“Promoting and Protecting Civil and Human Rights”

Information presented by: Dr. Lana Turner-Addison, Director April 12, 2012

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Human Rights Work

The Human Rights Department (HRD) is the City of

Tulsa department, created by Title 5 of the City of Tulsa

Revised Ordinances, that receives and investigates

complaints of discrimination in the areas of employment,

housing and public accommodations.

Mission…“Promote equal opportunity and democratic rights, and to protect

human rights of persons in Tulsa against discrimination because of race, color,

religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status or familial status,

through advocacy, advisory, education and enforcement services.”

In the words of President, John F. Kennedy

"Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial discrimination.

Direct discrimination by Federal, State or local governments is prohibited by the Constitution.

But indirect discrimination, through the use of Federal funds, is just as invidious…"

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City of Tulsa

Title 5 Commissions

During FY 2011-12, the Title 5

Commissioners focused on several issues: • Closed Captioning

• Development of Volunteer Disability Parking Program Proposal

• Americans with Disabilities Act (Title II, Title III)

• Women Issues

• Implementation of Disparity Study Recommendations

• BRIDGE Recruitment and Business Certification

• Arab, Muslim, Sikh Awareness/Training

• Supporting BRIDGE participants in building business Capacity

• Development of Compliance M/FBE Database with support from IT

1. Human Rights Commission 2. Greater Tulsa Area Indian

Affairs Commission 3. Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic

Affairs Commission 4. Mayor’s Commission on the

Status of Women 5. BRIDGE Committee 6. Fair Housing Committee

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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

FY12 Original Budget / FY13 Requested Budget

Human Rights Overview

1962 Established in 1962 by charter and known as the Community Relations Commission.

1979 The Human Rights Commission section was established and tasked with investigating, enforcing and encouraging equal opportunity in business, housing, public accommodations, and implementing continuing education and outreach programs to the public on various types of discrimination.

1988 Title 5 of Tulsa Revised Ordinance adopted and Human Rights Department created.

2010 City of Tulsa Business Disparity Study completed and ADA Study underway.

2011 Revision to COT Title 5, Section 110 to define Good-Faith Efforts.

2011 ADA Study Completed and adopted

2011 M/FBE Database development and Implementation.

2012 Volunteer Disability Parking Program (VDPP) implemented 3/1/2012.

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HRD Organizational Chart Staffing Level – 11

– HRD Administration/Intake/Community 6

– Compliance/Investigative/BRIDGE 5

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HRD Strategic Goals 2012-2013

• Strategic Goal 1: Using a collegially-based

decision-making and input model, improve

relations through community engagement,

education, training, outreach, staff and

commission development.

• Strategic Goal 2: Improve the ability of small

businesses to participate in the City’s contracting

process, promote and encourage the utilization

of disadvantaged businesses, minority and

women owned businesses through.

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Strategic Goals Continued…

• Strategic Goal 3: Compliance with ADA in

areas of accessibility to individuals with

disabilities.

• Strategic Goal 4: Monitor and track compliance

of business contracting with the City of Tulsa

(local, state and federal requirements).

• Strategic Goal 5: Monitor the planning and

development of HUD grant process and program

activities. Staff Support for HUD Grant

Prioritization Committee.

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Additional FY13 Requested Budget

Analysis of Impediments

Per 2011 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing

Choice Study completed, it was recommended that 2%

of the annual HUD CPD formula Grant ($138,000 for FY

2010) be allocated toward fair housing responsibilities

assigned to HRD. This funding is needed to cover

expenditures in the following areas:

• Contract with service providers to complete testing

recommended with HRD following up on violations.

• Develop and facilitate outreach and educational offerings

• Hold summits related to A&I

• Develop internal reporting and tracking related to Fair

Housing

• Miscellaneous cost for various trainings and seminars

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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

FY 2012-13 Budget Requested

Personnel Services

Materials & Supplies

Other Services and Charges Professional Development, Outreach, Events, etc.

Operating Capital

Operating Budget

Other Services Fair Housing

Total Operating Budget

$ 694,085.00

9,760.00

46,835.00

9,810.00

$ 760,490.00

138,000.00

$ 898,490.00

91.3%

1.2%

6.1%

1.3%

100%

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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

Budgetary Need To Get To Full Strength

Personnel Services

Materials & Supplies

Other Services and Charges Professional Development, Outreach, Events, etc.

Operating Capital

Operating Budget

Other Services Fair Housing

Total Operating Budget

$ 844,085.00

$ 11,224.00

$ 53,860.00

$ 15,810.00

$ 924,979.00

138,000.00

$ 1,062,979.00

91.3%

1.2%

5.8%

1.7%

100%

HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

Budgetary Perspective

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Role & Responsibilities

• Preserve the integrity of service offered by the Human Rights

Department.

• Serve as principle advocate for Tulsans and challenging

(internal/external) systems to address current / or potential

Human Rights Violations.

• Promote and protecting the Civil and Human Rights of

Tulsans.

• Obey the Constitution, State and Local Ordinance (Laws) and

Resolutions adopted by the City Council.

• Strive to resolve discrimination complaints and

prevent reoccurrences.

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HRD Publications

• The Monitor Newsletter

• Human Rights Overview Brochure

• Davis-Bacon & Related Acts Brochure

• Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission Brochure

• Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women Brochure

• Tulsa Area Fair Housing Partnership

• Building Resource in Developing and Growing Enterprise (BRIDGE) Brochure

• BRIDGE Directory

• A Guide to Fair Housing – (revised copy pending)

• Grants Civil Rights Q & A – Knowing Your Rights (pending)

• Handicap Parking Informational Brochure – (pending)

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Quarterly Intakes 2011-2012 (by Council Priority)

-- Based on information obtained from IQ system as of 3/2/2012.

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Discrimination Complaints Filed

-- Based on information obtained from IQ system as of 3/2/2012.

*Calendar Year 2011

Dis. /Access

Race

Housing

Religion

Age

BRIDGE

Calendar 2011

Disability – 20 Race – 4 Housing – 9 Religion – 1 Age – 1 BRIDGE - 2

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BRIDGE Demographics

• 155 Businesses are currently certified as BRIDGE Participants.

• 5 BRIDGE.DBE

• 150 M/FBE (113 Minorities; 37 Females comprised of different races)

5

150

BRIDGE.DBE

M/FBE

-- Based on information obtained from IQ system as of 3/25/2011.

The BRIDGE Certification Committee approves all business certifications.

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Challenges Budgetary Challenges • Professional Development - Building Department Knowledge

• Adequate funding for interpreter services - ADA

• Evaluating Economic Impact of BRIDGE.DBE & M/FBE

• Funding to support Volunteer Disability Parking Program

• Funding to support ability to address and respond to Fair Housing and Barriers as note in AI Study.

Other Challenges • Ensuring and Enforcing Contractor/Subcontractor Compliance (COT,

Federal Contracts, Grants).

• Lack of mandatory requirement/accountability to ensure that departments submit required reports to HRD.

• Imparting to all citizenry the importance of Tulsans to respect the unique attributions of all, while promoting understanding and tolerance.

• Providing information that seeks to inform a wider group (protected classes) of their rights and the processes to follow when they feel their rights have been violated.

• Combating the fear that some may have due to historical racially motivated incidences, images, etc.

When we

think we

are done

we have

only just

begun.