Public Policy and Education Fund of New York » Racial Justice

Race Matters in Health Care: Update of “Race Matters: Impact of the 2010-11 Executive Budget Proposal,” including impact of the Assembly and Senate budget proposals

Charlie Albanetti — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:55:24 +0000

(Release March 31, 2010) Just over one week ago, the Public Policy and Education Fund (PPEF) released its 2010 “Race Matters” report that detailed the impact of the 2010-11 Executive Budget on people of color and immigrants. This follow-up report updates the health care section of the Race Matters report by adding a preliminary analysis of the budget proposals made by the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate, and comparing them to the Executive Budget.

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Race Matters: Impact of the 2010-11 Executive Budget Proposal

Charlie Albanetti — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:05:20 +0000

(Release March 23, 2010) While many New Yorkers of all races enjoy great educational, professional and social success, the majority of people of color in the Empire State remain perilously stranded in the shadows of the American dream. Although both the nation and state are led by accomplished people of color, the overall condition of people of color in New York is distressing, and the current national economic crisis and cuts in government programs only serve to further harm our communities.

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Moving Towards Educational Equity?: How is New York State’s School Funding Reform Impacting Educational Equity on Long Island?

J. Zhu — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:09:31 +0000

(Released September 15, 2009) Long Island schools are well known for quality education, but in reality there is a wide range of differences between the educational resources and the student outcomes in school districts on Long Island. Long Island is home to some of the best schools in New York State and the country–particularly in some of the wealthier suburban districts, but Long Island also is home to school districts with the highest concentration of student poverty in New York State. As in small and large cities across New York State, high concentrations of student poverty correlate on Long Island with higher proportions of black and Hispanic students. However, no other region of New York State has the degree of racial segregation seen in Long Island schools. In fact out of the eleven school districts in the state with the greatest proportion of black and Hispanic students, nine are on Long Island. Five Long Island school districts–Wyandanch, Roosevelt, Hempstead, Westbury and Uniondale–have a student population that is over 95% black and Hispanic.

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The Color of Money in New York: Contributions by Race, Ethnicity and Wealth 2006-2008

J. Zhu — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:18:57 +0000

(Released July 19, 2009) This analysis of campaign contribution data presents a portrait of what segments of New York State have the greatest influence over legislative actions in Albany through campaign contributions. Our analysis of campaign contributions to Assembly members and Senators from the 2006 and 2008 election cycles from zip codes throughout New York State found enormous disparities in the contributions coming from different zip codes based on geography, race and ethnicity, and economic status. Specifically, in the 2006 to 2008 period, we found that:
• Four out of five dollars of the $72 million flowing into campaign coffers in Albany, or $58 million1, came from zip codes that are majority white2.
• One third of campaign cash came from wealthy zip codes where a large number of households earned over $200,000, even though such zip codes are just 12% of the state’s population3.
• The top ten contributing zip codes were all from New York City and Albany and its suburbs (Latham).

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Race Matters: Impact of the 2009-10 Executive Budget Proposal

J. Zhu — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:03:12 +0000

(Released March 3, 2009) This report examines the impact of the Executive Budget on people of color in several major policy areas: education, higher education, health care, human services, and criminal and juvenile justice. (It is therefore a snapshot of a few major policy areas; it does not present a full picture of the Executive Budget.) We looked at key policy and spending proposals in the Executive Budget in order to determine whether there will be an unfair impact on communities of color. In each of the policy areas covered, we document that racial inequities will be continued or compounded, although to different degrees depending on the policy area. The results of our analysis are mixed – we found some proposals that address racial and ethnic disparities and others that increase disparities. But on balance the proposed cuts would have a disproportionately negative impact on communities of color. The proposed budget, if enacted, would increase the racial and ethnic disparities in our state by key economic and social measures.

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Are New York City’s High-Needs Students Receiving Educational Equity and Quality?

J. Zhu — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:10:45 +0000

(Released August 15, 2008) This report sought to evaluate recent funding trends and performance of New York City schools. The report found evidence that the funding gap between schools with the highest and lowest concentrations of student poverty has grown larger over time, from $375 in 2006 to $570 in 2009. This resource inequity has significant implications for the entire New York City education system with particular implications for students living in poverty, English Language Learners, and other students who need additional academic supports. The Contracts for Excellence funding stream has been singularly successful in closing the funding gap. Measured against student need, the Fair Student Funding formula has been less successful and may have increased disparities. These funding disparities have implications for student outcomes by poverty – the achievement gap between students with the greatest poverty and their peers who are not in poverty is significant and enduring – both on state exams and ultimately graduation rates.

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Do New York’s “Rockefeller Drug Laws” Mean Anything to You?

J. Zhu — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:55:12 +0000

(Released July 18, 2008) For more information visit realreformny.org

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Will Education Funding Promises be Broken?: Students in Poverty, Students of Color and English Language Learners Face the Largest Cuts in Basic Classroom Operating Aid under Proposed Budget

J. Zhu — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:12:11 +0000

(Released February 14, 2008) For fourteen years the Campaign for Fiscal Equity school-funding lawsuit faced a series of appeals and delays that stymied fair school funding reform. The New York State Court of Appeals ruled in the CFE case that the state was failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide students with a “sound basic education” also defined by the courts as a “meaningful high school education.” Since the CFE lawsuit was originally brought by New York City parents, the ruling was restricted to New York City. However, the need for reform was statewide and the demand raised by community organizations, parents, educators and advocacy groups was for a statewide solution.

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Racial and Ethnic Disparity in Manhattan Jury Pools: Results of a Survey and Suggestions for Reform

J. Zhu — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:03:07 +0000

(Released June 2007) Members of the Manhattan community have long been concerned that juries in the county do not reflect a fair cross section of the community. In response to a particular concern expressed by members of the bar that people of color and Hispanics appeared to be underrepresented in the jury pools from which judges and litigants pick juries in Supreme Court, New York County (Manhattan), Citizen Action of New York tallied the apparent race and Hispanic status of Manhattan residents reporting for jury duty at jury assembly rooms for a 12-week period from November 2006 to February 2007.

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The Color of Money in New York Federal Campaign Contributions and Race

J. Zhu — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:43:37 +0000

(Released January 13, 2004) This report shows that Blacks, Latinos and other people of color in New York are largely left out of the federal campaign financing system.