Ban the Box May 13, 2014 (updated)
Channel: Rochester Indymedia
Date: 2014-07-10

This is nearly two hours of testimony where the people explain to City Council why it is so important to ban the box. Also, we fixed a few grammatical issues. 

See part II here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykJCn4oepBo

From the press release: 
PUBLIC HEARING - BAN THE BOX IN ROCHESTER

Join Us on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 6:30 PM
City Council Chambers, Rochester City Hall, 30 Church Street

PASS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE ORDINANCE

NEED: One out of every four adults has an arrest or criminal record. 70% of employers currently ask in their job application whether an applicant has been convicted of a crime. If an applicant replies "yes", regardless of their skills and qualifications, in most cases, they will never be considered. Such discrimination not only decreases economic opportunity and public safety, but also violates New York State law and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) fair hiring recommendations.

SOLUTION: Help the City of Rochester pass "The Opportunity to Compete Ordinance" to allow people with a conviction history to compete fairly for employment. It would require the City of Rochester, its contractors, and private employers located in the City to delay consideration of a job applicant's conviction history until after the employer conducts an initial interview or makes a conditional offer of employment.

This Ordinance will increase fair hiring practices, reduce crime and recidivism, and allow all members of our community to meaningfully contribute to our local economy and achieve financial independence for themselves and their families.

- Removes Job Barriers
- Increases Fair Hiring Practices
- Reduces Crime and Recidivism
- Improves Public Safety
- Helps Families Achieve Financial Independence
- Is Good for the Local Economy
- Is Good for Business

SUPPORT: Action for a Better Community • Bethany House • Catholic Family Center • The Center for Employment Opportunities • Center for Youth • Coffee Connection • Community Place of Greater Rochester • Delphi Drug & Alcohol Council • Empire Justice Center • Foodlink, Inc. • FR=EE Facing Race Embracing Equity • Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) NYCLU • Grace House Rochester • Judicial Process Commission - JPC • House of Mercy (Rochester, New York)• Huther-Doyle • IBERO • Legal Assistance of Western New York • Metro Justice • Mind Evolution • Pathway Houses of Rochester NY • POWER - People Organizing for Worker Empowerment & Respect (Worker Justice Group) • Poor Peoples' Coalition • Project Urge • Recovery Houses of Rochester • Rochester Interfaith Jail Ministry • Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach • Worker Justice Center of New York • YWCA • 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East •