BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
MAY 22, 2013
PRESENT: D. Abraham, J. Bernard, E. Causil-Rodriguez, M. Kolman, M. Scott, D. Scotto, B. Solotaire, S. Turet, R. Underwood
EXCUSED: P. Bellenbaum, E. Felder, L. Hill
ABSENT: R. Cervone, A. Davila, E. Echevarria, M. Ruiz, C. Ryan
GUESTS: P. Sanders, Deputy Director for Brooklyn Community Service Center
MINUTES
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Presentation and discussion with a representative for the Commission on Human Rights on the mission, programs and services offered by the agency.
The presentation was made by Paula L. Sanders, Deputy Director for the Community Service Center in Brooklyn.
- Each borough has one
- Law enforcement agency under the Mayor
- Strongest human rights laws in the country
- Jurisdiction in housing, employment, public accommodation — anyplace providing goods or services to the public.
Protected Classes: Gender (includes sexual harassment), Color, Race, Creed (religion), Alienage (citizenship), Age, Marital status, Nationality, Partnership status, Disability, Sexual orientation.
Familial Status (children, housing). Arrest and conviction record (employment). Lawful occupation (housing). Lawful source of income (housing). Status of domestic violence victims/survivors.
- Income is not a protected class
- Takes on cases by case basis, not class action suits.
Housing — jurisdiction for apartments of 6 floors or more or 2-3 family homes.
Employers — it is illegal in NYC to ask if you've been arrested. Can ask if you've been convicted, however.
Agency sends out testers to make sure employers and housing authority are being fair.
Judge decides based on merits of complaint.
No jurisdiction over NYPD — no "stop and frisk" control.
No jurisdiction under NYCHA (NYC Housing Authority).
Last year, the City Council added cyber-bullying to the list of protected classes.
Discrimination complaints can be filed either with the city or the state but the city covers more categories.
Commission can go after other city agencies but not NYPD or NYCHA.
As of June 11th, another protected class is being added — Unemployment status. It is illegal for employers to not hire if someone had been unemployed for a year or more.
MINUTES
A motion was made by Suzanne Turet to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on April 22, 2013 and seconded by Mark Kolman.
MOTION APPROVED: UNANIMOUSLY
ROUNDTABLE
The meeting ended with a roundtable discussion of ways we could help schools in our district. Perhaps identify schools most in need nearby and support them to elevate their standing. There seems to be some interest from technology/science industry to link up with schools and principals.
Mark Kolman made a motion seconded by Suzanne Turet to write a letter to the Department of Education and the MTA asking them to help provide Red Hook students ease of access to subway system for school trips. Current regulations using school buses are simply too restrictive for most trips.
MOTION APPROVED: UNANIMOUSLY
Mark Kolman moved to adjourn. Seconded.
The minutes were submitted by Dave Paco Abraham.