Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking a one-year extension of the New York State Reparations Commission to add $5 million to the controversial commission that examines possible payments to Black people in New York.
The budget Hochul unveiled Tuesday calls for action to address the inequalities still faced by descendants of slavery and perhaps other Black residents who suffered from historical discrimination. This could substantially delay the planned report of the committee.
“The state is providing $5 million in funding to continue the work of the commission in fiscal year 2026,” budget documents state.
Hochul agreed to a reparations commission in 2023, shortly after a similar commission in California considered ways to compensate the families of slaves for centuries of historical inequality.
The Golden State Reparations Commission ultimately proposed paying $1.2 million to nearly all Black citizens, an amount that would amount to $800 billion, and California officials have so far said that amount has shown no resistance to raising the level.
Critics in New York were quick to slam Mr. Hochul for launching a similar study, noting that the Empire State has 700,000 more black residents than California and has a smaller budget.
The New York commission also faced pressure from some black activists to consider reparations for residents who are not descendants of American slavery.
Census figures show more than 500,000 people in New York City alone are Afro-Caribbean or African immigrants, but activists say this population still suffers from the racist effects of slavery on American soil. He claims to be.
Hochul's proposal to extend the reparations commission, hidden in budget documents, sparked a backlash from conservatives.
“The governor and the Democratic Party’s policies are having a tremendous negative impact on all New Yorkers, especially people of color,” said State Sen. George Borrello (R-Jamestown).
“This committee is nothing more than a divisive distraction that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. They do this for show instead of focusing on improving the lives of all New Yorkers. That’s what I’m doing.”
