2005 Annual Report
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2005 ANNUAL REPORT Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor New York City Commission on Human Rights Patricia L. Gatling, Commissioner/Chair The New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the nation. The Law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, disability, marital status, and partnership status. In addition, the Law affords protection against discrimination in employment based on arrest or conviction record and status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking or sex offenses. In housing, the Law affords additional protections based on lawful occupation and family status. The City Human Rights Law also prohibits retaliation and bias-related harassment. MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR 2005 Annual Report OVER the past four years, I have spoken with New work in, and visit this City and teach them about Yorkers and visitors who practice every religion, their rights and responsibilities. Commissioner speak every language, and come from everywhere Gatling and her team have accomplished on Earth -- each with their own hopes and dreams. that – and more. It is this kind of diversity, along with a strong The Commission’s successful track record culture of acceptance, that gives this City in investigating, prosecuting and resolving incredible strength. discrimination complaints, rooting out systemic However, when prejudice appears and our violations of the law, and providing educational unity is threatened, we must act quickly. programs is illustrated in this 2005 Annual Report. This City’s Commission on Human Rights I want to commend them for their hard work enforces one of the most comprehensive civil and for helping to maintain our unity. Staying rights laws in the nation. At the beginning of my united – we will make this City even stronger. first term, I appointed Patricia L. Gatling, a tough career prosecutor from Brooklyn, to protect and advance the civil rights of all those who live in, Michael R. Bloomberg 2005 Annual Report MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER THE Commission marked its 50th anniversary renowned civil rights and feminist leader and as an official City agency in 2005. Since 1955, former Commissioner/Chair of the Commission the Commission has promoted and protected the from 1970-1977. Other speakers included: Ellis civil rights of all those who live in, work in, and Cose, author, columnist, and contributing editor for visit this City and has brought this City’s diverse Newsweek; Professors Devah Pager and Bruce communities together, encouraging positive relations. Western from Princeton University; Glenn Martin, As part of the 50th year celebration, the co-director of the Legal Action Center’s National Commission held a public conference titled Race At HIRE Network; Reverend C. Vernon Mason, CEO Work: Realities of Race and Criminal Record of Uth Turn; and Dr. Edison O. Jackson, President of in the NYC Job Market at the Schomburg Center for Medgar Evers College and a NYC Human Rights Research in Black Culture in Harlem. The location Commissioner. was appropriate since the Commission was born out The panel discussed a study conducted by of race riots in Harlem in 1935 and 1943. Drs. Pager and Western of Princeton University, The featured speaker at the conference was with assistance from the Commission, that Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton –- a examined the City’s low wage job market, the MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER 2005 Annual Report effects of race on those opportunities, and how a Law, the destructive effects of prejudice and criminal conviction disparately affects minority discrimination, and movements for social justice applicants. Using matched pairs of testers applying that shaped the City’s social and political culture. for the same 1,470 jobs with the same resumes, Additionally, we are in our third year of training high the study found that a black high school educated school students to become peer mediators. This male in his 20s, who has never served time in program provides students with a way to address prison, has an equal opportunity for obtaining a job and resolve their disputes without violence. as a similarly situated white applicant just released We also reached millions of New Yorkers and from prison. The results also indicated that a white visitors who viewed our One City poster campaign applicant without a criminal record was twice as throughout the City at bus-shelters and phone kiosks likely to get a job as the black applicant without a with a message of welcome and unity. The posters record. Hispanics fared slightly better than black are similar to our 2005 Annual Report cover and will applicants. The professors are in the process of again be displayed periodically throughout 2006. interviewing the employers tested to determine Those are just a few of our 2005 highlights. their feelings and attitudes toward job applicants, Over the past year, the Commission has a course that will result in the employers continued to assist many individuals with issues reviewing their hiring practices and making better of discrimination. Often with just one phone call, hiring choices in the future. Additionally, the we were able to resolve a situation quickly and Commission will use the Princeton data to find bring immediate relief to a complainant. Such innovative ways to assist the formerly incarcerated pre-complaint interventions assure a speedy in re-entering and becoming productive members resolution without the need to file a complaint of society. and thus avoiding lengthy litigation. Also as part of this anniversary year, the Today, approximately 90% of the Commission’s Commission produced a CD-ROM of 100 selected caseload is less than one year old. When we major reports, speeches, surveys, documents, arrived here at the beginning of Mayor Bloomberg’s testimony from public hearings, and policy papers administration in 2002, only 14% of the total since its earliest days in 1934 as a voluntary cases were under a year old. Mayoral committee. The CD-ROM, Discrimination Our rich diversity and spirit of unity is what and Race Relations: Selected Reports From the makes this City so great, and we continue to thrive NYC Commission on Human Rights (1935-2005), because of New York City’s long-standing history includes over 6,000 pages of documents, some of tolerance and inclusion. We are proud of our that had never been released. They reflect various accomplishments here at the Commission but also aspects of the Commission’s work to address know that our work is far from complete. I am discrimination and race relations in New York City grateful to Mayor Bloomberg for this opportunity through its Law Enforcement and Community to help make New York City the greatest City Relations Bureaus, and offer an extraordinary view in the world. into the struggles of many communities for equal rights and opportunities. Continuing our focus on education, the Commission worked with a group of high school students from each borough to produce short Patricia L. Gatling digital videos that examined the NYC Human Rights 2005 Annual Report New York City Commission on Human Rights TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 3 Law Enforcement Bureau 4 Orders 4 Fines 5 Settlements 5 Determinations and Resolutions 6 Disability Access 7 LEB Staff 7 Complaint Process 7 Community Relations Bureau 8 Immigrant Employment Rights 8 Equal Access 8 School Program 9 Mortgage Counseling and Predatory Loan Prevention 9 Other CRB Activities 10 CRB Staff 10 Community Programs 10 Commission in the News 11 Other Accomplishments 14 2005 Budget 16 Commissioners 17 Publications 18 Office Locations 19 Agency Organizational Chart 20 Executive Staff 21 2005 Annual Report 2 New York City Commission on Human Rights INTRODUCTION 2005 Annual Report INTRODUCTION THE New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the nation.The Law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, disability, marital status and partnership status. In addition, the Law affords protection against discrimination in employment based on arrest or conviction record and status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses. In housing, the Law affords additional protection based on lawful occupation and family status.The City Human Rights Law also prohibits retaliation and bias-related harassment. The New York City Commission on Human Rights is charged with the enforcement of the Human Rights Law,Title 8 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and with educating the public and encouraging positive community relations.The Commission is divided into two major bureaus -- Law Enforcement and Community Relations.The Law Enforcement Bureau is responsible for the intake, investigation, and prosecution of complaints alleging violations of the Law.The Community Relations Bureau helps cultivate understanding and respect among the City’s many diverse communities through its borough-based Community Service Centers and numerous educational and outreach programs. New York City Commission on Human Rights 3 2005 Annual Report LAW ENFORCEMENT BUREAU LAW ENFORCEMENT BUREAU THE Commission's Law Enforcement Bureau Commission resolved 480 filed cases in 2005. (LEB) enforces the NYC Human Rights Law. The Commission's two-pronged approach of LEB is responsible for the intake, investigation, an intensive initial interview of the complainant and prosecution of complaints alleging violations with an immediate investigation of the facts of the law. alleged provides investigators with a greater The number of new cases the Commission ability to gather evidence, identify witnesses, filed in 2005 was 381, bringing the total and build the strongest case.This successful caseload to approximately 600. In addition, the approach is responsible for a significant increase Commission successfully resolved 159 allegations in Probable Cause findings and Settlements.