by El Reportero staff
Non-English speakers will have access to government services from the City of Oakland after two lawsuits settled obligations by the “Equal Access to Services Ordinance,” (EAO). The lawsuits focused on the failure of the city to provide services accessible to more than 70,000 Oakland residents with limited English speaking abilities. An administrative instruction to all city departments will be given to institutionalize EAO enforcement.
The settlement requires key documents to be translated, sufficient bilingual staff, and telephonic services to be translated and provided to the majority of Spanish and Chinese speaking residents. According to Corinne Jan, Chief Executive Officer of Family Bridges, “Despite their contributions to our community and substantial numbers, limited English profi cient Oaklanders have at times been denied equitable access to services. This settlement should prevent that from reoccurring.”
P r e l i m i n a r y l a y o f f a p p r o v e d
San Francisco Board of Education has approved 425 preliminary layoffs for full time positions in the district. Budget cuts from the state are to blame for the layoffs which are set to be issued by this week from SFUSD. This only adds to the $113 million planned cuts by the district. Math, science, and Special education will be exempted from the cuts as they are hard-to-fill positions.
A few possible scenarios are on the works including a tax extension which will be placed in the June ballot and eligibility refund if certain conditions are met. Less favorable scenarios will also be looked into as the district has to meet state deadlines. The final budget will be determined after May 15 when the final layoff notifi cations take effect.
N e w C h i e f A t – t o r n e y a p p o i n t e d
Matt Gonzalez was appointed Chief Attorney of the San Francisco Public Defender’s office by the Public Defender himself, Jeff Adachi. Gonzalez’s position is taken into effect as soon as possible as former Chief Attorney Teresa Caffese stepped out of the position on December 31st.
This will mark Gonzalez’s return to the office where he previously served as deputy public defender. Adachi found an excellent fi t for the position stating, “We want a top trial lawyer who understands our work has a commitment to our clients and a dedication to preserving the resources that allow our offi ce to function. That person is Matt Gonzalez.”
Salazar not a target
After 40 years, a 20- page report stated no evidence proves the death of journalist Ruben Salazar was intentional by the Los Angeles Sheriff department. Salazar was shot in the head with a tear gas missile while at the Silver Dollar Café on August 29, 1970. As a news director for Spanishlanguage KMEX-TV and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Salazar was a key fi gure in the Mexican-American civil rights movement.
The offi ce of Independent Review scheduled the examination of thousands of Sheriff’s Department records, one which included the riots in East Los Angeles. Investigation proved deputies did not have great communication at the time of the riots and tactics were executed poorly thus leading to an innocent man’s death.
