Hate, bias councils meet in private
ALBANY — Ten regional councils that comprise the state’s recently launched Hate and Bias Prevention Unit, an initiative to gauge and combat hate crimes, have been conducting their kickoff meetings in private with Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who chairs the effort.
According to the state Committee on Open Government, the regional councils are not required to comply with the state’s Open Meetings Law, which regulates bodies that perform a governmental function or may be involved in a “decision-making process” that involves public business.
Still, there is nothing that prohibits the councils from opening their meetings to the public or press — which has been a practice of the state’s 10 regional economic councils that served as a model for the anti-bias unit created with the state Division of Human Rights. The meetings have been held privately at the request of the Division of Human Rights, according to a spokesman for the agency.
Delgado has conducted brief press availabilities after most of the council meetings he has attended around the state this summer. His work heading the unit has been one of his most touted roles since becoming lieutenant governor 15 months ago. The unit’s stated mission is to quickly respond to communities after a hate or bias incident occurs, as well as to organize the anti-bias councils across the state.
The regional councils are made up of community members, including representatives of law enforcement agencies and faith groups. They are working on educational programming, conflict trainings and the filing of complaints with the Division of Human Rights, according to an outline of the group’s work posted online.
Kristin O’neill, the Committee on Open Government’s assistant director, said the regional councils were not specifically authorized by the legislation Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law creating the statewide campaign. The councils were formed as part a broader slate of anti-bias initiatives following a series of hatefueled incidents last year, including a mass shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado.
The law had called for the creation of a statewide campaign to combat hate crimes, particularly those targeting racial and religious minority groups. The councils were announced by Hochul’s administration after she signed the legislation.
“Gov. Hochul convened the Hate and Bias Prevention Unit to tackle the extraordinarily sensitive issues of hate and bias that are becoming all too common, and she is committed to speaking out in public against hate in all forms,” said Avi Small, the governor’s spokesman. “As part of her ongoing commitment to transparency, Gov. Hochul will continue ensuring all state entities are in full compliance with the Open Meetings Law.”
In August 2021, when Hochul succeeded former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo as governor upon his resignation, she had pledged to restore transparency in state government. Cuomo’s administration had been known for its lack of access, obfuscation and coverups.
O’neill, who conducts training seminars on the Open Meetings Law for the state, said that because the anti-bias councils are voluntary they are not considered “an entity created or appointed to perform a necessary function in the decision-making process.”
Delgado’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Manny Kottaram, a spokesman for the state Division of Human Rights, said the new unit is “tasked with leading public education and outreach to stem the rising tide of hate. Since the unit was announced nine months ago, the 10 regional councils have begun the process of meeting and developing their public programming that will achieve these goals.”
The agency offered additional information as background, noting the goal of the regional councils is to plan and develop public programming. They also cited an event scheduled for Aug. 19, when the Mohawk Valley Council is scheduled to host an art fair that would be open to the public and press.
The unit is also developing “public-facing materials” as well as a website page that will detail their work and list the members of the 10 councils, the agency said.
“These councils will provide a place for community members to share concerns, organize educational programming, host hate crime prevention and community healing events, conduct trainings in conflict resolution, and facilitate the filing of complaints with the division and other relevant agencies,” stated a news release that was issued when the initiative was launched.