2025 Empower Black NY Agenda from BPHA Caucus Calls for Billions in Investment
The Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian (BPHA) Caucus in the New York State Legislature has unveiled an "Empower Black New York Agenda" to address deep economic and racial gaps faced by Black New Yorkers. The comprehensive package includes a range of legislative and budgetary initiatives aimed at promoting economic empowerment, education, health, and justice.
Education
The caucus is seeking billions of dollars in investment to support education initiatives, including:
- $2 billion increase for Foundation Aid
- $30 million for the Higher Education in Prison Program
- $18 million increase for Higher Education Opportunity Programs
- $10 million for a Teacher Diversity Initiative
- $2.1 million for the Timbuctoo Pipeline, introducing kids to careers in environmental science
- $500,000 for Underrepresented Educators Conventions for professional development
- $250,000 for an Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program for student loans
Legislative priorities include:
- S30/S3161: Reassigning the Amistad Commission to the Department of Education
- S134/A118: Revising school policies to reduce suspensions
- S2237/A2125: Ending legacy admissions in higher education
- S4154/A2362: Expanding discrimination protections and increasing transparency in hiring educators
- S519: Starting an Underrepresented Teachers of Tomorrow program to recruit and retain teachers of color
- A2184: Proposing a Commission on African American History and Achievement to include Black history in school
Jobs and Local Businesses
The caucus is seeking significant investment in job creation and support for local businesses, including:
- $1 billion for a Year-Round Youth Workforce training program
- $30 million for Black Farmers United of NY
- $22 million for Climate and Clean Energy Workforce Development
Legislative priorities include:
- S115/A2607: Increasing resources for diverse arts and culture organizations
- S1580/A2590: Making human services programs eligible for cost-of-living adjustments and salary increases
- S2439/A359: Expanding minority and women-owned business participation by ending unnecessary contract bundling in state contracts
- S1996: Calling for a study on a potential state-run public bank
- A1871: Establishing oversight of minority and women-owned business procurement
- A3898: Preventing Medicaid audits from penalizing small healthcare businesses
- S8498A/A10254 (2024): Requiring that unsuccessful bidders receive detailed debriefings
Housing and Homeownership
The caucus is seeking significant investment in housing and homeownership initiatives, including:
- $250 million for the Housing Access Voucher Program
- $100 million for improving bus transit programs outside of New York City
- $50 million for direct support to Black-led community groups
- $40 million for helping homeowners protect their property from deed theft
- $30 million for Upstate Transportation Expansion
- $10 million for the Fair Housing Testing Program
- $1 million to slow gentrification for proposed cease and desist zones
Legislative priorities include:
- S3150/A787: Proposing a state first-home grant program
- S3564/A2274: Using fines from real estate appraisers for an anti-discrimination housing fund
- S7791A/A8386A: Offering a faith-based affordable housing act
- S401: Creating the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act
- S405: Adding properties to the qualified historic home repair credit
- A446: Targeting mold remediation in NYC public housing
- A4965: Enacting the House New Yorkers First Act
- S7971/A9332 (2024): Designating Brooklyn as a cease and desist zone
Immigrant Support
The caucus is seeking significant investment in support for Black immigrants, including:
- $100 million for the Access to Representation Act, guaranteeing legal counsel to immigrants facing deportation
- $10 million for the Language Access Expansion Act
- $10 million for Black Immigration Services to help in legal, employment, health, and education matters
Legislative priorities include:
- S3762/A1710: Expanding Medicaid to undocumented residents
Mental Health and Justice
The caucus is seeking significant investment in mental health and justice initiatives, including:
- $50 million for Youth Justice Reform alternatives to incarceration and support reentry
- $6.1 million for the Youth Justice Innovation Fund to improve education and job training in detention
- $2 million for the Correctional Association of New York for independent prison oversight
- $500,000 for the Bard Prison Initiative
- GAP Fund: providing $425/month for six months to help the formerly incarcerated
Legislative priorities include:
- S158/A1283: Letting courts reconsider excessive prison sentences
- S159/A127: Reforms parole eligibility to speed up fair releases
- S394/A403: Sets rules for processing gubernatorial pardon applications
- S454/A514: Expands parole options for inmates over 55
- S1085/A3412: Voter suppression crackdown
- S4002/A4962: Automatically expunges records of unconstitutional NYPD stops
- S4547/A8524A: The Treatment Not Jail Act, shifting people with substance use or mental health issues from prison to treatment
- S1403: Enacts “Cariol’s Law,” requiring police to step in when witnessing excessive force
- S1707: Proposes a Correctional Ombudsman Office for inmate complaints
- S2240: Removes lifetime jury duty bans for felony convicts
Health and Wellbeing
The caucus is seeking significant investment in health and wellbeing initiatives, including:
- $10 million for the Mothers and Infants Lasting Change Allowance for expecting and new moms
- $5 million for the Black Women’s Health Initiative
- $5 million for the Mental Health Corps
- $5 million for the Syd O. Sotillo Sickle Cell Treatment Act
- $4 million for the Community Cancer Screening Initiative
- $450,000 for the Primary Care Development Corporation
Legislative priorities include:
- S3881: Creating maternal and child care centers in Brooklyn and the Bronx
- A1797: Requiring clear labels on hair relaxers
- A4018: Creating the New York Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act
- A4558: Sustainability plan at SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- A5017: Creating health centers based in the New York City Housing Authority
Conclusion
The 2025 Empower Black New York Agenda is a comprehensive package of legislative and budgetary initiatives aimed at promoting economic empowerment, education, health, and justice for Black New Yorkers. The caucus is seeking significant investment in a range of areas, including education, jobs and local businesses, housing and homeownership, immigrant support, mental health and justice, and health and wellbeing. By working together, we can create a more just and equitable New York for all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the 2025 Empower Black New York Agenda?
A: The 2025 Empower Black New York Agenda is a comprehensive package of legislative and budgetary initiatives aimed at promoting economic empowerment, education, health, and justice for Black New Yorkers.
Q: What are the key areas of focus for the 2025 Empower Black New York Agenda?
A: The key areas of focus include education, jobs and local businesses, housing and homeownership, immigrant support, mental health and justice, and health and wellbeing.
Q: How much is being invested in each area?
A: The total investment being sought is over $5 billion, with specific requests including $2 billion for education, $1 billion for jobs and local businesses, $250 million for housing and homeownership, and $120 million for immigrant support, among others.
Q: What are the key legislative priorities?
A: The key legislative priorities include reassigning the Amistad Commission to the Department of Education, ending legacy admissions in higher education, expanding discrimination protections and increasing transparency in hiring educators, and creating a Commission on African American History and Achievement to include Black history in school.
