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Q&A
Council member and OMB director discuss funding for Commission on Human Rights
1:55:16
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173 sec
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams raises concerns about insufficient funding for the Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), particularly in light of the current federal climate and new responsibilities such as enforcing the Fair Housing Act. Director Jacques Jiha explains the current budget allocation and staffing situation for CCHR.
- Council called for an additional $6 million for CCHR
- OMB added $556,000 in the general plan for five new hires in the income discrimination unit
- CCHR currently has 33 vacancies
- Williams emphasizes the need for resources beyond just attorneys, including marketing and outreach budgets
Nantasha M. Williams
1:55:16
Okay, moving to CCHR, we all know what they're responsible for.
1:55:23
The council called for the administration to provide an additional $6,000,000 and the exec plan and I know when we had our briefing you mentioned that you had given CCHR more funds but it does not seem like that's the case.
1:55:42
So how does OMB plan to support CCHR especially in this federal climate where there appears to be a lot of focus on reducing the scope of people's civil and human rights?
1:55:56
Human rights?
Jacques Jiha
1:55:58
I believe we added in the general plan resources to their budget in the general plan by some $556,000 so they could hire five folks to increase the process of income discrimination unit.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:56:21
Yeah I know but the request was 6,000,000 and source of income is very important and I know the council has done a lot of work with the administration on it, but there's so many other things that CCHR does or is unable to do because they don't have the funds to do it.
1:56:36
For instance, the Fair Housing Act is coming into effect and that will impact how people are able to get homes and apartments and I don't think that CCHR has the resources to really enforce that law.
1:56:55
Again, the federal climate has created more opportunities in a good way for people to seek some type of reprieve at the local level but I just I just don't think they have the resources proactively educate people around civil and human rights discrimination and laws that protect folks in New York City.
Jacques Jiha
1:57:16
Again, as I said, we will work with them because currently they have 33 vacancies.
1:57:22
Okay.
1:57:22
It's just a question of you know hiring those attorneys but we will work with them.
1:57:27
We met with them.
Diana I. Ayala
1:57:28
I just
Nantasha M. Williams
1:57:28
want to add, I'm not just seeking resources for attorneys, just even in like their marketing budget.
1:57:35
Like in previous years when certain things went to effect, I think it was the you know don't don't ask don't tell around the people who are applying for jobs whether or not they had a criminal record, they did extensive marketing around that law going into effect, but as far as I know they don't have the resources to do robust outreach and marketing around the city's laws so that people can comply and they don't get fines.
1:58:05
So not just for the legal division but also as a whole.