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NYC’s racial equity plan was years late. A judge says Mamdani, Adams broke the law.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Aug 25, 2026
Modified Aug 25, 2026
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Arya Sundaram, Gothamist
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Aug 25, 2026
Modified Aug 25, 2026
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his predecessor, Mayor Eric Adams, both violated the law when they failed to release a plan on time to combat racial disparities across the boroughs, a state Supreme Court judge ruled Tuesday.
The so-called “racial equity plan” is required under ballot reforms overwhelmingly passed by voters in 2022.
Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond’s decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed in August 2025 by the city’s racial equity watchdog, the Commission on Racial Equity, which was also formed under the 2022 ballot measures. Perry-Bond’s decision also grants CORE the opportunity to retain outside counsel paid for by the city, which was previously denied by the city’s law department.
After both mayors failed to meet charter-mandated deadlines, Mamdani released the city’s first-ever draft racial equity plan in April.
The draft includes orders for city agencies to provide resources to historically underserved communities, improve recruitment and retention of workers across demographics, provide anti-racism training for city staff, and improve data collection across various demographics, among other goals.
A final version of the plan, originally due in April 2024 under Adams, has still not been released. Cassio Mendoza, a spokesperson for Mamdani, said the administration is still incorporating feedback on the plan and will issue it soon.
Mendoza said in a statement that tackling racial inequities is a “key part of the mayor’s vision.”
He added: “While the previous administration withheld the release of the Preliminary Racial Equity plan for more than 580 days, Mayor Mamdani prioritized the plan's release, putting it out in the first 100 days of the administration.”
A spokesperson for Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Linda Tigani, the chair and executive director of CORE, said in a statement that the ruling affirms that the racial equity plan is required by law and CORE’s ability to hold mayoral administrations accountable.
“Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond’s ruling reaffirms a fundamental principle: racial equity is not optional. It is the law,” Tigani said in a statement, later adding: “The Racial Equity Plan cannot be delayed, diminished, or treated as a political exercise. The Charter created a process, established responsibilities, and set deadlines because New Yorkers demanded accountability.”
A version of the plan was completed by the end of Adams' tenure, but it was never released, Gothamist previously reported. Officials from Adams' administration previously said the extra time was necessary to take on such ambitious, "large-scale, unprecedented" work.
While the charter has no consequences for failing to release the racial equity plan, Perry-Bond’s decision gives CORE the authority to sue for future delays.
This story has been updated with a comment from a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani and from Linda Tigani, the chair and executive director of the city Commission on Racial Equity.
Tagged
Politics
new york city
racial inequality
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.
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