In an effort to advance racial equity and revise New York City\u2019s Charter, the city\u2019s Racial Justice Commission has released its interim report, aimed at producing ballot initiatives for the Nov. 8, 2022, general election.<\/p>\n
If approved by voters, they would become law. That would change the City Charter, which governs how New York operates.<\/p>\n
Established by Mayor Bill de Blasio in March, the commission wants to eradicate systemic racism. It began by asking New York City residents to share experiences of inequality in housing, transportation, healthcare, and education.<\/p>\n
Its\u00a0report<\/a>, issued Thursday, identifies six patterns of inequity where New Yorkers say structural racism persists.<\/p>\n \u201cThe commission will examine the NYC Charter to identify barriers to power, access and opportunity for black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and all people of color in New York City \u2026 to address the underlying causes of racial injustice \u2026,\u201d the report says.<\/p>\n \u201cCommunities know what they need, Our job is to listen and translate their concerns into recommendations for structural change,\u201d said Henry Garrido, commission vice-chair.<\/p>\n The\u00a0<\/strong>six patterns of inequity<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0are:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Inequity in quality services that promote social and emotional well-being<\/p>\n 2. Inequity in work, advancement, and wealth-building<\/p>\n 3. Inequity within and across neighborhoods that inhibits thriving individuals, families, and communities<\/p>\n 4. Marginalization and over-criminalization of BIPOC [black, Indigenous, people of color] persons and communities<\/p>\n 5. Inequity in representation in decision-making<\/p>\n 6. Enforcement and accountability of government and entities.<\/p>\n The input sessions were open to the public and attracted 260 attendees, of which 104 testified.\u00a0 The commission heard nearly 34 hours of testimony, which helped shape the initial six categories. It also held 50 one-on-one interviews and drew more than 1,100 online submissions.<\/p>\n Changing the system<\/strong><\/p>\n Additional public sessions are scheduled through December when a final report will be issued.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people look at the report and ultimately the final report, as well as the ballot proposals, they may not see a specific program or policy idea they put forward,\u201d said commission chair Jennifer Jones Austin. \u201cBut by using the six themes, our effort is to try to capture the essence of what they\u2019re speaking to.\u201d<\/p>\n De Blasio\u2019s mission statement for the commission was to propose structural changes and policy reforms that advance justice and equity and dismantle structural racism for all New Yorkers.<\/p>\n Examples of structural change, the report says, are transforming how the government uses power to make decisions; redefining the relationship between government and society; eliminating contradictions between the values of people, and addressing outdated values that do not honor the reality that New York City is a diverse, multiracial city.<\/p>\n Patterns address inclusive concerns\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Among the issues the commission seeks to address from the \u201cpatterns of inequity\u201d are a lack of quality education for diverse people; lack of access to affordable housing; and a scarcity of mental health services or coordinated care.<\/p>\n The list includes the inequitable distribution of resources, inferior facilities and land use, and a lack of community ownership and control.<\/p>\n The patterns also seek to address inequity in employment opportunities, lack of economic mobility, insufficient preparation for the future, and a lack of access to capital and similar resources.<\/p>\n Over-criminalization, inequity in representation, and decision-making are among the elements that contribute to systematic discrimination. They can be based on race, disability, gender identity, criminal history, source of income, immigration status, and more, the report said.<\/p>\n Ballot proposals<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe next step is we\u2019re going to confirm whether these six areas fully document what people are experiencing, while the commission staff works on potential solutions,\u201d Austin said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to \u2026 tie it back to how the charter can do a better job of helping meet New Yorkers\u2019 needs to bring about greater racial equity.\u201d<\/p>\n