- Sarah Crean on Exclusive: Proposed policy would allow industries to self-audit pollution-generating activities
- David Howard King on Bronx senator's health quest
- Cristian Salazar and Carla Murphy on Stops lawsuit given class status
- Cristian Salazar on NYC Council passes banking bill
- David Howard King on Senate Dems Look to Nat'l Issues
Civil Rights Reports:
Stop and Frisk Rights Violations Continue
A report from the Center for Constitutional Rights finds that the New York Police Department has committed over 100,000 unconstitutional stops. The report which follows up on data from 2004-2009 shows that unconstitutional stop and frisks have continued through the first half of this year. 2012-12-13
Human rights violations in response to Occupy Wall Street
A report by The Protest and Assembly Rights Project has found a number of human rights violations conducted by law enforcement in across the country in response to Occupy Wall Street protests. Chapter six of the report focuses exclusivley on the eviction of protesters from Zuccotti Park 2012-07-26
Racial Disparities in City School Arrests
Police arrested over five students each day in city public schools from October through December, according to police department data released today by the New York Civil Liberties Union. About 94 percent of students arrested were black or Latino; 75 percent were male. Black students comprise only 29 percent of the student population in city schools, but 60 percent of those arrested were black. 2012-02-23
Ballot Design Deficiencies and Lost Votes
In 2010, tens of thousands of votes in New York state did not count due to overvotes — the invalid selection of more than one candidate. This report by the Brennan Center for Justice demonstrates how the lack of adequate overvote protections disproportionately affected the state's poorest communities, suggests commonsense reforms, and examines national implications. 2011-12-08
Who Gets Loans?
The number of conventional refinancing loans granted to homeowners in predominantly white neighborhoods in New York City increased between 2008 and 2009, according to a new report. In communities where 80 percent or more residents are people of color, though, the number of loans fell, according to the study by Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project and six affiliated groups. In Paying More for the American Dream V, the organizations examined the recent home mortgage data for New York City and six other metropolitan areas, and found disparities based on racial composition of neighborhoods. In New York, lenders were 1.6 times as likely to deny loans to those in predominantly white neighborhoods, in 2009. 2011-05-04
Unemployment Rate of Young Black Males
The unemployment rate for black men between the ages of 16-24 in the city was 33 percent in 2009, compared to a rate of 16 percent for all men in that age range. Young black males were hit particularly hard by the recession, seeing a rise in unemployment of around 10 percent from 2006. Young black males without a high school degree fared even worse, facing an unemployment rate of 52 percent in 2009. 2011-01-07
Police Stops
Over the last six years, the New York City police department made thousands of stops of New Yorkers that were unconstitutional and did not have any legal justification, according to a report prepared for the Center for Constitutional Rights. These stops, Columbia law school professor Jeffrey Fagan found, disproportionately affected black and Latino New Yorkers. As what the report sees as evidence of the questionable nature of the police actions, the report found that almost half of the stops were for "furtive movements," while only 0.15 percent of the stops resulted in the seizure of a gun. The report was prepared in conjunction with a class action lawsuit challenging the police department stop and frisks. 2010-10-27
Police Shooting Police
A task force created by Gov. David Paterson to study shootings of police by police has concluded that race is a factor in such incidents, particularly when the victim is an off-duty officer. While the panel could find no case where a white off-duty officer was shot by a fellow officer since 1982, nine off-duty officers of color have been killed by police, including two recent cases in New York State. The report said police share the racial biases of other Americans but said training can work to change that -- and praised the New York City police for their efforts to improve training.
2010-06-01
Mortgage Crunch
Between 2006 and 2008, banks and other lenders reduced the amount of prime loans for mortgages and refinancing by 56 percent in New York City's communities of color, according to a new report by NEDAP and six other groups y. Lending in New York's predominantly white communities decreased by 31.2 percent over the same period. The report, "Paying for the American Dream IV," found similar patterns in the seven cities it studied, with Charlotte, N.C., seeing the largest drop in communities of color -- almost 71 percent -- and Rochester, N.Y., with a 52.5 percent drop, the smallest. 2010-05-19
Transgendered People in the Workplace
Transgendered people encounter widespread bias when seeking employment, according to a recent report by Make the Road by Walking. Working from a somewhat small sample, the group found transgendered people are far less likely to be offered a job than other people. Almost half of 82 transgendered workers surveyed said they had never been offered a job as an openly transgender person. 2010-04-19
Working Without Laws
A study by the National Employment Law Project found that low-income workers in New York City lose $18 million to wage theft each week. The report documents how employers shirk minimum wage and overtime law and how low-income workers face retaliation if they speak out. 2010-01-29
City Council Human Rights Scorecard
Councilmember Tony Avella received the highest ranking in the Urban Justice Center's City Council Human Rights Scorecard. Letitia James came in second. Simcha Felder had the worst ranking. 2009-09-25
The State's 'Real Unemployment Rate'
The state's "real unemployment rate" - which includes people forced to work shorter hours and those who have given up looking for work - is 14.1 percent, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute. For black men, the real unemployment rate is 27 percent, dwarfing the real unemployment rate of 12 percent for white males. 2009-09-18
Prisoners Serving Life Sentences
In New York state, 84 percent of life sentenced prisoners are black or Hispanic, the highest in the nation, according to a national report by the Sentencing Project. The state also has 1-in-6 prisoners serving life sentences, which is the second highest in the country. 2009-07-24
Creating Safe High Schools
An analysis of six high schools serving "at-risk" students shows that metal detectors, aggressive policing and harsh disciplinary policies are not needed to create a safe learning environment, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University and Make the Road New York. 2009-07-09
Policy to Prevent Wrongful Conviction
A report by the Innocence Project says that New York leads in wrongful convictions but lags in passing reforms to prevent them. The report suggests passing legislation to better utilize DNA evidence, improving eyewitness identification procedures and giving judges more power over evidence. 2009-06-09
Stop and Frisks Increase
The Police Department stopped and interrogated more innocent people during the first three months of 2009 than during any three-month period since the department began collecting data on so-called "stop and frisks," according to a new report by the New York Civil Liberties Union. The report reveals a 22 percent increase from the 140,151 stops conducted during the last three months of 2008. 2009-05-14
Healthcare in New York Prisons
A report by the Correctional Association of New York finds that prisoners in New York receive varying standards of care. The report details improvements the authorities have made in inmate care but also chronicles inconsistent treatment. Inmates complain of being denied timely care, problems receiving prescriptions, inadequate examinations and failures to treat chronic problems. A lack of resources, improperly trained medical staff and a lack of oversight leads to inconsistent care, the report states. 2009-05-13
Punishment of Drug Users in New York State Prisons
In a report on New York prisons, Human Rights Watch found that prison officials sentenced inmates to a collective total of over 2,516 years in "the box" (no contact from visitors, 23-hour-a-day lockdowns, no access to drug rehabilitation treatment) from 2005 to 2007 for drug-related charges. At the same time, inmates seeking drug treatment face major delays because treatment programs are filled to capacity. 2009-05-06
Disabled Students Left Behind
A new report by the Arise Coalition says that the past 7 years of education reforms have not improved the education experience for disabled students. The report calls on the Department of Education to focus on initiatives to improve the learning environment for the disabled. 2009-04-26
Race and the Budget
The state budget for next fiscal year proposed by Gov. David Paterson will continue or even increase many disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the state, according to a report by Citizen Action. The study by the organization, which supports an increase in the tax on wealthy New Yorkers, said that, in some areas, the budget will reduce racial differences, but cites areas where the budget will increase gaps, such as reductions in school aid, tuition increases and budget cuts at CUNY and SUNY, and higher premiums for Child Health Plus. 2009-03-04
New York's Juvenile Justice System
This report comes from the Vera Institute and assesses the juvenile justice system statewide from '04 through '06: The number of juvenile delinquency cases referred to court remained unchanged at 66 percent; Juvenile delinquents placed in state or county custody decreased by 8 percent; Black youth account for 60 percent of those placed in custody but only account for 19 percent of youth in state; Court petitions for juveniles in the justice system for non-criminal behavior - such as truancy, incorrigibility, or running away - dropped 41 percent; The state's Division of Criminal Justice Services raised concerns about the reliability of juvenile arrest data for the period covered, so the report does not include it. 2009-01-22
Who the Police Stop
Eighty percent of all New Yorkers stopped by New York City police between 2005 and 2008 were black or Latino, according to a preliminary analysis released by the Center for Constitutional Rights, a social justice group. Once they were stopped, blacks and Latinos also were far more likely than whites to be frisked, with 40 percent of whites stopped being searched compared to almost 60 percent of blacks and Latinos. 2009-01-20
Prevailing Wages for Affordable Housing?
Imposing government determined prevailing wages for affordable housing construction could increase total development costs by about 25 percent, according to a recent report by the Citizens Housing and Planning Council. They also found no evidence to suggest that construction safety or quality would improve, as some have argued, by imposing the wage rates. The report further suggests that many black and Latino laborers could lose their jobs if the higher wages were imposed, since they are disproportionately found in the lower wage sectors of the construction industry. 2008-12-29
The City Council's Human Rights Record
According to a report card by the Human Rights Project, the City Council as a whole scored 76 percent for their efforts to advance equal employment rights for vulnerable populations. But they scored only 35 percent for their record of advancing democracy and only 7 percent for protecting the rights of workers. The highest ranked individual members were Letitia James, Charles Barron and Tony Avella. The bottom of the list was filled by Lew Fidler, James Vacca and Melinda Katz. 2008-12-12
Health Care and Gays and Lesbians
Gays and lesbians experience hostility and discrimination when seeking care in the city's public hospitals and they do not receive care that accounts for their specific health disparities, according to a new report by the public advocate's office. The report recommends that the Health and Hospitals Corporation require and provide sensitivity training for their employees, and create a liaison for issues relating to the gay and lesbian community. 2008-12-11
False Child Abuse Allegations
Sixty-seven percent of domestic violence professionals say they have had at least one case where an abuser repeatedly filed false reports of child abuse against a survivor, according to a report by the Public Advocate. The professionals report that 10 percent of their cases on average involve false allegations, and 95 said an abuser has never been prosecuted for it in any of the cases they handled. 2008-07-17
Marijuana Arrests
The number of people arrested and jailed for possessing small amounts of marijuana in New York City increased sharply during the Giuliani and Bloomberg administrations, according to a study released yesterday by the New York Civil Liberties Union. The group found more than 350,000 people were arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges between 1997 and 2007, compared to 30,000 during the previous decade. Of those arrested over the last 10 years, more than half were black, even though only about 25 percent of the city's population is black. Whites, who make up 35 percent of the city's population, accounted for only 15 percent of the arrests. 2008-04-30
Unionization of Blacks in New York
To mark the anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination, the Fiscal Policy Institute has released a report on the unionization rates of blacks in New York and nationwide. In New York, 37 percent of blacks are in a union, while 26 percent of the overall workforce is unionized. Nationally, 16 percent of blacks are unionized and 14 percent of the overall workforce is in a union. Approximately 25 percent of Hispanics in New York are in a union. 2008-04-03
Equal Opportunity in Construction
Three years after Mayor Michael Bloomberg created his Commission on Construction Opportunity to bring more women, blacks, Hispanics and Asians into construction jobs, a report by David Jason Fischer of the Center for an Urban Future examines the progress to date. In "Something to Build On," Fischer finds the commission has fallen short of many of its goals but has created a foundation for expanding opportunities in the construction industry. 2008-02-13
Transit and the Disabled
People with disabilities encounter an array of problems using the city's subways and buses, according to a report prepared for the New York City Council. In addition to familiar pitfalls, such as inaccessible subway stations, a series of focus groups reported that many transit employees lack the expertise to deal with the disabled, that erratic repair schedules make transit unreliable for these customers, and that people with "hidden disabilities" often find it difficult to get assistance. The report, "Moving Forward," sets forth a series of recommendations to address such problems. 2008-01-15
Preparing Special Education Students
The New York City school system does not do enough to help special education students prepare for their transition to life after high school, according to a new report by Advocates for Children. The report, Transition to Nowhere, says about 13,000 students with disabilities leave the New York City schools every year, and the department is required to help prepare them independent living, further education and career opportunities. Despite that, many students receive no preparation and in other cases, students were not involved in developing their transition plans. 2007-09-26
A Right to Counsel
A report by the New York County Lawyers’ Association examines the right to counsel in housing court for those of low income. In an attempt to ensure an individual’s ability to remain in his or her home, the report recommends providing adequate state funding for civil legal services and supports a civil right to counsel in New York City. 2007-06-14
Gay Marriage Could Bring in Millions
According to a report released this week by New York City Comptroller William Thompson, Jr., the city could glean approximately $142 million in economic benefits in the first three years after legalizing same-sex marriage largely from weddings, gifts and other spending associated with the events. The report, which examined the economic impact on the city and state levels, recognized the possibility of increased costs for businesses through an expansion of employee benefits for same-sex spouses, although the impact could be partly offset for firms and companies that already offer insurance for domestic partners. Other beneficial economic impacts include increased tax revenues and the possible encouragement of couples to purchase homes due to greater financial stability. 2007-06-07
Housing Discrimination In Brooklyn
This report by the National Fair Housing Alliance charges that real estate agents of the Corcoran Group “steered homebuyers by race and denied basic services to African Americans.” Such activity, the report argues, helps explain why New York City, “for all its diversity…remains among the most segregated areas in the United States.” It recommends that the federal government set up a testing program to “provide systematic assessments of real estate agents and companies and take appropriate policy and enforcement actions to counteract discriminatory behavior.” 2006-10-17
Gender Inequality In High School Sports
New York City public high school girls have fewer opportunities to play sports than boys, says this report from the Office of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. Though slightly more than half of the students enrolled at 185 high schools were girls, girls teams accounted for only 44 percent of all Public School Athletic League sports. The report points out that girls fencing, soccer, golf, and swimming were scheduled in the “off-season,” when fewer college recruiters are evaluating talent, while boys teams competing in the same sports played during the regular season. 2006-08-18
International Freedom Center's Plans For The Future
"The International Freedom Center: Content and Governance Report" outlines the future plans of the cultural institution, devised for the World Trade Center site -- a report ordered by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation after the Freedom Center was attacked by critics.
"The International Freedom Center will offer museum exhibits, educational programs, service and civic initiatives that will explore freedom as a constantly-evolving world movement in which America has played a leading role. Visitors from around the globe will come to understand that the story of freedom is a narrative of hope, and that September 11 is an essential element of this story..." Planned highlights include "The World And September 11" about international outpouring; "Documenting Freedom," a tribute to the "great documents of freedom" including the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta; "The Four Freedoms," honoring FDR;s "essential freedoms"; "In Freedom's Service," exhibits "highlighting the men and women who are leading struggles for freedom today and an interactive network where visitors will be able to volunteer their time and talents to help others in freedom's cause." 2005-09-23
Domestic Violence and Housing Discrimination
A report by the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York estimates that nearly half of the city's housing providers may discriminate against survivors of domestic violence. A survey of 40 housing providers found that 27 percent
refused to rent to victims of domestic violence. Another 20 percent voiced questions about the potential renter's mental stability and concern for safety of the renter, tenants, and the housing providers themselves. While it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a survivor of domestic violence, legislation that would impose the same obligations on housing providers has been blocked in the City Council
and opposed by the mayor.
The full report is available online in .pdf format. 2005-08-11
Race, Prison and Jobs
Black men with criminal records have a far more difficult time finding work in New York City than white men convicted of similar crimes, according to a new study. In fact, white former offenders are at least as likely to receive the offer of an entry level job as a black man who has never been convicted of a crime. 2005-06-29
The Matter of Councilman Allan W. Jennings
The City Council's Committee on Standards and Ethics recently published its findings on charges of sexual harassment made by female staff members against Councilman Allan Jennings. The report details these offenses and recommends that action be taken against Jennings. Newsday has posted the report on its Web site. 2005-04-14
Discrimination in Low Wage Labor Markets
Discrimination in Low Wage Labor Markets Black applicants without criminal records are no more likely to get a job than white applicants just out of prison, according to a Princeton University study of nearly 1,500 private employers in New York City. In the study, conducted by sociology professors Devah Pager and Bruce Western, teams of young men applied for real job openings throughout the city, presenting the same qualifications and experience. By recording which applicants were invited back for interviews or were offered jobs, the study shed light on how and when an applicant's race or criminal background may be used as a screening mechanism by employers. 2005-04-04
Ethnic Media and Access to Government Information
The Independent Press Association surveyed ethnic media in New York City and found that reporters and editors felt discriminated against by government agencies, who regularly fail to provide information quickly enough to be useful. The worst offenders, respondents said, were the New York Police Department and the Federal Justice Department. They also charged government agencies with not gathering data that was specific to or useful for their communities. 2005-03-18
Preliminary Mayor's Management Report for Fiscal Year 2005
The Preliminary Mayor's Management Report for Fiscal Year 2005, according to City Hall, "provides an early update of how the City is performing four months into the fiscal year," offering "performance highlights and statistics for agencies, as well as data on inquiries received by the 311 Citizen Service Center."
Also, Search by agency 2005-02-15
City Contracting
A report released by the City Council concludes that
businesses owned by women or by members of minority
groups have not received their fair share of city
contracts. The study looked at more than 140,000
contracts and subcontracts awarded in the last four
and a half years of the Giuliani administration and
the first six months of the Bloomberg administration 2005-01-26
