New York City Council
Committee on Civil and Human Rights
Jun 27, 2024
·
10:00 AM
3 hr 9 min
Summary
A hearing on the implementation of NYC's 2022 charter amendments to promote racial equity.
Discussions focused on:
- The progress and challenges in developing a citywide racial equity plan
- Establishing new offices and commissions
- Creating a true cost of living measure
- Ensuring accountability in government operations.
The hearing addressed delays in implementation, staffing and resource needs, and strategies for driving systemic change across city agencies.
Features testimony from the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ), the Commission on Racial Equity (CORE), former members of the Racial Justice Commission, and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Explanation of the 2022 charter amendments for racial equity
Council Member Williams provides an overview of the 2022 charter amendments aimed at promoting racial equity in New York City. - The amendments resulted from a multi-year process started in …
0:00:36
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134 sec
Implementation progress and delays of racial equity amendments
Council Member Williams addresses the progress and significant delays in implementing the charter amendments for racial equity. - The first preliminary racial equity plan, due in January 2024, has been …
0:02:51
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101 sec
Introduction of legislation to be discussed in the hearing
Council Member Williams introduces the legislation to be heard during the committee meeting. - Intro 833: Requiring a plaque at the intersection of Wall and Pearl Street to mark New …
0:04:33
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71 sec
Council Member Farah Louis advocates for Shirley Chisholm Day in New York City
Council Member Farah Louis presents her bill resolution to designate November 30th annually as Shirley Chisholm Day in New York City. She highlights Chisholm's contributions as an educator, activist, and …
0:05:44
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159 sec
Introduction and acknowledgment of Juneteenth
Sideya Sherman, Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice, opens the testimony by acknowledging Juneteenth and the historical context of …
0:11:02
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140 sec
Overview of the racial justice ballot measures
Sherman provides an overview of the groundbreaking racial justice ballot measures passed in 2022, highlighting their focus on shifting the direction of government towards racial equity and justice. - Introduces …
0:13:21
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95 sec
Establishment and progress of MOERJ
Sherman details the establishment and progress of the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ) and the Commission on Racial Equity (CORE), highlighting the steps taken to operationalize these …
0:14:59
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168 sec
City-wide racial equity planning process
Sherman outlines the process for developing the city's inaugural city-wide racial equity plan, emphasizing its focus on structural reform and transforming government towards equity and justice. - Describes the planning …
0:17:48
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141 sec
Development of the true cost of living measure
Sherman explains the city's efforts to produce its first true cost of living measure, as mandated by the charter, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of what it takes to …
0:20:10
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68 sec
Addressing the history of slavery in NYC
Sherman discusses initiatives and support for legislation aimed at acknowledging and highlighting the history of slavery in New York City and the resilience of Black communities. - Mentions the Brooklyn …
0:21:20
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68 sec
Current and upcoming equity initiatives
Sherman concludes by highlighting current and upcoming equity initiatives, emphasizing the city's commitment to advancing racial equity and justice in the face of national challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion …
0:22:29
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51 sec
Council member inquires about MOERJ's establishment and preparations
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about the background of MOERJ's establishment and the preparations made for its launch. She asks Commissioner Sherman about her previous role and the transition …
0:23:24
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44 sec
MOERJ's establishment process and new work streams
Commissioner Sideya Sherman explains the process of establishing MOERJ and the new work streams added to comply with the 2022 charter amendment. Council Member Williams asks follow-up questions about how …
0:24:09
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3 min
Delays in racial equity plan implementation and current staffing levels
Council Member Williams inquires about delays in implementing the racial equity plan and current staffing levels at MOERJ. Commissioner Sherman and Deputy Commissioner Negash provide explanations and details on staffing. …
0:27:47
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5 min
Clarification on total staffing numbers and projected levels
Council Member Williams seeks clarification on the total number of positions at MOERJ and projected staffing levels. Deputy Commissioner Negash provides details on the full staffing plan and timeline. - …
0:32:58
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3 min
MOERJ's role in CORE commissioner selection process
Council Member Williams inquires about MOERJ's involvement in the selection or vetting process for CORE commissioners. Commissioner Sherman explains the process. - Clarifies that the Mayor's Office of Appointments leads …
0:36:38
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75 sec
MOERJ's budget for FY2024 and interactions with OMB
Council Member Williams inquires about MOERJ's budget for FY2024, including personnel and OTPS expenses. Deputy Commissioner Negash provides details on the budget and interactions with OMB. - Personnel budget for …
0:37:54
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162 sec
Office space adequacy and key operational costs for MOERJ
Council Member Williams inquires about the adequacy of office space for current and projected staffing levels, as well as key operational costs for MOERJ in FY2025. Deputy Commissioner Negash and …
0:40:37
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144 sec
MOERJ's involvement in racial equity planning and budget process
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice's (MOERJ) involvement in the racial equity planning process and its engagement with the city budget …
0:43:02
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132 sec
Objective criteria and application of equity principles in agency work
Council Member Williams seeks clarification on the objective criteria used to assess budget equity and how equity principles are applied to agency work. Commissioner Sherman elaborates on MOERJ's approach to …
0:45:15
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3 min
MOERJ's authority and accountability process in racial equity planning
Council Member Williams inquires about MOERJ's authority to hold agencies accountable for implementing racial equity plans. Commissioner Sherman explains the office's empowerment and the process of working with agencies. - …
0:49:05
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177 sec
MOERJ's role in future budget cycles and cross-agency analysis
Council Member Williams explores MOERJ's anticipated role in future budget cycles and its ability to conduct cross-agency analysis for equitable resource allocation. Commissioner Sherman explains the office's approach to these …
0:52:03
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6 min
Timeline for racial equity progress reports and planning
Council Member Williams asks about the timeline for racial equity progress reports and planning, including whether MOERJ expects to revert to the originally envisioned schedule after this year. Commissioner Sherman …
0:58:38
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7 min
Measuring accountability and collaboration with the Commission on Racial Equity
Council Member Williams inquires about MOERJ's plans to measure accountability to the city's racial equity plan and its collaboration with the Commission on Racial Equity. Commissioner Sherman explains the accountability …
1:06:15
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103 sec
Development of the true cost of living metric
Council Member Williams asks about MOERJ's work on developing, implementing, and reporting on the true cost of living metric required by the 2022 charter amendments. Commissioner Sherman outlines the office's …
1:07:58
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130 sec
Council member inquires about task force on racial inclusion and equity
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about the current activities, plans, and priorities of the task force on racial inclusion and equity. Deputy Commissioner Dabash Negash responds, detailing the task …
1:10:10
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114 sec
Introduction of Linda Tigani and CORE's mission
Linda Tigani introduces herself as the inaugural chair and executive director of the New York City Commission on Racial Equity (CORE). She explains CORE's unique role in ensuring accountability and …
1:16:34
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137 sec
Public engagement and community response to CORE
Linda Tigani discusses the public's response to CORE since its establishment. She highlights the enthusiasm from community organizations and individuals who voted for CORE's creation. - CORE has reached over …
1:18:53
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37 sec
Racial disparities in poverty and life expectancy in NYC
Linda Tigani presents recent statistics on racial disparities in poverty and life expectancy in New York City, emphasizing the systemic nature of these inequities. - Poverty in NYC rose from …
1:19:32
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76 sec
CORE's five charter-mandated pathways
Linda Tigani outlines the five pathways mandated by the New York City charter for CORE to fulfill its mission of advancing racial equity. - Identify and propose community equity priorities …
1:20:49
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79 sec
CORE's budget and staffing for FY 2024
Linda Tigani provides an overview of CORE's budget and staffing allocation for the fiscal year 2024, highlighting the initial resources provided to the commission. - Total budget of $1,300,000, with …
1:22:10
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52 sec
CORE's accomplishments since launch in October 2023
Linda Tigani highlights CORE's key accomplishments since its launch in October 2023, despite limited resources and initial challenges. - Launched three months after the charter-identified start date - Fostered relationships …
1:23:03
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89 sec
Release of draft community equity priorities
Linda Tigani discusses the release of 16 draft community equity priorities, a significant milestone for CORE in fulfilling its mandate. - Released on May 13th to the public and city …
1:24:34
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46 sec
Community outreach and engagement efforts
Linda Tigani outlines CORE's extensive community outreach and engagement efforts to ensure broad participation in the racial equity planning process. - Presented at citywide racial planning trainings, both in-person and …
1:25:21
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52 sec
Collaboration with City Council on legislation
Linda Tigani highlights CORE's partnership with City Council members on key pieces of legislation related to racial equity and social justice. - Worked with Council members Hudson, Nurse, and Lewis …
1:26:14
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41 sec
Plans and budget requests for FY 2025
Linda Tigani outlines CORE's plans and budget requests for fiscal year 2025, emphasizing the need for additional resources to fulfill its charter mandates. - Will request additional funding to close …
1:26:56
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3 min
Call for applying racial equity lens to city government operations
Linda Tigani concludes her testimony with a strong call for City Council to apply a racial equity lens to all city government operations, particularly in budget negotiations. - Urges consideration …
1:30:12
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59 sec
Councilmember Williams discusses bureaucratic nature of budget process
Councilmember Nantasha M. Williams expresses frustration with the bureaucratic nature of the city's budget process and its impact on addressing racial equity. She argues that the current system perpetuates existing …
1:31:13
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90 sec
Discussion on delays in CORE commissioner appointments
Councilmember Williams and Linda Tigani discuss the delays in appointing commissioners to the Commission on Racial Equity (CORE) and the process of commissioners beginning their work. - There is a …
1:32:43
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3 min
CORE commission meetings and commissioner selection process
Councilmember Williams inquires about the frequency of CORE meetings and the selection process for commissioners, with Linda Tigani providing details on both topics. - CORE meets at least once a …
1:36:40
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3 min
Concerns about youth representation and potential conflicts of interest
Councilmember Williams raises concerns about the lack of direct youth representation on the CORE commission and potential conflicts of interest for commissioners who are also city employees. - Williams points …
1:40:05
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3 min
Discussion on commission representation and current staffing levels
Councilmember Williams emphasizes the importance of having directly impacted individuals on the commission, and inquires about current staffing levels at CORE. - Williams suggests it's a missed opportunity not to …
1:43:23
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118 sec
CORE's staffing needs and strategies for fulfilling its mandate
Councilmember Williams and Linda Tigani discuss CORE's future staffing needs, concerns about fulfilling its mandate with current staffing levels, and strategies for prioritizing work. - Tigani expresses that CORE will …
1:45:24
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148 sec
CORE's FY24 budget utilization and staffing plans
Council Member Williams inquires about CORE's budget utilization for FY24. Linda Tigani explains that there was underspending due to delayed hiring, with the first staff member starting in March. CORE …
1:47:53
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84 sec
CORE's OTPS budget utilization and community engagement funding
Council Member Williams inquires about CORE's Other Than Personal Services (OTPS) budget utilization for FY24. Linda Tigani explains that CORE was only able to use a partial amount of the …
1:49:18
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4 min
CORE's office space challenges and creative solutions
Linda Tigani discusses CORE's current office space situation and plans for accommodating future staff. CORE currently shares space with MOERJ but lacks sufficient seating for FY25 staffing plans. They are …
1:53:43
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162 sec
CORE's ongoing budget discussions with OMB
Linda Tigani explains CORE's regular interactions with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). CORE keeps OMB informed about hiring processes, community engagement plans, and commissioner reimbursements. - CORE has …
1:56:25
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59 sec
CORE's process for determining budget needs
Linda Tigani explains CORE's process for determining budget needs for the coming year. The determination is based on several factors, including public interest in CORE's work, understanding of charter mandates, …
1:57:24
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151 sec
CORE's plans for new staff positions in FY25
Linda Tigani outlines the five new positions CORE is planning to add in the coming fiscal year. These roles are designed to support various aspects of CORE's mandates and operations. …
1:59:56
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4 min
CORE's OTPS budget projections and future resource requests
Linda Tigani discusses CORE's OTPS budget decrease for FY25 and plans for future resource requests. She explains that the $85,000 decrease is accounted for in the overall budget and is …
2:04:03
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102 sec
CORE's role in the citywide racial equity planning process
Linda Tigani explains CORE's role in the citywide racial equity planning process, focusing on the development and implementation of community equity priorities. - CORE issued draft community equity priorities to …
2:05:46
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119 sec
CORE's monitoring of the racial equity planning process
Linda Tigani describes how CORE monitors the citywide racial equity planning process and its involvement in providing feedback on budget priorities. - CORE meets regularly with Commissioner Sherman to discuss …
2:07:47
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178 sec
CORE's current community engagement initiatives
Linda Tigani outlines CORE's various community engagement efforts, highlighting multiple ways for the public to participate and provide feedback on their work. - CORE offers a public response form on …
2:10:45
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3 min
Public response to CORE's work and draft community equity priorities
Linda Tigani describes the positive public response to CORE's work and the draft community equity priorities, while also noting some challenges in collecting formal feedback. - Many people express excitement …
2:14:26
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174 sec
CORE's approach to handling public inquiries and complaints
Linda Tigani explains CORE's current approach to handling public inquiries and potential complaints, highlighting the challenges in defining and processing formal complaints. - CORE has received inquiries that could potentially …
2:17:20
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171 sec
CORE's resources and future needs for community engagement
Linda Tigani discusses CORE's current resources for community engagement and outlines future needs to ensure robust public participation in the city's racial equity work. - CORE has managed well with …
2:20:13
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93 sec
CORE's interagency coordination and collaboration
Linda Tigani explains CORE's efforts to work with and solicit feedback from other New York City agencies, highlighting their interagency coordination and collaboration. - CORE has presented at interagency meetings …
2:21:47
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137 sec
Testimony by Jennifer Jones Austin, Former Chair of the Racial Justice Commission and CEO of Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), on Implementation of Racial Equity Charter Amendments
Jennifer Jones Austin, former Chair of the Racial Justice Commission and CEO of FPWA, testified on the implementation of NYC's 2022 charter amendments to promote racial equity. She emphasized the …
2:26:05
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10 min
Testimony by Jimmy Pan, Former Policy Director of the Racial Justice Commission
Jimmy Pan, former Policy Director of the Racial Justice Commission, provided testimony on the implementation of racial equity measures in New York City. He emphasized the importance of timely implementation …
2:36:46
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5 min
Assessment of MOERJ and CORE's progress in implementing racial equity measures
Council Member Williams asks the speakers if they believe MOERJ and CORE are on the right track based on the testimony heard. The speakers respond positively, noting the unprecedented nature …
2:42:16
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4 min
Concerns about underfunding and lack of empowerment for civil rights and equity agencies
Council Member Williams expresses concern about the historical underfunding and lack of empowerment of civil rights and equity agencies. The speakers discuss the importance of positioning equity work within the …
2:47:11
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8 min
Testimony by Michael Matos, Chief Executive Officer of Personal Protective Concepts, on Transgender Bill of Rights
Michael Matos, CEO of Personal Protective Concepts, testified in support of a federally implemented transgender bill of rights. He emphasized the importance of protecting transgender individuals from discrimination and violence, …
2:56:52
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107 sec
Testimony by Sharon Brown Jeter, Member of the Public
Sharon Brown Jeter provided testimony on various topics including support for Israel, racial justice, and opposition to transgender rights. Her testimony touched on several unrelated issues and personal aspirations. - …
2:58:51
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128 sec
Council member's response to previous testimony on transgender issues
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams briefly responds to the previous speaker's testimony. She thanks the speaker for their time and testimony while expressing skepticism about a specific claim regarding gender …
3:00:58
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19 sec
Testimony by Rajesh Mehra, Senior Most Licensed Creative Arts Therapist at Rikers Island Correctional Facility
Rajesh Mehra, a senior licensed creative arts therapist at Rikers Island Correctional Facility, testifies about the challenges faced by transgender and non-binary individuals in the correctional system. He emphasizes the …
3:01:54
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3 min
Testimony by Andrew, Member of the Public
Andrew, a member of the public, testifies about his personal experiences with law enforcement and calls for an investigation into alleged police misconduct in New York and Chicago. He claims …
3:06:02
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135 sec
Council member advises on filing complaints
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams provides guidance on filing complaints about agencies or police misconduct. She suggests using proper channels such as CCRB and the Commission on Racial Equity. - …
3:08:18
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30 sec