On June 17, 2021, the New York City Council approved a local law
that requires applications for significant land use actions
submitted on or after June 1, 2022 by both City agency and private
applicants to analyze and disclose as part of the City's
Uniform Land Use Review Procedure ("ULURP") the potential
impact of their proposals on racial equity.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, one of the legislation's
sponsors, stated that the racial equity reports are necessary to
protect communities: "In neighborhoods across the
city, we have seen rezonings lead not to stronger community growth,
but to rising rents and displacement. Particularly in communities
of color, these forces have been unchecked in the name of
development, and a failure to recognize the racial impact of these
projects has been detrimental."