New York City is set to become the largest U.S. city to implement a reparations program.
Councilmembers Crystal Hudson and Farah Louis pushed through two bills for a Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation Commission and a reparations task force. The bills passed on Thursday and are effective immediately.
"Today, the New York City Council voted to pass legislation acknowledging the legacy of slavery and racial injustices in New York City," the council announced in a press release. The legislation also aims to address the city's deep ties to slavery, dating back to the 1700s.
The commission will "establish facts about slavery in New York City and its ongoing legacies," the press release continued. It will also push for changes to prevent further injustices and propose ways to honor the city's abolitionist history.
Councilmembers Hudson and Louis praised the bills, believing they’ll spark change. Hudson hopes it will "identify racist, anti-Black policies at the foundation of our city's institutions." Louis called it a "crucial step towards justice and equity."
Hudson emphasized that slavery’s impact is still visible today. She pointed to systems like the prison-industrial complex, predatory lending, and school inequality as evidence.
"When I first ran for office, I called for a Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation process to address New York's racist practices," Hudson said. "I believe our city's process will expose anti-Black policies and create material solutions."
Not everyone supports the move. Minority Leader Joseph Borelli strongly opposes it. "I’ll move before I pay," Borelli told the New York Post, rejecting the idea of reparations. He added, "If they can show me one New Yorker who owned a slave, I’ll consider it. But I’m not paying for a harm I didn’t cause."