Public Employee Press

Political Action 2005
Mayor signs civil rights law

With DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts at his side Oct. 3, Mayor Bloomberg signed into law the strongest city civil rights legislation enacted since 1991. Intro 22A reinforces New Yorkers’ protections against discrimination and adds domestic partners to the groups protected under the city Human Rights Law.

“Explicitly including partnership status on the list of protected classes follows our city’s best traditions of justice and equality,” he said.

“This historic civil rights bill will have far-reaching effects for our members in housing, employment and public accommodations,” said Roberts. “It is fitting that a city as diverse as ours would strengthen its local civil rights laws.”

She stood with City Council members Gail Brewer, David Weprin, and Bill DeBlasio as Bloomberg signed the bill. He credited DC 37, the only union present, for pressing for the restoration bill.

Intro 22A requires judges to interpret the law broadly to protect plaintiffs and raises damages for intentional and malicious violations by expanding the definition of retaliation. The bill is timely, because federal and state courts have recently chipped away at civil rights protections, said Assistant General Counsel Leonard Polletta. The law will impact pending cases, he said, including a discrimination suit filed by Paramedics against the Fire Dept. Roberts also hopes the law will lead to “fairer representation of minorities and disabled persons in management positions.”