Commission on Human Rights

CITY OF ALBANY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING MINUTES CITY HALL 24 EAGLE STREET, ALBANY, NY SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 Opening: The September 28, 2023, meeting was called to order at 6:03pm by Vice-Chair Tom Mueller Present: Tom Mueller, Vice-Chair Natisha Alexander Valerie Alexander-Moseley Richard Conti Celia Evers Kate Shelly Dr. Kimberly Wilkins Jasmine Higgins (City of Albany) Raisi Mobele (City of Albany) Absent: Aaron Moore, Rosie Love Quorum: Yes Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes: August Meeting Minutes approved as distributed Business from Prior Meeting: • Executive Director Update: ◦ The equity agenda audit was discussed. There were inquiries regarding work product from the commission and responses to the report. Clarity requested regarding comments from 2018, 2019, and 2020 ◦ The equity agenda report has sections such as the built environment, equitable budgeting, and violence prevention. ◦ Any information should be sent to Director Higgins for formalizing. ◦ Discussion: do current reports reflect the new ward lines?  ◦ Comments regarding timely sharing of the draft Equity Agenda report in previous years made it difficult for the Commission to review and provide feedback • Subcommittees finalized ◦ Director Higgins mentioned investigations training. ◦ Commissioner Alexander-Moseley asked if subcommittees could meet on Zoom; the suggestion met with general approval. • City budget ◦ Distributed 9/29. ◦ The committee discussed how thorough the guide to the budget was and needed to be. What was the geographic region? How do we define “human rights resources”? ▪ Do those resources include education, housing, etc., or are they only in crisis mode? ▪ How do we deal with organizations being left out? Suggestion for a community submission/jotform for the committee to review and decide if appropriate. ▪ Working with organizations (South End Community Collaborative, West Hill Steering Committee, etc.) ▪ Printing out of house? Have a QR code? ▪ Does this dovetail with a resource guide about the commission? • Events attendance ◦ Be specific/direct with tabling/representing the Commission ◦ Commissioners need to commit in advance to attending and tabling to ensure space availability and facilitate planning and communication surrounding events Old Business • Vice-Chair Mueller asked about the rotunda series, points of discussion included ◦ Executive Director Higgins asked what theme the Commission would like to focus on? Should it be related to heritage, a relevant/pressing topic, or theme per a month ◦ Should there be an info share? ◦ What location should there be? A public or private space? ◦ Deadline for ideas/topics: Friday Oct 13 New Business • Equity Agenda Report – CHR Review and Recommendations Structure ◦ Review Sub-Committees ▪ Street repairs • Valerie Alexander-Moseley • Natisha Alexander ▪ Parks  • Kimberly Young-Wilkins ▪ Street lights • Celia Evers • Valerie Alexander-Moseley ▪ Capital improvements • Valerie Alexander-Moseley • Richard Conti ▪ Violence prevention • Tom Mueller • Valerie Alexander Moseley ▪ Budget • Natisha Alexander • Kate Shelly ◦ The committee requested a month to review the report • Panhandling (88.82.23R) ◦ Various commissioners discussed the issue and the competing bills brought up at next city council meeting ▪ What community resources are necessary to address this? ▪ Is this a quality of life issue? ▪ How can we empower organizations to deal with the issue? ◦ The committee motioned to express concern that the resolution doesn’t fully address issues ▪ Motioned by Commissioner Conti; seconded by Commissioner Alexander ▪ The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Conti to draft resolution • Indigenous Peoples’ Day (95.92.23R) ◦ Various commissioners discussed the recognition surrounding this day ◦ Commissioner Alexander moved that the committee should recognize the resolution in support of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and also provide information to support Italian-American Heritage Month in October; seconded by Commissioner Shelly. ◦ Vote was unanimous; to be drafted by Commissioner Conti. • Cannabis ordinance (29.71.23R) ◦ Amends the Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO) to be inclusive of cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption; makes cannabis a use similar to liquor – retail stores will operate similarly to liquor stores and on-site consumption similar to bars ◦ The commission discussed equity issues regarding this ordinance and await the final discussion/vote at council meeting. No public comments were received before or submitted during the meeting. Adjournment: This meeting was adjourned at 7:14 PM by general consent. Minutes Submitted by: Minutes approved by: