Jan 10, 2025 Story by: Editor
Commissioners tasked with examining the impact of New York’s involvement in the slave trade are calling on state lawmakers for additional time and funding to complete their work effectively.
The state’s Community Commission on Reparations Remedies, composed of nine members, is conducting a $5 million study and has about six months remaining to submit recommendations to the Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul. The commission was established under a law signed by Hochul in 2023, which provided one year to research the effects of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism.
Although the commission first convened in July 2024, its progress has been hindered by staffing delays caused by the state’s extensive hiring process. President Seanelle Hawkins emphasized the need for more resources to produce a comprehensive and meaningful report.
“In order to represent a quality report, we will need more time and most importantly, we will need the staff to do the day-to-day work,” stated Hawkins, who also serves as the president and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester. “There are a lot of things that are expected of the commission, and we want to make sure that what we contribute back to the Legislature is quality.”
The commission anticipates hiring an executive director by the end of January, coinciding with the next round of public hearings scheduled for Albany and Rochester. The Albany hearing will take place on February 15, followed by a hearing in Rochester on March 3. Details regarding the locations and times will be posted on the commission’s website.
Future hearings are planned for Ithaca, Brooklyn, and Utica. Hawkins indicated that the commission would require at least six additional months to travel the state and compile its recommendations.
“It’s going to take us at least an additional six months,” Hawkins reiterated. “It may take us more than that, but we certainly want to make sure that we have the time to do so.”
Support from Legislators
Senator James Sanders, a Democrat from Queens and sponsor of the law creating the commission, supports the request for more time. Sanders highlighted California’s two-year reparations study as an example, noting that even with more time, challenges persisted.
“For us to do ours in a year is a bit presumptuous,” Sanders remarked. “It’s better that we move in a rational fashion.”
Assembly sponsor Michaelle Solages, chair of the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, has begun discussions with legislative leaders and Governor Hochul’s office about securing more time and funding for the commission in the upcoming budget.
“We know this [work] is going to be under big scrutiny, so in order for us to have a clear path, I do support them in providing them more time,” Solages stated.
The feasibility of extending the commission’s timeline depends on the unspent portion of its $5 million allocation. Solages noted that it is uncertain whether an amendment to the existing law is sufficient or if new legislation will be required.
The commission’s efforts remain under close watch as it aims to deliver a thorough and credible report on New York’s role in slavery and its enduring impacts. Source: Spectrum Local News
