There is a beginning to promote diversity in hiring within city agencies, courtesy of the New York City Council.
That after the council voted, 48-4, this week to approve City Council Member and Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo‘s (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) Introduction 752, which mandates the creation of an Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).
And in an attached measure, the council also approved City Council Member Mathieu Eugene‘s (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Lefferts Gardens), Introduction 755, which requires the DCAS to monitor and report on the diversity of city agencies.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be used to compile and release statistics on the hiring, salary and promotion of city employees, separated by gender and race, among other categories. It will also develop procedures to facilitate greater diversity among city employees.
“I am thrilled to put forth a bill that expands critical aspects of equity in the workplace and promotes economic well-being for New Yorkers,” said Cumbo. “Int. No. 752-A creates an office of diversity and inclusion within DCAS, which will ensure that New York City is a leader in anti-discrimination and equality in the workplace.”
Introduction 755 would require the Equal Employment Practices Commission (EEPC) to provide annual reports on whether agencies are meeting their racial and ethnic affirmative employment quotas, and recommend corrective action for those that aren’t.
“In the City of New York, we are fortunate to accommodate a diverse public workforce that is strengthened by the contributions of individuals from a multitude of cultural and ethnic backgrounds,” said Eugene. “I believe it is imperative that we take the necessary steps to improve how effectively we are able to retain our workers from minority backgrounds and help them effectively achieve the American dream.”
But hiring diversity isn’t the only topic the Council tacked this past Tuesday at their stated meeting. The Council also approved several pieces of legislation related to other citywide issues, particularly fair school funding.
This includes City Council Member Mark Treyger‘s (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) Introduction 1174, which creates a task force to review and appraise the formula used by the Department of Education (DOE) to determine school funding. Treyger also sponsored Resolution 569, which calls on the DOE to factor poverty into the formula used to calculate fair student funding.
“Fair student funding is a critical funding stream for our schools, giving school administrators the flexibility to provide the social and emotional supports or enrichment programs that best meet the needs of their respective student populations,” said Treyger. “My legislation will give stakeholders a seat at the table and help ensure equity and transparency in the distribution of these important resources.”
City Council Member Peter Koo’s (D-Queens) Introduction 986 would require that the data used in required reports and studies be transmitted in an easily accessible format.
“Intro 986-A will help streamline government data so that reports, graphs, charts and other critical files submitted to the City Council would be required to be machine-readable so that they could be automatically processed,” said Koo. “This will help cut down on paperwork and improve the efficiency of all reporting done by city agencies.”
