WONDERING, ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, TO BRING THIS ISSUE, LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, BRING THIS, MAKE CHILDREN AWARE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AND, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE TASK FORCE AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

UH, POLY HIGH SCHOOL HAS, WE'VE GONE THERE SEVERAL TIMES, JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE APPLIED FOR A GRANT FROM THE PORT JUST RECENTLY IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM, UH, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE TRAINING AT THE SCHOOL.

UP UNTIL NOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING OR THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN KIND OF SCRAPPING TOGETHER THEIR OWN FUNDS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

BUT IF YOU WANNA HAVE THAT ON AN ONGOING BASIS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A SURVIVOR THAT'S GONNA SHOW UP FOR THESE TRAININGS AND A PSYCHOLOGIST AND YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO BE PAID.

AND, UM, SO PART OF THE GRANTS THAT WE ARE SEEKING IS TO EXPAND THAT EDUCATION PROGRAM.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SCHOOL AND MAYBE BECOME, UM, LINKED IN MORE TO HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT ON A MORE STANDARDIZED, INSTITUTIONALIZED BASIS.

BECAUSE THE TRAININGS ARE PROVIDED FOR FREE, YOU KNOW, AND IT'D BE GREAT IF THE SCHOOL COULD PROVIDE SOME FUNDING FOR THESE.

IT'S VERY VALUABLE.

SCHOOL NOW CREATED A ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLUB.

COULD YOU EXPAND ON THE TRAININGS? WHO WERE YOU PROVIDING THE TRAININGS TO? THE TEACHERS, THE STUDENTS.

THE STUDENTS AS IT TRAINING STUDENTS, STUDENTS.

AND IT'S A, IT'S A EIGHT WEEK PROGRAM AND IT GOES THROUGH NOT JUST HUMAN TRAFFICKING PER SE, IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, IT'S EVERYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN LEAD YOU INTO THIS PROBLEM.

AND, UM, IT'S AN EIGHT WEEK PROGRAM AND A, A HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR IS INVOLVED TO ALSO IS PART OF THE BUILT INTO THE CURRICULUM.

AND LIKE I SAY, AT POLY, IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL, UH, WHEN WE LAST DID IT THAT THE HIGH

[00:50:01]

SO, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T THAT BE A GREAT THING THEN NOW THEY CAN TAKE THAT MESSAGE AND THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, DO THEIR WORK AT THIS CAMPUS WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THE PROGRAM THERE.

BUT AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN WITH IT'S A PENALTY, WE WILL BE HAVING SEVERAL TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS, MEDICAL STAFF, UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST RESPONDERS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE INTENTION ONCE WE SIGNED THAT CONTRACT.

COMMISSIONERS TOO.

THANK YOU, .

UM, WE WILL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL.

THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

NOW TAKE, HOLD THE COMMENT.

AT THIS TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM SO WE COULD DETERMINE HOW MANY SPEAKERS IF JOINING BY ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR PRESS STAR NINE.

OH.

YEP, GO AHEAD.

UH, HELLO EVERYONE.

UM, I, MY NAME'S ANNIE FARMER LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND, UM, SURVIVOR OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED THIS PRESENTATION.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD SO OFTEN IN DOING MORE ADVOCACY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAYING, OH, WE WANNA BE SUPPORTIVE AND HOW CAN WE HELP? AND NOT RECOGNIZING HOW MUCH THIS ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, OCCURRING IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND OUR OWN BACKYARDS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

SO TO HEAR THOSE NUMBERS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S OF COURSE IT'S HEARTBREAKING, BUT ALSO TO KNOW HOW MANY GOOD PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND, AND DOING THE WORK.

AND I THINK THERE WERE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS THAT REALLY HIT ON A LOT OF THE MYTHS THAT, UM, STILL OBVIOUSLY SURROUND TRAFFICKING.

UM, AND I THINK JUST THAT QUESTION AROUND HOW, YOU KNOW, HOW COULD A SURVIVOR NOT REALIZE RIGHT, THAT THEY'RE A VICTIM, I THINK IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE IT DOES SPEAK TO THE EXPERIENCE SO MANY HAVE AROUND BEING GROOMED PRIOR TO BEING TRAFFICKED, RIGHT? AND, AND THAT TRAFFICKING CAN OFTEN START IN WHAT SOMEONE SEES AS A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEFORE IT BECOMES, YOU KNOW, EXPLOITATION AT A, UH, A LEVEL BEYOND THAT.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, IN MY, I'M, I'M ALSO A PSYCHOLOGIST AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DONE AND SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE IS LOOKING AT JUST HOW MUCH OVERLAP THERE IS BETWEEN THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO IF YOU ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD, HOW MUCH MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO THEN LATER BE COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED, UM, FOR SEX? AND IF THAT OCCURS, THEN YOU KNOW HOW LIKELY YOU ARE TO FIND YOURSELF IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE TRAFFICKING.

SO WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THERE IS SO OFTEN REVICTIMIZATION OF PEOPLE OVER AND OVER.

SO WHILE WE LOOK AT THESE THINGS AS SEPARATE ISSUES, THERE'S REALLY SO MUCH OVERLAP IN THESE POPULATIONS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I DO THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION IS, IS SO KEY.

UM, AND THE, THE IDEA OF FLEXIBLE FUNDING SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE CAN BE AREN'T, AREN'T RESTRICTED IN THE WAYS, THE CREATIVE WAYS, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT AGENCIES WHO REALLY KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND KNOW THIS POPULATIONS, UM, CAN SERVE THEM.

SO JUST WANTED TO PUT MY 2 CENTS IN.

THANK YOU ENFORCEMENT.

ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTERS? NO VIRTUAL.

COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA ROSE FROZEN.

THERE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

CLERK, PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE.

THERE WE GO.

JUST .

I COULD TAKE A VERBAL VOTE FOR YOURS IF IT'S YES.

THANK YOU THEREA AND MARIANNE.

SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND TAKING THE TIME.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.

UM, CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE OH, READ THE NEXT ITEM.

ITEM THREE IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT FROM THE STATEWIDE COMMISSION ON WOMEN GIRLS ON CURRENT STATEWIDE INITIATIVES.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND FOR THIS ITEM, YOU'VE BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LA VIOLE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLEN HARPER.

[00:55:01]

UM,

[3. 26-56513 Recommendation to receive and file a report from the Statewide Commission on Women and Girls on current statewide initiatives. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

DR. GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS DR.

RITA GUDO.

GOOD.

AND I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

ALSO A CITY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION, BUT ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

OUR COMMISSION SERVES AS A VITAL VOICE FOR EQUITY, ACCESS, AND JUSTICE.

WE WORK TO IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE INEQUITIES IN LAWS, PRACTICES, AND CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT WOMEN AND GIRLS ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

WE PROMOTE EQUALITY OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE THAN 19.6 MILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE STATES IN THE NATION THROUGH RESEARCH, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND CREATING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS.

TONIGHT I'M HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES, BUT GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AND I HOPE THAT I LEAVE HERE EMPOWERING YOU AND UPLIFTING THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' VOICES TO BE HEARD.

WE NEED THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES.

WE NEED THE COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS ARE NOT ERODED AND THAT PROGRESS CONTINUES STANDING TOGETHER WITH OUR REGIONAL AND LOCAL WOMEN COMMISSION PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR MISSION TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE NOT OVERLOOKED OR DIMINISHED IN THE STATE CAPITOL AND ACROSS THE STATE.

I WANNA SAY CLEARLY NOW IS THE TIME TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES LIKE NEVER BEFORE AND CONTINUE ADVANCING EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN WOMEN'S VOICES ARE BEING DIS DISREGARDED, DROWNED OUT, AND IN SOME CASES ERASED FROM THE NARRATIVE.

IT'S IF FEARFUL AND UNCERTAIN MOMENT FOR MANY.

THAT IS WHY SOLIDARITY MATTERS MORE THAN EVER.

WE MUST STAND TOGETHER TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM, OUR DIGNITY, AND OUR FUTURE.

THE REALITY WOMEN NAVIGATE EVERY DAY FOR CAREGIVING, AFFORDABILITY, COMMUNITY BUILDING, ECONOMIC PRESSURES, CULTURE, IDENTITY, AND MORE GIVE SUBSTANCE AND PERSPECTIVE THE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE PUBLIC LIFE.

AND WHEN WOMEN ARE PRESENT, SYSTEMS BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE AND REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WOMEN COM WOMEN ORGANIZATIONS AND WOMEN COMMISSIONS ARE A POWERFUL POINT OF ENTRY INTO LEADERSHIP.

THEY OFFER MENTORSHIP, CONNECTION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING THAT WOMEN WILL GROW INTO CHANGE MAKERS THAT THEY'RE MEANT TO BE.

GETTING EVOL GETTING INVOLVED DOES NOT MEAN, UH, A TITLE.

IT STARTS WITH SHOWING UP, LENDING YOUR VOICE, AND FINDING THE ISSUES THAT IGNITE YOUR PASSION.

EVERY WOMAN HAS SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR STORY, YOUR SKILL AND YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE ARE NEEDED IN THE ROOMS WHEN DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE AT THE STATE COMMISSION, WE ARE ACTIVELY AND FIERCELY BUILDING OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

EVERY YEAR WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMISSIONERS, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE, IN THE REGION AND LOCALLY, BUT WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS, NONPROFIT PARTNERS, AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT WOMEN AND ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS TO SHAPE MEANINGFUL POLICY AND NEW LAWS THAT BENEFIT ALL CALIFORNIANS.

WE ARE EXPLORING TOPICS AT THIS TIME, SUCH AS GENDER BASED, UH, BUDGETING SERVICES FOR WOMEN, VETERANS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE.

OVER THE PAST LEGISLATIVE YEAR, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE WINS, AND YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THEM.

AB 1267 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER PELERIN BANNED, UH, THE, UH, CHILD MARRIAGE.

THE PROHIBITION, UM, FOR MINORS TO ENTER INTO MARRIAGE BECOMES EFFECTIVE IN 2027.

MARRIAGE WILL BE PROHIBITED FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

AB 25 40 BY MEMBER STEFANI IS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND POST EDUCATION, UH, WOMEN HEALTH CENTERS.

THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS, OF COURSE, EXPANDING FUNDING TO THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT HEALTH CENTERS, SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PREPARATION.

THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES WERE LACKING IN BUDGET AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO KNOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM OVER THE LAST LEGISLATIVE YEAR TO ENSURE THAT INCREASED FUNDING WILL OPEN UP HEALTH CENTERS THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE FOR WOMEN ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

AB 1709 BY A SUMMIT MEMBER LOWENTHAL CREATES LIMITS ON THE TYPE OF FEATURES THAT ARE CONSIDERED ADDICTIVE, CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH THIS, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO CREATE A KIDS SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR

[01:00:01]

OUR KIDS, BUT ALSO AN ADVISORY ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES FOR THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED ESAFETY COMMISSION.

AND FINALLY, AB 1940 BY SOME MEMBER CALDERONE, WHICH IS UNLAWFUL PRACTICES DISCRIMINATION FROM MENOPAUSE.

ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, WE KNOW THAT OUR VOICE IS FIRMLY GOING TO BE SUPPORTING LANGUAGE THAT CREATES PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE, EXPERIENCING MENOPAUSE TO BE ADOPTED THROUGH FURTHER ADVOCACY IN THE REINTRODUCTION OF THIS BILL LANGUAGE.

AND WE WILL BE STEADFAST, UH, CHAMPIONS IN THAT SPACE.

OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2027 WILL INCLUDE LEADING A COALITION OF PARTNERS TO CHAMPION EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE, NOT ONLY FOR ACCESS AND QUALITY, BUT ALSO FOR AFFORDABILITY.

RECOGNIZING THAT FAMILIES NEED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, TO LEAD THRIVING LIVES, AND PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN A SHARED ECONOMY.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND FEDERAL SUBSIDY PROGRAMS GENERALLY CONSIDERED CHILDCARE AFFORDABLE WHEN THE COST DOES NOT EXCEED 7% OF A FAMILY'S HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

HOWEVER, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A SCHOOL AGE CHILD AND AN INFANT MAY SPEND UP TO 63% OF HER INCOME ON CHILDCARE WITHOUT THE ACCESS TO A STATE SUBSIDY.

FURTHER THROUGH DATA AND RESEARCH, WE FOUND THAT AFFORDABLE UNIVERSAL CHILD CHILDCARE IN CALIFORNIA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE RETURNS OF AT LEAST $3 FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED.

ADDING NEARLY $23 BILLION ANNUALLY TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND BOOSTING LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION BY MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND MOTHERS IN CALIFORNIA.

FOR THEMORE SUSTAINABILITY IS GONNA BE KEY.

WE KNOW THAT FOR LEARNING EARLY LEARNING AND CARE, UH, ECOSYSTEMS TO BE SUSTAINABLE, THE EARLY LEARNING AND CARE WORKFORCE IN ALL SETTINGS MUST BE COMPENSATED FAIRLY.

WE SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY BASED ON TRUE COST OF CARE.

INCREASED COMPENSATION AND SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS LEAD TO AN INCREASED ACCESS, INCREASED STAFF RETENTION, AND BETTER PROGRAM STABILITY.

OVERALL.

THE EXPANSION OF EARLY LEARNING AND CARE TO ACHIEVE THE PRINCIPLES OF ACCESS, QUALITY, AFFORDABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY, WHICH WE KNOW DEPENDS ON COHERENT GOVERNANCE AND INVESTMENT STRUCTURES THAT ARE STRUCTURED AND CENTERED AROUND THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.

BETTER DEFINING DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY, ALIGNING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS EARLY LEARNING AND CARE SYSTEMS. AND NOW FOR SOME OF OUR ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND INITIATIVES.

IN 2025, THE COMMISSION AFTER 60 YEARS AND UPON OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY, UH, CREATED A WITHIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UH, WOMEN'S COMMISSION, THE 2025 STATEWIDE WOMEN'S, UH, COMMISSION CONVENING AT MOUNT ST.

MARY'S UNIVERSITY.

WE HAD OVER 200 PARTNERS IN THE ROOM FROM COMMISSIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING WOMEN.

IT CAME TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH WHAT OUR PRIORITIES FOR LEGISLATION WERE GONNA BE IN 2026.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT AS AN OUTCOME, WE HOSTED FOUR VIRTUAL CONVENINGS THAT NOT ONLY ALLOWED PARTNERS TO BECOME ADVOCATES, BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THEIR VOICE AND TAKE THAT BACK TO THE STATE CAPITAL.

WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THE PARTNER SHIPS CONTINUE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WE WILL ACCOMPLISH IN 2027 AND FOR 2027.

AND THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO BE HERE TODAY IS THAT THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO BE HOSTING OUR INAUGURAL ADVOCACY DAY ON MARCH 17TH IN SACRAMENTO, WHERE WE WILL HOST OVER 400 WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING REGIONAL AND LOCAL WOMEN COMMISSIONS, WOMEN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, AND NONPROFITS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR POLICY PRIORITIES, ADVOCATE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, AND WE'LL ALSO HOST A, A RECEPTION WITH STATE WOMEN ELECTED LEADERS.

DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR WEBSITE, WOMEN.CA.GOV.

AND I ALSO LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE ARE LOOKING AS THE FIRST PARTNER, JENNIFER SIEBEL NEWSOM WILL BE TRANSITIONING FOR OUR OFFICE.

THERE ARE INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORT THE NEXT FIRST PARTNER.

UH, ALSO, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT FAMILY HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING, SUPPORTING AND BEING A STRONG PARTNER IN THOSE INITIATIVES.

AND FINALLY, YOU KNOW THAT WHEN WOMEN LEAD COMMUNITIES THRIVE, WHEN WOMEN SPEAK SYSTEMS, LISTEN.

AND WHEN WOMEN SERVE, THE NEXT GENERATION LEARNS WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE IS NOT JUST VALUABLE, IT IS TRANSFORMATIVE.

IT RESHAPES POLICIES STRENGTHENS INSTITUTIONS AND ENSURES

[01:05:01]

THAT THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES ARE NEVER OVERLOOKED.

AND WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, OUR ADVOCACY BECOMES A ROAR.

IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE.

IMPOSSIBLE TO SILENCE, AND CAPABLE OF CREATING CHANGE THAT RIPPLES ACROSS OUR SOCIETY, OUR OUR ECONOMY, AND OUR WORLD.

AS CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, I WANNA SHARE SOMETHING SIMPLE AND POWERFUL WITH YOU.

YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU CAN ASK COMMISSIONERS, MAKE CHANGE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A RESIDENT HERE AT THE STATE COMMISSION.

WE ARE HERE TO PARTNER WITH YOU, SUPPORT YOUR ENDEAVORS, YOUR INITIATIVES, AND SHARE ALONG YOUR SUCCESSES.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH ALL OF YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER.

I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I HOPE THAT I LEFT YOU INSPIRED.

THANK YOU DR.

VERY, UH, I'M FEELING VERY INSPIRED AND EMPOWERED RIGHT NOW.

UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL START OVER HERE THIS TIME.

UM, COMMISSIONER ARCHA? YES.

OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU WERE, UH, CAME THAT YOU JOINED US AND SO HONORED THAT, UH, YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

BUT, UH, YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, STATEWIDE CONVENING THAT WAS HELD AT ST.

MARY'S.

AND I, YOU KNOW, HAPPENED TO BE THERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE, THE, UH, L-A-C-C-W.

BUT ANYHOW, IN ONE OF OUR SESSIONS, I KNOW THAT THE ISSUE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WOMEN AND GIRLS TRAFFICKING, UH, COME, CAME UP AND SEVERAL, UM, COMMISSIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE MENTIONED THAT AS BEING ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES.

SO I HOPE THAT FOR, YOU KNOW, 20 26, 20 27, THAT BECOMES A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE STATEWIDE COMMISSION.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS DISCUSSED AT THE UPCOMING CONVENING IN 2027.

SO, YES, THANK YOU.

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DID WITH THOSE TALKING POINTS WERE TO TAKE THEM BACK TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE UM, UH, PRO TEM, UM, MONIQUE LIMON TO SHARE WITH HER WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR, UM, STAKEHOLDERS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE PUSHING FOR IS MORE TRANSPARENCY, MORE COMMUNICATION, BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THESE IMPORTANT TOPICS THROUGH SPECIAL HEARINGS THAT WE KNOW IS A TOOL THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE CAN WORK WITH LEGISLATORS.

AND SO WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT.

UH, THE, UM, RESPONSE WAS POSITIVE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THAT REMAINS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES.

UM, COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING, AND ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION.

I AGREE THE ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY FOR TRUE COST OF CARE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN A LOT OF VOICES BEHIND IT, HAVE REALLY HELPED MOVE IT ALONG.

SO THANK YOU.

AND I ECHO THAT SENTIMENT OF HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE, UH, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION EFFORTS.

SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT.

AND ACTUALLY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN DONE IN THE LAST YEAR.

COMMISSIONER ARCH WAS SPEAKING.

COMMISSIONER MILLER.

I CAN'T TELL IF THE OH, IT IS ON, IT'S STILL RED, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

UM, I JUST HAD A THOUGHT AS, AS COMMISSIONER LA VIOLET, I'M SORRY.

UM, CONSIDERING LA 28 IS COMING HERE, AND WE HAVE THIS REPORT FROM THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMISSION, MAYBE AS OUR, AS WE'RE WORKING TO PUBLICIZE THAT WE CAN SHARE IT WITH THE STATE BODY FOR THOSE CONSIDERATIONS, BECAUSE THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE WHOLE STATE.

AND IF YOU'RE ARMED WITH SOME OF OUR DATA, AND MAYBE THAT CAN HELP YOU IN SOME WAY.

SO, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, HOPING WE CAN WORK A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

UM, LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, THE FORMAL REPORT THAT I CAN TAKE BACK TO, UM, OUR, NOT ONLY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BUT TO OUR COMMISSIONERS AND SHARE THAT OUT AS WELL.

UM, LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING CONVERSATIONS AS WE APPROACH LA 28.

UH, WE KNOW THAT, UM, LOS ANGELES HAS HAD, UH, A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UM, SINCE IT'S ONE OF THE MOST LARGEST, UM, METROPOLITAN CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THEREFORE WE WANNA ENSURE THAT WE ARE, UH, PROMOTING, UM, SOME TYPE OF POLICY CHANGE, SOME TYPE OF FUNDING.

IT'S ALWAYS, UM, HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT OUR LEGISLATORS HEAR OUR VOICES? AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT, UM, HAVING BEEN HERE TONIGHT, I CAN TAKE INFORMATION BACK, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FORMAL REPORT.

[01:10:02]

I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.

DO YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY THE GOVERNOR, UM, DID NOT SIGN THE MENOPAUSE PROVISION BILL INTO LAW? UH, THE, UM, PROTECT PROTECTION? YES.

THE LANGUAGE IN HIS VETO LETTER, UM, PROVIDED INFORMATION REGARDING PROTECTIONS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS STATE, CIVIL RIGHTS, UM, DEPARTMENT, UM, TO BE ONE THAT SHOULD ENCOMPASS, UM, THE REQUEST THAT WAS BEING MADE, UM, FOR THOSE PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN.

AND, UH, WE WERE VERY CLEAR IN OUR RESPONSE THAT MORE WORK IS NEEDED.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.

UH, AND, UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH OUR NEW GOVERNOR AND, UH, LAYING THAT OUT AS ALSO ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES, THE STATE, UH, COMMISSION, UM, ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE HAS, UM, SEVEN MANDATED AREAS, UM, THAT WE, UM, ARE, UM, MANDATED TO, UM, ENSURE TO PROTECT.

AND OBVIOUSLY, UH, WE LIKE TO PROVIDE DETAILS AROUND OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST.

AND SO BETWEEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UH, BETWEEN, UM, FURTHER PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING MENOPAUSE, INCLUDING, UM, LOOKING AT FURTHER PROTECTIONS FOR OUR GIRLS ON CAMPUSES, UM, BOTH IN, UM, THE, UM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE AT THE TABLE.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERONE, UM, TO, UH, BRING THAT LANGUAGE BACK.

AND, UH, AS YOU KNOW, UH, IT TAKES ABOUT THREE NOS TO STOP AND THEN WE JUST KEEP GOING.

UM, DR.

GUDO, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR COMING AND, AND SHARING ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ALL THAT WE SHARED, INCLUDING THE WORK THAT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UM, REPORT.

TAKE IT UP TO THE STATE.

TRULY APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THE INVITATION WITH YOUR COMMISSION.

WE WILL BE TAKING RSVP STARTING IN DECEMBER, AND, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU RSVP EARLY IF YOU'RE ABLE TO COME TO SACRAMENTO ON MARCH 17TH.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE IS THAT WE HAVE, UH, WOMEN'S VOICES IN THE CAPITOL, MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS AND SHARING, UM, AROUND, UH, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR LENS AS WOMEN LEADERS AND HOW, UM, THE, UH, SUMMIT MEMBERS AND THE SENATORS CAN SUPPORT, UH, OUR COMMUNITIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

YES, MA'AM.

DO YOU, UM, DO WE HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION? UH, THE CHAIR HAS IT, AND I BELIEVE STAFF HAS THAT AS WELL.

I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT OUT.

UH, AND I'M ALSO ON LINKEDIN, UM, BUT, UH, VERY OPEN TO MEETING, UH, ALL THE TIME WITH PARTNERS.

IT'S, IT'S, UH, I'M, I'M A PASSIONATE PUBLIC SERVANT HAVING SERVED OVER 40 YEARS IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, SO I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

HERE I AM TO SERVE.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, WE'LL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AT THIS TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM, AND IF YOU'RE IN THE ZOOM MEETING, HIT STAR NINE ON YOUR PHONE OR USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE, SEEING N CHAIR.

THERE'S NO, JUST FURTHER DISCUSSION.

CAN YOU PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? THIS IS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER VIOLETTE, SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER.

COMMISSIONER MELLINGER AND ANKLE.

MY, OH, DID YOU WANT TO DO A VOICE VOTE? YES.

UM, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM FOUR IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE THE LONG BEACH AREA MENTORSHIP EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

LETTER AND LISTS DRAFTED BY MENTORSHIP AND BY THE MENTORSHIP AND EDUCATION AD HOC COMMITTEE.

MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE LETTER AND LIST AS NECESSARY AND DETERMINE A METHOD FOR PERIOD PERIODICALLY UPDATING THE LIST.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND FOR THIS ITEM? IT IS, UH, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER BYT AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DIAR.

AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO THE MENTORSHIP AND EDUCATION AD HOC COMMITTEE.

[4. 26-56514 Recommendation to discuss and approve the Long Beach Area Mentorship and Empowerment Programs for Women and Girls letter and list drafted by the Mentorship and Education Ad Hoc Committee, make modifications to the letter and list as necessary, and determine a method for periodically updating the list. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

[01:15:06]

ALRIGHT, TEAM.

SO WE HAVE A LIST HERE, THE LIST THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE, TO THE COMMISSION.

UM, I THINK TWO MEETINGS AGO, AND THIS TIME WE HAVE INCLUDED, UH, A LETTER THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER MALINGER WAS, UH, KIND ENOUGH TO PUT, UH, WORK TO, UM, AND SO I'M JUST GONNA PASS IT ON TO HER SO THAT UM, SHE CAN TAKE US THROUGH IT.

SURE.

YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.

UM, ESSENTIALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR, UM, OUR LIST THAT WE'VE SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS RESEARCHING, WHICH IS MEANT TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT ALL OF THE PROGRAMS ARE FROM MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF A SHORT LIST, BUT THERE WERE CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT HAD TO BE MET, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S OPEN TO ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

IT'S LONG BEACH BASED RATHER THAN LIKE, OUTSIDE OF THE AREA.

OR YOU'D HAVE TO DRIVE TO LOS ANGELES OR SOMETHING TO, TO PROMOTE.

UM, BUT WITH THAT IN MIND, WE UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T CAPTURE ANYTHING, WHICH IS WHY PART OF THIS ITEM IS WE WANNA CONTINUE TO REVISIT IT.

THE REASON THAT'S NOTED IS IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT.

SO THE IDEA IS IF THIS GETS APPROVED, WE'LL PASS IT TO STAFF TO MAKE A DESIGN AND POST IT ONLINE SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE CITY CAN ACCESS IT.

AND THEN WE'LL PERIOD, PERIODICALLY UPDATE IT AS WE FIND OUT ABOUT MORE.

I WOULD SUGGEST, FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE WE MEET LIKE TWICE A YEAR JUST TO REVIEW, UM, OTHER SUBMISSIONS AND THEN UPDATE IT.

THE LETTER REALLY IS MEANT AS A FORWARD TO THE DOCUMENT.

SO ANYTIME YOU HAVE A DOCUMENT, YOU TYPICALLY HAVE A FORWARD THAT EXPLAINS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

UM, SO YEAH, I THINK WE'RE PROUD OF THIS.

I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK A LOOK AND THERE THERE WAS NO ONLINE RESOURCE THAT LISTED ALL PROGRAMS FOR MENTORSHIP, UM, FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE CITY.

THERE WAS LIKE NOT A SINGLE REPOSITORY.

AND I THINK HAVING THE COMMISSION START TO BE A SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE CITY FOR RESOURCES THAT BENEFIT THEM IS A POSITIVE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING FOR WITH THIS QUESTIONS.

IS THAT AT AIRPORT? UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OUT? I COMMISSIONER DELAU? YES.

UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO ONCE YOU HAVE THIS DIRECTORY SET UP AND DESIGN, YOU SAY YOU WILL BE HAVING IT ONLINE, BUT WOULD IT BE ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH WEBSITE OR WHERE WOULD IT BE ONLINE? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO MOST COMMISSIONS HAVE A WEBPAGE.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A WEBPAGE BUILT YET BECAUSE THE CITY IS UNDER RESOURCED TO BUILD THAT OUT IS WHAT THE FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.

SO HOPEFULLY ONCE WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION TO START PUBLISHING, WE CAN WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH CITY STAFF TO GET THAT DONE.

BUT I BELIEVE THE FEEDBACK WE'D RECEIVED FROM STAFF WAS AT THE, THE ETHICS, OH BOY, WHICH DEPARTMENT ARE WE IN? WE'RE IN HU, HEALTH EQUITY, HELP ME OUT.

EQUITY MANAGER.

UM, THE DEPARTMENT PAGE COULD HOST THIS INFORMATION IN, IN THE TIME BEING AND THE CHAIR AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE COMMISSION IS ABLE TO SHARE THAT OUT OR TALK TO PRESS AND, AND GET THAT OUT THERE IN THE, IN THE MEDIA.

SO, AND SO IF BY, IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE WEBSITE PAGE OR IF WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DESIGN, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY AND TO BE UPLOADED OR NOT? UM, I THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO SUBMIT IT TO THE CITY, UM, OR TO LIKE HAVE TO HAVE THE COUNCIL PROVE IT OR ANYTHING, I THINK.

BUT I'D HAVE TO ASK STAFF.

UH, WE WOULD FORMAT IT IN ACCORDANCE TO CITY, UM, GUIDELINES IN TERMS OF HOW WE PRESENT CITY MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC.

AND CHAIR ONE CLARIFICATION TOO FOR THAT, I DO THINK WE ARE GETTING OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING.

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'D PROBABLY BE THE SPACE TO HOUSE THE LIST AS OPPOSED TO EVEN THE CITY MANAGER.

BUT RIGHT IN THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, UM, WEBSITE, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS WEBSITE, THAT COULD BE AN OPTION.

IT CAN ALSO GO IN BOTH.

AND THE COMMISSIONERS CAN EACH COORDINATE WITH THEIR COUNCIL PEOPLE TO SHARE IT IN THEIR NEWSLETTERS AND IN THEIR COMMUNICATIONS.

THE IDEA WAS ALSO WE COULD USE IT FOR TABLING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, UM, WITH A QR CODE.

SO IT'S GONNA BE ON US TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT OUT THERE.

UM, STAFF WILL PUBLISH IT, BUT IT'LL BE ON US TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS A SHELF LIFE.

I THINK.

SORRY, I THINK A QR CODE IS A GREAT IDEA.

SO WE CAN JUST PUT IT EVERYWHERE AND THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE OUTSIDE VICE CHAIR.

MY ENTIRE LIFE I HAD NEVER HEARD OF, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN AND AN EDUCATOR, UM, FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF MY LIFE.

I JUST WANT TO, UH, REITERATE THIS.

UM, TO QUOTE SAM IN THIS LETTER, INFORMATION IS EMPOWERMENT, RIGHT? AND SO BEING A LONG BEACH RESIDENT

[01:20:01]

NOW, I HADN'T HEARD OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE, WE HAVE NOW LEARNED ARE SUCH POWERHOUSES FOR OUR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THIS CITY.

SO WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT THIS LIST CAN HAVE AN IMPACT AND, AND LIKE, UM, COMMISSIONER MELLINGER SAID LIKE, IT'S GOING TO BE ON US TO ENSURE THAT IT GETS OUT THERE.

COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA, JUST WANNA SAY EXCELLENT WORK.

I GONNA COMMEND YOU ON THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

YEAH, THIS IS REALLY A GOOD RESOURCE.

UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO, UM, ASK A QUESTION IN RELATION TO OUR WEBSITE.

I KNOW THAT WE CANNOT HAVE OUR OWN, UH, WEB INDEPENDENT WEBSITE, UM, AND THAT WE HAVE TO UTILIZE THE EQUITY, RIGHT? EQUITY.

SO WITHIN THAT WEBSITE, WILL THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION HAVE A SEPARATE PAGE? UM, TO BE DETERMINED? , UH, WE HAVE TO, UH, LAUNCH THE INITIAL WEBSITE AND THEN WE CAN TALK, UM, ABOUT WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL, UM, IT, IT MIGHT BE A SECTION, UM, THAT TAKES YOU SOMEWHERE TO WHERE THAT RESOURCE IS.

UM, SO I WILL GET A RESPONSE FOR THAT AND LET YOU KNOW.

WE ARE, WE HAVE GUIDELINES AND WE ARE BOUND BY CERTAIN RULES FOR THE WEBSITE.

SO WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO JUST ADD THINGS OR TAKE THINGS.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW A PRETTY STRICT GUIDELINES.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING THOSE.

SO I WILL GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.

WELL, IF, IF I CAN, WELL, A COUPLE THINGS.

FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT WE ARE, UH, OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE DEVELOPED A LIST OF RESOURCES THAT SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUBLISH THOSE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PERSPECTIVE WEBSITE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE WORK OF THIS COMMISSION IS BASED ON THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, BRINGING THE, THE RESOURCES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, VALUABLE, A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING GENERATED FROM THIS COMMISSION.

BUT SECOND OF ALL, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT PERHAPS THE CITY LOOK AT THE COUNTY AND THEIR WEBPAGE AND LOOK AT THE INDEPENDENT WEBPAGES OR, OR WEBSITES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS UNDER THE COUNTY TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS AND TO SEE IF WE CAN REPLICATE SOMETHING SIMILAR.

'CAUSE WE'RE DOING A WHOLE LOT OF WORK IN THE RESOURCES THAT WERE PROVIDED TODAY OUT OF THIS WORK THAT, THAT OUR COMMISSIONERS HAVE DONE.

BUT ALSO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED, UH, THROUGH THE REPORT, I MEAN, IT, IT'S, IT'S INVALUABLE INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE REFLECTED AS PART OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE FROM, FROM OUR COMMISSION.

AND WE JUST WANNA CONFIRM.

WE, WE WANT YOUR INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE.

WE ARE JUST, IT IS NOT, THAT IS ABOVE ME.

SO WE WILL GET A RESPONSE FROM YOU.

IT WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE, UH, AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW ALL OUR OPTIONS AND THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THE KEY MISSION CAN DISCUSS.

THE LIST WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

COMMISSIONER MELLINGER.

UM, ONE QUESTION I HAD, YOU'LL NOTE IN THE LETTER I HAD, PLEASE CONTACT XXX, LIKE IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION AND UM, LIKE IF YOU, IF YOU WANNA HAVE A PROGRAM BE INCLUDED.

SO I WASN'T SURE WHAT STAFF RECOMMENDED FOR WHO A CONTACT WOULD BE WHEN WE PUBLISH THIS.

LIKE IF THERE'S A STAFF EMAIL FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, IF IT SHOULD GO TO THE CURRENT CHAIR.

I WASN'T REALLY SURE.

THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD SEGUE, UM, TO THE PORTION OF THE AGENDA ITEM TO DISCUSS THE METHOD FOR PERIODICALLY UPDATING THE LIST.

I THINK HOW THE LIST WILL BE UPDATED WILL DETERMINE WHO SHOULD BE RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION.

UM, SO IF Y'ALL READY, I'LL LEAVE IT TO, TO THE CHAIR, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, UH, PIECE TO DISCUSS IN THE METHOD AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE IT CAN GO.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHO'S GOING TO UPDATE IT? I, I, I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN IT'S, IT'S AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, SO AND WE HAVE TO SUNSET AND WE DO HAVE TO SUNSET.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SEE THE FINISHED RESULT, UM, WHEN IT'S DESIGNED.

BUT IF THE COMMISSION'S GONNA REVIEW, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONS, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE, WE NEED AN AD HOC TO CONTINUE OR A COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE TO EXIST TO REFUSE SUBMISSIONS LIKE TWICE A YEAR.

SO MAYBE IT, IT COMES BACK TO THE COMMISSION TWICE A YEAR, WOULD, WHATEVER.

THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.

WHATEVER SUBMISSIONS COME IN.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE, WHETHER THAT'S STAFF OR THE CHAIR AND THEN IT GETS AGENDIZED AND WE CAN UPDATE VOTE TO UPDATE

[01:25:01]

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

THERE YOU GO.

JUST CAME UP WITH THAT .

ALSO, JUST WONDERING, WE HAVE THIS LIST NOW.

SO RIGHT NOW, ASSUMING IT'S PROVEN THAT IT'S READY TO GO, WHERE CAN IT EXIST? LET'S SAY NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH? NOT NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH.

OH, JUST ONE.

LIKE, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET LIKE A TIMELINE, BUT IN THE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE IT CAN, WE WILL FIND A, WE CAN DEFINITELY FIND A PLACE TO HAVE IT LINKED OR LIVE ON THE OFFICE OF E EQUITY WEBSITE, WHICH EXISTS WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT WEBSITE.

SO, UM, THAT IS VERY NEARLY LAUNCHED.

SO THAT, THAT'LL BE THE SOONEST PLACE IT CAN LIVE THE SOONEST.

UM, YOU'RE, I THINK STUDENTS WERE DESIGNING, THAT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING PHYSICAL THAT MIGHT EXIST.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA DO THAT, BUT VIRTUALLY IT CAN LIVE ON THE OFFICE OF EQUITY WEBSITE.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE NEXT QUESTION FOR THE AD HOC TO TAKE UP IS WHETHER WE WANNA PRINT MATERIALS, HOW WE WANNA DISTRIBUTE THE INFORMATION IN TERMS OF LIKE A MEDIA PLAN.

UM, SO PICKING IT UP ONCE IT'S DONE IS LIKE A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.

PERHAPS JUST THINKING, TAKING THAT TO, TO THE SCHOOLS ALL AROUND, OBVIOUSLY.

SO JUST CAN I, YES, JUST THE WAY THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED, I THINK IN OUR AGENDA PLANNING AND ALSO IN OUR AD HOC WOULD BE THAT ONCE IT IS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, THEN IT CAN GO ON TO THE DESIGN PHASE AND THEN IT COULD IN THE SHORT TERM, UM, BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY NEWSLETTER AND POTENTIALLY THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, NEWSLETTERS AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE WEBSITE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.

UM, JUST TALKING ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS AND WHERE DO WE SAVE IT AND EVERYTHING, IT JUST MADE ME THINK ABOUT JUST IN GENERAL SHARING DOCUMENT BETWEEN ALL THE MEMBERS AND ALL THE COMMISSIONER.

IS THERE IS A WAY, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ALREADY IN PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A GOOGLE DOC OR WE HAVE A DROPBOX OR SOMETHING WHERE ALL THE ADOC ARE WORKING FROM AND PUTTING DOCUMENT AND WHOEVER NEEDS TO ACCESS WHATEVER EVERYONE ELSE IS WORKING ON CAN ACCESS IT? IS IT SOMETHING WE CAN SET UP OR WE NEED THE CITY APPROVAL, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR THE SHARING OF ANY DOCUMENT THAT WE ALL WORK ON? UM, SO IN A SHARED DOC, IF, IF ALL OF YOU ARE WORKING IN A SHARED DOCUMENT OR HAVE ACCESS THE WAY WE RUN INTO BROWN ACT, UM, ISSUES SIMILAR TO LIKE IF YOU POST ON MM-HMM .

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE COMMISSIONS LIKE, OR COMMENT OR WHATEVER THAT, THAT CONSTITUTES COMMUNICATIONS IN WHICH, IF A MAJORITY OF YOU COMMUNICATE THROUGH THAT WAY WOULD BE A, IT WOULD BE A BROWN ACT VIOLATION BECAUSE IT WASN'T A NOTICED INIZED MEETING.

UM, SO I THINK YOU'RE ASKING LIKE IF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS CAN COLLABORATE ON A, ON A LIST, BUT I THINK WHAT MAKES SENSE IS WHAT SAM'S SUGGESTION IS, IS TO BRING, BRING BACK THE LIST ON A PERIODIC BASIS.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, THOUGHTS? OKAY.

I THINK I'LL, I'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LET UP AT THE PODIUM AND IF YOU'RE JOINING IN THE ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR HIT STAR NINE ON YOUR PHONE.

SING NONE, CHAIR.

NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

CAN YOU, UM, PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? MOTION CARRIES.

I FEEL THAT OUR PRESENTATION PRETTY MUCH SUMMARIZED THE WORK THAT THE AD HOC HAS BEEN DOING, REALLY, THAT WE WERE, WE PROPOSED THIS CONCEPT TO THE TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE TO DO A REPORT AND THEY WORKED WITH CAL STATE LONG BEACH AND THEY CAME BACK WITH IT.

UM, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM FIVE IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT FROM CURRENT AD HOC COMMITTEES, DISCUSS ANTICIPATED AD HOC COMMITTEES FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO DISSOLVE OR CREATE AD HOC COMMITTEES.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM? ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ENGLE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLINGER.

UM, CAN WE, WHICH AD HOCS DO WE HAVE? GIVE ME A SEC.

HERE WE GO.

UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

[5. 26-56515 Recommendation to receive and file a report from Current Ad Hoc Committees; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AND SO NOW I THINK IT'S STILL NOT TIME TO SUNSET THE TASK FORCE 'CAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP THEM PUBLICIZE THE REPORT OR PACKAGE IT AND

[01:30:01]

MAYBE SHIFT IT TO OTHER AGENCIES THAT CAN USE IT IN THEIR, UM, PLANNING.

I, I DO WONDER IF WE NEED TO REDEFINE THE SCOPE IF, IF WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW OR WE NEED TO COME BACK WITH A NEW SCOPE.

BUT I THINK TECHNICALLY WITH THAT PRESENTATION WE PROBABLY CLOSED OUT THE INITIAL SCOPE.

UM, I'M NOT SURE.

COULD YOU, THANK YOU.

PULLING IT UP, .

SO THE OBJECTIVE OR SCOPE OF THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS, IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE IN CAL, CALIFORNIA STATE LONG BEACH TO PRODUCE A REPORT HIGHLIGHTING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING DATA COLLECTION.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WE'VE QUITE MET IT YET BECAUSE WE GOT THE PRESENTATION, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE FULL REPORT.

SO I WOULD SAY STILL WORKING ON IT IN TERMS OF FINALIZING IT AND PUBLISHING IT.

SO TO ME THAT'S NOT, NOT QUITE ALMOST UNLESS STAFF DISAGREE.

SO I DUNNO, I THINK, I MEAN THE REPORT, I THINK THE FINAL REPORT MM-HMM .

EXCUSE ME, JUST A CLARIFICATION.

IT SAID DATA COLLECTION, RIGHT? YEAH.

PRODUCE A HIGH, A REPORT HIGHLIGHTING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

OH.

PRODUCE A REPORT IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING DATA COLLECTION.

WELL, AND THE NEXT ONE IS MM-HMM .

UM, MENTORSHIP AND EDUCATION.

WELL OBVIOUSLY WE, I THINK, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WE JUST HEARD FROM? ARE WE GOOD THERE? OKAY.

UM, THE LAST, WHICH, LIKE ON THE UPCOMING, WELL, IT'S NO LONGER UPCOMING RIGHT? OR THE NACW CONFERENCE AND THAT'S, UH, COMMISSIONER KEL AND LA VIOLET.

SO WE ARE GOING TO AIM FOR, WE WOULD LIKE TO, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO SET UP AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO CREATE A PROPOSAL FOR 2027 OR 2028.

COULD WE PUT THAT AS A REMINDER FOR AS IT AS IT GETS CLOSER MAYBE SEVERAL MONTHS IN ADVANCE? IT'S 2028, IT'S A COUPLE YEARS AWAY.

SO, WE'LL, WE CAN CREATE THE AD HOC ONCE IT NEARS YEAH.

ONCE IT NEARS, YEAH.

OR, OKAY.

BUT WE NEED TO DO IT A PROBABLY A YEAR IN ADVANCE, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

YEAH, WE NEED TO DO IT A YEAR IN ADVANCE.

IF IT'S THE 28TH, THEN WE NEED TO DO IT YEAR NEXT 2027.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? SORRY, JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'RE GONNA DISSOLVE SUNSET THIS AD HOC AND BRING IT BACK WHEN IT'S CLOSER TO THE 20, 28 YEAR, RIGHT? CORRECT.

BRING IT BACK IN THE FALL NEXT YEAR.

SO CAN WE JUST GET LIKE A MOTION, A FRIENDLY MOTION TO DISSOLVE IT? OKAY.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO DISSOLVE THE NACW CONFERENCE AD HOC? IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

MOVED BY COMMISSIONER GER.

I'M NOT SURE WHO SAID IT, BUT I HEARD COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA SECONDED.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? WE ARE GOOD.

WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AND IF JOINING BY ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR HIT STAR NINE ON YOUR PHONE.

SEEING NONE, CHAIR.

WONDERFUL.

CAN YOU PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? MOTION CARRIES.

REPORT FROM CURRENT AD HOC COMMITTEES, DISCUSS ANTICIPATED AD HOC COMMITTEES.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE NON AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION FOR WINNING GIRLS ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE.

OH.

DO WE GET TO TALK ABOUT IF WE WANNA BRING UP ANOTHER COMMITTEE? OH, I WAS, YEAH, I WAS GONNA ASK THAT.

OH, OKAY.

BECAUSE WE'RE MISSING THE END OF THE, OH, APOLOGIES.

THAT MOTION, THE

[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Commission for Women and Girls on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]

MILLICENT.

SHOULD WE, I'M MISSING THE SECOND PART OF THE MOTION.

CAN, WHAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION? OH, I THINK RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE FURTHER

[01:35:01]

CREATE OR CREATE.

I THINK IT'S DONE.

IT'S, SO WHAT ARE WE TRYING, WE TRYING TO DO TO CREATE ANOTHER AD HOC DO COULD WE, AND ARE WE, I KNOW WE CLOSED THE MOTION.

DO WE, CAN WE MOVE THAT TO NEXT? COULD WE MOVE THAT TO NEXT MONTH? OR YOU WANNA YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE, YOU HAVE VOTED ON THIS ITEM SO WE CAN'T GO BACK AND REOPEN THAT ITEM.

UM, SO UNFORTUNATELY IT'LL HAVE TO COME UP AT THE NEXT MEETING.

MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT, Y'ALL.

THAT'S, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.

I'LL REMEMBER THAT FOR NEXT MONTH.

SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET FRIDAY MORNING.

UM, JUST KIND OF READING AHEAD.

WE'LL, I'LL JUST START, I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I DROPPED OFF.

AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE, WE, WE WILL TAKE NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS.

YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE PODIUM AND IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, UM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR HIT STAR NINE ON YOUR PHONE.

SEEING NOT CHAIR.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, MOVING ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

UM, AT THIS TIME COMMISSIONERS MAY REPORT ON ANY PREVIOUS OR UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS SHARE RELEVANT INFORMATION OR RECOMMEND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? PLEASE REMEMBER TO SPEAK UP WHEN PROVIDING YOUR, UM, YOUR COMMENT.

COMMISSIONER CHOTO, I MEAN LOS , VICE CHAIR MUTO.

SO THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL LOS MUTOS COMMUNITY EVENT HAPPENING AT THE ELEMENTARY

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED FEATURING TWO NEW MURALS THAT THE SCHOOL PARTNERED WITH, UH, LONG BEACH WALLS ON.

SO THAT'S BEGINNING AT EIGHT IN THE MORNING IF ANYONE'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTERESTED IN, UM, JUST FEELING REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND SEEING KIDS AND AZTEC DANCING AND MARIACHI.

YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE A FACE IF YOU GO.

UM, YEAH.

UH, COMMISSIONER .

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, DOLORES ERTA PASSED TODAY AND, UM, SHE COINED THE PHASE, THE PHRASE .

UM, SHE WAS AMAZING.

SHE'S NEVER STOPPED WORKING ON BEHALF OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CAUSES AND TALKED ABOUT WOMEN'S VOICES MM-HMM .

AND HOW HARD IT WAS FOR HER TO SPEAK OUT, UH, BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TALK ABOUT HER SUCCESSES BECAUSE THAT WASN'T COOL FOR WOMEN TO DO.

I GUESS IT STILL ISN'T REALLY, BUT, UM, I, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH JUST THINKING ABOUT ALL SHE'D DONE OVER HER WONDERFUL LIFE FOR ALL OF US.

WE HAD, UM, CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY.

I THINK IT'S IN MANY OF OUR MINDS, AND SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN LEADER.

AND, UM, ACTUALLY WAS AT THE SUGGESTION OF ANOTHER COMMISSIONER, UM, COMMISSIONER CHARLETTA WANTED TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING IN HER MEMORY.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

SO YES.

SORRY, ONE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT'S GOING TO, SORRY, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THEN WE'LL ADJOURN.

UM, NOVEMBER IS IN OUR BYLAWS OF SPECIAL MEETING, UM, AS WE CHANGE THE DATE.

SO I WILL SEND AN EMAIL TO ALL OF YOU TO ASK FOR DATES IN NOVEMBER WHERE WE CAN MEET FOR OUR NOVEMBER SPECIAL MEETING.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNEW THAT.

I WORKED WITH HER AS A PROFESSIONAL LATER ON, UM, IN DEALING WITH EDUCATIONAL, UH, ISSUES.

SO I, YES, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, ENC CHOTA.

THANK YOU ALICE FOR THAT.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT DOLORES FOR ME WAS MY SHERO.

I MET HER WHEN I WAS ABOUT 18 YEARS OLD, A STUDENT IN COLLEGE, AND SHE CAME TO RECRUIT YOUNG STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BOYCOTT.

I KNOW A LOT OF YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T EVEN BORN THERE , BUT SHE'S BEEN A SHERO, UM, FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

UM, IN THE LATTER PART OF MY LIFE, I BECAME VERY CLOSE TO THE LOTES.

SO SHE WAS A GOOD FRIEND, A CLOSE FRIEND, AND IT, IT JUST, TODAY WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DAY FOR ME AND FOR MANY OF US BECAUSE FOR US, SHE WAS OUR ICON.

SHE WAS PART OF THE CHICANO MOVEMENT.

UM, AND SHE, YOU KNOW, WAS ALWAYS THERE TO SUPPORT.

[01:40:01]

AND SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE ADVOCATING, SUPPORTING ALL OUR EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF US, UM, GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE, GOING EVERYWHERE, AND ADVOCATING.

SO SHE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON.

UM, SHE HAS A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, SHE COULDN'T HAVE SPOKEN OUT BACK THEN.

SHE COULDN'T HAVE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED TO HER.

NOBODY WOULD'VE BELIEVED IT FOR ONE, SHE WOULD'VE BEEN BLACKLISTED FOR, FOR COMING OUT AND, AND, AND SPEAKING ABOUT THE ABUSE.

SO SHE CARRIED THAT, SHE CARRIED THAT ALL HER LIFE UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THIS PAST YEAR.

BUT MY HEART GOES OUT TO HER FAMILY AND TO OUR CHICANO COMMUNITY BECAUSE SHE IS THE MOST REVERED ICON THAT WE HAVE.

AND, AND NOW SHE'S GONE.

AND IT JUST REALLY HARD, VERY HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

SO MAY SHE REST IN POWER AND MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

WE LOVE YOU DOLO.

MY CONDOLENCES TOO.

YOU WOULD, THAT'S WHY I'M SORRY.

I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

UM, I KNOW THERE ARE NO WORDS, UM, THERE'S NO DIRECTION.

UM, THAT'S ADJOURN THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF, UH, .

MM-HMM.

CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE TIME? IT'S EIGHT OH SEVEN.