ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — The first public meeting of the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies is scheduled to take place in Albany on Tuesday. This commission was established in December 2023 when Governor Kathy Hochul signed a measure outlining its formation, with appointments announced in February 2024.

Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado emphasized the importance of addressing the legacy of slavery and its ongoing impacts, stating that the commission’s work could lead to a national dialogue on the truth of the past and the necessary healing for a more just future.

In a similar vein, Virginia lawmakers passed a measure in 2021 directing the state’s oldest colleges and universities to research their historical connections to slavery and provide tangible benefits to individuals or communities associated with enslaved labor, aiming to break cycles of poverty.

The commission in New York has a stipulated one-year timeline to release its report with findings and recommendations for future actions. Majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins expressed that the commission’s formation represents an acknowledgment of past injustices and a commitment to addressing them.

Commission members, including renowned figures like economist Dr. Darrick Hamilton, community leader Dr. Seanelle Hawkins, and historian Linda Tarrant-Reid, were appointed by key officials such as Hochul, Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. These appointments underscore a commitment to examining New York’s history of slavery and its enduring impact on Black communities.

With a $5 million budget allocated for its work, the commission is set to conduct public hearings to gather input before submitting its recommendations in a year’s time. Efforts like these demonstrate a resolve to dismantle historical racial, economic, and institutional inequalities in the state.