New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has not ruled out the possibility of cash reparations for New Yorkers impacted by slavery, indicating he will await the findings from the city's Commission on Racial Equity. Mamdani made these remarks during an interview with "The Root."
When asked by Charles Blow if he would support a recommendation for cash reparations if the commission proposed it, Mamdani responded that he stands by his previous statements acknowledging New York City's complicity in slavery and its enduring legacy. "We were very complicit," Mamdani stated. "So I look forward to whatever those findings are. I can’t give you an answer in advance of them, but I can tell you that this is critically important because this is also what it looks like to acknowledge what history truly was."
The New York City Commission on Racial Equity (CORE) was established in 2024 under Local Law 92 to examine the city government's role in slavery and the harms resulting from its legacies. A parallel process, the "Truth, Healing and Reconciliation" initiative under Local Law 91, aims to provide New Yorkers a platform to acknowledge the history and harm of slavery.
According to CORE's schedule, the commission is expected to release its final report on the reparations study in July 2027, with the implementation plan for the "Truth, Healing and Reconciliation" initiative due by June 18, 2028.
Linda Tigani, chair and executive director of NYC CORE, acknowledged Mamdani's stance, emphasizing New York's historical involvement in chattel slavery, which she stated included the second-largest slaveholding population in America after Charleston, South Carolina. Tigani noted that enslaved people's labor built significant economic engines and that the city has a "longstanding debt owed" to address the racial wealth gap.
CORE previously released a progress update in January, detailing $500,000 committed in 2026 to community groups participating in a Reparations, Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation Network. These funds are intended to support participation in discussions about reparations and the development of the citywide plan, with stipends for community members and funds for refreshments.
In April, the commission had issued a press release rebuking Mamdani's Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan, stating it did not meet the requirements of the NYC charter. CORE's assessment indicated that community members felt the plan lacked a comprehensive citywide racial equity strategy, required race-disaggregated data standards, neighborhood accountability metrics, a clear response to community priorities, and transparent funding tied to equity outcomes.