The legislation, passed by the state legislature a week prior, calls for establishing a commission. The proposed commission would explore the impact of slavery and racial discrimination within New York and offer potential reparations, possibly taking the form of government compensation payments. The commission's recommendations would not be mandatory, ultimately leaving the decision to the legislature.
Despite the pressing need for Governor Hochul's signature to officiate the commission, she remains publicly unresponsive to the reparations legislation. Fox News Digital contacted Hochul for comment regarding her thoughts and plans surrounding the legislation but received no response. The governor is believed to be assessing the bill in question.
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The proposed legislation states that Hochul and leaders from the state Senate and Assembly would nominate three suitable members each to the nine-member commission. This commission would extend its study beyond slavery, scrutinizing persisting economic, political, and educational disparities among Black individuals in New York State.
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Democratic State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, ahead of the floor debate, highlighted the importance of addressing the legacies of slavery. "We want to make sure we are looking at slavery and its legacies," she stated. "This is about beginning the process of healing our communities. There still is generational trauma that people are experiencing. This is just one step forward."
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The commission must submit a report within a year of its inaugural meeting.
Simultaneously, the New York City Council is reviewing new legislation proposed last week that advocates for more localized reparations, aiming at "rectifying" historical "injustices."
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If Hochul sanctions the bill, New York would become the second state to establish a reparations commission, emulating California.
California's reparations task force, established in 2020 under Governor Gavin Newsom's administration, delivered its final recommendations to the state legislature a month ago. These recommendations encompass large-scale payments to qualifying Black residents and policy alterations in housing, health care, education, etc. The California Legislature will determine whether to enact these measures and forward them to the governor's desk for legal approval.
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Skeptics question the rationale behind individuals who have not owned slaves paying reparations to those who were not slaves, contending that such compensation methods would not effectively address the issues.
Democratic State Sen. James Sanders, who proposed the New York bill, emphasized the country's need to reconcile with slavery, arguing that its impacts continue to be felt today. "America's original sin must be resolved," Sanders told the New York Daily News. "What lingers from that period has to be dealt with, and thus reparations. We are talking about a more perfect union."
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Apart from questions regarding the morality and efficacy of reparations, critics also express concerns about their affordability.
New York state's budget, recently approved by Hochul and state lawmakers, stands at a staggering $229 billion. A new budget projection reveals that New York's expenses are set to exceed revenues by $9.1 billion next year and by $13.9 billion the subsequent year.
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The cost of a potential reparations plan in New York remains uncertain. In California, the reparations task force proposed initial "down payments" of up to $1.2 million for qualifying Black Californians while waiting for the total amount lost due to slavery and subsequent racism to be calculated. The estimated cost of such calculations is approximately $800 billion, almost tripling California's total annual state budget of about $300 billion.
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Last month, Governor Newsom declared that the state's budget deficit had ballooned to nearly $32 billion, around $10 billion higher than his initial forecast in January when he submitted his first budget proposal.
Both New York and California, faced with sizeable budget deficits, are grappling with high outward migration rates. More than 10,000 New Yorkers relocated to Florida in the first quarter of this year, perpetuating a trend observed during the COVID pandemic. Similarly, California witnessed the highest number of residents leaving the state in 2021.
According to IRS data, the flight from the Empire States resulted in a loss of an astounding $24.5 billion in state-adjusted gross income in 2021, as residents sought refuge in states with lower taxes. California experienced a comparable outflow, with at least 32,000 taxpayers moving away, taking an estimated $29 billion to other states.
While the topic of reparations continues to be hotly debated, the economic realities faced by these states suggest that any potential reparation plans need to be carefully considered and balanced against other pressing financial needs.
Still, supporters of reparations argue that the process is necessary to heal historical wounds and address ongoing racial disparities. They point out that reparations are not just about monetary compensation but include a range of policies aimed at redressing systemic racism and its lingering effects.
As the debate rages on, all eyes are now on Governor Hochul. Her decision to legally sign the bill could shape New York's future and potentially influence the national conversation on reparations. As the nation waits for her response, one thing is clear: the discussion about reparations and their role in addressing the lasting impacts of slavery is far from over.
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