This report details civil rights concerns the New York Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights examined regarding eviction policies and enforcement in New York. The Committee submits this report as part of its responsibility to study and report on civil rights issues in the state. The contents of this report are primarily based on testimony the Committee heard during virtual public meetings held on February 19, 2021, June 4, 2021, June 23, 2021, June 25, 2021, and July 16, 2021. The Committee also reviewed related testimony submitted in writing during the relevant period of public comment. This report was adopted by a vote of 9 to 4 at a Committee meeting held January 21, 2022. The dissenting members were provided an opportunity to prepare a dissenting statement. Such statements are appended to the report.
The report begins with a brief background of the Committee’s proposed project, followed by a summary of the testimony the Committee received on this topic. It then identifies primary findings as they emerged from this testimony. Finally, it makes recommendations for addressing related civil rights concerns. While other important topics may have surfaced throughout the Committee’s inquiry, matters that are outside the scope of this specific civil rights mandate are left for another discussion.