New York State Pushes Reparations for Black Residents

State Sen. James Sanders is leading the charge for a Reparations Commision to be approved by New York State. Reparations are incredibly unpopular according to a 2021 Pew Research Poll that found 70% of Americans are opposed to the concept. Despite these findings, Sen. Sanders believes in the fight for Reparations as New York has a unique history with slavery. Our state legalized slavery and had one of the highest rates of slave ownership in any city throughout the United States. In fact, it was only rivaled by Charleston, South Carolina. NYS abolished the practice in 1827, thus freeing slaves across the State. Regardless of this, the senator believes due to our unique history of legalized slavery, we must forge a New York centric reparation package.

The legislation that would allow a Reparation Committee to be established said of our history of slavery “The consequences of slavery in New York State is not an echo of the past, but can still be observed in daily life.” Missing from this claim are unique examples to New York, instead vague examples claimed to occur nationally are cited “we still see today instances of voter suppression, housing discrimination, biased policing, food apartheid, and disproportionate rates of incarceration.” Notably the fiscal element of this legislation is missing from its text, with the word “Undeterminable” used to describe the monetary cost and methodology for achieving reparations.

NAARC

Sen. Sanders states that reparations do not have to only be direct monetary payments to individuals, but could come in the form of combating health disparities or other social ills from decades of institutional discrimination. “For example, taking the lead out of people's pipes – how many people would we save? You could look at the educational disparity and see if there are things that we can do. For example, hire proper tutors, make sure that the schools throughout the state have adequate funding, etc.”

Critics of the bill do not disagree with the legacy of slavery in New York being a stain on the State, nor do they feel that slavery was justified or a footnote in American History. Instead they feel it is opening up old wounds. New York Assemblyman Andy Gooddell during floor debates on the bill said, “I’m concerned we’re opening a door that was closed in New York State almost 200 years ago,” before casting his no vote. Former New York State Governor George Pataki said of reparations, “I don’t think it’s right to write checks on the basis of race. It’s probably illegal.” State Senator George Borrello (R-Jamestown) is also against reparations stating, “It’s nothing but a taxpayer-funded giveaway to buy more votes for Democrats; slavery was evil. We fought a bloody war to end it. We need to focus more on everyone having an opportunity.”

The bill known as New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies will establish a non-binding Commission that will provide the state government with data and information on what reparations will entail. According to the New York Assembly Speaker’s Office Press Release the Commission will “examine the institution of slavery, de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against people of African descent, and the impact of these forces on living African Americans. The commission would be tasked with making determinations regarding appropriate remedies and reparation, as well as examining potential policy and legislative solutions for damages done to people and communities.”