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Council Member Farah N. Louis delivers opening remarks on equitable representation in the municipal workforce
0:06:03
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Council Member Farah N. Louis, chair of the committee on women and gender equity, delivers opening remarks for a hearing on equitable representation in the municipal workforce. She introduces the purpose of the hearing, acknowledges key legislation to be discussed, and emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusion and diversity in the workforce despite recent federal rollbacks on DEI initiatives.
- Highlights four pieces of legislation to be discussed during the hearing
- Addresses recent federal measures to reduce DEI initiatives and emphasizes the City Council's commitment to improving equity
- Expresses gratitude to staff members and emphasizes the importance of hearing from public advocates and stakeholders
Farah N. Louis
0:06:03
Thank you chair De La Rosa and good morning everyone.
0:06:06
My name is Farrah Lewis and I'm the chair of the committee on women and gender equity.
0:06:10
Thank you all for joining us for this very important hearing today on equitable representation in the municipal workforce.
0:06:17
I would like to take a moment to thank chair Dela Rosa for the opportunity to co chair this crucial hearing and for her staunch advocacy to combat occupational segregation and fighting for equitable representation in the municipal workforce.
0:06:30
I would also like to welcome everyone that has joined us today both in person and virtual for this hearing on oversight equitable representation in the city workforce.
0:06:41
Additionally, I look forward to hearing the legislation chair Dela Rosa mentioned introduction number six seven five seven five of 2024 sponsored by council member Della Rosa, resolution number 60 six-twenty 24 sponsored by council member Caban, resolutions numbers 100 nine-twenty 24 sponsored by council member Hudson and resolution number three sixty eight twenty twenty four sponsored by council member Hanif.
0:07:10
I am proud to be a co sponsor of these pieces of legislation.
0:07:14
Recently the current federal administration has taken several measures to reduce the promotion of diversity and equity in in the federal workforce claiming without evidence that DEI initiatives discourage merit based hiring.
0:07:28
These actions compound ongoing historical practices of occupational segregation and discriminatory practices and we have a moral obligation to address this issue.
0:07:39
At the city level, the City Council continues to strive forward improving equity in the workforce and today we continue that fight.
0:07:47
This hearing will focus on the importance and value of fostering the inclusion in the workforce, providing opportunities to workers from historically marginalized groups, improving culturally humility and hone in on key metrics that show that New York City benefits from the collaborative work from employees across all races, ethnicities, genders and religions.
0:08:11
We look forward to hearing the response from our city agencies on these issues as well as hearing from members of the public, advocates and other interested stakeholders including those with lived experience who have taken the time to come here today to join us.
0:08:26
It is imperative we hear from your voices and your advocacy and we thank you all for your support.
0:08:31
Finally, I would like to thank my own staff as well as committee council staff members who worked so hard to prepare this hearing.
0:08:38
Senior Legislative Counsel Julia Goldsmith Pinkham, Senior Legislative Policy Analyst Christy Dreyer and our Finance Analyst Allie Stoeffer.
0:08:47
I will now pass it back to chair De