NYC has 18 racial equity goals. How will it achieve them?

New York City’s official racial equity watchdog has finalized a list of 18 policy goals for reducing racial disparities in health, policing, education and a range of other areas across the five boroughs.

The list released on Wednesday includes reforms touching on a broad range of government-directed activity, such as the levying of fines and fees, delivering health and mental health services and making housing affordable.

Voter-backed ballot proposals in November 2022 authorized the goal-setting, directed by the city’s Commission on Racial Equity. Draft policy aims were released in the spring and subsequently updated based on more than 220 conversations with New Yorkers and input from over 4,200 people in multiple languages.

Linda Tigani, the commission’s chair and executive director, insisted in an interview that the endeavor was no idle exercise, though responsibility for actually bringing the goals to fruition principally rests with current and future elected leaders, who could have their own designs.

“They are not just words on a paper,” Tigani said. “They are a rubric for our budget. They are a rubric for how is our local government doing, governing the public.”

The 15-person commission composed of civic, community and government representatives serves as a watchdog and voice of the public in a new city infrastructure and planning process. Voters overwhelmingly endorsed the endeavor in 2022, two years after the racial justice protests that swept the nation after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police in 2020.

City officials will eventually unveil their own citywide Racial Equity Plan, with agency goals and metrics to track their progress in ameliorating racial disparities. The recently released list of priorities is supposed to help shape that city plan, and reflect the will of the public in the process.

The new bureaucracy, which comprises the goals, plan, commission, and a recently established Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, is touted as an effort to elevate racial equity as a priority for city policymakers and officials, as set forth in the city charter.

But the establishment of the goals has been delayed multiple times. Under the charter rules, the goals were supposed to be released on Oct. 1, 2023. But Tigani wasn’t announced as the head of the commission until the end of that month. And the release of the citywide plan still lags behind an updated delivery date earlier this year. Ivette Davila-Richards, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, said the plan will be released in the coming months.

The commission will review and publicly comment on the city’s Racial Equity Plan, track compliance, and receive complaints about “agency conduct” that may be exacerbating racial disparities. Community priorities will be updated every two years.

The full list of priorities

1. Remove the gaps in race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age and disability in city jobs. Ensure that government work and staff reflect the city’s commitment to equity and social justice.
2. Fund communities harmed by racism and injustice to shape and get updates on NYC government plans.
3. Remove the gaps in race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and disability in city pay, promotions, and contracts.
4. Ensure NYC offices and partners get funds for community-based language access services in the city’s most spoken languages.
5. Check for and remove any formulas and computer processes that may be biased based on race, ethnicity or poverty. This will prevent inequities in health care, housing, policing, criminal justice, employment, social service and more.
6. Collect, analyze, and share data on access to government services with the public, categorizing it by specific groups harmed by racism and social injustice. New Priority.

Fundamental Value in our NYC Charter: Our government justly values all talents and contributions

1. Expand access to safe, stable housing for those at risk of homelessness, eviction, and deed theft without delay. Access should be available to individuals and families.
2. Evaluate and remove fines and fees to reduce the impact on low-income people of all ages.
3. Use and expand non-punitive responses to mental health and all crises. These responses should rely less on police where possible. People should be allowed to decide or contribute to decisions about their own care.
4. Reduce racial and economic segregation and education gap by increasing support to schools. Help every student and family with education and other health related social needs.
5. Expand health, mental health, substance use, and disability services. They must meet the needs of families and individuals harmed by racism and social injustice.
6. Remove costs and barriers to CUNY enrollment and retention.
7. Increase access and lower the cost to basic needs such as quality food, transportation, medical, and housing. New Priority.
8. Expand access for those harmed by racial and social injustice to inform local emergency planning. These include plans to prepare for, act in, and recover from emergencies.
9. Remove barriers and increase access for people harmed by racial and social injustice to learn about buy and keep ownership of property.
10. Ensure all city employees and their agencies, including the police and social service providers, are held accountable for any harm and abuse of power.
11. Remove the gaps in racial, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and disability access to job training and funds to start businesses.
12. Expand services to prevent, intervene, and provide care for people and families harmed by policing, jails, and court supervision.

Source: Commission on Racial Equity