With early voting beginning on Saturday ahead of Election Day on November 8, New Yorkers will be asked to vote on three charter revision proposals, developed by the city's Racial Justice Commission in collaboration with advocates. At a hearing today of the City Council Committee on Civil and Human Rights, Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams discussed the importance of these ballot initiatives – which aim to address structural injustices, eliminate barriers and promote racial equity – and encouraged New Yorkers to flip their ballot and vote on the measures.
"In preparation for this upcoming election, it is very important that New Yorkers remember to turn over the ballot as we will be voting on three ballot measures. The Racial Justice Commission based these measures on community engagement input. They spoke to community leaders and experts by conducting public meetings where they would record all the information and ideas given and turn them into proposed charter changes," said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. "New Yorkers will have the chance to vote for measures that will help to dismantle structural and institutional racism."
The Public Advocate addressed each of the proposals on the November ballot. The first would add a statement of values to guide the government. The second would establish an ongoing Racial Equity Office, Plan, and Commission. The final measure would require the City to create a “true cost of living” measure to track how much the actual cost in New York City of meeting essential needs which include food, childcare, housing.
He closed arguing that "We have a duty to rework the codification of our City’s Charter to address the persistent racism, inequality, and inequity. It is about time to address the barriers Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and all People of More Color in New York City face on a daily basis, as well as the additional barriers faced by LGBTQ+ and Disabled People of Color, antisemitism, islamophobia, just to name some. If these proposals pass, we will be able to move towards an equitable and just city. This will bring new opportunities to those who have disproportionately been negatively impacted for generations."
Read the Public Advocate's full statement as delivered below.
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS
TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON
CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
OCTOBER 26, 2022
Good Morning.
My name is Jumaane D. Williams and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. Thank you very much Chair Williams and members of the Committee on Civil and Human Rights for holding this hearing and allowing me the opportunity to provide a statement. I’d also like to thank the Racial Justice Commission for all the work they have done thus far to ensure that all New Yorkers are informed about the ballot measures and are encouraged to vote on November 8th. Of course, thank you Chair Jones Austin, Executive Director Harold Miller, and staff, and the entire commission over there. Some great folks. I do want to shout-out to Jo-Ann Yoo, who was a member of my transition committee, and K Bain, who was my brother from another since college. He was actually a part of the problem, and it’s been great to see him grow, first as my Legislative Director and Budget Director, to the Commission, and doing great work on gun violence. We had a lot of great memories there. We did a lot of great work for the city.
For nearly three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and exposed the racial inequities that have continued to impact New York City. While all New Yorkers have been affected by the pandemic, data shows that communities of more color have been hit the hardest economically, socially, and health-wise. At the same time, violence and hate crimes have worsened and reinforced the racism that remains present in our City. The system has been structured to marginalize people on the basis of race across all areas of life. I hope we can all work together to create a more just and equitable city for all New Yorkers.
In preparation for this upcoming election, it is very important that New Yorkers remember to turn over the ballot as we will be voting on three ballot measures. The Racial Justice Commission based these measures on community engagement input. They spoke to community leaders and experts by conducting public meetings where they would record all the information and ideas given and turn them into proposed charter changes. After obtaining all this data, they published an in-depth report that includes the final three measures they are pushing towards the path of racial equity and justice, and I’m proud to have provided testimony myself.
New Yorkers will have the chance to vote for measures that will help to dismantle structural and institutional racism. The first ballot measure is to add a statement of values to guide the government. The subject matter of this preamble will be used as a guideline of what the City government must fulfill and how they must execute their duties. Currently, New York City Charter does not have a preamble. If this is implemented, the City government will have to follow the core values and vision that New Yorkers have determined.
The second ballot measure is to establish a Racial Equity Office, Plan, and Commission. During the Racial Justice Commission’s research, they found that many New Yorkers and leaders have expressed that there has always been a lack of prominence on racial equity in regards to City decision-making and policies. The creation of a Racial Equity Office is required to work with all city agencies and train and provide assistance to them on racial equity. As for the Racial Equity Plan, this will require the mayor to create a citywide plan and agencies to create agency specific plans every two years. This would include the goals and strategies for improving racial equity and justice, and the creation of a Commission on Racial Equity.
The last ballot proposal is to measure the true cost of living. This requires the City government to create a “true cost of living” measure to track how much the actual cost in New York City of meeting essential needs which include food, childcare, housing. The calculation will not include any sort of additional assistance whether it is public or private. This way it will allow for an accurate result on making decisions and creating new policies. The City is also required to report annually on this measure.
We have a duty to rework the codification of our City’s Charter to address the persistent racism, inequality, and inequity. It is about time to address the barriers Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and all People of More Color in New York City face on a daily basis, as well as the additional barriers faced by LGBTQ+ and Disabled People of Color, antisemitism, islamophobia, just to name some. If these proposals pass, we will be able to move towards an equitable and just city. This will bring new opportunities to those who have disproportionately been negatively impacted for generations. I hope as a City we can move forward with these proposals after this upcoming election.
And while I’m always glad we’re making sure we’re inclusive of everyone, which we need to be – apparently the further you are away from being an affluent white male, the tougher you will have it – but I want to make sure we lift up the very unique anti-Black racism that has persisted for a very long time, and it’s important that we keep that a part of the conversation.
Thank you so much.