The __________ Human Relations Commission needs
staff and resources to meet the responsibilities and obligations mandated by the Board of Supervisors. The purpose of this paper is to explore possible ways to gain the support needed for the Commission.
Problem Statement
Increasing racial and ethnic tension, escalating hate violence, and concerns for promoting harmonious pluralistic communities and resulted in a proliferation of human relations commissions
in California that has not been seen since racial riots plagued America in the mid 1960's. The activities of the commissions are not changing and serving as a vehicle to bring human relations issues to the
attention of decision-makers. However, the issues the commissions face currently are more complex and include:
- the influx of new immigrants,
- the perception by people of color and the poor that the Federal government is no longer concerned with their problems and is antagonistic toward them
- the illicit marketing and use of drugs as a survival strategy by growing numbers of young people;
- the dwindling need for blue collar workers and family farmers resulting from the growing dominance of multinational corporations
whose primary concern is reducing the costs of production
- people who are homeless.
Commissions are being asked by local governments to attempt to deal with the increasingly complex issues facing American society. At the same time the budgets of local governments
are being squeezed because of taxing restrictions and court rulings forcing budgeting for jails. Supervisors are unable to ignore existing or potential court mandates to
spend on incarceration. Remaining funds are directed toward other mandated and essential services.
While human relations commissions are not usually given priority budgeting
two points are raised on their behalf:
- money used to increase the capacity of the criminal justice system to respond to criminality is more efficiently used by a human relations
commission since it focuses on preventing and reducing criminality at criminality at its source, and therefore reduces the need for more jail cells (at $100,000+ per cell it is not too
difficult to be persuasive)
- the negative image cast on a community that suffers from community tension and racial or other forms of conflict can destroy an otherwise healthy business climate and
further limit the tax base relied on to support other activities.
Issues
The question is whether a ___________ human relations commission can carry out its mandates when the fiscal restraints on the _____________ are strong. In order to answer the question several
issues need to be addressed:
- Can a human relations commission carry out its responsibilities without staff support or budget?
- What level of support should a __________ expect to provide to human relations commission?
- Can a commission augment its budget through fee for services?
- What are the positive and negative implications of seeking external support for commission activities?
Discussion of Funding Issues:
1. Can a human relations commission carry out its responsibilities without staff support or budget?
Groups of
people will always come together to solve problems that need cooperative solutions. However, community organizers find that people generally can be expected to donate their time and efforts when; the
problem is immediate and pressing, they have a reasonable expectation to resolve the problem, and they feel they are making progress.
Commissions that are unstaffed or understaffed have
difficulty holding regular meetings in the absence of a crisis requiring a response. When action is needed they usually do no more than offer verbal support to individuals or organizations asking for help.
An effective human relations commission capable of fulfilling its responsibilities in a sustained way require staff support and budget.
2. What level of support should a ____________
expect to provide to a human relations commission before it creates one or mandates tasks for it?
The ___________ should expect to provide staff for the Commission. This staff is
expected to:
- Act as liaison between the Commission and the chief executive officer and the legislative body;
- Help the Commission develop and implement a work plan;
- Receive and investigate human rights complaints
- Help prepare and post agendas
- Carry out staff activities designated by the commission
- Conduct studies, prepare reports and gather information as directed
3. Can a commission augment its budget through fee for services?
Housing and Employment
In California the State Department of Fair Employment and Housing contracts exclusively with both departments
for the enforcement of employment and housing anti-discrimination laws. The state has the authority to subcontract with local governments for the enforcement of housing and employment anti-discrimination laws,
however local governments have not pursued the potential for subcontracting in California.
Conflict Resolution
Recent state legislation in California allowed for increasing filing fees in designated civil
cases and counties are authorized to use a portion of the new revenues for the support of conflict resolution programs. Commissions may incorporate conflict resolution programs into their activities and generate
support from the filing fees.
Racial, ethnic, religious and minority violence
Currently, state legislation is pending for the support of "Human relations Center" to serve as a focal point for local efforts to
address crimes motivated by racial, ethnic, religious or minority hatred. If the legislation passed in its current form the __________ could apply for financial support as a center.
