City Council Proposal Would Combat Residential Segregation

Advocates of a recent proposal to the New York City Council, known as Intro 685 or the Local Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Law, hope to crack down on the increasingly controversial issue of racial segregation within city residences.

The proposed legislation was delivered to the City Council on Jan. 30 by Council members Letitia James (Working Families-Brooklyn) and G. Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx), and aims to “counteract segregation in residential housing on the neighborhood, borough, city, and regional levels, including attempting to counteract the current impact of past instances of discrimination and segregation; and refrain from acting in any way that would perpetuate segregation in residential housing on the neighborhood, borough, City, or regional levels,” according to the text of the bill.

James, the lead sponsor, has called on the Department of City Planning to analyze residential racial segregation at least 30 days prior to any public hearing about zoning changes, which she believes are currently designed in a discriminatory manner.

James also wants the term “protected class” to be more all-encompassing, pertaining to “actual or perceived race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, or alienage or citizenship status,” thus hopefully preventing discrimination on all fronts, rather than just racial discrimination.

Nellie Bailey, president of the Harlem Tenants Council, expressed support for the proposal. “The broad category of inclusion really addresses the class of people who need protection,” Bailey said. But she noted the fine line that such a proposition creates. “This bill, if passed by the City Council, could potentially be a double-edged sword for Harlem residents,” she said, because attempts to “desegregate” Harlem, with its predominantly African-American population and history, could spark controversy regarding the displacement of current residents.

Displacement—which Bailey sees as an issue just as important as segregation—has become a contentious topic in light of Columbia’s controversial Manhattanville expansion plan.

Community Board 9 chair Pat Jones was apprehensive about the possible effects of the expansion on the demographics and culture of Manhattanville.

“The expansion will not only impact the footprint on which it will be constructed, but it will also impact the broader range of the surrounding community,” Jones said. “With the goal of maintaining diversity, it is crucial to ensure that there are protections so that residents are not harassed out of their communities.”

When it comes to reducing segregation, Bailey suggested that Harlem warrants special consideration because the neighborhood was sanctioned as an African-American community. Zoning changes in the name of desegregation could open a Pandora’s Box of new conflicts, Bailey said, mostly pertaining to displacement. Still, Bailey supports James’ proposal and is excited about the outcome of the bill.

Kate Suisman from James’ district office expressed hope that more council members will sign on to support the proposal. Intro 685 is awaiting a hearing by the Council’s Committee on Civil Rights, but because it is budget season, a hearing may not occur for several months. If the committee passes the proposal, the bill will be sent back to City Council for a final vote.

colin.sullivan@columbiaspectator.com