Pittsburg City Council Approves Creation of Digital Office for New Americans

The City of Pittsburg has approved establishing The Digital Office for New Americans which will be funded through the Pittsburg Power Company at a cost of $50k. This came after a 4-1 vote of the City Council.

Within the $50,000 used to fund the program, up to $11,000 will be set aside to pay for a college intern who will perform the day to day operations. Up to $2,000 will be set aside to pay for the rental of the library community room ($136 per month for room rental and janitorial services). The remaining funds of at least $37,000 will be used to fund various Program activities

The item was approved during the Sept. 16 meeting which originally was brought forward in January when the Pittsburg City Council set its goal setting for the year.

This item was discussed in sub-committee where Mayor Juan Antonio Banales and Holland Barrett White served where four round table meetings were held and one forum was held where they aimed to address the immigration concerns within the community.

Staff highlighted concerns which included:

• Providing accurate information
• Building trust
• Hosting and promoting events
• Engaging community and being consistent
• Creating partnerships

Staff also highlighted its currently working with three program coordinators on immigration services which include Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Los Medanos College, and Pittsburg Community services, Inc.

Councilmember Merl Craft commended the Mayor and Holland Barrett White for working on this.

“I know we have gone through few years we have had push back every time we talk about immigration rights or anything like that, so I am glad we are looking towards the future and recognizing within our community there is everyone,” explained Craft. “Every nationality is represented within our community and so any efforts we make to make the transition easier and if it is from being an immigration to being a citizens, whatever pathways we can provide I think that is in our best interest for everyone.”

Vice Mayor Jelani Killings asked staff if there were any models or objectives that they looked at which they were modeling this after it. Staff explained they looked at the larger cities where San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose have programs.

Staff further highlighted that they were envisioning this program running out of the community Services Department run by staff—including using interns.

After public comments, which members of the community spoke in support of the creation of the office, Killings sought to get more information from staff on the vision of the office which was currently operating one Saturday a month. He was seeking the comparison between the large cities of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose since they were starting at $50k per year.

According to staff, they shared San Francisco spends about $2 million each year with 10-20 staff members. For Pittsburg, staff envisions a department of two, gather information from partners, create a website of accurate information with workshops once a month for two-hours—including assisting with applications with DACA, assistance with filing for citizenship while looking for events that they could partner with to build the program.

Councilwoman Shanelle Scales-Preston commended Banales and White for their work stating she works on immigration everyday with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier.

“It is a big deal, it is a complicated process that is not easy,” said Scales-Preston. “We have so many constituents that walk through our door that have been taken advantage of by attorneys and this service will help them not be taken advantage of.”

Craft chimed in saying that’s he sees this as no organization should be a standalone organization and this is bringing a resource into the community.

“This is a hub where they can come in one place and seek out resources that may not be in our community, but somewhere else where you can guide them and show them,” explained Craft. “If you have a central location where they feel safe to come, we will have more people come to service. It is not our job to provide all those services, because we can’t, but we do have the vehicle to be able to send them where they need to go.”

Mayor Banales explained they wanted to partner with the experts and non-profits who focus in this area.

“This will be focused on supporting and lifting up our immigrant community. It starts by creating a digital resource guide and continues into the community by bringing resources to Pittsburg or linking our residents to vetted resources to community members who need these resources ,” explained Banales.

He added while the city of Pittsburg can’t help them with all their immigration legal issues, they could help them in other ways that have an impact.

“I want our community to start dialogue around creative ways to assist and I strong believe this digital office creates the framework at city hall for us to listen these ideas, evaluate them and execute them,” said Banales.

After a motion was made to approve the item, Killings explained again his concern that it was starting with $50k and that they couldn’t be all things to all people and with two community outreach coordinators, that this is something that could already be accomplished with staff they already have.

“I am looking at this from two perspectives, the providing of the information from building the trust, being at community events, disseminating information and showing people where they can get the information, that seems fairly simple to me that doesn’t require $50k to do,” said Killings. “The biggest barrier is the law and that is something we can’t change.”

Killings highlighted that he reached out to the City of Oakley who have the You, Me, We = Oakley program where their coordinator said the greatest value they had are their quarterly citizenship drives. He further continued stating until there was movement at the federal levels, they are going to have barriers continue and make this a complicated process—and that a lot of the work was Pro Bono.

“If we are going to start supplement these organizations for their time or work they are providing, that cost could continue to go up. If we are finding ourselves where we are now obligated to provide these legal services, I don’t want to find us in a situation where if there are cuts in the future, its $50k now and maybe $100k in the future, whatever it is, that it is sustained,” explained Killings. “My caution is from the fiscal aspect because we are really getting into the social services aspect.”

He again explained they had two community outreach coordinators which is what they should be doing and wanted to know the difference and commitment levels.

Craft shot back at Killings.

“Those are the types of comments that would not have us sitting here on the council if that’s way it was back in the 1940’s, the 50’s, and the 60’s when it came time to give blacks votes, make us free as slaves, women the right to vote, we wouldn’t be sitting up here if somebody didn’t step out and say enough that we need to make a difference in our communities,” said Craft. “To say that this is just a small step, it is. But it is a step in making a difference and so as it goes with the community outreach people, the difference would be is you have an intern that is solely focused on this only.”

Craft also noted the cost that this intern will make $11,000 versus the cost of two full-time coordinators.

“That person is focused on this area and seeking out the information for this only, it will make a big difference. I guess it just bothers me that we still have these conversations about why we shouldn’t do things when it comes time to make a difference in somebody’s life,” explained Craft. “We are still 70 years from where we should be.”

White thanked staff and the mayor noting that anytime they can build bridges with the community they should take that opportunity.

He addressed Killings concern on cost noting that anytime Government creates programs the cost is too high which is why they created the office they way they did in order to continue the work.

“If this is done right, this could fundamentally change how we do business,” said White. “Cities have a responsibility to take care of their people. This is a joint venture, and this is step 1.”

The council voted 4-1 with Killings being the dissenting vote.