Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
New York commission will focus on Asian residents, the state's fastest growing racial group
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Nov 25, 2023
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 .
Don Pollard--Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Nov 25, 2023
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
New York will establish a new commission to tackle the needs of the state’s rapidly growing population of Asian American and Pacific Islander residents under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week.
Queens Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, the bill’s sponsor and the first South Asian-American woman elected to the state Legislature, says the commission will address the “unique needs” of AAPI New Yorkers.
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the city, state, and country. More than 2 million residents of Asian descent live in New York — the majority in New York City. Asian Americans now comprise more than 10% of the state’s population and 7% of the country's.
“The commission is like a think tank within our state government that will constantly work on the ways that government can better serve the Asian population,” Rajkumar said, adding that the group would be a “bridge” between government and Asian communities.
The group will be made up of 15 members chosen by the governor and state legislative leaders, but it won't launch until at least next year. It’s tasked with boosting awareness of state and local resources available to Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals and communities, developing programs to honor those communities, and educating the public about Asian American issues and culture.
The group also aims to raise awareness of anti-Asian hate crimes. The commission may also help more Asian Americans run for office and provide more granular ethnic data on the state’s diverse Asian American population, Rajkumar said.
Hochul signed the bill establishing the commission after a group of 40 state lawmakers and nearly 50 Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations added their names to a letter from Rajkumar calling for the governor’s approval.
Hochul vetoed a version of the bill last year, citing funding concerns. But this year, the state budget includes $1 million for the commission, Rajkumar said.
“The time has come for our state government to take this step to be more responsive to our community,” she wrote in her letter to Hochul, pointing to the uptick in anti-Asian violence in recent years and the growing numbers of Asian New Yorkers.
New York joins at least 12 other states with similar commissions. The White House also has an Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
The number of Asian New Yorkers has more than doubled since 2000 and quadrupled since 1990. From 2012 to 2022, the Asian population in New York state grew by nearly 370,000 people, or 23%, according to Census data.
Tagged
population
new york city
politcs
Race And Justice Unit
Kathy Hochul
asians
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
We were the victim': Brooklyn shelter's new CEO speaks after corruption scandal
The new leader acknowledges BHRAGS Home Care lacked basic financial and compliance systems as its city shelter contracts ballooned.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. ET
Badly burned body found in a trashed and abandoned Jamaica Queens lot, NYPD says
The remains belonged to a man officials have yet to identify.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Badly burned body found in a trashed and abandoned Jamaica Queens lot, NYPD says
The remains belonged to a man officials have yet to identify.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Brooklyn DA brings back warrant-clearing event as quality-of-life tickets surge
By
Ben Feuerherd
Hochul names NY AG James as special prosecutor on alleged rape case at Cornell University
By
Jon Campbell
Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults
By
Giulia Heyward
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 .