New York City Council
Committee on Civil and Human Rights
Dec 12, 2024
·
01:00 PM
2 hr 37 min
Summary
A hearing on workplace discrimination and proposed legislation aimed at increasing pay transparency, accommodations for caregivers, and reporting on pay equity.
Discussions focused on:
- Expanding pay transparency requirements in job postings
- Mandating reasonable accommodations for employees with caregiving responsibilities
- Requiring large employers to report pay data annually
- Increasing transparency around promotional opportunities
The hearing also addressed concerns about implementation challenges, enforcement resources, and the need for adequate funding to effectively enforce new and existing anti-discrimination laws.
Features testimony from the NYC Commission on Human Rights and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Council Member Williams provides opening remarks on workplace discrimination and proposed legislation
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams opens the Committee on Civil and Human Rights hearing, focusing on workplace discrimination and several proposed bills aimed at increasing pay transparency, accommodations for caregivers, …
0:00:40
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4 min
Council Member Amanda Farías presents Intro 984 on pay equity and transparency
Council Member Amanda Farías presents her bill, Intro 984, which aims to address pay and employment equity for private employees in New York City. She discusses the importance of wage …
0:05:13
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5 min
Council Member Kamillah Hanks speaks in support of Intro 871 for caregiver accommodations
Council Member Kamillah Hanks addresses the Committee on Civil and Human Rights to express her support for Intro 871, a bill she introduced to provide reasonable accommodations for caregivers of …
0:10:14
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137 sec
Council Member Tiffany Cabán discusses Intro 982 on pay transparency and related legislation
Council Member Tiffany Cabán presents Intro 982, which aims to establish transparency around pay disparities by requiring large employers to report anonymous pay and demographic data. She emphasizes the importance …
0:12:38
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103 sec
Council Member Brooks-Powers presents Introduction 808-A on pay transparency and equity
Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers presents Introduction 808-A, a bill aimed at enhancing pay equity and transparency in New York City. The legislation builds on existing wage transparency laws by …
0:14:31
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111 sec
Introduction and overview of NYC Commission on Human Rights
JoAnn Kamuf Ward, Deputy Commissioner of Policy and External Affairs at the NYC Commission on Human Rights, introduces the agency's work in combating employment discrimination. She highlights the Commission's dual …
0:17:23
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72 sec
Overview of NYC Human Rights Law employment protections
The NYC Human Rights Law provides extensive protections against workplace discrimination and harassment across over 25 protected categories. The law applies to employers with 4 or more employees or 1 …
0:18:38
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128 sec
Intro 808-A: Expanding pay transparency requirements
Intro 808-A aims to enhance pay transparency for prospective and current employees by expanding the information required in job postings. The administration supports the intent of the bill to address …
0:20:50
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86 sec
Intro 1064: Transparency for internal promotional opportunities
Intro 1064 proposes amendments to the Human Rights Law to increase transparency in internal job opportunities and promotions. The administration supports efforts to ensure equal access to job opportunities but …
0:22:17
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48 sec
Intro 871: Accommodations for caregivers
Intro 871 proposes to amend the Human Rights Law to require covered entities to provide reasonable accommodations based on caregiver status. The administration strongly supports the aim of the bill …
0:23:06
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93 sec
Intros 982 and 984: Pay equity data reporting and analysis
Intros 982 and 984 propose measures to collect and analyze pay equity data from employers in New York City. While the administration supports the intent of advancing pay equity, these …
0:24:40
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83 sec
Trends in employment-related inquiries and possible reasons for the drop in FY 2024
Council Member Williams inquires about trends in employment-related inquiries to CCHR over the past 5 years, noting a significant drop in FY 2024. Deputy Commissioner Carroll suggests that the drop …
0:26:09
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153 sec
Distribution of employment-related inquiries and high percentage reaching complaint stage
Council Member Williams inquires about the distribution of employment-related inquiries across different types of complaints and protected classes, as well as why such a high percentage reach the complaint stage. …
0:28:46
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74 sec
CCHR's success rate for employment-related claims brought before OATH
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's success rate for employment-related claims brought before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Deputy Commissioner Carroll discusses the litigation process and CCHR's …
0:30:04
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108 sec
Average time to resolve employment-related complaints compared to other types
Council Member Williams inquires about the average time it takes to resolve employment-related complaints compared to other types of complaints. Deputy Commissioner Carroll provides information on case resolution times. - …
0:31:53
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44 sec
Drop in pre-complaint interventions for employment-related cases in FY 24
Council Member Williams inquires about the significant drop in pre-complaint interventions for employment-related cases in FY 24. Deputy Commissioner Carroll explains the reasons for this decrease and the shift in …
0:32:41
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111 sec
CCHR's testing process for discrimination in the workplace and nature of testers
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's testing process for workplace discrimination and the nature of the testers employed. Deputy Commissioner Carroll and other CCHR representatives provide details on the testing …
0:34:37
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113 sec
Factors determining the number and types of tests conducted by CCHR
Council Member Williams inquires about the factors that determine the number and types of tests conducted by CCHR, as well as reasons for inconclusive results. Deputy Commissioner Carroll explains the …
0:36:31
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79 sec
Changes in types of employment-related inquiries and impact of new laws
Council Member Williams inquires about changes in the types of employment-related inquiries received by CCHR over recent years and the impact of new laws on discrimination complaints and public awareness. …
0:37:52
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154 sec
Recent important developments in employment-related discrimination inquiries and complaints
Council Member Williams asks about other important developments related to employment discrimination inquiries and complaints in recent years. Deputy Commissioner Carroll highlights several key areas of focus and change. - …
0:40:27
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81 sec
Discussion of CCHR's stance on Intro 984 (Pay equity data reporting bill)
Council Member Cabán and Deputy Commissioner Ward discuss the NYC Commission on Human Rights' position on Intro 984, which aims to collect pay equity data from employers. Ward expresses support …
0:41:53
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3 min
Potential modification to Intro 984: Raising employee threshold
Council Member Cabán proposes a potential modification to Intro 984, suggesting raising the employee threshold for covered companies from 25 to 100 employees. Deputy Commissioner Ward acknowledges this change could …
0:45:02
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36 sec
Discussion on gender and racial pay gap in New York City
Council Member Cabán inquires about the intersection of race and gender in the New York City pay gap, its long-term consequences, and impact on women's financial security. Deputy Commissioner Ward …
0:45:39
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86 sec
Impact of proposed bills on CCHR's caseload and staffing needs
Council Member Farías inquires about the anticipated effect of proposed bills (Intros 808, 871, and 984) on CCHR's caseload and staffing requirements. Deputy Commissioner Ward responds, explaining that while new …
0:47:53
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118 sec
Cost estimate and staffing for Intro 984
Council Member Farías inquires about the cost estimate provided by OMB for Intro 984, which suggests $310,000 annually for 3 new staff members. Deputy Commissioner Ward explains that this is …
0:50:28
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46 sec
CCHR's approach to specialized units for implementing human rights law
Council Member Farías inquires about CCHR's history of creating specialized units for implementing specific portions of the human rights law. Deputy Commissioner Ward explains CCHR's approach to staffing and specialization. …
0:51:15
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41 sec
Importance of pay equity and transparency initiatives
Council Member Farías concludes with remarks emphasizing the importance of pay equity, pay transparency, and wage equity initiatives. She expresses hope for prioritization and support from the administration in addressing …
0:51:57
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42 sec
Council Member Hanks discusses Bill 871 on caregiver accommodations with NYC Commission on Human Rights
Council Member Kamillah Hanks inquires about the NYC Commission on Human Rights' stance on her proposed Bill 871, which aims to address workplace discrimination against caregivers through reasonable accommodations. Hillary …
0:52:42
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4 min
Council Member Rita C. Joseph questions CCHR on staffing and case resolution timelines
Council Member Rita C. Joseph inquires about the NYC Commission on Human Rights' (CCHR) staffing capacity, vacancy breakdown, and the impact on case investigations and closures. CCHR representatives discuss their …
0:57:18
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3 min
Council Member Williams inquires about preventative measures and outreach in addressing workplace discrimination
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams asks about preventative measures and outreach efforts to address workplace discrimination, highlighting the importance of these approaches alongside the Law Enforcement Bureau's work. - Williams …
1:01:06
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62 sec
CCHR's community outreach efforts and production of public-facing materials
JoAnn Kamuf Ward, Deputy Commissioner of Policy and External Affairs at CCHR, discusses the agency's community outreach efforts and the production of public-facing materials. - CCHR leverages partnerships with community-based …
1:02:09
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78 sec
CCHR's data on wage disparities across race and gender in NYC
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's data on wage disparities across race and gender in New York City, and JoAnn Kamuf Ward explains the limitations of CCHR's data collection. - …
1:03:29
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49 sec
Impact of wage transparency laws on wage disparities
Council Member Williams inquires about the impact of wage transparency laws on wage disparities, and JoAnn Kamuf Ward provides insights on the early effects of these laws. - CCHR doesn't …
1:04:20
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71 sec
Nature of reports received regarding wage transparency law violations
Katherine Carroll, Deputy Commissioner of the Law Enforcement Bureau at CCHR, provides information on the nature of reports received regarding wage transparency law violations. - The majority of reports are …
1:05:33
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19 sec
Number of complaints received regarding noncompliance with wage transparency laws
Council Member Williams inquires about the number of complaints received regarding noncompliance with existing wage transparency laws, and Katherine Carroll provides the statistics. - Since the law's enactment, CCHR has …
1:05:54
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39 sec
Discussion of Intro 808 and its potential impact on wage transparency
JoAnn Kamuf Ward discusses Intro 808, which aims to expand wage transparency requirements, and its potential impact on addressing wage disparities in New York City. - CCHR supports the aims …
1:06:33
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141 sec
Challenges in implementing wage transparency laws for various hiring scenarios
Council Member Williams discusses challenges in implementing wage transparency laws, particularly in scenarios where job responsibilities and compensation may change during the hiring process. - Concerns about reposting requirements when …
1:08:55
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3 min
Enforcement actions taken against employers who failed to comply with wage transparency laws
Council Member Williams inquires about enforcement actions taken against employers who failed to comply with wage transparency laws, and Katherine Carroll provides information on the current state of enforcement. - …
1:12:02
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93 sec
Concerns about potential loopholes in wage transparency laws, such as use of headhunters
Council Member Williams raises concerns about potential loopholes in wage transparency laws, particularly the use of headhunters and third-party job postings to circumvent salary disclosure requirements. - Discussion of job …
1:13:35
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97 sec
CCHR's approach to enforcing wage transparency laws with different types of employers and agents
Katherine Carroll explains CCHR's approach to enforcing wage transparency laws, addressing concerns about potential loopholes and different types of employers and agents. - CCHR acknowledges that the current 30-day notice …
1:15:16
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94 sec
Council member inquires about wage transparency record-keeping and wage disparity studies
Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers asks about the provision in Intro 808 requiring written records for salaries outside advertised ranges and the potential benefits of a public study on wage …
1:16:51
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147 sec
Caseloads of Law Enforcement Bureau (LAB) attorneys
Council Member Williams inquires about the caseload of LAB attorneys at the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Deputy Commissioner Katherine Carroll responds that attorneys typically manage between 40-50 cases, with …
1:19:26
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37 sec
CCHR's work with worker co-ops and employment-related complaints
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's work with worker co-ops and employment-related complaints. Deputy Commissioner JoAnn Kamuf Ward discusses a report on worker-owned co-ops and the commission's efforts to address …
1:20:03
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175 sec
Handling language barriers and immigration status in discrimination cases
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's approach to language barriers and immigration status in discrimination cases. The commission offers services in multiple languages and takes measures to protect individuals' immigration …
1:23:01
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150 sec
Potential challenges from changes in federal government
Council Member Williams asks about potential challenges from changes in the federal government and their impact on CCHR's work. Deputy Commissioner JoAnn Kamuf Ward discusses the commission's approach to addressing …
1:25:34
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4 min
Inquiries related to Local Law 88 of 2021 and domestic workers
Council Member Williams inquires about the impact of Local Law 88 of 2021, which extended employment protections to domestic workers. Deputy Commissioner JoAnn Kamuf Ward discusses the commission's efforts and …
1:30:09
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147 sec
Language access services used by CCHR
Council Member Williams inquires about the language access services used by CCHR. Deputy Commissioners Katherine Carroll and JoAnn Kamuf Ward discuss the various language services and capabilities within the commission. …
1:32:40
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3 min
Outreach efforts to inform domestic workers of their rights
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's outreach efforts to inform domestic workers of their rights under the human rights law. Deputy Commissioner JoAnn Kamuf Ward details the commission's strategies for …
1:36:30
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115 sec
City's efforts to support immigrant workers
Council Member Williams asks about the city's efforts to better support immigrant workers and ensure they can secure their rights under the human rights law. Deputy Commissioners JoAnn Kamuf Ward …
1:38:28
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79 sec
Impact of New York City's sanctuary city status on CCHR's work
Council Member Williams inquires about the impact of New York City's sanctuary city status on CCHR's work protecting immigrants. Deputy Commissioner JoAnn Kamuf Ward explains the commission's stance and responsibilities. …
1:39:48
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110 sec
Pay transparency law implementation challenges and enforcement
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about the implementation of the pay transparency law, including trends, challenges, and employer feedback. CCHR representatives discuss the law's impact on employer practices, enforcement …
1:41:40
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3 min
CCHR staffing levels and impact on operations
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about current vacancies within CCHR, particularly in the Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB). CCHR representatives provide an overview of their staffing situation. - CCHR has …
1:45:12
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78 sec
CCHR's data analysis capabilities and staffing
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about CCHR's capacity for data analysis, given the large amount of data available from their annual reports. CCHR representatives explain their current data analysis …
1:46:34
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126 sec
Role and responsibilities of executive general counsel at CCHR
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about the role of executive general counsel in implementing new bills and how it differs from other attorney roles at CCHR. CCHR representatives explain …
1:48:40
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3 min
Potential impact of proposed bills on CCHR's caseload
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about how proposed bills (Intro 808A, 871, and 984) would affect CCHR's caseload if enacted. CCHR representatives discuss the challenges in predicting the impact …
1:52:10
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97 sec
Staffing requirements for implementing Intro 871
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about the estimated staffing needs for implementing Intro 871, based on the cost estimate provided by OMB. CCHR representatives explain the various roles that …
1:53:53
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167 sec
CCHR's internal process for implementing new laws
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about CCHR's internal process for implementing new laws, including how different departments interact to execute changes efficiently. CCHR representatives explain their approach to handling …
1:56:41
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107 sec
Questions on caregiver definition in Intro 871
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about potential challenges in defining 'caregiver' within Intro 871, particularly in multi-parent households. CCHR Senior Policy Counsel Hillary Scrivani responds, noting the current definition …
1:58:33
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82 sec
Inquiry about CCHR staffing for Intro 984
Council Member Williams asks about the OMB cost estimate for Intro 984, which suggests CCHR would need $310,000 annually for 3 new staff members in a pay and workplace equity …
2:00:02
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54 sec
Discussion on specialized units within CCHR
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's plans to create specialized units within the Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB). CCHR representatives discuss their approach to organizational structure and responsiveness to changing needs. …
2:00:59
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174 sec
Questions about Intro 1064 on promotional opportunities
Council Member Williams inquires about CCHR's familiarity with initiatives similar to Intro 1064 in other states and their awareness of employment-related inquiries regarding discrimination in promotional opportunities. - Intro 1064 …
2:03:55
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77 sec
Testimony by Seher Khawaja, Director of Economic Justice at Legal Momentum
Seher Khawaja, representing Legal Momentum, testifies in support of Intros 808-A, 982, and 984, which aim to address gender and race-based pay inequity through pay transparency measures. She highlights the …
2:11:42
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152 sec
Testimony by Miriam Clark, Legislative Chair of the New York Affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, on Salary Transparency Legislation
Miriam Clark, representing the National Employment Lawyers Association, testified in support of Intro 808-A, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive salary transparency legislation to address wage gaps and promote pay equity …
2:14:19
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3 min
Testimony by Beverly Neufeld, Founder and President of PowHER NY, on Pay Transparency and Equal Pay Data Reporting
Beverly Neufeld, representing PowHER NY, testified in support of several bills aimed at increasing pay transparency and equal pay data reporting in New York City. She emphasized the importance of …
2:18:01
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3 min
Testimony by Cristobal Gutierrez, Attorney at Make the Road New York
Cristobal Gutierrez, an attorney at Make the Road New York, expressed general support for the proposed bills advancing workers' rights but emphasized the critical need for increased budget to ensure …
2:22:03
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157 sec
Testimony by Hilary Wilson, Senior Policy Analyst at Community Service Society of New York
Hilary Wilson, representing the Community Service Society of New York, testified in support of salary transparency bills, emphasizing their necessity and feasibility in addressing gender pay gaps and workplace secrecy. …
2:24:47
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135 sec
Testimony by Rebekah Cook-Mack, Staff Attorney at Legal Aid Society, on the Need for Adequate Funding for the NYC Commission on Human Rights
Rebekah Cook-Mack from Legal Aid Society testifies on the urgent need for increased funding and staffing for the NYC Commission on Human Rights. She emphasizes that without proper resources, the …
2:27:05
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161 sec
Discussion on immigration and work discrimination concerns
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams engages in a brief Q&A about potential challenges related to immigrant status and work discrimination in light of the incoming administration. - She asks if …
2:29:46
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54 sec
Budget concerns for NYC Commission on Human Rights
Council Member Williams addresses budget concerns for the NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and emphasizes the importance of proper funding for implementing laws effectively. - She highlights the lack …
2:30:41
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52 sec
Call for advocate involvement in budget advocacy
Council Member Williams makes a passionate plea for advocates to get involved in budget advocacy for CCHR and EEPC, emphasizing the importance of their support beyond just promoting bills. - …
2:31:33
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158 sec
Testimony by Sean McIntosh, Senior Advisor of State Government Relations at Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Sean McIntosh from SHRM provided testimony on several proposed bills related to workplace issues in New York City. He expressed support for caregiving accommodations and pay transparency, while raising concerns …
2:34:16
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137 sec
