Supervisor Fiona Ma: Fighting Domestic Violence

The number one cause of female homicides in San Francisco has been domestic violence.

While largely a silent problem, especially in Latino and Asian communities, domestic violence affects many households in our neighborhood. October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month in San Francisco and nationwide; it is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to prevent and punish perpetrators and bring hope and healing to those affected.

What is Domestic Violence?
A basic definition of domestic violence is when one person controls another person in an intimate relationship. This control can come in many forms - a husband can exert economic control over an at-home wife; a partner can control her partner through verbal abuse; or a boyfriend can control his girlfriend through physical abuse.

Claire Joyce Tempongko Murder
San Franciscans were stunned by the murder of Claire Joyce Tempongko in October 2000. She was killed in front of her children. The prime suspect, her ex-boyfriend Tari Ramirez, is a felon with a prior record of spousal abuse who has yet to be apprehended.

Initial investigations by the City have pointed to bureaucratic failings that enabled the suspect, on probation at the time, to have access to the victim which he should not have had.

Recommendations on how to address these failings were included in the report "Justice and Courage: A Blueprint for San Francisco's Response to Domestic Violence," which was released by the Commission and Department on the Status of Women in 2002.

Justice and Courage Oversight Panel
Recently, I was invited to serve as co-chair of the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel which the Commission and Department on the Status of Women convened to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of recommendations contained in the "Justice and Courage" report.

As a panel co-chair, my goal is to help end domestic violence throughout the City and to ensure that the City provides a timely and effective response to calls for help.

But I can't do it alone. I need your help. Please come to the first community meeting of the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel to give the panel and law enforcement officials feedback on the City's response to domestic violence. The meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., at the Women's Building, located at 3543 18th St.

Domestic violence should not be welcome in any of our homes. Together we can fight this problem.

For more information, contact the Department on the Status of Women at (415) 252-2570. For information on domestic violence awareness and related activities in the month of October, visit www.sfgov.org/site/dosw_index.asp.

Fiona Ma is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.