Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Lawsuit asks court to prod Mayor Adams on long-overdue racial equity plan for NYC
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Aug 20, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Anadolu/Getty Images
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Aug 20, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A New York City watchdog group is suing Mayor Eric Adams’ administration for failing to release a plan for addressing racial disparities in the city, across a range of topics, as required under a voter-backed initiative three years ago.
The city Commission on Racial Equity, an independent city agency also established by a 2022 charter change overwhelmingly backed by voters, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in state court. It notes the required racial equity plan is over 500 days overdue.
“In short, the entire racial equity planning process required by Chapter 78 of the New York City Charter has been stalled by the mayor’s conduct,” the lawsuit claims.
“No lawful reason has been offered for the mayor’s refusal to release and publish the preliminary plan — and none exists,” the lawsuit states.
Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office, said in a statement that the lawsuit was “incredibly misguided, short-sighted and jeopardizes the well-being of the vulnerable communities it claims to protect.”
Garcia added: “The Adams administration will always protect communities of color from the challenges they currently face on the federal level, and remain focused on going through the responsible protocols for this review.”
The Adams administration was required to publish the draft of the racial equity plan on Jan. 16, 2024, under a provision of a City Charter change approved by voters in the aftermath of racial justice protests in New York City and across the nation in 2020. The plan would list goals and strategies for addressing racial disparities in education, health and other facets of city life.
According to the lawsuit, city officials have said that the plan is finished — and publication is the last step remaining.
The mayor’s office has previously released multiple revised timelines for the draft plan's publication. In July 2024, when the City Council probed the delays, the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice stated on its website that the preliminary racial equity plan would be published in September to October 2024.
Last Jan. 17, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar wrote that the mayor was finalizing the plan to release in February, according to the lawsuit.
In February, the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice posted another updated timeline on its website, stating the plan would be released by June, according to the lawsuit.
The Commission on Racial Equity is calling upon the court to order the mayor’s office to release the racial equity plan, declare that the mayor’s delay in releasing the plan is illegal, and require the city’s legal department to approve the Commission’s decision to retain outside counsel and pay them with public funds.
Tagged
Race And Justice Unit
crime
economy
education
new york city
Arya Sundaram
Arya is a reporter covering race and justice. Got a tip? Email: [email protected] or reach Arya on Signal at 512-650-8767.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .