Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Council member inquires about delayed Racial Equity Plan and its impact on budget
1:58:10
·
108 sec
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams questions Director Jacques Jiha about the delayed release of the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ) 2024 Racial Equity Plan and its potential impact on the budget process. Jiha defers to City Hall regarding the plan's release but assures that equity considerations are part of every budget decision.
- The Racial Equity Plan is approximately 400 days late
- Jiha defers to City Hall on questions about the plan's release
- OMB has provided feedback on the plan to MOERJ
- Jiha states that all budget decisions are made through an equity lens, regardless of the plan's official release
Nantasha M. Williams
1:58:10
Okay, last question, the mayor's office equity and racial justice has still not released their preliminary 2024 racial equity plan.
1:58:19
It's probably, I don't know, four hundred days late at this point which was required back October 2024 which was pushed back date, one focus of the plan is to help ensure equity is being considered when formulating the city's budget, so what support is OMB providing MOERJ to ensure the plan is released?
1:58:41
Have you received a copy of the report?
1:58:44
Have you taken any consideration if you have to the current budget year and we really only have like a month left, so do you anticipate utilizing this plan in any way as we move forward in finalizing fiscal twenty twenty six budget?
Jacques Jiha
1:59:01
I would defer to City Hall when it comes to the question regarding the plan, the equity plan, But again as I said, we've been working with them, we give them our feedback on their plan and but in terms of the release of the plan, would defer to City Hall.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:59:17
Because it hasn't been released though and I know the plan is circulating within the administration, Do you plan to or have you taken any consideration to this current fiscal budget as the plan may call or not call for you to do so?
Jacques Jiha
1:59:33
We always, every decision we make as part of the budget we do them through an equity lens.
1:59:39
Okay.
1:59:39
I mean, you could see as you could see in a budget, we make so many investments or many of the investments, as I said, we basically look at them from that perspective.
1:59:49
So as far as we are concerned, we understand what the plan is trying to accomplish, but this is something that we do currently.