REMARKS
Council Member Louis advocates for reparations study bill
0:33:12
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119 sec
Council Member Farah N. Louis speaks about the passage of Intro 279-A, a bill mandating a comprehensive study on reparations as part of a legislative package addressing slavery and its enduring legacies in New York City.
She emphasizes the importance of confronting systemic inequities and recommending concrete reparative measures.
- Louis explains that the reparations movement is about more than just compensation, addressing ongoing impacts of systemic oppression.
- The study will be conducted by CORE in consultation with the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice and the New York State Commission on Reparations.
- She encourages colleagues to vote for Intros 279-A, 242-A, 471-A, and 833-A.
Farah N. Louis
0:33:12
Thank you, Matt, a majority leader, and good afternoon colleagues.
0:33:15
Today marks a pivotal moment in our city's history with the passage of intro 279, a bill that mandates a comprehensive study on reparations as part of a major legislative package with my colleague's council member Williams and Hudson related to slavery and its enduring legacies in our city.
0:33:33
Throughout my tenure in the city council, we have heard countless testimonies revealing the ongoing impacts of persistent disparities affecting our black and brown residents, past harms continue to resonate today in manifesting in systemic inequities that disadvantaged black and brown people, especially black and brown women, in both public and private sectors.
0:33:56
The reparations movement is often Misunderstood is merely a call for compensation, but it is far more than that.
0:34:03
Enslavement and its aftermath evolved into systemic forms of oppression that continue to impact lives today, including redlining, environmental racism, and underfunded services in predominantly black neighborhoods.
0:34:16
With intro 279, we are taking a bold step to confront these issues head on.
0:34:21
The study conducted by Core in consultation with the mayor's office of Equity and racial justice, as well as the New York State Commission on Reparations will will document and quantify the impacts of enslavement, oppression, and discrimination, and recommend concrete reparative measures.
0:34:37
This is not just an acknowledgment of the past.
0:34:40
It is about rectifying the present and building a better future.
0:34:44
I wanna thank speaker Adams, committee counsel Jessica Bouley for their support, as well as Linda Tuchani from Core, counsel member Williams, also chair Williams for her leadership to get this a build to the finish line let this be a call to action for us all to continue to fight for justice and equity together.
0:35:03
I encourage my colleagues to vote for intro 279, 242, 471a, and 833a.
0:35:10
Thank you.