State Senator Zellnor Myrie on Monday released a plan to uplift the livelihood of Black New Yorkers as part of his mayoral campaign.
Titled the Black Agenda, Myrie said he will implement policies to combat centuries of systemic discrimination that has made it nearly impossible for Black New Yorkers to stay in the city, according to a press release.
The mayoral hopeful said his plan will help expand Black home ownership, fund maternal health centers in majority-Black neighborhoods, create a Black business accelerator fund and ensure climate resiliency in Black communities.
“Black New Yorkers built New York City, and we keep the city running," Myrie said. "We built its tallest skyscrapers, staff its hospitals and operate our city’s trains. Yet, despite our contributions, Black New Yorkers still struggle to get ahead in the city we call home."
Adding to the challenges is the Trump administration's attack on Black Americans by erasing legislation that address racial wealth gaps and improve education access.
"It’s critical that New York City’s next mayor have an agenda to protect and improve the livelihood of Black residents of our great city," he said.
The agenda includes:
Intergenerational Wealth
- Expand homeownership for Black New Yorkers by establishing a first-generation homebuyers fund and increasing program outreach to families in historically Black neighborhoods to ensure families are benefiting; strengthening enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in mortgage lending; and partnering with MWBE developers to build affordable homes in historically redlined neighborhoods.
- Work with the Attorney General’s office to expand outreach and educate Black homeowners on deed rights; restoring and expanding personnel charged with enforcing deed theft in the NYC Sheriff’s office.
- Address racial disparities in property ownership through tax lien reform legislation; expand homeowner protection programs; and help homeowners combat aggressive and disparate fining practices by city agencies.
Public Health and Safety
- Invest in Black maternal and reproductive health by funding maternal health centers in Black-majority neighborhoods and advocating to expand doula and midwifery Medicaid coverage.
- Increase mental health and trauma recovery services, including a long-overdue full-service trauma center in the Rockaways, and expanding Black men’s mental health programs, including free therapy, mentorship and career pathways for those impacted by violence.
- Expanding opportunity and gun violence intervention, including adding 50,000 seats to the Summer Youth Employment program and tripling the reach of the Every Block Counts program to ensure young Black people are given every opportunity to thrive.
Economic Development
- Support small businesses through a Black business accelerator fund, prioritizing industries in disadvantaged communities.
- Ensure equitable funding of our public schools, youth centers, Afterschool for All, and universal 3-K and pre-K programs in every neighborhood so parents can work and young people have a safe place to go.
Climate Resilience and Infrastructure Repair
- Invest in flood protection and disaster response in Black communities; including building promised flood protection hubs in Southeast Queens, the Northeast Bronx and East Brooklyn.
- Invest in green infrastructure like porous pavement to reduce flood risk in flood-prone Black neighborhoods.
- Expedite overdue infrastructure repairs in historically neglected neighborhoods, including sewage repair in Southeast Queens.
