Q&A
Council Member Williams questions budget cuts to human rights commissions
6:17:19
·
4 min
Council Member Nantasha Williams inquires about budget cuts to the Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and the Equal Employment Practices Commission (EEPC), emphasizing their crucial roles and small budgets. OMB Director Jacques Jiha explains the citywide approach to budget cuts, while Williams advocates for restoring funding to these agencies.
- Williams highlights that CCHR and EEPC have increasing responsibilities due to new legislation but haven't seen corresponding budget increases.
- Jiha explains that all agencies were asked to contribute to budget cuts due to the scale of financial challenges.
- Williams emphasizes the disproportionate impact on small agencies with important mandates and urges reconsideration of their funding.
Nantasha Williams
6:17:19
My questions are about the Commission on Human Rights and the Equal Employment Practices Commission.
6:17:25
So since the November plan, the council has requested the restoration of a PEG that was applied to the Commission on Human Rights and the Equal Employment Practices Commission.
6:17:34
As a result, CCHR has had to adjust some of their roles to critical operations functions, that are maintained.
6:17:42
The council has also requested an increased headcount for, these agencies to enable them to operate efficiently.
6:17:49
So while, some may say they are operating above water.
6:17:55
We would like for them to be swimming well.
6:17:58
CCHR and EEPC provide oversight, investigate any violation citywide, and make sure that city agencies enforce local laws passed by the council.
6:18:07
CCHR's budget include a peg of $1,800,000 in fiscal 2024, $1,400,000 in fiscal 2025, and a reduct reduction of $1,400,000 starting in fiscal 2026.
6:18:21
Similar to CCHR, EEPC's budget is even significantly lower, and even included the elimination of one position that was less than $100,000.
6:18:33
And I have to laugh because this is, like, truly laughable numbers when you talk in 1,000,000,000.
6:18:37
In fiscal 2024 and a hiring freeze of a position, these pegs have not been restored in an executive plan.
6:18:45
And just wanted to know, the decision making process around targeting such a small, agency for any budget cuts given their crucial role in enforcement.
6:18:55
These agencies total a budget that make up only a nano, like, more than less than micro, like nano, fraction of the city's total budget.
6:19:05
Is there any plan to restore these cuts?
6:19:08
And we'd ask for $500,000 to EEPC and $4,400,000 to CCHR.
Jacques Jiha
6:19:18
By the way, congratulation, on, your doctorate, doctor Williams.
Nantasha Williams
6:19:25
Thank you.
Jacques Jiha
6:19:26
Yeah.
6:19:28
We, again, as I said, we, though the entire logic behind taking a citywide approach to this problem because of the scope and the scale of the challenge that we had to deal with.
6:19:43
And at the time, the mayor wants to make sure that every agency participate in the, in making a contribution, to the, problem.
6:19:53
So it was not a question of you have to exempt this particular agency, that particular agency initially, particularly in November, at the beginning of the problem, the scope of the problem was so big, we had to make sure everyone is included because as you can imagine, every time we exclude one agency, it become what about me?
6:20:12
Every other agency, what about me?
6:20:14
What about me?
6:20:15
We are also as critical.
6:20:16
So you cannot generate savings in a in an environment everybody is trying to get exempted from the problem.
6:20:25
But again, we will, again, as we get, as I said, you know, we will work with the agency to know exactly, what their needs are.
6:20:35
We've been working with them.
6:20:37
And if there is something that we believe is critical from our perspective and in discussion with them, we will address it as we get closer to budget adoption.
Nantasha Williams
6:20:49
Yeah.
6:20:49
And I appreciate that.
6:20:50
I know, you know, sort of cuts across the board, but from the prelim to now in the exec, there were some agencies that did see restorations.
6:20:59
And I think as you were looking to make restorations, especially for these small agencies that carry a big load, and that's sort of the interesting thing.
6:21:07
These are very small agencies, but my colleagues love them to death, passed tons of bills that require specifically CCHR and EEPC to do more work, and the budget never follows the work.
6:21:19
Fair Housing, Fair Transfer Housing is a bill that's gonna go into effect shortly, requiring CCHR to do so much enforcement work, and they have not seen any increases in their budget.
6:21:29
So I do hope that my wonderful colleagues, along with, your side see the value in these agencies, and we truly fund them adequately so that they can do their work.
6:21:41
Thank you, Cherz.
Justin Brannan
6:21:44
Is Ayala on?
6:21:46
Yes.
6:21:46
Yes.
6:21:46
Okay.
6:21:47
Council member Ayala.
