SAN FRANCISCO CIVIC CENTER FORUM May 14, 1971 Mr. Robert E. Hampton, Chairman Dear Mr. Hampton: The San Francisco Civic Center Forum is extremely concerned about the Civil Service Commission's apparent lack of willingness to implement President Nixon's sixteen point program on equal employment for the Spanish Speaking in the federal government. The Civic Center Forum is comprised of a group of professional Spanish Speaking, Spanish Surnamed persons who hold federal, state and local government jobs, and representatives of Chicano and Latino organizations. This group has actively worked toward gaining a fair share of jobs for the Spanish Speaking at all levels of government, federal and local. The --When President Nixon announced his 16 point program of equal employment opportunity for the Spanish Speaking in federal jobs, we held a new hope since all previous presidential executive orders regarding "equal employment in the federal government" had failed this minority group. Members of Civic Center Forum feel that the great underutilization of the Spanish Speaking in key federal posts has perpetuated a systematic exclusion of the Spanish Speaking from enjoying equal opportunities. Over fifty five federal agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area have been contacted by the Forum to determine what plans had been instituted for the 16 point program. Many admitted little or no efforts had been made in this area. would be happy to send you a complete report of this study upon request. I It was my understanding that the Civil Service Commission had been charged with the responsibility of implementing the President's program. In this region the Civil Service Commission has not responded to offers of assistance on the part of the Forum nor has it provided any guidelines to those agencies wanting to move. It dismays me to witness this lack of affirmative action despite the President's plan. The San Francisco Regional Director of the Civil Service Commission has received a copy of the Forum's study of federal employment for the Spanish Speaking in the Bay Area. He has also received our recommendations for implementation of the 16 point plan. On March 19, 1971, the federal employment committee of the Forum, which I chair, met with the San Francisco Federal Executive Board's Equal Employment Opportunity Committee chairman. Again an offer of assistance was extended to the Civil Service Commission. To this date we have not received any communication of any type from the Commission. Forum members include state elected offic the American G. I. Forum and the Mexican Aeriču. tica Association and other Spanish Speaking organizations.. None of these organizations have been contacted by the Regional Office of the Commission. I fear that if the Civil Service Commission does not take the lead in developing equal employment opportunities for the Spanish Speaking, other federal agencies will follow with less than what I believe was President Nixon's intentions. The Forum again offers the expertise and resources of Chicano and Latino professionals who are willing to contribute to the success of a national program that will help a minority group bypassed for so long. Forum members were disappointed by the cancellation of Mr. Fernando E. C. De Baca's trip to San Francisco recently. Those who had travelled to Phoenix, Arizona to meet him at the recent S. E. R. conference were again unhappy when Mr. De Baca could not attend the San Francisco meeting. I wonder of the committment of the Civil Service Commission of assuring the success of the 16 point program, when Mr. De Baca is appointed at lower than super grade level, given no staff, restricted in travelling and apparently not provided the support of your office. I trust that this will not go unanswered. Your help is most needed in the form of action to correct such a bad situation. Please call so that immediate assistance can be rendered. My telephone number is (415) 556-0260. Atentamente, 77-247 O-72-26 EDWARD VALENZUELA San Francisco Civic Center OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT WASHINGTON June 11, 1971 Mr. Edward Valenzuela Chairman Federal Employment Committee San Francisco Civic Forum Room 501 1095 Market Street San Francisco, California 94103 Dear Mr. Valenzuela: This is in reply to your letter of May 17, 1971, to the Vice President concerning your belief that the President's Sixteen-Point Program for the Spanish Speaking is not being implemented in the San Francisco Bay area. The Vice President has met with Chairman Hampton of the Civil Service Commission on this matter, and Chairman Hampton has promised to make a full and prompt reply to the points raised in your letter. I understand also that Mr. Fernando E. C. DeBaca, Director of the Sixteen-Point Program, has spoken with you about your concern and that he intends to meet with you and your organization in the very near future. I want to assure you of the Vice President's concern for the welfare of all Spanish-speaking Americans and of his interest and personal commitment to this program. Sincerely, Ward C. D. Ward Assistant to the This is in reply to your letter of May 14, 1971 concerning what you Federal employment. Because of this concern, I am requesting that Mr. Asa T. Briley, San I understand that Mr. Fernando E. C. De Baca, Director of the Sixteen- Your offer to furnish the Commission with a copy of the Civic Center I want to thank you for your continued interest and support for the MAY 5, 1971 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EDWARD VALENZUELA HISTORY " 1. In 1955, President Eisenhower issued Executive Order #10590 - "To provide full, equal employment opportunity in the Federal Government.' This was meant to end all forms of employment and promotional discrimination within United States Government jobs. 2. 3. 4. 5. On September 24, 1965, President Johnson issued Executive Orders #11246 and 11375 - again attempting to eliminate and head off employment discrimination in the Federal Government. August 8, 1969, President Nixon issued Executive Order #11478 - "To end discrimination in Executive Branch employment - To assure that the Executive Branch of the Government leads the way as an equal opportunity employer". In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress. Title VII of the Act prohibited employment discrimination. However, this extended to private employers only. The Federal Government and its 2.6 million employees were exempted. This was based on the belief that the Federal Government and its executive orders would pave the way in demonstrating how equal employment could be achieved. All of these attempts were non-specific, that is, none referred directly to the problems of the Spanish speaking. Vice President Agnew, on July 7, 1970, recognized the problem of the generalized executive orders. He acknowledged the gross underutilization of the Spanish surnamed in the employ of the Federal Government and pledged the Administration's support for specific employment commitments. He said that: He added "The number was too small to represent the |