The Brian Lehrer Show NYC's Racial Equity Plan Delayed
Aug 22, 2025
Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, and Darrick Hamilton, Professor of Economics and Urban Policy at The New School, delve into the pressing issues surrounding NYC's delayed racial equity plan. They discuss the lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams for not releasing this pivotal plan to combat racial disparities. The conversation highlights systemic inequities intensified by the pandemic and social unrest, and emphasizes the urgent need for actionable policies to support marginalized communities.
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Charter-Level Accountability
- The Racial Justice Commission was created to embed racial equity into the NYC Charter and hold government accountable.
- It mandated biennial equity plans, an independent commission, and a true cost of living measure to guide policy.
Plans Need Budget And Teeth
- The commission built infrastructure: values, a true cost index, and institutional oversight alongside plans.
- Darrick Hamilton argues the plan must link to budgeting and execution, not just rhetoric.
Disparities Persist Across Domains
- Racial disparities span wealth, housing, education, and widen even with higher education for Black people.
- Hamilton links entrenched inequity to broader social instability and political division.