Lawsuit asks court to prod Mayor Adams on long-overdue racial equity plan for NYC
A New York City watchdog group is suing Mayor Eric Adams’ administration for failing to release a plan for addressing racial disparities in the city, across a range of topics, as required under a voter-backed initiative three years ago.
The city Commission on Racial Equity, an independent city agency also established by a 2022 charter change
“In short, the entire racial equity planning process required by Chapter 78 of the New York City Charter has been stalled by the mayor’s conduct,” the lawsuit claims.
“No lawful reason has been offered for the mayor’s refusal to release and publish the preliminary plan — and none exists,” the lawsuit states.
Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office, said in a statement that the lawsuit was “incredibly misguided, short-sighted and jeopardizes the well-being of the vulnerable communities it claims to protect.”
Garcia added: “The Adams administration will always protect communities of color from the challenges they currently face on the federal level, and remain focused on going through the responsible protocols for this review.”
The Adams administration was required to publish the draft of the racial equity plan on Jan. 16, 2024, under a provision of a City Charter change approved by voters in the aftermath of racial justice protests in New York City and across the nation in 2020. The plan would list goals and strategies for addressing racial disparities in education, health and other facets of city life.
According to the lawsuit, city officials have said that the plan is finished — and publication is the last step remaining.
The mayor’s office has previously released multiple revised timelines for the draft plan's publication. In July 2024, when the City Council
Last Jan. 17, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar wrote that the mayor was finalizing the plan to release in February, according to the lawsuit.
In February, the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice posted another updated timeline on its website, stating the plan would be released by June, according to the lawsuit.
The Commission on Racial Equity is calling upon the court to order the mayor’s office to release the racial equity plan, declare that the mayor’s delay in releasing the plan is illegal, and require the city’s legal department to approve the Commission’s decision to retain outside counsel and pay them with public funds.
