Sunday, 9 December 2012

Re: [WardFive] CSOSA Article: "The Struggle for Employment-Ex-Offenders

Eric,
 
With all due respect, you keep re-hashing the same info when clarity on the specifics of the Chambers objections to CM Barry's bill are not being stated, along with their recommendations to improve the bill to protect the concerned businesses the Chamber represents.  Cm Barry's bill looks to be modeled after the NY and other States bill, so don't understand the problem in providing this information.  http://www2.nycbar.org/pdf/report/Ex_Offender_Employer_Guide_09.pdf  and attached Bill19-0017.
 
As to job training for Uber, electric cars, as you know government purchases are made after planning, hearing, developing budgets and having the funds for appropriations.  Also, these type of purchases are made based on their lifecycles, their conditions to date, how much has been spent to date on maintenance, etc.  I also learned a lot more about this process last Thu during the hearing on free super cans for our seniors. The financial crisis hit us during the time there was movement to transition govt vehicles to hybrids delaying the purchases.  Like other States who had the same financial experiences and constraints and are just getting up to steam.  DPW has a training program, and is also looking for ASE Certified Mechanics with High Voltage training to service our new vehicles.  The prior standards were for low voltage training.
 
I have been seeking information from you regarding the legislation itself.  What are the specific objections, the recommendations.
 
Albrette "Gigi" Ransom
From: Eric J. Jones <ejjones.threed@gmail.com>
To: wardfive@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2012 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: [WardFive] CSOSA Article: "The Struggle for Employment-Ex-Offenders

Commissioner,
Councilman Barry was given examples from not just the Chamber but from business after business.  This is why two years ago (last council session) the same advocates who helped to craft his bill removed their support from making ex offenders a protected class and agreed to a different approach. This is why the bill died then and didnt have the full support of the majority of the Council this time.
As part of an effort to work on a bill Councilman Barry worked with the business community to craft legislation and an agreement and then he introduced something totally different and wanted to lie and say he had the support of the business community.
As it relates to the actual issues what his legislation nor Councilman Mendelson's does is actually remove barriers to hire returning citizens.  A large part of our economy is still based on specialized services or services which require certain clearance or background checks. This has and continues to have a large impact on those with criminal or credit issues in their past.
At the same time the federal  government has stated that it is against the law to hire individuals for federal projects based on the jurisdiction in which they live because it is a violation of the commerce clause of the US Constitution. 
Likewise we haven't worked to transition into training folks for the next wave of jobs in areas such as technology. This coupled with the decreasing amount of blue collar jobs makes things worse.
What was recommended a few years ago and what is still a recommendation is that we work to create hubs of business and work opportunities for this population.  This has worked in places out west such as Oakland and LA and is moving east.
Unfortunately Councilman Barry has continued to put all of his eggs in one basket and focus on making this group a protected class without realizing that we are not Philly or Detroit. Large parts of the job pool is not dependent on government.  Unfortunately we continue to push our folks mainly towards construction.
As I continue to say, this industry makes up around 12, 000 jobs in this region. That number is smaller than the amount of unemployed individuals in ward 7 or 8.
Folks still don't talk about the fact that less than 30% of our government employees live in DC. If any industry constantly had these numbers they would be attacked. Many of the blue collar jobs which our residents qualify for and make great salaries such as many of the jobs in DPE, DDOT, etc are mainly held by non DC residents and as folks retire we aren't training folks to replace them.
With services like Uber or the Street Carsv coming we aren't preparing our residents to be drivers,  mechanics, etc.
This is how we deal with the job problem,  not trying to force companies to hire folks.
Sorry for any errors or auto corrections as this was typed on my smartphone.
On Dec 9, 2012 1:23 PM, "Jerome J. Peloquin" <jeromepeloquin@fastmail.fm> wrote:
As we are The National Capital Jobs Coalition, we participated in the drafting of this much improved Workforce Intermediary ... law.   Gigi, Rob, et al ... please read the (new) law.  The 51% hiring level is the "old," law.  It was easily defeated by construction companies through tricks and deception.  The new law requires specific percentages of wages to be paid to well defined classification of workers and it defines those clearly.  It is NOT discriminatory.  It was created to avoid the dishonest behavior of the contractors and developers who defraud both the city and its workers on a daily basis.  This includes wage theft and other nefarious practices as well.
 
I believe most of us on this list serve are on the side of the DC worker!   Let us reason together so that we may present a united front in defense of DC citizen's right to work in their own city.
 
Jerry in Advocacy
 
 
----- Original message -----
From: Gigi Ransom <gigifor5c12@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [WardFive] CSOSA Article: "The Struggle for Employment-Ex-Offenders
Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2012 09:29:42 -0800 (PST)
 
I have always been uncomfortable with certain aspects of the "First Source Agreement" in that there are additional steps added for the DC resident that is not required of other workers, which I feel is discriminatory.  For these type of projects, all workers should have to go through if not the same, some form close to it, so that 51% requirement is fulfilled as close as possible from the start of the project, not trying to fulfill it during the 3rd to the end of a project.
 
 
Albrette "Gigi" Ransom
 
From: Rob <indianrob@gmail.com>
To: wardfive@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2012 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: [WardFive] CSOSA Article: "The Struggle for Employment-Ex-Offenders

Good morning Ward 5,
Over the last four years, there were so many Crains in the skyline that the deputy mayor was touting that he enjoyed counting them and seems to always be so proud of his accomplishments.  Driving by those sites, I see a ton of hispanic and White men with most of the vehicles tags being from out of state.
In addition, I would imagine that "hiring" off site adds quite a few steps of difficulty as I think that the "security" issue is some ______. 
Rob Ramson
 
On Dec 9, 2012 11:48 AM, "Gigi Ransom" <gigifor5c12@yahoo.com> wrote:
I recall in posts over a couple of years, I've already emphasized the impact of the transition of the economy from about 2006-7; the lull we had for a few years; and the accelerated re-started a couple of years ago and last year as the economy stabilized with examples of the completion of the build up of the 1st St NE corridor, old Convention Center site, old EPA buildings in SW, and many other major and minor sites around the city, which now also includes many small businesses that have popped up due to the "restored confidence" in the ability to obtain financing.
 
I've also posted about the fact that returning citizens would have problems with being hired for the Ward 8 Homeland Security project because of federal laws for this type of federal project, so that is not an issue.  However, other qualified and entry level DC residents (for the most part, you don't need specialized skills to pickup and remove construction debris) can do the work as Mrs. Norton has and is working to achieve.
 
All old news!
 
The continual, "DC residents don't have the skills, or are poorly trained (directed at the Unions) is untrue, and is a highly designed mindset conditioning form of prejudice and discrimination, plain and simple.
 
Even Chairman Mendelson recognizes this problem, when as then CM at-large and Chair of the Judiciary Committee states in this article (dated 2011), "There are multiple barriers for ex-offenders, including prejudice," said "As a felon, they're barred from public housing. They can't find a job, and it's hard to survive without an income."
 
This is the core issue that CM Barry's bill, and the support from Alexander, Brown, Graham and one other CM, want to see changed.
 
The same applies to DC Govt, again, where the person being ostracized, CM Barry, upon first becoming mayor opened up contracting opportunities for small businesses which DC residents took advantage, but as many of these businesses grew, the owners move their homes and some, also their businesses to Wards 9 & 10.  There was the same result for then DC residents who became DC Govt employees, showing their thanks by also moving to what they perceived as "the Promised Lands" of Wards 9 & 10, abandoning DC.  For those that gained mid to upper mgmt positions, they also focused on "hiring their own", thereby creating this disease of "economic insecurity" for not only our returning citizen population, but also DC residents of any skills level. 
 
The past is over.It is about now and going forward.
 
What readers/DC residents must keep in mind about this issue as in the past and the same today which compounds our difficulty in addressing this problem is the core fact, where many other States have/are addressing this problem and had success, the success is because the majority of that State's business owners live in that State, contribute to that State, and look to hire their own to also support that State.  
 
FACT, it is not the same here in DC, where the majority of businesses are owned by people who don't live here, executive mgmt don't live here; hire their own first from their own State or another State. This includes many of the small businesses in our communities as we have seen.
 
Again to the core of the matter, the Chamber is saying there will be lawsuits.  Rather than giving such a broad, vague statement, what are the types of lawsuits they perceive might be brought against them so the public can have a better understanding of the Chamber's position?  Publicly knowing the concerns would help in the creation of legislation to these concerns if they are valid, or there aren't any valid concerns, just an attempt to continue the status quo? 
 
To the contrary, there are examples of successful state level programs. Two being the NY State and City have functioning legislation on this matter and a well developed Employer's Guide on the matter. http://www2.nycbar.org/pdf/report/Ex_Offender_Employer_Guide_09.pdf   (12 pgs)
 
A study that shows the success of State level ex-offender program by the Urban Institute on Los Angeles, CA: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/410779_ExOffenders.pdf
Employer Demand for Ex-Offenders: Recent Evidence from Los Angeles (2002, 42 pgs)
 
Adding to this, there are already incentives to employers to hire ex-offenders, which the 40% of the employee's salary can be taken as a tax credit, along with the available free Fidelity Bonding Program that provides up to $5,000.00 in coverage for the first 6 months of employment to cover theft or other potential criminal activity, and if the employee is retained thereafter, the employer can continue the bonding at commercial rates.  DOES' website is vague on the details (http://onecityonehire.org/pe.aspx) , but I will use the Anne Arundel County Workforce Development Corporation's program to give a better picture of the program to inform:
 
http://www.aawdc.org/html/federal_bonding.html  Anne Arundel County Workforce Development Program: Services for Businesses-Federal Bonding
The Federal Bonding Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, offers fidelity bonding insurance protection to employers who hire individuals who are considered to be at-risk or hard to place because of:
  • History of arrest, conviction or incarceration
  • History of substance abuse
  • Poor credit history, i.e. bankruptcy
  • Lack of employment history (e.g. youth, displaced homemaker)
  • Dishonorable discharge from the military
  • Special situations requiring a fidelity bond
The Federal Bonding Program is NOT a guarantee of hire. It is an incentive to employers. Eligible individuals will be issued a Letter of Eligibility which they will use when they go on job interviews to let the employer know that they have been determined eligible for the program.
Once an employer agrees to hire an individual and gives a firm first day of work, the employer must contact the State Bonding Coordinator. The fidelity bond insures the business against stealing by theft, larceny, embezzlement or forgery
Eligible individuals receive their Letter of Eligibility from a Local Bonding Coordinator located at a One-Stop Career Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fidelity bond?
It is a business insurance policy that protects the employer in case of any loss of money, products or equipment due to employee dishonesty. The Fidelity Bonds issued under the Federal Bonding Program are insurance policies of the Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company. The McLaughlin Company in Washington, DC is the agent managing the program nationally.
How does the bond help someone get a job?
The bond is provided to the employer free-of-charge for six months, and is offered to encourage the company to hire a job applicant who is an ex-offender or has some other "risk" factor in his/her personal background. The employer is able to hire the individual without taking any risk of worker dishonesty on the job.
What does the bond insurance cover?
It insures the employer for any type of stealing by theft, forgery, larceny, or embezzlement. The bond is for $5,000. It does not cover liability due to poor workmanship, job injuries or work accidents. It is not a bail bond or court bond for the legal system. It is not a contract bond, performance bond, or license bond sometimes needed to be self-employed. Self-employed persons cannot be covered.
What are the restrictions?
The worker must meet the State's legal age for working; there are no other age limits. The job must be for at least 30 hours work per week. Workers must be paid wages with Federal taxes automatically deducted from pay.
Can the bond be issued at any time?
For the bond to be issued, the employer must offer a job to the applicant and set a date for the individual to start work. The job start date will be the effective date of the bond insurance. The insurance policy will terminate six months later. Employment must be verified by the State Bonding Coordinator for the bond to be issued.
 
From the top of US Government:
President George Bush, "the Second Chance Act":
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. I'm about to sign a piece of legislation that will help give prisoners across America a second chance for a better life. This bill is going to support the caring men and women who help America's prisoners find renewal and hope. I can't thank the folks who care enough about a fellow citizen to offer their love and compassion. It's through the acts of mercy that compassionate Americans are making the nation a more hopeful place, and I want to thank you all for joining us today.
 
President Obama signed an omnibus appropriations bill on March 11, 2009, for the remainder of fiscal year 2009, which provides $25 million for Second Chance Act programs. He has requested $109 million for the 2010 fiscal year budget.  Additionally, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit serves to enable felons in acquiring employment and was extended in May of 2007 to be effective through August 31st, 2011. The law provides tax credits of up to 40% of an individual's salary if the individual has been convicted of, or released from a felony conviction, within one year of the hire. In 2007, the American Bar Association Commission on Effective Criminal Sanctions (Commission) developed a series of policy recommendations to "provide the basis for a broad reform agenda to reduce reliance on incarceration and remove legal barriers to offender reentry."  The Commission suggested policy changes to provide alternatives to incarceration and conviction, improvements in probation and parole supervision, and employment and licensure of persons with a criminal record.
 
Let's see, CSOSA states they have over 16,000 current under their oversight.  There are probably thousands more who are no longer in CSOSA's system who are experiencing economic insecurity.  We have Congressional legislation State/City level legislation; successful State/city level programs; and, plenty of professional organizations' and academic studies and reports providing guidance to businesses.  Quite frankly, I can see no excuse for those doing business in DC except for continued financial gain to support their own States and communities at the expense of DC residents, meaning "all is fair in capitalism in DC."
 
Today, D.C.'s job market has been touted as the most robust and best in the country, but due to the position being taken by the Chamber and some businesses, for those with criminal backgrounds, the outlook is fairly grim.
 
It would be good to know those businesses that do/have hired DC ex-offenders.  They should be recognized and shown appreciation for their showing of compassion and understanding.  Having a list of these businesses could allow our ANCs to recognize these businesses and when possible depending on the services provided, DC residents could be directed to support these businesses.
 
If these businesses who hire DC's ex-offenders are kept a secret, it is hard to believe they exist.
 
In future EMs on this topic, I will include a study performed by our own Eleanor Holmes Norton, when she was the Chair of the NY Commission on Human Rights and others that refute the position being taken by the Chamber.
 
Albrette "Gigi" Ransom
 
From: Eric J. Jones <ejjones.threed@gmail.com>
To: wardfive@googlegroups.com
Cc: Ward5 <ward5@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2012 11:11 PM
Subject: Re: [WardFive] CSOSA Article: "The Struggle for Employment-Ex-Offenders

This was a great article released last year which also a follow up on a great Washington Post Article which was another year or so older which highlighted a lot of the work that Kenny does with Miller & Long to help reach out to others in the construction industry to hire returning citizens.  I can tell you that as of the last summer Kenny with the support of M & L and others in the industry was able to start that support group for returning citizens at M & L and it has helped many who work with the company.  Likewise I can tell you from working with Tony Lewis, Jr who is a great leader in our ward and the city that there has been some real strides in helping to improve the image and find employment for many of our returning citizens.
 
This article however doesn't touch on something of great importance.  In years past much of the work for returning citizens has been in areas such as Construction at various levels and through other entry level jobs but because of the economy this has become a greater issue.  First from the standpoint that many individuals who years ago wouldn't be looking at the entry level jobs are now looking at them because of the economy which is making it harder for them because in many cases they are competing with individuals with more education and without the blemish on their record.
 
The second issue has been that Construction for the most part has continued to major decline in private/residential construction.  This coupled with the troubled economy has caused many journemen to continue to work which means less room to bring in new individuals which in many cases would be apprentices which most of the returning citizens would be.  To make matters worse much of the work we see these days (especially in this region) are public private partnerships or public projects such as the DHS headquarters which requires that many of the employees pass background checks.  Because of this many of the new positions which would usually go to returning citizens in the industry or even to returning citizens who are already working end up being out of their reach because they can't pass the clearance.  During the hearing last week my self and a few others from the industry including two of the union representatives were talking about how problematic this was on the DHS project and talking about various individuals who we have come across in this exact situation.  
 
Likewise what we have also seen in this region is greater difficulty in obtaining the required insurance and other financial securities for companies because they have returning citizens on their employee rosters much like they face with individuals with lower credit scores.  This is something that companies are facing which the government (a) hasn't truly worked to try to address and (b) doesn't have a great deal of control over in certain areas.
 
In addition from a DC standpoint we have seen seen constant decreases in the resources for training and grants to programs such as those run by Covenant House and Goodwill of Greater Washington which worked in large part with returning citizens. All the while we are seeing increased numbers of returning citizens.  This coupled with other governmental cuts in programs such as Project Empowerment through DOES and a few other programs has unfortunately almost caused a perfect storm.
 
Many of these issues is why industries and companies which have had good track records working with returning citizens had to stand against Councilman Barry and his legislation. It wasn't about not wanting to hire returning citizens so much but because of the changed business environment many of those companies now must know before hand who they are looking to hire. Going back to the DHS project many of the companies who did hire in the city were hiring specifically for that project.  For some of them they had a time period of 10 - 15 days to staff up prior to starting the job from the time they were awarded a contract.  If you take a few days to review and interview individuals and then hire then make them offers you are screwed 5 - 7 days later if not longer when it comes back and they aren't cleared to work.  These are the types of issues which have repeated their selves in this city and there are several examples of individuals who were approached by security on the job after having their reports come back and being asked to leave the property not to return.  
 
What truly needs to happen in this city which isn't talked about enough is a real effort in helping to train our returning citizens in not only obtaining the same old jobs which are becoming less and less available but also creating new opportunity for them to gain jobs and open their own businesses.  
 
If I can find my copy of the article from the Post I will share it.
--
Eric J. Jones, MSF
ejjones.threed@gmail.com


"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action."

                                                                            El Haj Malik El Shabazz
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