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Debate on the meaning of compliance and enforcement in language access

1:11:45

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Council Member Alexa Avilés and Dan Steinberg from the Mayor's Office of Operations engage in a debate about the meaning of compliance and enforcement in the context of the language access law.

Dan Steinberg points out that the law's criteria are met, but the satisfaction level may differ
Alexa Avilés expresses frustration with the concept of 'general compliance' and the lack of clear accountability
The discussion highlights the gap between legal compliance and meeting the council's expectations
There's a call for moving beyond the minimum requirements after seven years of implementation

Dan Steinberg

1:11:45

I I understand that, and I think it's a fair premise.

1:11:48

I I think the yeah.

1:11:50

I think the problem is that that we're what are we talking about enforcing exactly?

1:11:58

You know, you you heard the the sort of, you know, the the the sort of core purpose of of this law and and the criteria by which it's been defined, and all the work that's been done revolves around that criteria.

1:12:12

But there's also a reason why 8 different, you know, audits from outside you know, stakeholders, different controllers, and and and other oversight bodies all say, generally compliant.

1:12:23

It's because it's because generally compliant isn't to the satisfaction of the council, and that's a a difference.

Alexa Avilés

1:12:29

Generally, compliance shouldn't be dissatisfaction of anyone.

1:12:33

Quite frankly.

Dan Steinberg

1:12:34

You're right.

Alexa Avilés

1:12:34

We should be fully compliant and and singing through the rooftops that our our city is doing something beyond.

1:12:42

So I I what we are trying to do is move beyond the floor a year 7, and I think there's obviously a lot of progress.

1:12:50

There is building of staff.

1:12:52

But I'm asking for your for your input as the practitioners here that are overseeing where should enforcement where should that standard be?

1:13:02

Because the continuation of a death loop is what I call it, or the death spiral of, like, nobody's in charge of anything.

Dan Steinberg

1:13:11

I see.

Alexa Avilés

1:13:11

Is is profoundly frustrating, particularly in the context where we see serious gaps, and then everyone's generally compliant.

1:13:21

It's a frustrating affair.

1:13:23

So I was just asking if you had opined on this and have some suggestions about where that apparatus could be and should be to move us along our continuum.

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